Tag Archives: Handhelds

Featured, Mobile & Handhelds

‘Too Big’ For Steam Deck: AAA Games Are Struggling On Valve’s Handheld

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Oliver Mackenzie (Digital Foundry) does his best to run the latest triple-A games on Valve’s handheld. Which games run well? Which games run well and look decent? And which games are indeed simply ‘Too Big’ for Steam Deck? Does a more powerful handheld like the Asus ROG Ally power past the Deck’s problems?

The Valve Steam Deck, aka Gabe Newell’s love letter to PC gamers who secretly wanted a Nintendo Switch but were too proud to admit it. This chonky handheld beast is basically a gaming PC crammed into a device the size of a grilled cheese sandwich on steroids—portable enough to take anywhere, but still big enough to make your wrists question your life choices after an hour of Elden Ring.

What Makes It Special?

  • Runs your entire Steam library—which means you can finally ignore 90% of the games you impulse-bought during a Steam sale… on the go!

  • Has trackpads! Because Valve still believes that trackpads are the future, despite a decade of gamers collectively going, “Ehh…”

  • Customizable as heck—want to install Windows? Emulators? A toaster simulator? Go wild.

  • “Portable,” but in a “you might need a dedicated backpack for it” kind of way.

The Downsides?

  • Battery life is… negotiable. Playing a high-end game? Congrats, you have about 90 minutes before your Deck turns into an expensive paperweight.

  • It’s big. Like, big big. Holding one is like gripping a sci-fi weapon from a movie where The Rock has to save the world.

  • Linux-based OS, which is great if you love tinkering, but if you’re just trying to play games, you’ll occasionally feel like you’ve been thrown into IT Tech Support mode.

Final Verdict?

The Steam Deck is a glorious, slightly impractical marvel—perfect for anyone who wants to game anywhere, anytime, and develop forearms like a Greek statue in the process. It’s the closest thing we have to a true portable gaming PC, and for that, we salute Valve. Now if only they’d make Half-Life 3…

Featured, System Reviews, Mobile & Handhelds, PC Games

OneXPlayer G1 Gaming PC – It’s Powerful…but WEIRD

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The OneXPlayer G1 is like a gaming laptop and a Steam Deck had a wild night out and accidentally created a boxy, overpowered handheld that can run Cyberpunk 2077 and give you a forearm workout. It’s the device for people who think, “Sure, I want portability—but I also want all the frames, a full keyboard, and a controller that cramps.” MORE INFO: https://bit.ly/43qnp59

Featured, Special Episodes

2023 Holiday Gift Guide – 10 Gifts for Gamers!

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My 2023 Holiday gift guide! 10 gaming products I recommend including handhelds, keyboards, arcade machines, handheld grips, HDMI converters, books, controllers & more!

Products Mentioned:
Super Pockets – https://amzn.to/3ueI4JQ
8bitdo Retro Mechanical Keyboard – https://amzn.to/3szk03N
Replicade Ghosts n Goblins – https://newwavetoys.com
Satisfye ZenGrip Ronin for Switch – https://www.satisfye.com
Stylth Grip for Steam Deck – https://www.satisfye.com
RetroTink 2x & 5x – https://www.retrotink.com
The Console Chronicles- https://bit.ly/MJRLIC
A Handheld History Book – https://amzn.to/3uhM1gO
Nitro Deck – https://amzn.to/3MJmJPd
Space Invaders 1/4 arcades – https://numskull.com
Retro Fighters controllers – https://amzn.to/46il36b
Grid Studio – https://gridstudio.cc

(As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases from affiliate links)

Featured, System Reviews

The IBM WorkPad z50 was a quirky $1,000 PC for CEOs

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Today I’m unboxing a IBM WorkPad z50 which was a quirky $1,000 PC for CEOs. There are a ton of quirks and features built into this little handheld PC! ++ WATCH >> https://youtu.be/y1nHgkcj-Q8

The IBM WorkPad series of PCs, also known as the IBM WorkPad PC Companion, was a line of portable computing devices introduced by IBM in the late 1990s. These devices were designed with the aim of providing professionals with a compact and lightweight computing solution for on-the-go productivity. The WorkPad series was particularly notable for its sleek and ergonomic design, making it highly portable and easy to carry.

The WorkPad PCs were powered by various iterations of the Palm operating system, a precursor to modern mobile operating systems like iOS and Android. They featured monochrome displays and stylus-based input, emphasizing pen-based computing. This made them well-suited for tasks such as note-taking, calendar management, and basic document editing. Despite their limited processing power compared to full-fledged laptops of the time, the WorkPad series offered a convenient and efficient means of managing personal information and performing essential computing tasks while away from the office or home.

Though the WorkPad series was eventually discontinued, it played a significant role in the early development of portable computing technology. Its emphasis on mobility and productivity paved the way for later generations of mobile devices, influencing the design and functionality of modern smartphones and tablets. The legacy of the IBM WorkPad series can still be seen in the portable computing devices we use today.

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ROG Ally vs Steam Deck vs Nintendo Switch

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Having spent a bunch of time with both now, I wanted to share my thoughts on how the ROG Ally compares to the Steam Deck, with a couple thoughts thrown in for how they relate to the Nintendo Switch. Looking at comfort in handheld mode, button and sticks layout, battery life, game performance, gameplay while docked, and how the general experience is different for each one.

The ROG Ally, Steam Deck, and Nintendo Switch are all gaming devices that cater to different segments of the gaming community, each with its own set of features and target audience.

The ROG Ally is a product by ASUS under their Republic of Gamers (ROG) brand, primarily focused on high-performance gaming laptops and peripherals. While specific details about the ROG Ally might have emerged after my last knowledge update in September 2021, ASUS often emphasizes powerful hardware components, customizable RGB lighting, and advanced cooling systems in their ROG lineup. The ROG Ally is likely to offer a more traditional gaming laptop experience with a wide range of games from various platforms, making it suitable for gamers seeking a comprehensive gaming and computing solution.

On the other hand, the Steam Deck is Valve’s venture into the handheld gaming market. It runs on a custom AMD APU, blending a quad-core Zen 2 CPU with RDNA 2 graphics architecture, which brings substantial gaming power to a portable device. The Steam Deck is designed to provide a dedicated handheld PC gaming experience, allowing users to access their existing Steam library, as well as other PC platforms like Epic Games Store, GOG, and more. It essentially functions as a portable gaming PC, offering more versatility and potential for productivity tasks compared to traditional gaming consoles.

The Nintendo Switch, released in 2017, pioneered the concept of a hybrid gaming console. It seamlessly transitions between a handheld mode and a TV-connected mode. The Switch’s focus lies in Nintendo’s first-party game lineup, offering exclusive titles like “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” “Super Mario Odyssey,” and “Animal Crossing: New Horizons.” Its unique Joy-Con controllers and family-friendly gaming experience have contributed to its widespread appeal. However, the Switch’s hardware capabilities are more limited compared to the other two devices, making it less suitable for graphically demanding games available on other platforms.

In summary, the ROG Ally is likely to offer a high-performance gaming laptop experience, the Steam Deck provides a portable PC gaming experience with access to various storefronts, and the Nintendo Switch focuses on exclusive Nintendo titles and versatile hybrid gameplay. The choice between these devices ultimately depends on the user’s preferences, gaming library, and desired gaming experience.