ie a Console. You still can't distinct a square from a circle then. Not even more understanding devices utilizing a conventional UEFI with stemming into IBM PC compatible from where the actual term BIOS came from and a complete alternative incompatible Bootloader firmware that that actually this news topic is about un you do not understand.
Again: no. Consoles are locked down, run proprietary operating systems, and might be based on conventional hardware, but none in recent history has had anything resembling standard overall system architectures. Xbox One, Series X and S, PS4, and PS5 all run standard CPUs and GPUs architecturally, but have proprietary chipsets and system architectures, do not run regular BIOSes, have proprietary bootloaders, proprietary, closed-source OSes, do not necessarily support standard APIs, etc. The Switch is a relatively standard mobile architecture, true, but it runs a completely proprietary bootloader and OS, the major purpose of which is gameplay. It's hackable, but as you say, so is a smart kettle. None of these are advertised as PCs, or anything resembling general purpose computers. The Steam Deck, from what we know, runs a bog-standard laptop configuration with some slightly made-to-order parts, a fork of Linux with access to a standard desktop environment, supports the installation of Windows - i.e. it's not locked down, requires no hacking - is advertised as being a handheld, portable gaming PC, has explicit mentions in marketing of doing anything a PC can do, etc. See the difference? Until someone can demonstrate otherwise, there is no reason to assume the Steam Deck is anything but a relatively standard laptop architecture in an unconventional form factor.
You're vicariously arguing that what makes a PC is dependent on either hardware specifics, software/firmware specifics, or the use case, and jumping between these as your arguments are countered. The truth is clearly a combination of each of these factors. A PC is a general purpose computer that to some degree conforms to commonly accepted standards in PC hardware, software and firmware - but there is huge variation within the term 'PC'. Marketing it for a specific purpose does not make it less of a PC unless it also fails to meet the expectations in other areas - such as a locked down OS, inability to install applications freely, etc. But failing any one of these criteria doesn't mean it isn't a PC - that's too simplistic. It takes a combination of factors. Are Chromebooks PCs? I'd say they're an edge case, as they are locked down yet run standard laptop system architectures (though there are also mobile-based ones). IMO, the locked-down nature makes them not quite qualify, but they are
very close. The Steam Deck is clearly more of a PC than that, with its combination of access to a standard Linux desktop and the ability to install Windows if you want. But calling it a console is simplistic and reductive.
