I switched to using a PC Handheld as my main Computer…
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- Опубликовано: 15 май 2024
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PC handhelds are basically cheap, powerful laptops. So what would it be like to do some actual work on one for a whole week? How far can we push these things? And what would it be like to SUFFER through those UI issues...???
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My Steam Deck is actually my only computer. I use it every day for basic PC tasks. The desktop experience reminds me of using widows as a kid in the 90's. I haven't tried video editing but it seems to handle pretty much whatever I want to do with it. I don't know much about computers, but I am learning. The steam deck is my teacher.
I put windows on my deck and used it for a year as my home office computer.
I use the steam deck as my main computer with Linux still on it since a year ago. I do intensive stuff with programs like Blender on it and it works great. It was more powerful than my old pc and cheaper than any other upgrades.
Do you find the amount of ram being an issue at all? I know there's very l little benefit to modding a steam deck to 32GB of ram for gaming, but I'm curious if the stock 16GGB gives you issues at all?
@@HCAZS I use it like that and I've never had a 32gb pc before. 16gb has always been plenty enough and I don't see a good reason to get any more than that.
This sounds like a fun idea, especially for a home media PC, but the deck and dock not being able to do 4k 120hz/HDR video for movies means I can't do that and needed to buy a mini pc.
I have the ASUS ROG Ally and I have to admit, I use that as my main pc and even did my application for a Canadian work Visa. I was granted the visa and I find it hilarious that I managed to do something so official on a small gaming device with all the lights flashing!
I do lot's of official work on my steam deck and had a bit of the same feeling, haha
How is it hilarious? People are filing official applications via $99 smartphones, and you are telling me that something costs 8X more would be able to do the same? Get outta here.
lol I feel you, I did government research work (intern) and simulations (ssh into supercomputer) via my steam deck and I found that hilarious.
@@AeyGee I think there's a bit of humour in the idea, as most people wouldn't see these devices as a viable replacement for that sort of work
@@AeyGeedamn bro it’s just ironic lol chill out
Honestly, have been using my Lenovo Legion Go as my main laptop for about 4 months, and I have no regrets.
Likewise
Same here for about a month. Just needs a little tuning and tweaking and 90% of the complaints in the video are a non issue
This or the PS5 tbh?
@@null-Oh-6666 very different devices. PS5 if you want high quality gaming vs the legion go if you want flexibility
Lenovo Legion Go + 8BitDo Retro Keyboard + Logitech Lift Mouse as my only PC setup in work and in home. Absolutely no regrets.
Is this a PC for ants?
@@AeyGeehey watch it you young whippersnapper you
Perfect for the minimalist look I'm going for 👌🏾
Nice post that's the type of keyboard I was looking for my Steam Deck
Why are you using such an expensive keyboard? You could have gone to a thrift store and gotten a keyboard for much cheaper probably less than $20. Also same with a mouse.
This shows their capabilities way more than I could ever explain it to someone. I don't wanna call gaming handhelds desktop replacements, even tho it can work, but rather laptop replacements. I love the portability. Gaming laptops may have a lot of horsepower, but they require way more power than something like the Legion Go, which I carry around a 10 foot USB C cable for, and a 30 dollar 65W brick. A dedicated charger for laptops, the laptop itself, peripherals for the device, etc. The Legion can technically be an all in one experience. And for 650 bucks it's a huge performance bang for your buck. I have a Desktop and the Legion Go, that to me is the best of both worlds. The Legion gets stuff done on the go with basically no fuss, and when I want to sit down and seriously game, I have my desktop. The fact that I can even get a roughly 50 maybe even 60% average gaming desktop experience for a portable 650 dollar juiced up tablet is remarkable
Bob the irony is you seemed happy with it as a gaming device when that was the primary use case, I think that’s an important point that you missed this time - the average user isn’t a professional video editor.
Many people who buy one as a gaming device just want to know if it works for general use as well, they know that compromises will have to be made.
I get that you showed YOUR personal experience but I love your videos so much because you usually do a great job of explaining who else it might work for and I kinda feel like you missed that this time my dude.
I simply haven’t used my gaming pc since getting my legion go as I can just carry it around the house with me, and plug it into my USB C monitor at my desk for online shopping and bills.
I have a company issued laptop that I can’t use for anything other than work, so a PC handheld fits really well into my life for basic tasks.
a Legion GO is a gaming device that happens to become a PC, much like a phone is a PC that happens to play games. Is that correct?
That's the tech youtuber "real world work" issue. Almost every time they want to show someone working they show video editing... Most ppl working with a pc use a variation of a text editor. But at the same time as you said he wanted to show his use case.
Give it time and APU specs in handheld PCs will become powerful enough GPUs to rival those found in laptops.
It use to be a time people could only rely on big honking desktop PCs with big expensive discreete graphics cards for video editing - Nvdia Quadros.
Then more people started using Laptops
I work in the corporate environment and we are now using AMD 7000 series + 780M Gpus for all laptops.
It will not be long people would rather just do it all on a handheld PC on the go instead of laptops.
5:43 You can also turn on the FPS mode switch while the controllers are connected to disable the built in controllers.
Thanks for the tip!
idk how I never thought of that lmao, would've saved me some time
Or just hold both of the legion buttons for 5 seconds and the controllers will turn off
@@kdubspencer3390 this does work while the controllers are disconnected from the device.
@@KuroZero it's in the instruction manual for the legion go but yeah works whether the controllers are connected or even if they're detached before powering the legion go on.
I have been using my Asus ROG Ally as my desktop, been 100% fine, USB C dock 1080p monitor.
Ally gang 💯
same. I use usb c docking station to get rid of unessary cables and Logi mx mouse and keyboard. i work from home and dont travel much with laptop anyway.
With that total cost you could get a beefy $800 gaming laptop that will do a much better job than this band aid.
@@AeyGee I already had the monitor and dock, Ally was only £550 on offer, you can’t get much of a laptop for that. Is fantastic for retro gaming.
@@AeyGeetrue, but it’s also worse for actual gaming. Paradoxically, one’s better for doing computer stuff on the go, and the other is better for gaming on the go, but they can each do both in a pinch.
I have looked at the arcade cabinet more than Bob this video haha Tetris was satisfying to watch
next up. bob uses a gameboy color running windows 11 and reaches radiant in valorant - i havent really played since after chamber came out and I got diamond.
The problem with using both screens with the eGPU probably was the bandwidth needed to send the screen contents back to the iGPU over the limited USB4 interface.
PCIe bottlenecks can ruin frame-pacing, as I have experienced by pairing an RX570 with my 3200G processor.
Which I solved by upgrading to a Vega 64 and power-limiting it to as low as it goes, giving my brother said RX570.
I use my Legion Go as my main when I travel for work, since I also carry my drawing tablet, which works as a second monitor. I pack my full Keyboard in my checked luggage either way, so it really is better for me than a larger device. (Especially in the Japanese hotels).
Been using the ally as my only computer since Black Friday. 100% works great and it’s not really noticed as a handheld when it’s docked
nice dude! I will get mine soon :)
Yeah I love mine too:pc games, loads of emulators, internet browser, RUclips, movies 😁😁
@@therunawaykid6523 sounds exactly what I'm expecting :) thanks for sharing
@@netrodex no problem 😉😁
TBH most of your criticisms were of Windows in general since you are clearly a MAC user lol I think most people who use Windows-based laptops/Desktop PC's on the regular for their work machines would do just fine switching to a handheld like the Legion GO as long as they wouldn't mind the performance loss.
I was thinking about that... I know my way around windows. Since 2015 I was learning for real before I was a mac user. So... I was like ah I see... his going way tooo hard on this handheld, and almost never use windows, just for games. yeah this won't end up well XD. my pick it's the ally as my next main pc. I don't do 4k video editing.. I should be fine lol
@@netrodexyep you should be fine, maybe wait for the new ally x since they fixed previous issue, or maybe look for that legion go, as you seen, removing the controllers makes it a good tablet too
@@Natsukashii1111 just beware of warranty claims with asus
This has convinced me to use PC handheld as main pc. It can't be slower or more painful than my current pc which is running on windows 7 and was made early 90s
I did this with my steam deck still with Linux on it since over a year ago and haven't looked back. Pc wasn't as bad as yours but this was an upgrade for me and was cheaper than other options. I do intensive stuff like Blender on it and it works great. It's a good idea.
No computer made in the early 90s can run Windows 7.
@@idoblenderstuffs Exact same situation as me. I think this video misses the point that not everybody can afford the set up he already had. On top of his biggest issue being video editing, which the majority of people will rarely, if ever, need. Especially at 4k quality.
@@dryden_drawingexactly. It’s been years since I’ve edited a video. I’m sure I could do it in a pinch with my rog ally. It works well as my main pc
@@mbvglidernot even a PC made in 2000 can run windows 7
Windows has a lot of random processes that will cause the fans to ramp up. Example: On my Max 2, which has a pretty quiet fan overall will just ramp up because Windows start pushing an update in the background.
I bet this device is still quieter than my main computer at full blast.
You bought a gp-dud.
Recommendation: reinstall windows, and then off the fresh install load ReviOS up. Been running it on my Deck and it's not had any "windows issues". ReviOS does a fantastic job trimming all that extra crap out, so the hardware can be focused into actually doing the stuff you want lol
Which is crazy cause the max 2 is pretty amazing with thermals and sounds. I have a fleet of dell latitude and they sound like they're blasting off to space.
Just a few points on how to fix some of the issues you were facing:
In my experience, the performance gain on custom 30W compared to "Performance mode" (25W) is absolutely minimal, and the fan speeds are way more reasonable in that setting, resulting in way less noise. When doing less demanding tasks, like video calls, writing or media playback, switching to quiet or balanced mode also works great, again, reducing noise and saving battery if you aren't plugged in.
The speakers are also tuned horribly by default, but aren't nearly as bad after turning off "Audio Enhancements" in the sound settings for the speakers specifically in Windows. Tuning them yourself with an EQ also helps a lot. In no way good still, but at least usable.
Nothing will ever be as bad as the speakers in (or connected to for some strange reason) my monitor.
The Steam Deck has pretty decent speakers. I wonder if the legion go's are worse or what?
I've done this with my SteamDeck for about 2 weeks because my main PC (also using Linux) died. I used a USB-C dock and hooked it up to my two monitors.
Other than games being slower, it was barely even noticeably different than my main PC. I was super impressed. I did run into a lot of issues with running out of RAM, but that was the only major negative.
I didn't have to do any video editing during that time (I have a separate PC for that anyway), so I didn't have the same requirements that Wulff Den did, but I was able to manage pretty well. I think the major pain point for this experiment was down to completely switching his workflows. Mac OS vs Win 11, Laptop with multiple external screens vs 1-3 screens depending on the Lenovo's mood, etc.
With my experience I was using the same OS, with the same keyboard, mouse, monitor, etc.., that I always used. My settings and files were already mostly synced between the two, so it only took like 20 minutes to change everything over. It almost made me question why I even bothered building my main PC when 95% of what I do works perfectly well on a device like 1/5th the price.
cause building a PC gives you more leeway for upgradability in the future, for all sorts of things.
If something breaks in the steamdeck, you're SOL. If something breaks in a PC, you can pinpoint a specific hardware piece
@@JeskidoYT You know you can also repair and replace SteamDeck parts, right?
@@JeskidoYT To a degree the Deck can be repaired. It's not as granular as a desktop, but it's superior reparability and to a degree upgradability to most modern laptops.
I've been using my Lenovo Legion Go as my main PC for around 1-2 months now and it's really interesting hearing the experience other people have had. Never messed around with an eGPU or anything, but that's mainly because I'm perfectly happy with 60 FPS (and pretty high rank in FPS games running 60 FPS). This thing is an editing BEAST compared to my old laptop which had a 3060 in it though, it's like 4-5x faster which has been an absolute godsend.
I've been able to use this device perfectly fine for normal activity and while traveling with a $30 bluetooth keyboard with trackpad, a $30 USB-C dock that has like 2 USB slots for my headset and mouse, a wireless mouse (I have an expensive one but a cheaper one probably works fine), and the charger cable. I do also have a second monitor that's portable with its own power source, but it's technically not needed, I just love having 2 displays on the go. I throw it all in a $10 laptop bag and have been able to use it like a charm and overall still is cheaper than a laptop in the price range while being a portable 2-display setup with controllers attached.
The multi-PC setup for streaming/recording you mentioned using might be worth looking into though, I've had so many issues with slightly corrupted video files from OBS (although still complete files that I've used in videos, they have a moment where they flash green or something) which all seem to be tied to how much processing power I'm using on the PC. It's really the only issue I've had using this device other than storage, but upgrading the storage to a 2TB 2230 SSD (if you're reading this, get a 2230 SSD w/ one of those $5 extenders, not the 2242 ones as they're very faulty hardware, was extremely easy.
yeah I'm happy with 60hz too! also it helps that I basically play non online fps games. Even tho the ally (my pick) can do 120hz, I'm go on 60hz. I've learned that most games breaks with 120hz... even on my powerful laptop
I love Bob so much his reactions are so relatable lol, I click whatever video he uploads, for that reason alone.
your adverts with your doggo are criminally satisfying,i feel like i got a hit of crack blown in my face. ty for the insight without the life destroying addiction.
Think of it less as a laptop and more like a desktop and a tablet and it works fine. I have a windows install on an SD in my steam deck that I mostly use for office work, data analysis, and just plain web surfing.
if you use proper typing form you're supposed to press the B key with your left hand, however, on a staggered board the B key is actually centered, meaning you can press it with either hand and it's the same distance. since the split board in the video is staggered (unlike most boards, which are ortholinear), having a difficult time pressing the B key with just your left hand makes sense, as the logical (though technically incorrect) way of pressing a B key on a staggered layout is to switch back and forth, which many do unconsciously, and staggered muscle memory is probably taking over.
I used my Legion Go as my primary computer when my main rig was down for an RMA. It worked fine driving two displays over a $100 CAD ($65 USD) TB dock. I even edited some 4K drone footage on it without any issues. For travel I use a folding bluetooth keyboard w/trackpad because the built in trackpad on the Go isn't good, as Bob noticed. Some tips: 1) When docked, just set the device to performance mode since you're plugged in anyway (Steam downloads are compressed and heavily use the CPU for decompression). 2) set a custom fan curve so the fan doesn't go crazy when it's not needed and you won't have to manually manage it either.
It's really not a bad experience if you're docked and using an external monitor. The only real limitation is the size of the built in screen. Honestly, it seems like a lot of Bob's complaints were Windows issues with his workflow, not that he was using a handheld device.
Issue is that his split keyboard was bad, you can get foldable usb keyboard that keep a normal layout with no seam in the middle...
The Legion Go is my favorite handheld chugger. I found less heat when charging through the bottom port for some reason when using other usb c chargers.
I'm a university student and I've been using the seam deck with the default steam os as my main pc since september, and it's been perfect. Easier than building a desktop pc of the same power, and it was cheaper for me. If you're someone who wants to do work on the go I could see it being an issue, but I only ever need to do work at my desk.
I've never had any issues with doing things while there's a download going, and I just watch RUclips on my phone when I'm eating in the kitchen. Having it docked, I'm at a good enough distance where the fan hasn't ever bothered me, but the most intensive thing I play is modded minecraft-which can get pretty intensive, just not as much as AAA games. I think the main issue throughout the video is that you're trying to use it as a laptop instead of a desktop computer. Video editing is the only thing that I can't really refute, but most people don't need to edit video, especially at 4k quality
Man, just get a proper laptop or a Macbook if you do not want to drop out of your university course with this bandaid solution.
@@AeyGee I'm entering year 3 now, I think I'll be fine. This isn't a bandaid solution it was my intent going in. The steam deck works as a fully functioning pc and I don't need a laptop for my school.
@@dryden_drawing But, how are you going to carry that setup to your university? Yes, it is portable, but you'll need a bigger screen.
@@AeyGee I don't need to bring it to the university, and if I ever did all I need to bring is the deck, a stand, and a portable keyboard and mouse which all fit fine in my bag. But for my schooling I don't need to.
Did you even read my comment? It is saying that it is a viable replacement for a desktop computer, and I could see issues if you want to do things other than gaming on the go, but even that it's not impossible as he had showed in the first few days. It just didn't work for his specific every single day.
And why would I need a bigger screen? Yeah it's small but you can increase the text size. I do that normally so i can have it at a bit of a distance on the side as a second monitor.
@@dryden_drawing My point is: why need to go through such hoops and loops to use your Steam Deck as a laptop, when you can just get a proper gaming laptop?
Yes, you may save some dime here and there, but at what cost. Also, your Steam Deck will get outdated at a faster rate than a proper laptop, which is also a valid point that Bob raised.
Congrats on 900K subs, luv uuuuu 💖💖💖
Just got my legion go 2 days ago. Im in love with it. Havent hit play yet but i hope youve been loving it too 😊
Awesome! Enjoy! Just got mine the same day! Loving it ☻
i main the legion go - and you nailed it ! the part where you're tinkering and figuring stuff out - is the best part.
From what I've gathered of information I noticed that the handheld X86 device could be used as a desktop replacement because who freaking cares what your desktop is shaped like. You have your own keyboard mouse your monitor is hooked up You don't really look at the tower unless you're plugging something into it.
As a laptop (or tablet with keybord case) replacement however it actually doesn't work as well. The handhelds are usually thicker than a laptop would be and they don't have a keyboard so you'd have to carry one separately.
What I did before these existed was have a desktop computer with lots of power and then a cheaper less powerful super portable device just so I could have windows on the go If I needed the power I just go home. If you're able to use one of these handhelds to replace your desktop then same rules apply.
I'm not sure who this long haired tech jesus is, but i like him
His name is Wood
He's an okay fellow. He's very opinionated, but thats why you check out his stuff. He does good research, and I enjoy his frank attitude on stuff. He's making his living being a Power user and doing more than most of us even would touch. Hats off to you Wulff Den
There's only one tech Jesus in this isn't him. Check out gamers Nexus
I was waiting for this video when you mentioned it on the podcast. I used my zfold as a computer, but sometimes you just need the real thing
Great! You just killed my summer project. hahaha
Thanks for the video and addressing it. I was really very close to doing exactly this and dumping my desktop + semi-defunct tablet.
It is proper to press B with either your left or right hand. Many split keyboards actually have 2 B keys for this reason, like alice keyboards from Keychron.
I'd be interested in seeing you trying this experiment again with a Steam Deck.
Replaced my macbook pro and pc with legion go as my main work device for 2 months now with the help of OWC thunderbolt 14 dock. Works great!
I love that Bob is using Kicad now 🤩
I'm a comp sci student and I'm using the GPD win mini as my only PC and before that it was the steam deck, I use a next dock to turn it into a full laptop and leave the mini in my bag with a cable coming out. Then when I sit down in the library I can pull it out as a second screen, also a dock at home for a monitor and kb+m. ngl I 100% recommend, I've done final projects start to finish laying back on its physical keyboard. if you can't tell I love this thing, watching this on it rn. Love your vids Bob :)
If you are more comfortable and familiar with editing videos on the mac, that's not the Legion Go's fault. I feel like if you were more used to editing videos in a Windows environment, that would be a better comparison. Also, having to deal with docks or external peripherals would certainly add a layer of complexity when trying to do something like this, so I'd say that's fair game. If someone were going to use this for their main rig though IDK how practical using an EGPU would be. Like, to me the point of buying a gaming device is to be able to game with it out of the box, and if I'm going to use it as my daily driver I'm probably not going to drop a ton of extra cash on it. Also, i think it would have been interesting to see you try streaming solely using the Legion Go since that is what you had been doing with your gaming PC. It would be good to compare that to see how practical it would be for someone using this as their only PC if they wanted to do streaming.
lol I'm watching this on my deck connected to a monitor in desktop mode
same bro. gpu died on my main pc. been using the deck with a dock at my desk. im on steamos and about to dualboot windows
My fiancée's Razer laptop died almost 2 years ago. The battery expanded putting pressure on the motherboard snapping it. Looking around, the Steam Deck was IMO the cheapest new "computer" you could buy (price to performance). They had just released the official dock and she already had a set up were she would dock her laptop. Ever since she has been operating her small business and gaming all with her Steam Deck mostly docked, using it similar to a desktop. I would borrow it every now and then to do some handheld gaming until I finally bought my own. Zero regrets.
hahahahaha this is soo funny coz... all my razer laptops blaoted with the battery as well... :/ from 3 different gens... it's not a good idea to run a heavy gpu on a small chassis. one was 60hz, the other small but with intel god awful burns, and finally the newest blade 2021 240hz. I was done with razer and went with asus. let your wife knows I know her pain really well, and I'm glad handheld pcs saved her :)
Does she use steamOS or has she loaded it up with windows?
@@JoeNokers She uses the default SteamOS, so far no need for Windows.
@@netrodex A friend mentioned that she could have sped up the battery problem by always leaving it plugged into the charger... I try to remind her to unplug her Steam Deck when not in use now.
@@Resident_Elmo not likely, the deck stops receiving power the moment it hits 100%.it's the same as modern gaming laptops no adays. but yeah if you are not using it, alway cool saving power ;) but overnight charge it's no problem
This video comes in clutch as I was wondering this exact question last week. But you convinced me more to look what I can do with my 7 years old XPS13 and an eGPU (not sure if this computer is compatible with eGPU though), than switching to a handheld PC.
Such an awesome idea for a video! Keep it up, bob
"It all adds up and it's all a pain in the ass" This was gold man.
I'm watching this video on my lenovo legion go :) I honestly love my legion because of the portability and the detachable controllers. I got a dock from amazon that plus into my monitor when when i want to use it on there or sometimes I'll just have it sitting to the side going through youtube vids whilst i play on my PS5 depending on the game. I got a wireless royal keyboard from amazon that's been pretty solid and just a cheap wireless mouse. I've tried using the 2.4GHZ dongles for them but they end up with sever input lag compared to just running bluetooth (could be the docks fault idk). But overall a fun experience. Thank you for reading my ted talk
This was a really cool idea. Great video. As much as I assume you wouldn't want to, I would love for you to do this with the Steam Deck and ROG Ally as well, so you could compare and contrast between them.
Ally would be about the same with just a smaller screen and more bandwidth issue (he connected egpu on one usb and his dock on another usb, you cannot do that on ally.)
Steam deck would be harder for him, he was already not used to windows it seems so having to tinker with Linux might be harder for him...
Congratz to 900k subs :D and nice vid ! Haha and watching GN ASUS vid ^^
I used my Steam Deck for a couple weeks when my laptop was being repaired, and honestly it was fine. Keeping in mind the fact that I only used it like I would a desktop PC, the only issue I had was bluetooth dropping in and out, which is an issue I always have with these headphones in desktop mode.
If you don't have a PC _at all_ , and just want to do light computing tasks, it's honestly perfectly fine. Keeping in mind the fact that your more demanding games are not really gonna run with good performance at 1080p on an external monitor with current gen handhelds. I would really only game on the handheld itself.
The form factor is just annoying tho if you intend on using it as a laptop tbh. If you need a laptop but don't want a gaming laptop due to the noise, battery life, thermals, etc, I'd pair a cheaper thin and light laptop with a handheld. A handheld + keyboard is not enough screen real estate. Add a portable monitor on to that, and it's taking up far more space and setup time than a laptop.
im in that light computer to compliment the handheld group you mentioned. I use a surface go 3 and steamdeck, both of which I bought around the same time. The surface go handles web browsing, videos, and chatting on discord, while steamdeck is just for gaming.
If I had one of the windows handhelds, maybe I'd consider doin other stuff on it, but currently I love my 2 device setup, as they just both "feel" right when using them for their designated tasks. Also being able to pull up game referenes and guides/notes on a seperate screen is nice for some games. Almost feels like im taking my multimonitor desktop setup with me on the go
Is the issue that it's a handheld, or is the issue that it runs windows?
Hypothetically, would a handheld with a Mac OS eliminate many of the complaints?
I think the concept of using a handheld PC to do all the regular things Laptop PCs and Desktop PCs do is very new to many people.
I think so, I think most of the issues he had were a Mac users struggles with Windows
I'm a video editor and graphic artist. I use my LeGo for all my PC needs, sold my PC last year (which I kinda regret tbh), but LeGo has been so convenient. Upgrade that SSD to 2TB and bring your work/games with you wherever you go. I also have a small dock at home for peripherals which makes productivity really easy. My main games on LeGo are CS2, Valorant, HD2, Fallout 4, and now Ghost of Tsushima. Been a decent 5 months tbh.
I'm with you, PC handhelds are just for gaming. Props to whoever can use them as their main PC, but it's not for me.
Although I have to admit, I've been known for not using stuff how It was intended lol. My main laptop, I consider it my portable desktop It's a 17 " Gygabyte with an I7 and RTX 3080, full keyboard (that includes full num pad). And what I finally considered a "laptop" it's a surface pro 6 I got a few months ago for dirt cheap, I love that thing, it does feel like a laptop and just fits anywhere
Video editing and multi-monitor high pixel density experiences are out of the question (and probably any other intense use of GPU)..., and also treating this as a laptop, a laptop is certainly a lot more convenient as a portable productivity device.
This is a different kind of device, when I bought my Rog Ally I didn't consider to use it as my primary device, I use it only as a convenience to consume content the most of the time, I like Windows GUIs.
I use my steamdeck as my windows + linux computer. I triple-booted it with windows 11 pro and ubuntu. I use it for physics research simulations and any other pc tasks.
been half working on my legion go as well with my desktop.
with my work (live2D rig), im surprised how capable this little handheld would do. away from home, its actually great. can do discord call with many screenshare views while also work.
its quite limited by 16GB ram so i had to set vram as auto for most ram available for me. sadly i dont think it can handle heavier work because of it. recently tried limiting to 4 cores and surprised its still feel as fast (i think the work program take single core turbo advantages), currently wanting to push for longer battery mileage with games only on 4 cores.
8.8" screen to work with is smallish, but fortunately i can tolerate it. that said in future i plan to buy a portable pen display to accommodate it. using the detachable controller as shortcut keys/macros is awesome, loving it.
glad to see your side of using it as main pc as i can see how it would work in your case. for me, would be a great replacement if it was equipped at least with 32GB-64GB ram.
I too use a split keyboard (for ergonomic reasons). I too was punished by the Gods for my incorrect hand assignment of the B key. Took me months to stop swinging at air. Very relatable.
Noooo Wulff we didn't skip your ad at the start of the show we love you . hahah lol
There's another fix for lenovo wanting to use its controllers as the main controller when you have it paired with a different controller: Put the lenovo right controller into the mouse mode. Then it won't recognize it as a controller anymore and your paired controller becomes your main.
Been using my legion go connected to the TV in the living room to emulate some ps2. And it's awesome for that. Disconnecting the controller and using it as a mouse on the couch is a really nice feature to have if you need to mess with the settings.
i have been using my lenovo legion go as my main "laptop" and it's been great! my setup is pretty simple (one external monitor and i turn off the legion go's screen) and i've been able to do a lot of the things i need to do on it. Web browsing and some web development. And gaming obviously. I think the fact that it needs to share it's RAM with it's GPU is probably a big issue with performance for heavier productivity apps, but I haven't had to do that yet and things run pretty smoothly for me.
Thank you for doing the dirty work so we can all benefit! This plus your OLED burn-in test are why I am subbed
I sold my xps15 to only using my Ally. There are some convenience quirks like more cables and a portable monitor if I leave the house to work but 80% of the time it’s great. The joysticks are often enough to navigate for basic things
This is wild to use a PC handheld as a main computer
It's not that "wild" to do that. It is a pc after all.
I used my steam deck way more for gaming than I did with my gaming desktop. My homelab died, so I replaced it with my gaming desktop, and now have my steam deck as my primary, docked at my desk. I absolutely love it.
I also kept mine on linux, just swapped it to Bazzite. I've been using my wife's windows laptop too recently, and it's awful.
Gotta appreciate bob's dedication to the bois
2:36 The Steam Deck IS capable of Windows. The OG version fully so, the OLED Version just has some hickups with audio and bluetooth - but we're already dealing wiht peripherals anyway, and these would make even that work.
17:40 create HD proxy and edit that, then relink to high-res on export. That’s how the pros do it.
ppl complaining about fan loudness flatout confuse me. I mean I can hear it, but in no way is it distracting.
I have a Legion Go, and my neighborhood & house are so loud I have almost never noticed ther fans LOL
Commenting while watching the sponser segment. I would imagine it performs ok other than for video editing for your normal daily work.
I have my steam deck docked to my monitor with a keyboard and mouse plugged in, and it’s worked flawlessly for everything I need it for, granted I’m not doing anything as gpu-heavy as video games editing, but not ran into a single problem, in fact having the deck screen as a discord/ Spotify screen is really intuitive and easy to manage. I do want a desktop pc at some point but nothing about the steam deck is making me necessarily need one
Thanks for the video, I was thinking in using a Legion go like this for some time. Since I don’t need to work with my pc, is just to play pc games and browse the web.
First, I really like your coffee cup 😊.
One thing we have to remember is that, yes the Legion Go or any handheld is 100% PC. It just comes with a much smaller monitor and without keyboard and practical touchpad comparing to a laptop. But because of the ports, we can connect to all kinds of peripherals to make it a full function PC with any size of the screen you like. In the end, it’s possible but it needs docks or hubs, but it IS possible.
But it is IMPOSSIBLE to make a laptop smaller like a handheld. Controllers are peripherals, so we bring them with the laptop, it’s the same as a handheld. But it’s about the total package size that matters. When the laptop is big in size, you just can’t shrink it down, you can scale it up using external monitors just like the handheld but it just can’t make itself smaller when you want it.
That’s the reason for those who want to stick with 8.8” screen as the smallest screen size comparing to laptop. Otherwise, if people prefer power, for sure laptop is the ONLY choice.
Thanks for this. I'm a Mac users but thought about getting one of these for gaming, but also to use a as Windows machine. The overall impression is that it would suck to make this one main computer, but as a gaming handheld that can do some basic computer stuff, it's not too bad.
You absolutely CAN use a handheld as a main computer. That is, if you go into it with at least a tiiiny bit of common sense and the understanding that an iGPU is in no way, shape or form a match for a dedicated GPU from this decade. This could come as a shock, but most people do not stream, make podcasts or edit videos....
" I wanted to see if it would be practical for anyone to do it".....SOOOOO out of touch, it is not even funny.
I mean, considering that you have so many higher usage requirements, the fact that it's working at all is pretty great. If someone just wants a gaming machine that could handle excel, it's a pretty good sell.
I swear i heard his mic peak when he said YAHUNGRY this time 😂😂
The "I did it!" [21:34] would have been awesome if you had done it like the blair witch project, lol.
I was inbetween devices for a while and I used my Legion Go and it was plenty fast for office tasks, email/excel/ppt/web zero issues at all with the Thunderbolt powered dock I had to my OLED Ultrawide. Gaming at that definition was a no, but everything else scaled great
8:36 This is because Steam games have to be decompressed and often unencrypted. Steam downloads go hard on the CPU.
I have been using a gdp win mini as my only pc for a couple of months and while i would never recommend this to anyone ever, i am having a lot of fun with it
I love using the steam deck as a pc when I travel. Mostly to edit videos but also to work on documents. It took a little to adjust to Linux but it got the job done. Then I could game afterwards. Win-win.
Thank you❤
This is almost exactly what I plan to do in the next few months.
I'm planning to leave windows completely and try to go 100% Android with a Retro Pocket 4 Pro.
As screen I will use a Samsung 4k TV.
Might add some dock to the setup.
Will use a mini-keyboard and mouse that I already use and like.
The thing is that 90% of my gaming is emulating my old consoles and for work I only use Word and Excel wich I will replace with Google Docs and Sheets.
The thing is that I don't mind having to do "work arounds" and being a bit constricted, it's part of the fun.
(will keep my MSI laptop just in case)
I pre-ordered the NexDock XL and plan to use my phone/steamdeck on it as laptop for most things
Steamdeck and these PC hand helds are decent mobile desk tops. At LTT’s lan event last year or two years ago majority of people that came were using a steam deck or something equivalent as their set up.
This handheld gaming PC is a millionaire idea. Taking your PC wherever you go is genius.
You make the podcast room look so big. I did not expect it to be that small.
I like this video concept but tbh I was really hoping you would do it with the Steam Deck bc I have an old MacBook Air from 2013 which it's past time to upgrade. I recently bought a new IPad for casual browsing and streaming and I'm considering getting a Steam Deck OLED. I don't do a ton of stuff on my laptop outside of web browsing and basic file management. I like the concept of getting a Steam Deck OLED and then using it as a computer maybe once a week when I need a computer for things my iPad can't do or can't do well. I'd store all my photos and stuff on external drives like I do already. Would be cool to see a video like this for Steam Deck for casual PC use.
I have a split keyboard with the B key on the left and it messes me up constantly too! Thank you for the validation lol
Sounds like the Lenovo set your video editing back 20+ years.
I feel like I remember one of my typing teachers telling me way back in the day that some people type B with the right index and some the left.
I don't do anything crazy like editing on my computer, so I walked away from this video convinced I could get by using it. I have a steam deck, and I'm always amazed at how much it can do. Hopefully in the future, the concept of an all in one device is more realized.
Somehow my Steamdeck has replaced my laptop for light browsing. I still use an iPad/Tablet though for media consumption and reading comics/mangas when laying down on the couch or bed though. It's wild that hit a point where someone can have a Portable Gaming Handheld be there only device. I've been dreaming of a device like these since I was a kid tbh.
Pre-ordered a Win Max 2 (2024 update coming in the next month or so), and feel like it may skirt the line a little better. Still not a better value proposition overall than a standard issue laptop, but man is that super small form factor impressive and alluring. Agree with your conclusion, though, it’s definitely not going to be my main.
I’ve only had my steam deck for about a month and I’m not using it as a desktop replacement but instead a replacement for my 9+yo laptop and it has been great! I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to have discord going in the background but while I figure that out I just run discord on my phone.
The retro game corps 6 month update for the Go addressed some of the issues like with audio. I suggest anyone on the fence about getting the Go to watch that as well.
I used the steam deck as my main driver for 6 months followed by the Win GPD 4 for about a year now. I use it for game development including Reaper, FL studio, unity, blender, photoshop, Vegas movie studio and many others. The win gpds keyboard was a game changing upgrade, that aside I use a 16inch portable monitor with a folding Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Footprint is still smaller than a laptop and I have the best of worlds.
Long story short, I don’t see myself ever going back to regular laptops but I could see myself upgrading to a clamshell device in the future. I wouldn’t recommend using the steam deck on the go mainly due to the lack of keyboard.
I used the Steam Deck has both my handheld and my main PC for almost 2 years and it handled well for the most part. Where I really started to run into slowdown was with Video Editing and Streaming. The Deck would take pretty long to render out videos at 4k 60 fps video so I had to switch to 1080p videos. I also could not stream my mobile games or Switch using the Deck has the stream PC cause the Deck couldn't handle both a webcam and capture card connected simultaneously. I tried multiple different docks, cables, settings etc. It just couldnt handle two webcam like devices at the same time. It also lacked an AMD hardware encoder by default so streams couldnt be 1080p 60fps without massive dropped frames every few seconds. Lastly, the Deck couldnt handle playing a game natively on the device and stream it at the same time.
I just recently switched to the ROG Ally and its insane how much more of a legit PC replacement it feels like. Has full Windows support so its way less complicated to use as a desktop and all the apps and software I use are readily available. The Ally is powerful enough that it can play games on the device and stream them too. By default the Ally has AMDs hardware encoder in OBS so stream quality is soooo much better than the Steam Deck. And lastly, the Ally out of the box supports multiple webcam like devices simultaneously so I have zero issues having a webcam, capture card, and all my peripherals running at the same time. Super excited to keep using the Ally as my main PC and to see what Asus does with the rumored Ally 2
I’ve been using a Steam Deck as my sole home PC for a year and a half now and love it. Gaming, RUclips videos, and occasionally working from home on days I can’t come into the office. Easy to pop on the dock to my dual monitor setup and just as easy to take off the dock and play in bed.
I use this set up but with Steam Deck, and its perfect for my second bedroom
Storing the macbook for a week next to a speaker with big ol' magnets inside. I hope those are shielded studio monitors.