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Vive la revolution! Move over laptops and tablets, there’s a new kid on the block: the Steam Deck (actually, it’s kinda old now, considering it’s 2024, but you know what we mean). With its sleek 7-inch screen, compact form factor, and impressive AMD-fueled specs driving a custom version of SteamOS, Valve’s ingenious handheld device isn’t just for gaming on the go.
No sir! With theSteam Deck, you can actually do a bunch of cool things like browse in desktop mode, install creative tools, work with files, customize basically everything to your heart’s content, or transform any surface into a makeshift workstation by plugging into some basic accessories. Sounds very interesting, right? Which is exactly why we came up with a small guide covering it. Read on to find out more!
Getting Started
When you first boot up your Steam Deck, it will walk you through the initial setup, which includes connecting to Wi-Fi and logging into or creating your Steam account. Once set up, you’ll be brought to the SteamOS dashboard, which has a layout similar to the Steam application on a desktop.
The SteamOS interface is optimized for gaming with large icons and controls, but you can easily access the standard Linux desktop, which transforms the Steam Deck into more of a traditional computer experience.To enter the desktop mode, press the Steam button and navigate to Power > Switch to Desktop Mode.
Customizing the Desktop
Now that that’s out of the way,you’ll be in the Linux-based desktop environment called KDE Plasma.This gives you stuff like a task bar, system tray, start menu, and a desktop to work with. The name sounds a little complex, but really, the thing functions just like a regular desktop OS. You can launch apps, access files, connect devices, customize the look and feel of the interface, pretty much anything you would do on a regular PC.
For example, if you don’t like the default theme or icon style, you can browse through different options by right-clicking the desktop and going to Configure Desktop > Look and Feel. From here you’ll find a whole bunch of themes that you can customize and select to match your personal preference.
Basic theme settings aside, you can also add useful widgets to your desktop like media controls, a clock, calendar, system monitor, and more. All you need to do isaccess the widgets by right-clicking the desktop and going to Add Widgets. Once that’s done, you can arrange and resize them however you like.
Installing Software
Now, the Steam Deck comes pre-installed with all the things you will need. Stuff like a web browser, file manager, image viewer, and basic editing tools should have you covered for the most part. However, there is a good chance you’re gonna need to install additional apps and software to get more functionality out of the device.
This is where the Discover Software Center comes in. Thisstore basically provides an interface similar to your Play Store (or App Store) and helps you with browsing and installing Linux programs. Just launch the Discover center from the Application Menu and you can search or browse categories for all your additional needs,like Spotify, Visual Studio Code, GIMP, Firefox, Chromium, Telegram, LibreOffice, and much more.
Another cool thing here is thatany app that’s available on Flathub can be installed through the Discover Store(Flathub has a huge library of additional Linux stuff, btw). You can also install software from the Linux terminal using the right commands or launch scripts, but that’s not something we’re familiar with, so for the time being, it doesn’t exist okay (ha-ha).
Web Browsing
For your casual web browsing needs,the pre-installed Firefox or Chromium browsers work great.All the pages render really well on the seven-inch touchscreen and transition kinda seamlessly when you’re switching over to desktop mode. Plus, the on-screen keyboard or attached physical keyboard allows you to conveniently enter URLs and search terms. It’s pretty straightforward from here, you can just go ahead and browse like you normally would on a PC.
Working With Documents and Files
Worried that your Steam Deck isn’t gonna be much help for the administrative side of things? Nah fam, the Deck actually gives you quite a few different options for accessing and working with documents, images, PDFs, spreadsheets and other file types. So, when you’re using desktop mode,you basically have full access to the entire file system through the Dolphin file manager. Just as you would with a normal file manager, you may browse files and folders on the local storage as well as external devices like SD cards or USB drives plugged into the USB-C or USB-A ports.
Now,if you’re looking to edit documents, LibreOffice is a free fully featured office suite that you’re able to go ahead and install.This includes applications for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and more. This means you can create documents, crunch numbers on tables, build slide decks, or make other productivity files right from your Steam Deck (although let’s be honest, who even does that?).
Speaking of tools,you also have access to Linux image, video, and audio editing apps, all of which are either pre-installed or available for download. The opportunities are endless, really.
Using The Deck As A PC
One of the greatest things about the Steam Deck is that you can mold it to serve a wide, wide list of PC stuff. You can access the Linux terminal and command line to manipulate files and configure settings way beyond you would on a standard interface. This makes it great for coding, system administration, or advanced development and IT tasks.
If you want to get specific about it, it helps to think of the Deck as a mini Linux machine. Think about it. It provides great hardware in a compact form factor. Youhave all the support you need for attaching multiple external keyboards, mice, high resolution monitors, external storage drives and more via the USB-C and USB-A ports.
This means you canbuild a full desktop environment nearly anywhere by just connecting a couple of basic peripherals to the Steam Deck.This literally makes it a mini PC. Like we said, the possibilities are nearly endless when harnessing the full capabilities of the hardware combined with the Linux environment’s flexibility.
Gaming
And, of course, in addition to serving as a versatile portable PC, the Steam Deck remains an excellent handheld gaming device… becausethat’s what it was actually made for.The SteamOS interface provides a console-like experience optimized specifically for gaming. You have access to your entire Steam library with support for thousands of titles, both old and new.
Most of the popular games out there, like Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and even newer AAA games run pretty respectably on the Steam Deck. Just flip back onto SteamOS from the desktop, and you can game wherever you want with a performance that’s gonna give even some of those modern gaming laptops a run for their money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Steam Deck support programming and coding?
Oh, absolutely. You can access terminal windows and install code editors like Visual Studio Code or Sublime Text. There’s also things like language packages, compilers, repositories, and tools available via the Discover Software Center. This means you can write, run, and debug code right on the Steam Deck. Side note, the Steam Deck supports languages like Python, Java, C++, JavaScript, and more.
Does the Steam Deck support Microsoft Office files?
Yes! Install the free office suite LibreOffice on your Steam Deck to open, edit and create Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents. Or if that’s not your thing, you’re able to also use the online web versions of Microsoft Office within the browsers. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy either, then Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides also work great on the Steam Deck through the web.
Can I add antivirus protection to secure my Steam Deck?
Yes, there are actually quite a few Linux antivirus tools available out there to install if you’re looking for an extra layer of protection. Some of the options include Avast, AVG, Avira and ClamAV, which can scan for malware threats. However, good security practiceslike not opening suspicious linksare still important.
