Happy to answer! Don’t worry I don’t bite haha.

Its draws for me were:

• Portability: Carry it wherever you want. Game on the couch or on the go.
• Price: Starts at 400 USD.
• Performance: It has decent performance.
• Ease of use: It’s plug and play like a console. Don’t have to mess around with settings if you don’t want to.
• Dockable: Use any USB C dock to connect it to your monitor/TV and play games on a larger screen.
• Linux PC: Switch to Desktop Mode and it’s now a regular computer.
• Not restricted to Steam: If you have a game library on other service such as GOG or Epic, you can use a third-party launcher like Heroic.
• Repairability: Valve’s been good about providing spare parts. You can upgrade storage on your own.
• Comes with a nice carry case.

Drawbacks that I found:

• Certain games aren’t supported on Linux - especially many multiplayer games with anti-cheat.
• It’s heavy: My fingers fatigue far quicker as compared to a Nintendo Switch. Haven’t tried other handhelds so I can’t provide a comparison with them.

I don’t think you can take your 3 curved monitors in eg. trains or other travel with you. :P

I don’t have steamdeck either, but seems like pretty dope portable system to me.

I have a perfectly capable gaming PC but more often than not, I choose to play on the Steam Deck instead. I already sit at my desk for work most of the day, so it’s nice having a dedicated gaming device that I can take with me and sit in the garden or on my sofa. And of course I can take it with me when travelling.

When its 2 inches from your face monitor size doesn’t matter

I play a lot of flights and train rides. Tried the laptop life. No real comparison especially with the APUs being so strong these days.

For me, it lets me play my PC games while I’m stuck with no PC.

I only have a laptop at the moment which while nice isn’t at all adequate for games.
So I went for a deck. I had to learn how to use a controller, but the machine itself is very solid and has, so far run everything I have thrown at it.

I suppose that everyone has a different story with it. It’s great little machine.

Well, same as the nintendo switch but with more power and desktop capabilities, gaming on the go is is awesome. Also it can be incredibly cheap for a portable machine that runs elden ring

I also don’t own a Steam deck and have a good PC with a curved screen. And for couch co-op even a 4k projector with a 100 inch screen.

But I definitely understand that there are uses for being able to take all your games with you and play them anywhere. I already sit at my desk for hours at work.

Of course, it depends a lot on the genre. Competitive FPS or RTS I would rather not play on the small screen, but games like Dave The Diver, Dredge or Balatro sound perfect to me.

Yeah what’s the appeal of portable gaming console (which is also a computer if you want it to be)?

Beats me tbh🤔

I’ve got a 1440p oled, driven by a 4090 monstrosity at home that I use mainly for apex legends. I also travel for work 3-4 months of the year, and the steam deck is great for catching up on all the other games in my library while I’m on the road.

have 3 26" curved monitors at 5760x1080,

OK, but do you have a really comfy couch?

I don’t have one myself, but I see so many others mentioning using it as their main PC hooking it up to a monitor or TV and using external peripherals. And that makes sense to me considering its price and power capabilities. It’s one of, if not the cheapest, pre-built gaming PC you can get.

I’ve got a Deck, and for me it’s my primary gaming platform cuz I’ve not been able to get my PC to my Uni. It’s also much easier to pick up and put down which helps a lot with busy schedules.

Portability is nice, it’s the same appeal as having Skyrim on the Switch, except it renders Skyrim and many more games much better than the Switch could ever dream of

I thought about getting a steam deck until I realized there is no way I would ever use it. I’m like you, I have a sweet PC gaming setup. Nothing that I play would do well on a small form factor. Also, I use traveling or being out of the house as time to engage with the real world and people, or for reading.

Never played it