this post was submitted on 07 Jan 2025
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Linux Gaming

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[–] heavy@sh.itjust.works 28 points 6 days ago (1 children)

No TouchPad so I'll pass, but a non Windows version is a step in the right direction.

[–] RogueAozame@programming.dev 14 points 6 days ago (2 children)

The little square below the joystick is a touchpad apparently. I think it wouldbe cooler though if they just used the nipple from their laptops. It would be smaller and IMO more usable than such a small touchpad.

[–] stargazingpenguin@lemmy.zip 5 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I thought it was a fingerprint reader at first glance! I agree that usability could be an issue at that size. Do you think the trackpoint would be much better than a joystick?

[–] RogueAozame@programming.dev 3 points 5 days ago

I dont think itd be much better but it has a small footprint and is more usable at that size than a trackpad. I think those are good qualities to have for a small portable device like this. I like my steam deck but I dont personally use the trackpads often and almost never the one on the left so one small nipple would be amazing for me. I used it a lot on my old lenovos.

[–] mranderson17@infosec.pub 3 points 5 days ago

wow... I hadn't thought of that until you mentioned it but a trackpoint in thumb's reach on a steamdeck-like device is a great idea. And good marketing continuity for Lenovo

Buy the Linux one and put in a 2TB drive?

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 26 points 6 days ago (4 children)

In May, the true experiment will begin when gamers can pick between a $499.99 SteamOS version with 16GB / 512GB, a $599.99 Windows version with 16GB / 1TB

Is there any logical reason for the Windows version to have more storage? What is that about?

[–] IrateAnteater@sh.itjust.works 36 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Masking the cost of the Windows license is my guess.

[–] Toribor@corndog.social 10 points 5 days ago

Microsoft has weird rules with OEMs about selling the same hardware without a Windows license. This might be a way around it.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 9 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Why would they want to do that? Like, if I'm Lenovo, I'm genuinely excited about this, and want people to buy it. They can pocket the difference on the Windows license while selling more units because the product is more attractive. They have no reason to actively encourage people to stick with Windows, unless MS is paying them to?

It really just seems like an experiment for them. I hope people buy them...

[–] slimerancher@lemmy.world 12 points 6 days ago

Probably don't want to antagonize MS, but don't know how things work at this level, so just randomly guessing.

[–] EonNShadow@pawb.social 24 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (2 children)

Storage is cheap, windows licensing is expensive, maybe Lenovo is trying to add value for the people who want to stick to Windows

Probably not, though. Hopefully it's repairable/upgradable.

[–] casmael@lemm.ee 2 points 5 days ago

Yeah looks like the drive is one of those smol m.2 sticks so you should be able to swap it out, as long as you can reinstall steam os on the new one. Can’t imagine that would be an issue tbh.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Lenovo is trying to add value for the people who want to stick to Windows

Why would they do that?

[–] EonNShadow@pawb.social 6 points 6 days ago

No idea, hence my "probably not"

A deal with Microsoft, maybe?

[–] VerilyFemme@lemmy.blahaj.zone 14 points 6 days ago

Must need it to fit all that bloatware lmao

[–] hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

To hide the license cost for Windows.

That extra 512GB storage costs ~$30 or so but I doubt average consumer has any idea about that.
Also there's the thing that Windows alone requires like 100GB space...

[–] Pieisawesome@lemmy.world 0 points 6 days ago (1 children)

No it doesn’t? The minimum spec says 64gb of storage, but windows itself takes 20-30gb.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications

[–] hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

100GB was a decent approximation then, only 50% over the actual minimum spec

[–] Blisterexe@lemmy.zip 15 points 6 days ago

A pricier version of the windows one launches now, and the SteamOS one launches in 4 months.

I get why that's the case but it's still dumb

[–] DontMakeMoreBabies@lemm.ee 12 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Lenovo will never get my money after they were caught installing rootkits on their computers. Fuck 'em, I don't care how cheap they get.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 14 points 6 days ago (2 children)

If you're looking for ethical hardware manufacturers, there are none. Just do a clean install when you get it, like every other computer.

I would assume licensing SteamOS legally prevents them from doing something like that, but who knows.

[–] 3laws@lemmy.world 1 points 13 hours ago (1 children)
[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 1 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

You think they're manufacturing their own hardware?

[–] 3laws@lemmy.world 1 points 13 hours ago

Just as much as mayor OEMs, yes. Even borrowing old licensed designs that are now Open and they still very much improve over them. You can literally find videos of their assembly and design processes.

[–] chronicledmonocle@lemmy.world 10 points 5 days ago

IIRC Lenovo's rootkit fuckery was in UEFI and auto-launched even after a fresh Windows install. It was complete bullshit.

[–] flubba86@lemmy.world 6 points 5 days ago* (last edited 14 hours ago)

No Thanks. This is using the new Z2 Go chip. That is the lowest tier of all the new AMD chips. It's for some reason built on the old Zen 3 architecture, and is even slower than the vanilla Z1 (non-extreme) from 2 years ago. And it's using the outdated RDNA2 graphics cores.

This is probably good for best compatibility with SteamOS (close to Steamdeck hardware) but it's not good compared to today's most efficient or most powerful chips.

[–] LiveLM@lemmy.zip 3 points 6 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

~~It got rid of the touchpad the Legion has ffs~~

[–] dinckelman@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

It's still there. That tiny little square under the right stick is that

[–] LiveLM@lemmy.zip 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Man I am an idiot, I thought that was a fingerprint sensor. Thanks for the correction.

[–] dinckelman@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago

You're all good. A lot of people thought so too. Really odd design choice, but it's better than nothing, I suppose

[–] hellofriend@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I wonder how much they're saving not having to ship Win with it.

[–] BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

About $50, though it depends on the edition.

[–] hellofriend@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Well, that's still $50 that's not passed to the consumer. Not much, but it's a week's groceries.

[–] hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 6 days ago

It is passed to customer. SteamOS version is $100 cheaper than Windows version.

The windows version has 512GB more storage, but that's ~$30 more for hardware

[–] cron@feddit.org 2 points 6 days ago

Looks like Lenovo got a lot right with their Steam OS device. Competetive price and interesting specs.