Is the Steam Deck a game console or a computer?
Actually, the answer to this question is up to you. If you just want a working game console from the steam catalog, then Steam Deck out of the box is the solution for you. You just turn it on and use it, the same level of difficulty as a PlayStation or Xbox.
If you want to take advantage of the PC potential that’s hiding in that little box, you can use Steam OS, which is simply Linux or install Windows 10 or Windows 11 (both are officially supported, and there are official drivers for both).
In that case, you can use Deck to play games not only from Steam but also Epic, GOG, Ubisoft, Blizzard, etc.
But you can also use it as a portable computer. And if you connect it to a docking station, monitor, keyboard, and mouse, you have a desktop computer, perfect for work (as long as you’re not someone who puts up a million virtual machines and needs a herd of cores and terabytes of RAM).
And what is it for me? At first, it was a console for playing Steam games, but it became clear pretty quickly that I wanted more. I simply have too many games bought elsewhere and can’t use them. In addition, the service software for my car is only on Windows, so I have a service computer right away, ideal because it’s small, convenient, with a long-lasting battery 🙂
But as I wrote – it all depends on the owner.
