Edit: I meant to say a GAMING PC in the title

I feel like im in such the minority here, which isn’t bad. I’ve never had a “gaming” PC. I saved up and bought a MacBook laptop for college years ago. The only time I would game on a PC would have been coolmath.com back in the computer lab days. I’ve been a console boy my whole life. I play on PS only, but wanted something to emulate old games and play some AAA titles portablely. I picked up a Switch OLED about 7 months ago, but between the high cost of nearly all games and how restrictive it feels, I wanted more.

All of this is so foreign to me. I’ve played emulators on my phone before, but that’s about my extent of knowledge. Getting a SD and seeing things mentioned like “Proton” and “TDP” sounds like a foreign language to me, lol.

I’m learning, slowly. I’ve got Emudeck installed and I’ve got a decent understand of Desktop mode. I’m not even 30 but I sound like an old man. How many of you are like me? I’ve learned many things only due to owning a Steam Deck!

  • SaraSpruce@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    My main “gaming PC” until I got the Deck was a low-end desktop from 10 years ago (i3-4330 and GTX 660Ti). I still use it, but pretty much exclusively for playing racing sims with a steering wheel and pedals. My other PC is a cheapish Windows laptop I bought last year.

    I had originally planned to build a new gaming PC this summer, but I realized that the extra investment over a Steam Deck wasn’t worth it for me, and the portability of the Deck was also a big selling point for me, so I ended up getting that instead.

    I also have an Xbox One and a bunch of older consoles, but I definitely play them more rarely since I got the Deck.

  • NoddyBoy5@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    I bought a steam deck rather than a PC. Been running on chrome books and consoles for many years. I only want to play Street fighter 6 on it, but obviously start to play other games and emulate a bit.

  • djtripd@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    Always been a Mac user and just owned consoles for gaming over the years. I now use an iPad Pro as my computer and Steam Deck for games.

    I love my current setup because when I’m at home I use my iPad Pro with a TV/Keyboard/Mouse like a desktop and switch inputs and dock my Steam Deck for gaming. When I travel my entire setup is portable and comes with me, I can even use the iPad Pro as an external display.

  • Velocity_Rob@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    I have two Steam Decks and I don’t have a gaming PC.

    My last gaming PC had a 980 and when it was time to upgrade, graphics cards were going for the price of a small second-hand car.

    I was happy enough with my Series X until the Steam Deck came along. Now I think it’s honestly the best gaming device since the original PlayStation. It helps that with three kids, it fits into my life perfectly but Valve have really changed the game with the Deck.

  • Erakko@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    I have macbook, nintendo switch and ps5. Then I wanted to play PC games and steamdeck seemed like a perfect option since its like nintendo switch but plays different games.

  • abbysingh@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    I’m exactly like you, haven’t had a PC for 10 years, and I’ve been exclusively a console gamer since. Bought the switch and enjoyed it for a while but the performance and cost of games was frustrating, and now I’m really happy with the deck. I use my PS5 for the latest and greatest AAAs and the deck for older AAAs and newer indies. I’m honestly having a blast. I don’t think I had so much fun when I got the switch.

  • Gaurillah@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    I sold my pc and got a Steam Deck. There wasn’t anything I could do on my phone and iPad that I could not do on my gaming PC.

    I frankly felt that my PC was too expensive to just stay there and collect dust. I didn’t even game on it that much as it felt like a hassle to go to my room, turn on and game. Now I can just sit in the living room with the wife and play games while she watches tv.

    I even feel like I game more often now.

  • Liam_lyh@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    i have my main pc on my motherland but currently doing my degree at another country with my macbook, and yes steam deck really saved my life

  • elbarto-one@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    Not only have I never had a gaming pc, I never never had steam. Now I have 3 decks and a backlog a few years long. Thanks Gabe.

  • KMisthebomb@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    I’m in the same boat as you. I have a laptop for school but it can’t game, so I bought a steam deck. It’s cheaper than a desktop and having school and gaming separated is nice.

  • WordStained@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    I don’t have a PC either. I mean, I’ve got a laptop, but it really can’t run games, so I got the Deck to be able to play PC games that I was missing out on.