this post was submitted on 01 Dec 2023
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[–] huskypenguin@sh.itjust.works 11 points 11 months ago (4 children)

Is the steam deck a console?

[–] OtisRamflow@lemm.ee 31 points 11 months ago (1 children)
[–] Cort@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

To be fair, does that make a ps3 running Linux a desktop PC?

[–] linuxdweeb@lemm.ee 9 points 11 months ago (1 children)

"PC" historically refers to devices that are "IBM PC" compatible, although nowadays that mostly means machines with x86 chips... except that powerful ARM desktops, laptops, and servers are becoming a thing too so that's not accurate either. Plus there's that whole "Mac vs PC" ad which also makes the term more confusing.

But even going by the recent historical usage, I'd say the Steam Deck qualifies since it has an x86 chip, whereas the PS3 has a weird custom PowerPC cpu (which, ironically, was made by IBM).

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 11 months ago

really at this point PC just means it's not locked down to a highly specific software source and lets you change the OS

[–] OrnateLuna@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 11 months ago (1 children)

For the purposes of this conversation I would say yes

Then again I would count the steam deck more as a console than a PC in most scenarios

[–] Kecessa@sh.itjust.works 4 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

I count it as a portable mini-PC because the games I'm playing on it are the same I own on PC, using the same account...

[–] Waluigis_Talking_Buttplug@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (2 children)

I guess that depends on your definition, but really I'd lump it into handheld computer, I've owned several, such as the GPD Win series

You can install desktop Linux software on it with no need to perform any types of "jailbreak" so while steam os is a proprietary skin for Linux, its not really locked down the way traditional brick consoles are.

Console doesn't have a hard definition, so anyone could come through and make a case for why it is.

Edit: you can see the people replying after me all have different definitions and standards for the word, it's arbitrary really

[–] OtisRamflow@lemm.ee 3 points 11 months ago

It runs desktop Linux natively, steam button, power, switch to desktop.

[–] Dudewitbow@lemmy.zip 0 points 11 months ago (1 children)

So was a launch ps3 not a console because you could install linux as an "OtherOS" before sony revoked thr feature?

Again, it's a loose definition and it's pointless and purposefully contrarian to argue about it.

[–] 9point6@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yes. It's a mass manufactured consumer product with gaming as it's intended purpose

That's a console.

[–] EatYouWell@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Consoles typically lock the player into their ecosystem, though. You don't have to use steam to play games on the deck.

[–] 9point6@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

They don't have to though, that's just what most consoles do.