SkylinestarWe normally don't recommend intel i7 or AMD Ryzen7 for the general gaming market. But look at this mobile market. It's 7 everywhere. We seriously need a cheaper model with lower core/thread count while maintaining that powerful graphics.

The mobile and desktop parts cant be compared like that

A desktop i7 can be a 250W 8 core, while a laptop i7 can be a 15W dual core

SkylinestarWe normally don't recommend intel i7 or AMD Ryzen7 for the general gaming market. But look at this mobile market. It's 7 everywhere. We seriously need a cheaper model with lower core/thread count while maintaining that powerful graphics.

I agree that something like an 8-core is kind of unnecessary for this use case, but there's a big difference between recommendations for a DIY desktop PC where everything is bought at retail and a pre-built mobile device where the OEM negotiates component pricing directly with the manufacturer. The price difference betweeh using the Ryzen 7 6800U and some theoretical 12CU 6c Ryzen 5 would likely be negligible. And it's always cheaper to negotiate pricing for a large volume of a single SKU than splitting that volume across several SKUs. The main important thing in this case is the iGPU's CU count, which necessitates the Ryzen 7, as the 6600U has half the CUs. And that's perfectly fine - though it would be interesting to see the effects on power consumption and performance of disabling two cores in the BIOS (if it allows this option).

lexluthermiesterI think you're blowing the keyboard issue WAY out of proportion. And again, disabling UAC is anything but "niche". I'm going to leave it at that.

I haven't bothered disabling UAC since the W7 days, as it's both far less annoying than it was, an far more rare of an occurrence these days in my experience. As for the keyboard thing, I'd recommend looking at a few reviews of running Windows on the Steam Deck, then come back. The inability to trigger an on-screen keyboard in games - an ability that Windows doesn't have on its own - is game-breaking in many situatiuons, and renders a lot of older games (the ones most suited to this level of performance!) fundamentally unplayable as sections often often require keyboard input. It's obviously entirely down to the game in question, but it's a major hurdle standing in the way of these devices being suitable for mainstream use, and one of the major advantages of the Steam Deck.

ValantarThe inability to trigger an on-screen keyboard in games - an ability that Windows doesn't have on its own - is game-breaking in many situatiuons, and renders a lot of older games (the ones most suited to this level of performance!) fundamentally unplayable as sections often often require keyboard input.

Again, bluetooth keyboard or don't run the game. But here's the thing, the app store has quite a few onscreen keyboard apps that can be configured on a per-app/program/game basis.

ValantarIt's obviously entirely down to the game in question, but it's a major hurdle standing in the way of these devices being suitable for mainstream use, and one of the major advantages of the Steam Deck.

Damned if you don't, damned if you do. So with this Windows tablet, there are a few solutions AND you can run the Steam client, the Epic client, games from GOG and just about ANYTHING else Windows can run. With the Steam deck, you're mostly limited to what Valve has managed to get running at lower specs.

It's like Sophie's choice for morons, in tech context...

I'll take the AYANEO please, even at the higher price..

Hi guys. I've been looking at these for a while now, waiting for an RDNA version to appear. This one looks quite promising, spec wise, even if it does appear to be less elegant in appearance.

Don't forget that AMD likes to lock their best performance graphics chip behind the 7 series, which is likely why they went with the 6800U.

Don't fret about keyboard functionality. It's been accounted for in the software overlay. Lots of videos of the Neo and Neo Next you can watch if you're concerned.

Also, they haven't been hyping it, but there's a Neo 2 Slide pre-production model floating around out there also where the screen slides up to reveal a physical keyboard, just like your 2008 phone had. That might be your jam.

I would expect the price to start at $1200 and go up from there, judging from previous releases. And keep in mind, that's only if you preorder in the Indigogo fundraiser. Like I said, I don't have one yet, but have been watching for a while.

Looks like a really fun system if you're gaming on the go. Much smaller than the Steam Deck also. Think Switch sized. It's got better cooling than the Steam Deck also. You get what you pay for, even with the Steam Deck having a subsidized build cost.

I don't know, but the Neo 2 might be where I finally bite. Aya seems to be the most legitimate and quality builder of these consoles, easily outpacing OneXgamer and GPD in that regard.

Don't write it off just yet and keep your eyes open for the preorder if you want one in a timely manner and at the best price.