Having been predominantly a PC gamer for 30 years... PCs more hassle to update and maintain. When I finish work I want to sit on my sofa and play with as little inconvenience as possible.

Consoles fit nicely in a living room and are better for local multiplayer. This generation they were also cheaper than buying the equivalent PC hardware at launch.

[–] woelkchen@lemmy.world 10 points 9 months ago (1 children)

PCs more hassle to update and maintain.

That's Windows, not PCs in general. Steam Deck is an example of a PC system done right where the OS just works and tinkering is optional.

[–] Redacted@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago (2 children)

I mean desktop, wouldn't really class the Deck as a PC.

Been tempted to get one but I use the Switch or cloud gaming on the go so have most bases covered already.

[–] woelkchen@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

And I meant that the majority of "PC maintenance" originates from Windows. Tasks like dust removal from cooling vents isn't a daily thing (and applies to consoles just the same).

[–] Redacted@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

True, but if I'm spending thousands on a machine, I tend to want to be able to do other things on it so unfortunately Windows usually enters the equation.

Will consider a dedicated SteamOS box when I next refresh.

[–] woelkchen@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

True, but if I’m spending thousands on a machine, I tend to want to be able to do other things on it so unfortunately Windows usually enters the equation.

Then it's still Windows maintenance, not PC maintenance. For Intel and AMD GPUs, any regular convenience Linux distribution (like Fedora) works with negligible maintenance. It's only those NVidia users or people who feel the urge to tweak everything steer themselves into maintenance hell.

[–] Redacted@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Surely you still have to update drivers and OS?!

I dual boot Linux on my PC and run it on Raspberry Pis. Let's not pretend it requires zero maintenance.

[–] woelkchen@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago

Surely you still have to update drivers and OS?!

Drivers are part of the OS and OS updates happen everywhere. Game consoles or Steam Deck are no exceptions.

[–] Zozano@lemy.lol 1 points 9 months ago (2 children)

The Steam Deck IS a PC though. You can install SteamOS on your computer if you wanted to.

For the purpose of the argument the other user was making, it is functionally similar enough to consoles that it doesn't feel like a PC, unless you want it to. So really, it suits everyone.

[–] OswaldBuzzbald@midwest.social 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Not to mention that it is literally a PC. It even has a full desktop environment mode running KDE.

[–] Redacted@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

You are correct by the technical definition, I apologise for suggesting the Steam Deck is not a PC lol.

What sort of things do you run on yours? I'd have thought it being a handheld it wouldn't be that useful for anything I'd want to run on it as it wouldn't be always on or connected.

My preference is a dedicated desktop box I can upgrade and potentially run some services like DNS, PiHole and some automated scripts on. I'd rather spend the money on that and keep using the Switch or cloud gaming when I'm on the go.

[–] OswaldBuzzbald@midwest.social 1 points 9 months ago

No need to apologize friend. I just always want to inform everyone that the Steam Deck is capable of being used as a PC on the go if you have some peripherals. I have some third party launchers, and emulation stuff on my desktop side. I also have KeePass and a Google Drive for my passwords. I personally don't use it for any other desktop activities because I have my laptop and my desktop for that, but it could handle those tasks (word processing and office tasks, general web browsing, etc) just like my other computers do. I even bought a nice little keyboard and have a wireless mouse for my Steam Deck, as well as a portable screen.

As far as homelab and server applications like Pihole, yeah I would probably not run those on the Steam Deck either, but I also wouldn't put them on a laptop or my desktop. I put those on my homelab server running Proxmox because I turn my desktop off when it's not in use.

[–] Redacted@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Yes hence why I corrected to desktop. Sorry, just always used to using PC and desktop as interchangeable terms but see why you'd want to differentiate these days.

My point is I don't want a handheld that I have to plug in. If I'm going the PC route I'd prefer a desktop box I can upgrade so although the Deck is great, it doesn't suit literally all use cases.