this post was submitted on 12 Jan 2024
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Steam Deck

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I've never had a Steam account or done PC gaming. I have a OLED SteamDeck coming, what do I need to know? (lemmy.world)
submitted 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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Pretty much title, and looking for game recommendations. I'm hoping I can play Apex Legends and The Finals reasonably well on it. I'm out of cell service frequently so I'm looking for interesting games I can download. I'm mostly a FPS player but do third person for World of Warships on console.

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Some things people haven't mentioned:

  • Get a screen protector at minimum. It will help protect against scratches and might save it from a drop.
  • Get in the habit of zipping your case up when the Deck is inside. If you grab the handle while it's unzipped, your deck is going to discover why it's not the fall that kills you but the sudden stop at the end.
  • If you know you're unlikely to remember that, get/print yourself a Steam Deck Lifesaver.
  • Download the free game Aperture Desk Job. It is a great, fun way to get used to the Deck's controls.
  • Go into Desktop Mode, go to the Discover store, and download Proton-Up. Get the latest GE Proton from its interface. Steam's default version is usually fine, but the GE version can sometimes fix compatibility bugs for non-verified games.
  • To maximize battery, you may need to adjust settings, either in game or via the three-dot-button on your deck.
  • (Optional) Get some silicone thumbstick covers. Oils from your fingers will wear out the sticks' rubber eventually.
[–] [email protected] 14 points 9 months ago (4 children)

I'm gonna recommend NOT getting a screen protector. They're highly reflective grease magnets, in my experience.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago

Seconded !

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I have to disagree for three reasons:

  • The grease magnet effect is just because the screen protector folks didn't apply an oleophobic coating. You can buy it and apply it yourself, if it bothers you. Additionally, the oleophobic coating on the Steam Deck will wear out eventually, so you'll still wind up with grease anyway.
  • You've done nothing to protect against scratches. When the Deck's screen gets scratched, you're SoL. Replacing a screen protector is easier and cheaper than the Deck's bonded screen.
  • A screen protector can absorb a drop, in much the same way as a crumple zone on a car. The kinetic energy that would crack your screen has a higher chance of being absorbed by the protector, cracking it instead.

Also, just get a cotton microfiber cloth to clean the protector, if you don't want to be bothered by applying a coating. Most games don't require touch controls, anyway.

The cost of replacing a whole screen seems like a worse tradeoff than having some oils you can only see when the screen is off.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 9 months ago (2 children)

None of the devices I have owned in the last decade have scratches on the screen including the steam deck. They already are resistant to that.

What the hell do people do with them to get scratches?

[–] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago

Next, you're gonna tell me you don't use yours to build sandcastles...

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

The vast majority of (visible) scratches come from putting a display in your pocket. Dirt and shit (especially sand. fucking sand) will demolish a screen.

But it is also something where a lot of people are running on decade(s) old information. Even the majority of non-fancy displays are generally at least "tempered glass" and can hold up to most normal wear and tear.

And the Steam Deck has the benefit of (among other things) the sticks being too fragile to just throw it in a bag without the case. So as long as you don't take the case out at the beach, you are fine and it is protected at almost all times.

That said: I am still a screen protector person. Mostly because it is 10-20 bucks for peace of mind. I have only ever had to replace one once in my entire life but... yeah. But also? My tablet doesn't have a screen protector (since the vast majority would interfere with stylus responsiveness) and instead relies on a folio cover. And I have zero worries.

I'll also add that I think the nintendo consoles REALLY fucked people up. I want to say it was the 3ds and everything before it was straight up plastic? And I can't find anything definitive, but I want to say the switch is also a plastic screen? That is the territory where not trimming your nails regularly enough or picking it up after you had a few crisps can start to cause damage.

The other common argument is it will protect a display in case of a fall. I... mostly call BS on that one. Yes, there are freak occurences where it will land perfectly on its screen on a raised object and cause just enough damage to the screen protector without hurting the display or the device underneath. But a shocking amount of work goes into drop-proofing devices so that your unprotected screen ALSO is very unlikely to crack unless it is falling straight on an exposed metal bolt... at which point your device is likely fucked too. And the extra layer of tempered glass does nothing for a side or corner impact.

Also, the Steam Deck's analog sticks and the like are far more likely to get damaged than the screen in the case of a "normal" fall.

ALSO: Maybe don't throw your toys around?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Never had a screen protector on any of my phones either. 3-4 years later, there are scratches so small you'd never see them unless the screen was off.

Actually I think I had one at one point and it broke in the first couple of weeks and I didn't feel like replacing it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I got myself a matte screen protector and I love it.

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

Ugh. I went out of my way to avoid a matte screen...

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The advantage of a matte screen protector over a matte screen is that if I get sick of it I can just remove it.

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

I mean, or you could just not install it 😀

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

But I like matte screens. Yes the colors are worse, but they feel better and have less reflections(the reasons why you tried to avoid screen protectors).

[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago

Personally, I don't agree. I've had a screen protector on my steam deck since I bought mine around a year and a half ago, I can't say that I've noticed any problems with fingerprinting but that type of thing also doesn't bother me. I'd rather have the increased security of actually having a screen protector on the device so I don't have to pay for a screen replacement. I have the same attitude towards any device with a touch screen.