Windows vs Steam OS for your deck?

3 years ago by rangerzenith to c/steamdeck

Have any of you switched to windows? Just curious how it went and if it's preferred over the og os

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Louise 3 points 3 years ago

I replaced an aging laptop with mine, and I have to say, Windows is fine on the Steam Deck. It's obviously not going to have all the same bells and whistles but performance for most games is the same and it is more flexible on compatability since it runs natively instead of via Proton.

I've been using dual boot for this and started since I got my Deck in early July last year, and a lot of the hate is really overblown. It's good if you just want to use the Deck the same way as any other computer or with applications that cannot work in Steam OS and it's a completely fine experience, and applications like Handheld Companion or Steam Deck Tools make it simpler.

I would just say that it's up to preference and need since it does need setup and tweaking, so if all you care about is playing a few games that work fine in Steam OS, there is not much reason to dual boot for Windows and Steam OS is simpler to set up. But if you want more freedom on application choices and compatability or even just to use it for more everyday purposes like any other computer, Windows runs perfectly fine on it. It will be ultimately up to preference and use case.

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Saitama 4 points 3 years ago

Is performance really the same under Windows? How do the controller layouts work under Windows? I've been wondering if it would be worth it to try Windows for a few games that have issues with Proton.

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Louise 2 points 3 years ago

By default, controller layouts won't immediately work, but there are multiple fan software that works fine in giving full access/control. Steam Deck Tools will very easily just make it work in that it will allow you to use it as a controller, but I use Handheld Companion because I can map the ... button to keyboard, STEAM to showing the home screen, and the back controls I've mapped to changing mouse modes or even screenshots/recording. You really have tons of flexibility and these software get updates often for more features.

Steam Deck Tools also has options for other Steam OS features like FPS/performance tracking, fan control, etc. so I'd recommend checking them out if you do end up going with them. There's also other software for similar purposes like Glossi and SWICD, but those have a few issues/are a bit outdated versus Handheld Companion and Steam Deck Tools.

TLDR: works pretty well!

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Fizz 3 points 3 years ago

My hate isn't for the performance and game compatibility of windows. It's because they gained a monopoly through illegal business practices and they use that power to snuff innovation and compatibility for anything non windows.

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Louise 0 points 3 years ago

I wouldn't really say they use that power to "snuff innovation," Windows was the operating system which is why everything is built around it most of the time and they worked on making sure XCloud would work with the Steam Deck. It's just how it works with any operating system being different in that you'll need to jump through additional hoops to make something from other operating systems work with other ones. Not saying Windows isn't flawed or that Microsoft doesn't have its own corrupt practices, but I wouldn't say that they attack compatibility for non-Windows things.

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