Soooo yeah, I sold my Steam Deck (which I love) in preparation to get an OLED but I was very curious about the ROG Ally, mostly for the performance and VRR, so I bought one.

Here’s a quick rundown of my experience:

  • Took 2h or 3h just to get set up. Between Windows setup, windows updates, etc. it was very frustrating not being able to use the machine right away.
  • After I thought I was mostly ready to install games, the machine was incredibly slow. Like, opening Explorer or Steam would take 30s+. Activity Monitor didn’t really show any high cpu processes. Just intermittent blips of 20% or 30% on some tasks but would go back down. Machine was unusable though.
  • Googled for a bit and found there were lots of updates on MyASUS and Armory Crate. Two distinct pieces of software I had never used. Why two???
  • After I updated everything and did a firmware update everything was speedy again, so I installed a few games.
  • Started Sekiro as my first game since I had trouble hitting decent FPS on the Deck. The game would not respond to button inputs. And yes, I was in “game controller mode”. Quit out of the game and start it again: same thing.
  • Decided to reboot Windows and voila, now it received button inputs. (sigh)
  • The performance is indeed incredible. I was very impressed with VRR in particular.
  • I then tried Guardians of the Galaxy. Crashed on the first run with no error.
  • When I was finally in the game I was playing around with the power profiles / game modes / keyboard shortcuts using the Armory overlay or whatever it’s called. After changing a few settings the overlay froze. I was able to toggle it on/off but tapping the buttons did nothing.
  • Force quitting Armory crate didn’t seem to work. Had to reboot. Maybe I had to force quit some other dependent service?

Anyway, I could go on but it was just frustration after frustration. I never thought I’d see the day Linux would be simpler and friendlier than Windows but here we are.

I returned it even though I liked the form factor, performance, screen, VRR, the quiet fans, etc. The hardware is great. Windows is a non-starter for a handheld console.

Let’s go OLED STEAM DECK!!!

  • ecruz010@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    The Ally is better than the steam deck for newer titles since it is more performant and supports VRR (being able to play a game at 40-50 variable is a big upgrade over 30 fps lock) . For older stuff/emulation steam deck is better due to less power consumption.

  • Zeroreoxo@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    I owned a Steam Deck (gifted to a friend) and have a ROG Ally. The Ally is a good device personally, but I wouldn’t recommend to anyone easily because it can be complicated to use. It’s far from a “power on and play” experience.

    I like the Ally’s hardware but also miss the software from Steam Deck. Windows to me it’s a love & hate relationship. I love the fact that I am able to access Steam, Xbox Game Pass, Epic, GoG… etc easily, and also good application compatibility, but also hate the clunky interface, and not optimized/handheld-ready yet.

    I’m considering getting the Steam Deck OLED. Not sure whether it is an upgrade or not, but I do have more faith in Valve’s software support than Microsoft

  • No-Rough-7597@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    Yup, all of this sounds like typical Windows behavior, slow setup, frustrating apps, weird sleep behavior etc.

    IMO the Deck really strikes a perfect balance between PC and Handheld by basically being a handheld console first, and PC second. Unfortunately Windows devices will never be able to hit the same level of seamless usability that the Deck affords.

  • ExplorerBlaze64@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    This why I completely ignored the Ally and stayed loyal to Steam Deck. Don’t want to deal with all that mess that you have to do to set it up. I’m a least happy there’s competition for the Deck so Valve will always have some competition to keep them on their toes.

  • Tbhjr@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    Yeah, that’s why I won’t get a Windows handheld, unless Microsoft actually does make a mobile version of Windows for gaming devices. Gaming handhelds are for gaming. I love tinkering and messing with Windows on my gaming desktop, but I don’t like it on a handheld device.

  • DicksMcgee02@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    The Ally is not for people who wants console experience. It’s for people who love to tinker.

      • get_homebrewed@alien.topB
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        1 year ago

        Yeah tinkering with twenty different programs, juggling regedit and cmd prompt and the thousands of folders while also having a worse experience overall is not the greatest feeling

  • Zram310@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    I have a Steam Deck and a Aya Neo Air Pro. The Air Pro (specifically the fact that it runs Windows) doesn’t make it a user friendly gaming device. But at the same time, Windows allows it to have a lot of utility. I do prefer Steam OS as a gaming OS but I like having a Windows as an option since I am familiar with it. And yes, I’ve experienced similar issues with the Aya Neo (buttons not working, games crashing, random errors) but I almost always find a solution with either a quick Google search or a reboot. Far from ideal, but until Steam OS can install game pass games, Im keeping at least one windows handheld

  • chrisdpratt@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    It’s the hard lesson people apparently need to learn the hard way. The Ally/Legion/etc. are Windows PCs with a controller attached. The Deck is a handheld gaming device. Every part of it has been engineered for gaming, from the form factor to the inputs to the hardware and software. Sure, it’s not the most powerful. There were already more powerful devices from Aya, GPD, etc. before the Steam Deck was even released. Nothing else, though, has nailed the whole experience like the Steam Deck has, and they just dunked on the competition even harder with the new OLED models.

    • Jenaxu@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      Not to disagree with any of your points, but I do find it amusing how the Steam Deck has converted a lot of PC gamers to now praise the same things that they used to constantly dunk on console gamers for. That there is a lot of value in things being less complicated, having less set up, being more streamlined, and just being plug and play for gaming only, even if it comes at the expense of performance or control or tweakability or whatever.

      Like 5-10 years ago it felt like if you even mentioned that you didn’t enjoy fussing with settings and troubleshooting to get optimal performance on PCMR people would act like you’re just too stupid to do it correctly. Obv the Deck is still different in that it really does a decent job of balancing both the tweakability and the “it just works” aspect, but I’m happy that there seems to be more appreciation now for the different conveniences to the gaming experience beyond just dick measuring raw horsepower.

      • rkaycom@alien.topB
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        1 year ago

        I don’t think it converted anyone, the SD is fundamentally different, it’s a portable device, no one wants to troubleshoot on a plane with no internet. It didn’t convert any PC gamer, there are just different expectations for the device in general.

    • Belmonkey@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      I thought Steam Deck would try not to be the “best” device on purpose so that other options running SteamOS would be able to find their own niches like a better screen, more battery, etc to make them stand out more from the Deck.

      The OLED just raised the bar significantly.

    • homer_3@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      Every part of it has been engineered for gaming, from the form factor

      Definitely not form factor. It’s huge and has poor button placement with the B button falling off the freaking side of the device.

    • maga_extremist@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      And a lesson for me the other way!

      I listened to takes like yours and just assumed windows would be trash on handheld. I still see a lot of people parroting this false narrative without having first hand experience.

      I’m super happy with my Ally. No desire at all to go back to a Deck.

      I’m a PC gamer though. I know what I’m doing. I understand a lot of deck buyers are console gamers who need a more “guided” experience shall I say 😂

      And that’s totally fine. Both are fine consoles. Just for different audiences.

      I won’t be going back to Linux in a hurry though. So glad things “just work” now that I’m back on windows.

      • Erigisar@alien.topB
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        1 year ago

        Yeah, I’ve tried going back to my Deck after having the Ally and I just can’t.

        The display alone is so much better, not to mention the touchscreen on the Ally is actually functional.

      • rathlord@alien.topB
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        1 year ago

        “I’m a real PC gamer so I love windows, Linux is for people who are too dumb for PC’s. Also I was too dumb for Linux so I had to go back to Windows.”

        What a fuckin deranged take lol. Pick a lane for your opinion.

      • jekket@alien.topB
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        1 year ago

        I’m a PC gamer though. I know what I’m doing. I understand a lot of deck buyers are console gamers who need a more “guided” experience shall I say

        So if by “guided experience” you mean a stable client with seamless usability without f@ckery with different stores, launchers, input mishandling from game to game, with predictable sleep/wake behavior and performance controls that actually work, then yeah, guilty as hell.

  • MofoPro@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    I will admit I also have both and pick the ROG Ally first over my OG Deck every time , will probably change when I get the OLED Deck . It’s not plug and play like the SD but performs very well and requires tinkering to get right but I’m used to Windows handhelds and like the extra games I’m able to play .
    AC does suck and G helper is so much better , can wait to order my OLED tomorrow

  • scottsg60@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    I own both. Unless you’re only playing Steam games the SD requires far more tinkering than the Ally.

  • epsilon_ix@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    My only problem with the steam deck is that a FOMOD based mod doesn’t work properly in fallout 4 due to loose files not being read correctly by Linux. I only wished I knew even more about programming. Also know that the Ally can’t be much easier to set up