TL;DR: Antec is going to be selling a Steam Deck competitive device, based on the Ayaneo Slide. The device has a slide up screen that reveals a keyboard, which is good because using desktop windows is much easier with a keyboard. However the device’s lowest estimated power draw at low/no load is 15w, meaning it will use comparable power to the deck running at max power. This means the battery life will probably be pretty rough when compared to the Deck. It will also likely have a much higher price point.
The inclusion of the keyboard is a little perplexing. On paper it makes sense that a lot of PC games are built for or work best with a keyboard, but that’s because you’re using stuff as hotkeys, not because you’re typing. How do you comfortably do that with this form factor? I feel like a panel of fewer programmable buttons would’ve made more sense.
It’s almost as if Valve thought this through when they engineered the steam deck
I would imagine its for the typing you might need to do, rather than using an onscreen keyboard.
Not sure if I’d prefer a tiny physical keyboard with shitty flat buttons over a swipe capable touch keyboard. Especially since it does not look like it would be comfortable to reach with your thumbs.
Just seems odd if this is supposed to be a gaming device. How much typing do you really do on a steam deck?
I didn’t say it was a good idea, lol
I did it once. To install emulators. I think it’s easier now, but early on you had to do a bunch of command line shit. On screen keyboard is terrible at that, but plug a keyboard in and it’s fine.
Never bothered since.