this post was submitted on 07 Jan 2025
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Linux Gaming

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[–] [email protected] 29 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

No TouchPad so I'll pass, but a non Windows version is a step in the right direction.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

The little square below the joystick is a touchpad apparently. I think it wouldbe cooler though if they just used the nipple from their laptops. It would be smaller and IMO more usable than such a small touchpad.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I thought it was a fingerprint reader at first glance! I agree that usability could be an issue at that size. Do you think the trackpoint would be much better than a joystick?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

I dont think itd be much better but it has a small footprint and is more usable at that size than a trackpad. I think those are good qualities to have for a small portable device like this. I like my steam deck but I dont personally use the trackpads often and almost never the one on the left so one small nipple would be amazing for me. I used it a lot on my old lenovos.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

wow... I hadn't thought of that until you mentioned it but a trackpoint in thumb's reach on a steamdeck-like device is a great idea. And good marketing continuity for Lenovo

[–] [email protected] 26 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

In May, the true experiment will begin when gamers can pick between a $499.99 SteamOS version with 16GB / 512GB, a $599.99 Windows version with 16GB / 1TB

Is there any logical reason for the Windows version to have more storage? What is that about?

[–] [email protected] 37 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Masking the cost of the Windows license is my guess.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 weeks ago

Microsoft has weird rules with OEMs about selling the same hardware without a Windows license. This might be a way around it.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Why would they want to do that? Like, if I'm Lenovo, I'm genuinely excited about this, and want people to buy it. They can pocket the difference on the Windows license while selling more units because the product is more attractive. They have no reason to actively encourage people to stick with Windows, unless MS is paying them to?

It really just seems like an experiment for them. I hope people buy them...

[–] slimerancher 12 points 3 weeks ago

Probably don't want to antagonize MS, but don't know how things work at this level, so just randomly guessing.

[–] [email protected] 24 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

Storage is cheap, windows licensing is expensive, maybe Lenovo is trying to add value for the people who want to stick to Windows

Probably not, though. Hopefully it's repairable/upgradable.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Lenovo is trying to add value for the people who want to stick to Windows

Why would they do that?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 weeks ago

No idea, hence my "probably not"

A deal with Microsoft, maybe?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

Yeah looks like the drive is one of those smol m.2 sticks so you should be able to swap it out, as long as you can reinstall steam os on the new one. Can’t imagine that would be an issue tbh.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 3 weeks ago

Must need it to fit all that bloatware lmao

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

To hide the license cost for Windows.

That extra 512GB storage costs ~$30 or so but I doubt average consumer has any idea about that.
Also there's the thing that Windows alone requires like 100GB space...

[–] Pieisawesome 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

No it doesn’t? The minimum spec says 64gb of storage, but windows itself takes 20-30gb.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

100GB was a decent approximation then, only 50% over the actual minimum spec

[–] [email protected] 15 points 3 weeks ago

A pricier version of the windows one launches now, and the SteamOS one launches in 4 months.

I get why that's the case but it's still dumb

[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Lenovo will never get my money after they were caught installing rootkits on their computers. Fuck 'em, I don't care how cheap they get.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

If you're looking for ethical hardware manufacturers, there are none. Just do a clean install when you get it, like every other computer.

I would assume licensing SteamOS legally prevents them from doing something like that, but who knows.

[–] chronicledmonocle 10 points 3 weeks ago

IIRC Lenovo's rootkit fuckery was in UEFI and auto-launched even after a fresh Windows install. It was complete bullshit.

[–] 3laws 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

You think they're manufacturing their own hardware?

[–] 3laws 1 points 2 weeks ago

Just as much as mayor OEMs, yes. Even borrowing old licensed designs that are now Open and they still very much improve over them. You can literally find videos of their assembly and design processes.

[–] flubba86 6 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

No Thanks. This is using the new Z2 Go chip. That is the lowest tier of all the new AMD chips. It's for some reason built on the old Zen 3 architecture, and is even slower than the vanilla Z1 (non-extreme) from 2 years ago. And it's using the outdated RDNA2 graphics cores.

This is probably good for best compatibility with SteamOS (close to Steamdeck hardware) but it's not good compared to today's most efficient or most powerful chips.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

Honestly, now it's a toss-up between getting a Legion Go or a Steam Deck...As I prefer the control scheme Lenovo is rocking. I never really liked the massive touchpads. However, that could easily be resolved by using the Steam Deck in Docked Mode on my 4K TV. Getting cozy on the couch with a good game or on the go is pretty appealing. It makes me happy that another manufacturer is hesitantly embracing Steam OS, as it if this does go well, we'll see more devices with Steam OS.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

~~It got rid of the touchpad the Legion has ffs~~

[–] dinckelman 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

It's still there. That tiny little square under the right stick is that

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Man I am an idiot, I thought that was a fingerprint sensor. Thanks for the correction.

[–] dinckelman 2 points 3 weeks ago

You're all good. A lot of people thought so too. Really odd design choice, but it's better than nothing, I suppose

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

Looks like Lenovo got a lot right with their Steam OS device. Competetive price and interesting specs.

[–] hellofriend 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I wonder how much they're saving not having to ship Win with it.

[–] BlameTheAntifa 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

About $50, though it depends on the edition.

[–] hellofriend 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Well, that's still $50 that's not passed to the consumer. Not much, but it's a week's groceries.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 weeks ago

It is passed to customer. SteamOS version is $100 cheaper than Windows version.

The windows version has 512GB more storage, but that's ~$30 more for hardware

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

Buy the Linux one and put in a 2TB drive?