$400 is one hell of a deal for an entry level gaming PC that just works.

Pro: We're forgetting that this isn't just for existing PC gamers. I ought to be pushing for Nintendo and Sony exclusives on PC, I know, but seeing as they're not on PC (not entirely, at least), it makes more sense to me to get a console if you want to create more gaming opportunities away from your desk. (Image credit: Valve)Ĭon: I get the appeal of leaving your desk, but a $400-plus hunk of screen with the games I already have somehow doesn't feel like the best solution. With a dock, you can use the Steam Deck as a desktop PC, if you want. Pro: You can use it in bed, or on your couch, too. Carrying around a Steam handheld (which I'd probably have to really tinker with to get Hearthstone onto, by the way), feels like a commitment to going outside for the purpose of looking at a screen, and seems unnecessary to me. I'm down to put in a few rounds of Hearthstone at the coffee shop, but I'd use a multi-purpose device like my phone or a laptop. Maybe I just don't care about gaming outside of my home, which I suppose is all I needed to say to explain the rift between us here. JamesĬon: I don't really want to game at a bar.

Spending endless evenings glued to my desk just for a hobby makes me reel in abject horror if I know I can just bring the hobby with me. I like the idea of a more ambient PC gaming lifestyle, where I can hop on my Deck to check out the latest Baldur's Gate 3 patch while sipping a beer at a dive bar while waiting for some friends, or poke at an Elden Ring boss on the train. Once I clock out, I fill my backpack with stuff I might wanna dip into if the occasion arises: books, swimming shorts, and now, a whole-ass gaming PC. My biggest problem with PC gaming is that it's usually tied to a desk in an isolated room away from friends and family, and the last thing I wanna do after working at a desk all day is stay sitting to play some games.

Pro: I don't want to bring a gaming laptop to a bar. A Razer Blade 14 (opens in new tab) is significantly more expensive, sure, but if you're thinking of dropping $650 on a 512GB Steam Deck, I feel like you're on your way there. Con: If we're plugging it in all the time, then why not just get a gaming laptop? You can use it for work or school or for writing your spec script about a haunted oak tree and emailing it to Netflix, and it also has all your Steam games on it.

Is the steam deck a pc