Quoting: MayeulCAnybody knows what 6.js could be?

It's the file that contained the SteamPal strings, which got noticed, which let the cat out of the bag about their hardware plans.

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Quoting: ObsidianBlkI'm excited by this device and am very tempted to put that $5 for the option to buy one! I'm opposed to pre-ordering, they're not asking for the full bank up front, so, if, as the months go by, warning signs start cropping up, I haven't wasted much money at all.

It's a deposit. If you buy it, the deposit gets taken off the price and, if you don't buy it, the deposit gets refunded. Back to the initial payment method if the refund is within 30 days, or into your Steam wallet if it's later than 30 days.

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Quoting: dubigrasuI can easily imagine that many will just strip SteamOS out of it and install Windows

I'm not sure they will. Installing an OS is a pain in the arse that most people don't do - it's one of the reasons why it's important that more vendors are pre-installing Linux. For non-gaming use cases you're not going to spend £500 on a device to use as an ebook reader or media device when there are way cheaper devices already available that will be better at those tasks (higher resolution screen, better battery life, no massive buttons), and for gaming use cases the experimental similar devices have had Windows being a detriment to the experience.

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We're also very curious to see if Valve will actually show some kind of "optimized for Steam Deck" label. They've said they want pretty much everything to work on it, either through Linux native titles or Proton but how will users know what to buy without going to external and unofficial websites that often have dubious user reports? We think they're going to need something to show it at least officially. This has yet to be mentioned by Valve.

On the other hand, the thing that kicked off the rumours about this device was the discovery of the GameList_View_NeptuneGames string, so it seems like something they're going to track and likely display in some way. Possibly just by additionally adding the Steam icon to games that don't otherwise have Linux support, though, like the current whitelist does, rather than a separate category.

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Quoting: SalvatosI wish I had any idea what those specs mean in Intel/Nvidia terms.

The CPU is about the level of a Kaby Lake i7. The GPU is architecturally competitive with Ampere, but sliced really thin: no comparable product has been released yet for actual numbers on that part. We don't know how good Valve's chassis design is at keeping it from thermal throttling. The power budget for the whole thing is 15 W.

At its resolution you can likely expect it to be a competent gaming machine, but not a monster. You'll have to turn off the most exuberant and expensive effects. We'll know more when Valve send Liam one to try.

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Quoting: Purple Library GuyBy the way--Steam Deck, huh? Not a terrible name. Sure better than "Steam Pal".

I wonder if they'll release different coloured models? I'm hoping for "The Colour Of Television, Tuned To A Dead Channel."

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Quoting: g000hI'm waiting for Microsoft to offer Valve a free Windows licence for each Steam Deck, or even better - Pay Valve to put Windows onto the device. I'm just jesting, but if this thing skyrockets, I wouldn't put it past Microsoft.

Windows is already free for devices with small screens. A hangover from them suffocating netbook competitors, I think.

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Quoting: slaapliedjeI think the real question is how many new games will we get as Linux native when developers want to make games for this new 'console' and can finally convince publishers there is enough interest?

It's hard to say. There was a big uptick in native titles with the Steam Machines coverage, but that died out when they didn't take off. I can see it flipping indies using Unity from "probably no" to "probably yes," but the big studios might feel burned from last time and wait-and-see, or just lean on Proton. More "officially support Proton" is something, but it's not full support.

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Quoting: scaineFor a device like this though? Who cares if it's Arch?

ChromeOS is based on Gentoo, but the user experience of using a Chromebook is nothing like the user experience of using Gentoo on the desktop.

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Quoting: dubigrasuWait, I see underneath paddles, 4 of them. Wasn't a big lawsuit about this?

The patent was for having a rocker across the width of the controller; Valve had also tried buttons on the back, but didn't feel they'd be as good. This device is way too wide for a rocker so it wouldn't have infringed even if they hadn't recently had the case loss to sharpen their attention on the issue.

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