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Weekend Gamer: PC Handhelds 2023

Read More Steam There’s no more waiting… You can now buy Steam Deck, right now, without reservation. According to steampowered, it’s been more than a year since it was first announced, but due to numerous supply chain issues and …

Steam Deck OLED
steampowered.com

Faced with competitions from Asus ROG Ally and the recently-released Lenovo Legion Go, Valve announced the new Steam Deck OLED.

The Steam Deck OLED addressed most of the complaints of their first version of the Steam Deck… mainly a better display and a better battery life.

While I’ve had the original Steam Deck since August 2022, I didn’t immediately notice how bad the screen was until I had the ROG Ally to compare it to. Looking at a side-by-side image, you can clearly see the clarity of the ROG Ally display vs the original Steam Deck.

Since Valve decided to keep its original 800p display, I don’t believe it will compare to a native 1080p or better resolution. However, looking at 800p on an OLED display will probably look fantastic.

Almost everything inside the Steam Deck have been upgraded, including larger cooling fan and maximum storage to 1TB (previous Steam Deck maxed out at 512GB).

Unfortunately, the processor is still relatively the same speed… which means the ROG Ally and Legion Go still have a speed advantage over the Steam Deck. The other unfortunately thing is that the Steam Deck still uses SteamOS, which is based on Linux… meaning that some Windows-based games (like all the anticheat software) will not run on the Steam Deck.

As a handheld gaming enthusiast, I am very interested in playing around with the Steam Deck OLED… but as someone who owns the original Steam Deck (and with a gaming budget), this is probably a pass for me.

NOTE: There’ll be a limited-edition version of the Steam Deck OLED which has a transparent case. It looks great, but I would imagine that it will be priced above $700. For that price, I would rather get the Legion Go.

Read More Lenovo I am very excited about this, because I am currently rocking a Lenovo Legion Gaming PC since Nov 2022, and it’s a pretty solid desktop PC. It comes with an NVIDIA 3060 card that can run any modern games. …

Legion Go
lenovo.com

You know I’ve been interested in the Lenovo Legion Go since August 2023, and now, in November 2023, the Legion Go is out now.

In my original writeup, I said that Lenovo is somewhat late to the game. And as much as I am interested in testing out the Legion Go, I already own the Steam Deck and ROG Ally, so I don’t really need yet another handheld in my life.

The pricing is the same as the ROG Ally, but for $50 more you can upgrade the storage to 1TB. However, for $100 more, MicroCenter will upgrade the storage to 2TB for you… making the total price $800.

If you don’t own a PC handheld gaming device, all the devices offer something different. Steam Deck is Linux and user-friendly, ROG Ally is Windows, and now the Legion Go offers the largest display (8.8 inches) and detachable controllers. The two standout features of the Legion Go might tip gamers in their direction, but unfortunately the size and weight doesn’t exactly make it portable. If you’re looking for a large display and controllers (including first person mode), the Legion Go sounds like it’s for you.

For me, I’m all in the ROG Ally world, because the 1080p/120hz display is so good, and it’s small and portable. It’s smaller than the Steam Deck, which is a monster (it’s larger than you think).

I say all this, but if I have the extra cash and I see it in stores, I might bite and do an impulse buy.

Read More ROG Ally Now enter the ROG Ally from Asus. The ROG Ally will address all the things that I wanted in my Steam Deck: Windows, faster chip, better screen, higher resolution, pleasing looks, and the ability to dock in their enhance graphics …

ROG Ally
asus.com

I’m more interested in seeing the upcoming Switch 2 or “Super Switch”… even though I probably won’t buy it. The original Switch processor is very slow and any current modern games won’t even run on the Switch. The last game I bought, it suffered from horrible stutter, I realized it’s not a great gaming device. I’m hoping the Switch 2 will be much faster.

If Switch 2 games are not compatible with the original Switch, then I definitely will not be buying the Switch 2. I don’t want to re-buy all my games… no one does.

I hope there’s a Steam Deck 2 (unlikely since they just announced the Steam Deck OLED) in the works… and I’m hoping for a new ROG Ally 2. What I would like to see in a future ROG Ally is the ability to use any eGPU, two USB-C, official dock, better battery life, better grip/design… maybe take a cue from Valve and put in a great OLED screen.

While we wait for the ROG Ally 2, Asus released the inferior (but cheaper) version of the ROG Ally. The cheaper version uses the Z1 chip (vs the faster Z1 Extreme chip) and costs $599. Personally speaking, I suggest spending the extra cash and getting the Z1 Extreme chip, which is currently selling for $620 because of the upcoming Black Friday Deals.

If you really want to save, the Z1 version is currently on sale for $500 because of Black Friday, and it’s a fantastic price.

Right now, my handheld gaming device of choice is the ROG Ally. When I’m not gaming on the go, I have it docked with the ROG Azoth Keyboard and a 32 inch monitor, for a desktop experience. The device is powerful enough to run all my Windows software and I can use it as a secondary productivity device.

Yours,

Weekend Gamer

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vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Weekend Gamer: Sony

Read More Sony Last month, Sony announced a pair of new cameras: Sony a7c II (33MP) and Sony a7cR (62MP). These two cameras are an evolution of the original Sony a7c, which was the best (and cheapest) way for people to get into full frame photography. …

Sony a9 III
sony.com

Sony did it again… they’ve introduced the world’s first full-frame global shutter camera with their upcoming Alpha 9 III camera. As you know the a9 cameras are geared towards sports photography. Of course, being a professional gear, Sony wants to charge $6,000 for this new a9 camera.

It’s a little too much money, for my needs, but, of course, I want the latest and greatest… so I am somewhat putting some money away to buy this camera. I am hoping that Sony will bring their global shutter to their prosumer buyers, perhaps put it in the upcoming Sony a7s IV, which desperately needs an update.

Light banding

Let’s back up a little, maybe you know about light banding. Let me explain, current digital cameras read light line by line. If you are shooting at a very fast shutter speed, the camera can pick up lines of light from flickering lights from bad LED or fluorescent lights. These lines are called “banding” and can ruin photos.

Some higher end cameras do have an option to combat this by a feature called Anti-Flickering, which needs to be turned on. Once the camera detects flickering, it would try to match the flickering speed by adjusting the shutter speed. It works for the most part, but it’s not perfect.

With global shutter, the camera reads the entire image instantly, instead of reading the information line by line. This changes everything, it means that the camera can capture and processes images much faster. We are talking about 120 frames per seconds, in their burst mode. That’s insane! To put it in perspective, my current Sony a7 IV camera can only achieve 10 frames per seconds.

So, yes, of course, I want the Sony a9 III for this new technology.

Read More PlayStation For the lowest priced, PS+ Essential, you only get three or four “free” monthly games… and the ability to play online games, just like the original PlayStation Plus. For $3 more, you can get PS+ Extra, which includes the monthly “free” games …

PlayStation 5 Slim
playstation.com

For years and years, you could not get a PlayStation 5. Now, three years later, you can finally get a PS5 at Target or Walmart. At $500, it’s a massive device. For Holiday 2023 (which is available now in November), Sony released a “Slim” version.

The new Slim version isn’t that much smaller, it’s still rather massive (and ugly). You can buy a disc-less version, and upgrade with a $80 bluray player. A vertical stand will set you back another $40. Plus, with $70 games, buying into the PlayStation 5 echosystem is very, very expensive. No one said being a weekend gamer was easy. If you want to save money, don’t go down the PlayStation path.

I would recommend just buying a ROG Ally or Steam Deck and keeping all your PC games. Some PlayStation games, such as The Last of Us Part 1 is available now on the PC. The problem with the PS echosystem is that when the PS6 comes out, your PS5 may not work on the new system. With a PC, that game you bought on the ROG Ally will work on your desktop or will work on a future Steam Deck 10 or something.

I guess I’m just mad that my PS3 games won’t play on PS5.

Yours,

Weekend Gamer

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vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

ROG Azoth Keyboard

ASUS ROG Azoth 75% Wireless DIY Custom Gaming Keyboard Description Unique gasket mount design: Silicone gasket mount with three layers of dampening foams combine to provide an unrivaled typing experience Tri-mode connection: Use Bluetooth to connect and switch between three devices at a time, ROG SpeedNova wireless technology provides up to 2,000+ hours of low-latency gaming experience in 2.4 GHz RF wireless mode (OLED & RGB off), or use standard wired USB OLED display and intuitive controls: The 2" OLED display in the upper right of the gaming keyboard allows you to view system info and keyboard settings at a glance; built-in three-way knob allows for quick settings adjustment Hot-swappable ROG NX mechanical switches: Pre-lubed switches for smoother clicks and eliminates bouncing noises respectively; fast actuation and ROG-tuned force curves provide great keystroke feel and consistencyy Enhanced typing experience: Pre-lubed keyboard stabilizer produces less friction for smoother keystrokes and stability for longer keys; ROG PBT doubleshot keycaps provide a premium feel and long-lasting durability. DIY Switch lube kit: The ROG Azoth includes a set of tools for keyboard DIY, including a switch opener, keycap puller, switch puller, lube station, brush, and bottle of Krytox GPL-205-GD0 lubricant. Read More ROG Ally Now enter the ROG Ally from Asus. The ROG Ally will address all the things that I wanted in my Steam Deck: Windows, faster chip, better screen, higher resolution, pleasing looks, and the ability to dock in their enhance graphics …

So, I just purchased one of the most expensive keyboards I’ve ever own, the ASUS’ ROG Azoth Keyboard. I’ve been in the market for a keyboard for my ROG Ally, and decided to go with the ROG branding with their high-end keyboard.

Before you say anything, at $250, it’s pretty competitive with other mechanical keyboard makers: Corsair, Razer, and Logitech… as you can see from the comparative listing below, their high-end keyboards all costs $250 or more.

Both Corsair and Logitech are citing their ultra-fast wireless connection, called Slipstream or Lightspeed (both companies have their own name for their connection), and both provides “low profile” switches.

Corsair went with standard Cherry, while Logitech went with their own switch called GL Tactile.

Razer has the worst offering, for $250, they’re only offering wired connection. To be honest, no one knows why their Huntsman V2 keyboard is so expensive. Maybe the Razer’s Analog Optical Switch is really that good, that they can justify asking for $250. Looking at all the features, I wouldn’t go with Razer, especially at that price.

I felt the ASUS ROG Azoth offers the best of all the high-end keyboard. This is mostly because of the stand-out feature of a tiny OLED Black & White screen on the keyboard. This can display a custom animation, the ability to change settings on the keyboard (without the aid of a computer) or you can show useful information, such as battery level and CPU temperature… however, you can only show one of those three options.

The other nice thing about the Azoth keyboard is that they offer three ways to connect your keyboard, their “SpeedNova” wireless connection, which has its own dongle at 2.4GHz RF technology, standard Bluetooth connection, or, my personal preference, a wired USB-C cable. There is a switch that lets you choose how to connect.

The other stand-out feature of the ROG Azoth keyboard is that Asus has decided to market the keyboard to both gamers and custom DIY keyboard enthusiasts… which means that you can swap out keycaps easily, or swap out Cherry switches with other north-facing color switches. It’s fully customizable, and they’ve even included a switch removal kit (with lube and brush!).

On top of that, like all gaming keyboard, there’s the ability to display RGB colors.

I own a lot of keyboards, but so far, the ROG Azoth Keyboard is my favorite.

What I don’t like is that it’s a small, compact keyboard. It’s missing the 10-key numpad, and tactile media control (but at least you can control media using the OLED screen). The numpad is my biggest complaint, but I understand that normal people don’t really use the numpad, so they don’t miss it. I guess I can always buy a separate dedicated numpad, if I really need it.

Spotlight	Brand	Name	Switch	Connection	Features	Price	Release Date
	Corsair	K100 AIR	Cherry MX Ultra Low Profile	• Slipstream Wireless • Bluetooth • USB wired	• Ultra-Thin	$279.99	10/04/2022
	Razer	Huntsman V2	Analog Optical Switch	• Wired USB Passthrough	• Magnetic wrist rest • digital dial and media keys	$249.99	02/09/2021
	Logitech	G915 Lightspeed	GL Tactile Low Profile switch	• Lightsync wireless • Bluetooth • micro-USB wire	• Aircraft-grade aluminum alloy	$249.99	08/14/2019
	ASUS	ROG Azoth	NX Red Cherry Switch	• SpeedNova wireless • Bluetooth • USB-C wire	• OLED display • DIY Switch kit • Compact design	$249.99	01/19/2023

Read more Technology and Weekend Gamer.

ROG Azoth Keyboard

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Weekend Gamer: Lenovo Legion Go

Lenovo Legion Play Read More Lenovo I bought the Lenovo Legion T5i 26IOB6 Gaming PC for $850 today from MicroCenter. This is a great price, it’s about 40% off the original asking price. Most of that money probably goes to the Nvidia 3060 video card. … ROG Ally Now enter the ROG Ally from Asus. The ROG Ally will address all the things that I wanted in my Steam Deck: Windows, faster chip, better screen, higher resolution, pleasing looks, and the ability to dock in their enhance graphics …

According to Windows Central, Lenovo will be entering the handheld PC gaming market with its Lenono Legion Go device.

Based on what we know, it could look similar to their Lenovo Legion Play product, which shown in 2021, but was never released.

I am very excited about this, because I am currently rocking a Lenovo Legion Gaming PC since Nov 2022, and it’s a pretty solid desktop PC. It comes with an NVIDIA 3060 card that can run any modern games.

However, is it already too late, especially with the market dominated by Steam’s Steam Deck and Asus’ ROG Ally? For enthusiasts, they might also imported other handheld makers like Aya Neo, OneXplayer, GPD Win (all from China). I guess it depends on pricing… if the Legion Go can offer something better, at an affordable price, I can see a scenario that fans like myself, might end up owning both the ROG Ally and Legion Go.

According to Windows Central, the standout features of the Legion Go will be a bigger 8-inch screen, the latest Windows 11 OS, and AMD’s new Phoenix (Ryzen) processors.

According to the Legion Play listing at whatmobilez.com, the handheld had a network dual SIM (5G), had a duo camera system (64MP and 16MP), with a AMOLED display was a 1080p at 388PPI. Hopefully these features will carry over to the Legion Go, especially that AMOLED screen.

If Lenovo is smart, they would focus on a better software experience and emphasis on better, longer battery life.

Everyone who owns the ROG Ally will tell you that setting up the device was a nightmare, taking over four hours to work out the non-popup keyboard or doing all the Windows updates. Plus, the Armoury Crate Software is not a great experience. The software is slow and is very buggy. Sometime it works, sometime it doesn’t. It’s not good.

Since I already use the Lenovo Legion, I’m already familiar with their Lenovo Vantage software, which is used to control its lighting and monitor/manage GPU/CPU. It would make sense that Lenovo would implement the software on the Legion Go to easily switch to controller mode for their handheld.

Another advantage that Lenovo could do is allow the Legion Go to use any eGPU to boost its gaming capacity. This would be a massive saving, since the ROG Ally uses a proprietary external GPU connection.

On top of that, Lenovo recently released the Lenovo Tab Extreme Tablet, which is a giant 14.5 inch Android tablet… but can double as an external monitor! Imaging gaming on the Legion Go on an OLED 3k screen!

Another idea is that Lenovo can also release an official dock that comes bundled an external HD and a small-foot print mechanical keyboard and mouse, with all Legion Go branding, I can see a compelling reason to go with the Go.

Lenovo’s biggest problem is going to be price. If they sell the Legion Go for anything above $800, it’s going to be a ‘no’ for many people (especially if they already own the cheaper Steam Deck).

Having said all that, the Legion Go may never be release, Lenovo hasn’t officially made any announcement yet.

P.S., I’ve previously mentioned that I would love to see MicroSoft, if you’ll excuse the pun, get into the game, with its own Xbox Go handheld. Think about it, I can see it running a Windows 11 “Handheld Edition” or perhaps a custom Xbox OS, scaled for handheld.

Read more Technology and Weekend Gamer .

Lenovo to enter in the handheld PC market with the Legion Go

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

ROG Ally Accessories

Description Hard Carrying Case for 2023 ASUS ROG Ally Handheld, ROG Ally 7 Accessories Travel Case (Black) Brand MES MERRY Color Black Form Factor Case Shell Type Hard Material Nylon Specially designed hard carrying case for ROG Ally gaming handheld 2023 Durable hard shell made of premium PU and EVA promise you with a full protection Simply propping up the middle pocket, a sturdy stand is created for ROG Ally Precise groove helps keep ROG Ally inside with great fit and safe Read More ROG Ally Now enter the ROG Ally from Asus. The ROG Ally will address all the things that I wanted in my Steam Deck: Windows, faster chip, better screen, higher resolution, pleasing looks, and the ability to dock in their enhance graphics …

It’s the curse of being on the cutting edge. You’re basically beta-testing products for a company. In the case of the ROG Ally, we’re reporting problems in the first generation of the handheld … which will eventually be fixed or redesigned when the ROG Ally 2 comes out. Still, I don’t really mind, as I’m fully enjoying my time with the ROG Ally.

One of the problems that the ROG Ally suffers from is that there are very few accessories for it. Unlike the competing Steam Deck, which released 3-D specs and information for manufacturers to create third party accessories, Asus kept the ROG Ally a secret until the announcement on April’s Fools Day. Manufacturing a great product takes at least three months, from design to market.

While Asus provided their system to YouTube influencers and tech websites for review, they didn’t bother sending any to manufacturing companies. Instead, Asus made their official accessories: a 65-Watt power-brick with HDMI-out ($65) and a travel case ($40).

Since the official release of the ROG Ally on June 13, we’re finally starting to see third party accessories.

amFilm 3 Pack Screen Protector

The first thing that I bought was a protective glass by amFilm: 3 Pack Screen Protector for $15.

This came with three tempered glass, which they tout as “transparent ultra HD” and anti-fingerprint. I would have to say that the glass is crystal clear and it’s thick enough to leave no bubbles or imperfections when you lay it on your ROG Ally’s screen. The dimension is 100% perfect, unlike other early-to-market glass manufacturers.

Given that you get three (I did screw the first one up, that I’m thankful I had spares) for $15, to me, it is a reasonable price of $5 for each glass.

The next item on my list for the ROG Ally is a dock, so I can attach a full keyboard with mouse and an external monitor. Fortunately, any Steam Deck Doc will work. Unfortunately, the official Steam Deck Dock was specifically designed for a naked Steam Deck, so it will barely fit anything else. That sucked for anyone with a Steam Deck case, since it made the Steam Deck fatter and you can’t sit it in the Dock. The same thing for ROG Ally, it’s slightly thicker than a standard Steam Deck, so it sits uncomfortably in the official Steam Deck Doc.

Now, I do own other docks, but the one that works the best, in terms of functionality and design, is the official Dock. It’s simply the best dock for the Decks, in my opinion.

JSAUX Stand for Official Steam Deck Dock

So, this company called Jsaux, who made a name for itself by producing various Steam Deck accessories, made a Stand for the official dock. It’s a very simple design, it’s made to slide over the dock, to give a wider opening for a fat handheld device… which is perfect for the ROG Ally. Even though at $25 it seems expensive, it’s worth it. The whole thing is made from a heavy metal material that will absolutely not bend. Inside, where the Steam Deck or ROG Ally sits, it’s padded with an anti-slip material that is soft to the touch and will not damage or scratch your device.

The only thing I don’t like is that it now raises the stand to about two inches… and there’s nothing but a JSAUX branding on the front. I don’t like that, so I placed a sticker over it… but I wish there was some sort of artwork on the front, rather than a black metal with the JSAUX logo.

Lastly, I need a carrying case. The official case looks flimsy, and I do not love the branding: “REPUBLIC OF GAMERS” that is printed on the side of the case.

I saw the MES Merry hardcase for $30 and I had to buy it. This is a thin hard case made from nylon and was specifically designed for the ROG Ally’s dimension.

Currently, most of the products are sold out on Amazon, which means people are desperate for any accessories for the ROG Ally. I feel like you can really strike gold if you are one of the early manufacturers to release a product.

I think my next couple of purchases will be based around the ROG Ally. This includes a 100-Watt portable battery charger. I’ve been thinking about this, not just for the ROG Ally, but for a recent dead battery for my camera and my iPhone on the verge of 3% battery life support. The problem with the portable battery charger is that it can be big and heavy and it might be a hassle to tug around.

I’m also looking at getting a new 4k monitor, like the 32" M70B Series 4K UHD USB-C Smart Monitor & Streaming TV . It’s only 60hz, but I think it’s a fair trade off for being only $300 for 4k resolution. I’m currently using a 1080p monitor that serves its purpose… but it would be nice to upgrade the resolution.

… Because the 4k monitor will pair nicely with the ROG XG Mobile External GPU Dock, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080. This is an external GPU that can boost the ROG Ally’s gaming performance… basically turning the ROG Ally into a true gaming computer.

Unfortunately, as of this writing, the XG Mobile External GPU is way too expensive at $1,500. I’m very tempted though. Once the prices goes down or when they introduce a new version, designed specifically for the ROG Ally, I may be lining up to buy it.

For now, I’m quite happy with my ROG Ally as a portable gaming computer … and when docked, becomes an extra computer in the home. In some ways, the ROG Ally has replaced my ROG Electro Punk laptop (it’s too big and heavy), my Steam Deck (it only plays Steam games and nothing else), my Nintendo Switch (it only plays Nintendo games), and my Surface Pro 7 (it’s a tablet and can’t handle games).

Yours,

Weekend Gamer

Read more Weekend Gamer.

ROG Accessories: Case, Screen Protectors, 65-Watt Charger/HDMI-out, 2TB 2230 NVMe

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

ROG Ally Review

Description 7-inch, FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9, Gorilla Glass DXC, Gorilla Glass Victus, 120Hz Refresh Rate Windows 11 Home 512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD (2230) Storage 16GB LPDDR5 (6400MT/s dual channel) RAM AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme Processor ("Zen4" architecture with 4nm process, 8-core /16-threads, 24MB total cache, up to 5.10 Ghz boost) AMD Radeon Graphics (AMD RDNA 3, 12 CUs, up to 2.7 GHz, up to 8.6 Teraflops) Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax) (Triple band) 40WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion Battery Type-C, 65W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 3.25A, 65W, Input: 100~240V AC 50/60Hz universal 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, 1x ROG XG Mobile Interface and USB Type-C combo port (with USB 3.2 Gen2, support DisplayPort 1.4), 1x UHS-II microSD card reader (supports SD, SDXC and SDHC) Read More ROG Ally Now enter the ROG Ally from Asus. The ROG Ally will address all the things that I wanted in my Steam Deck: Windows, faster chip, better screen, higher resolution, pleasing looks, and the ability to dock in their enhance graphics …

Even though handheld gaming devices have been around for a while now, such as the Sony Vita or the Nintendo Gameboy… it wasn’t until Nintendo’s Switch that really opened my eyes to the idea of gaming on the go and also, when you “dock it”, it is also a home console. The idea that this system can “switch” between portable and home console was really exciting to me.

Since then, we’ve seen various Chinese companies putting out micro handheld PCs, such as Aya Neo or OneXplayer or GPD Win, but they were very expensive, and has to be imported from China.

When the Steam Deck entered the handheld gaming market in July 2021, it changed everything. For only $399 (for the entry Steam Deck model), you can get a handheld to play all your Steam games! It was (and is) an unbeatable value.

Now, there’s a new kid in town: ASUS’ ROG Ally, a Windows 11 handheld that can play Steam games, but also every other Window-based games. The ROG Ally beats the Steam Deck in every way: Windows 11, faster hardware, double the fans (and quieter), full HD display at 120Hz, a smaller and lighter device… and at a competitive price of $699 (if you compare that to the highest Steam Deck etched screen of $649).

I will spotlight some of the ROG Ally’s key features:

WINDOWS 11
So let’s start with the ROG Ally’s advantage: it runs Windows 11 by default. This has a huge advantage; in that it opens up a whole new avenue of gaming. However, that’s also a disadvantage, running Windows 11. You see, Windows wasn’t built for handheld, and you can tell, with all its services, “bloat ware”, performance, and terrible hibernation options. So, you need to view the ROG Ally as a tiny laptop computer, and not as a gaming only device. Sure, it can game, but it’s certainly designed to do a lot more.

Unfortunately, since it’s Windows, you basically want or need a mouse and keyboard. The touch screen and pop-up keyboard is fine, but is limited (for example there is no F4 key).

To make the handheld more useable, ASUS implemented their Armoury Crate SE software and ROG Command Center that runs in the background and can be pulled up anytime using the two dedicated buttons on the side of the screen. While it works, for the most part, it’s not an ideal solution. The true solution is to have MicroSoft or ASUS to build a special OS for ROG Ally… otherwise, it’s basically a laptop with special Armoury Crate software overlay.

Since Windows 11 was intended to be run on a laptop or desktop, it has various software and background services that are unneeded for a gaming device. For example, they pre-install Office and the Amazon video streaming services.

The other added bonus of running Windows is that you can now run games that uses anti-cheat software, for example, Destiny 2 will run on Windows but not the Steam Deck. You can also run any Xbox PC Games, meaning you now have access to hundred of games via the Windows-only app. In fact, MicroSoft is bundling a free three months of Game Pass Ultimate to any ROG Ally user. This is a $45 added value. I did take advantage of the free Game Pass… but I suspect I will be cancelling it after my three month trial as I don’t use the service enough (especially after they got rid of the free Xbox 360 games) to justify continuing my subscription. If there is a game I want to play, I don’t mind buying it, knowing I always have access to the game (sometime a game will leave the Game Pass service).

How to Upgrade your ROG Ally Internal Storage

Description The Rocket Q4 2230 is finally here, bringing up to 2TB of high-performance storage for your Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, and other devices. It’s a single-sided M.2 2230 NVMe SSD designed for maximum compatibility. It’s the easiest way to avoid the uncertainty of an OEM, double-sided, or M.2 2242 SSD solution for your valuable tech. This drive may also fit in longer slots while maintaining the advantages of a physically small drive. That means Gen4 performance of up to 5GBps sequential and up to 800K IOPS with high responsiveness, low latency, and excellent power efficiency, even when placed into a Gen3 slot. The Rocket Q4 2230 is the simplest way to get the most internal storage in a single drive without having to rely on microSD cards or external storage. This SSD offers gaming desktop class storage performance in a small form factor, perfect for your Deck and other devices to get the best loading and transfer times. Combining the powerful Phison E21T SSD controller with reliable and efficient Micron QLC, this tiny SSD is fast and efficient while packing in up to 2TB to handle all your games and files. It’s also backed by Sabrent’s warranty and comes with a copy of Acronis True Image for your convenience. Read More ROG Ally Now enter the ROG Ally from Asus. The ROG Ally will address all the things that I wanted in my Steam Deck: Windows, faster chip, better screen, higher resolution, pleasing looks, and the ability to dock in their enhance graphics …

On Sunday, I upgraded the internal storage on my ROG Ally. This is one of the easiest installations I’ve done on these devices.

I followed the comprehensive guide was published on Asus’ website on Jun 09, 2023.

What you will need:

ROG Ally

A size 0 Phillips head screwdriver

The latest BIOS software (as of this writing, 3.19)

2230 M.2 NVMe drives (I’m installing the 2TB Sabrent NVMe 2230 Card)

USB-A or USB-C keyboard or dock with ethernet port

The website said you need to deplete the battery to 25% or less, which is easily done by just playing a game on battery and before you know it, voila, 5%. You need to fully shut down Windows, make sure there is no spinning fan or flickering lights. The ROG Ally needs to be completely off.

Remove the SD card if you have one, remove the screws and the back plate. Flip over the flap, remove the battery, and remove the SSD. Install the new SSD, re-plug in the battery cable.

After that is done, plug in the 65-Watt power cable that came with the ROG Ally and hold down the volume down and power button at the same time. This should bring up the Asus BIOS. This may take a few minutes, so don’t worry, just let the computer do its thing.

Once you’re in BIOS, you need to exit the EZ mode by pressing “Y” and go the advanced tab. Select the Asus Cloud Recovery, the software should automatically detect and download everything you will need to run the ROG Ally system, including their SE version of the Armoury Crate.

You will need to get access to the internet. You will need a physical keyboard to type in your password to your WiFi, or you can get direct internet with a dock and ethernet cable.

Depending on your WiFi access, this may take a few hours to download. The Windows 11 image is about 16GB, at least that was the number that I saw. Do not unplug the power cable, let it download everything. The entire process took me over 2 hours, so be patient.

Despite unexpectedly needing a physical keyboard, this Asus online recovery process was a much easier approach than my previous upgrades. I’ve had to upgrade the storage on my Fallout Computer, the ROG Strix G15 and Steam Deck… and this cloud recovery option was an amazing experience.

Also, if you screw it up the new SSD or if the new SSD is causing problems (overheating?), the beauty is that you can always put back in the old SSD and pretended like nothing happened.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Weekend Gamer Update: Memorial Day Weekend

Windows 11 Pro Product Description Instantly productive. Simpler, more intuitive UI and effortless navigation. New features like snap layouts help you manage multiple tasks with ease Smarter collaboration. Have effective online meetings. Share content and mute/unmute right from the taskbar (1). Stay focused with intelligent noise cancelling and background blur. (2) Reassuringly consistent. Have confidence that your applications will work. Familiar deployment and update tools. Accelerate adoption with expanded deployment policies. Powerful security. Safeguard data and access anywhere with hardware-based isolation, encryption, and malware protection built in. Read More MicroSoft That’s because I just bought the Microsoft Office Professional 2021 lifetime license for $30, after reading about it on C-Net. The article referenced Stack Social, which I’ve never heard of until today. …

It’s Memorial Day Weekend, which means I have this Monday off and it’s a long weekend for me. As usual with these holidays, there are a lot of sales and deals all across retailers. I’m planning on going to a few Half-Priced Books to take advantage of their 20% instore purchases. The problem with HPB is that their stocks are limited and are vastly different from store to store. You never know what you are going to see, day to day, store to store.

Best Buy is selling a lot of Bluray for under $10… but the cool thing is that the new Pixel 7a is being sold for $450, the first sale price since it was launched on May 10. That was fast! Even though it’s a $50 savings, it’s still not enough for me to want it. I’ve already committed to buying the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro Max, so I need to set aside roughly $1,200. I was never an iPhone guy, until I started using the $25 unlimited data/phone service from Visible. Now, it’s impossible for me to break away from the Apple ecosystem.

Anyway, over at Stack Social, I just purchased Windows 11 Pro for $40. This is the full product key, not an “upgrade” key, meaning you could use it on a freshly built computer. I just basically upgraded my Windows 11 Home on my current computer.

For most people, Home is just fine for everyone. There are some differences, such as local accounts and Hyper-V and some extra security options (as well as more faster updates), but for the most part, I personally didn’t need to upgrade to Pro… But the sale price was so good (it’s normally $199), that I couldn’t pass it up. As of this writing, I don’t have buyer’s remorse.

When Windows 11 first launched in late 2021, video gaming was a problem with stutter and lag… but it was related to driver issues for video cards. Now that it’s been out for a few years, there are no issues with gaming. Since I started using Windows 11 Home in Nov 2022, I have been impressed with its performance over Windows 10.

Fallout New Vegas Ultimate Edition

Speaking of games, Epic Games is offering Fallout New Vegas Ultimate Edition for free. You guys know I love Fallout, so naturally, I’m going to encourage you guys to get it for free. Of course, I already own this on various platform (GOG, Steam, Xbox, etc.), and you can usually find it on sale.

This is the Ultimate Edition, which means all the DLC are incorporated in this game, so there’s a ton of great content to go through.

Of all the Fallout games, New Vegas is one of my top three. A lot of fans did not like the game when it first came out, but over time, I believe they’ve turn around and would agree with me that it’s a great game. The game is 13 years old, and it could benefit from a remaster or remake of the game, in my opinion.

Also, ROG Ally Update: On the day that it was available to pre-order on May 11, 2023, I overreacted and immediately ordered it from Best Buy. It was at a location and a time (noon-ish) and at Best Buy, that I normally don’t buy from online, and at such a high amount, that the unusual activity alerted my bank to issue a stop on my bank card. I had to basically go to the bank and told them that I did purchase the ROG Ally. Unfortunately, the bank already put a stop on the payment. That’s fine, I suppose I’ll just have to go to the physical store on June 13th to see if I can just buy one at their store. It kind of sucks because my local Best Buy closed this year, so I need to travel to another city to visit a Best Buy now. You know, all this could have been prevented, if ROG Ally would just make it available at all retailers… meaning if I had purchased it from Amazon, my bank would’ve just allowed it.

I suppose it’s probably better this way. Now that I’ve seen early reviews, it’s not exactly “twice as fast” as they’ve been claiming. The truth is, it sounds like the ROG Ally is about the same as the Steam Deck… the only difference is that the ROG Ally runs Windows 11 out of the box. Basically, once I get the ROG, I’m calling it my ROG GOG because it’ll be my GOG and Battle Net machine. I just cannot wait to play Diablo IV on handheld.

Yours,

Weekend Gamer

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ROG Ally vs Steam Deck

Description Play your way with the ROG Ally gaming handheld. Access any game that runs on Windows across all game platforms, including Steam, GOG, Xbox Game Pass, cloud gaming services, Android apps and more. Play anywhere, anytime, using handheld mode or by connecting the Ally to a TV and linking multiple controllers to play with friends. The Ally even transforms into a gaming PC by connecting to ROG XG mobile eGPU and dock - supporting mouse, keyboard, monitor, and more of your favorite peripherals. Equipped with an AMD Ryzen Z1 extreme processor, a smooth 7-inch 1080p 120Hz touchscreen with AMD FreeSync premium technology, and ROG intelligent cooling, the ROG Ally takes handheld gaming on to a whole different level. Read More ROG Ally Now enter the ROG Ally from Asus. The ROG Ally will address all the things that I wanted in my Steam Deck: Windows, faster chip, better screen, higher resolution, pleasing looks, and the ability to dock in their enhance graphics …

I pre-ordered the ROG Ally, the handheld PC gaming device from Asus, via Best Buy, which, as of this writing, is the only retailer selling this product. The Ally will arrive June 13th, 2023.

I’m excited, because I can easily run all my Windows-based games, such as Diablo IV on this handheld PC. The major problem with Steam Deck is that Steam OS is Linux-based system. Yes, I’m aware there are work-around, such you can install Windows on the Steam Deck … but I’m not doing it. Besides, the Steam Deck wasn’t designed as a Windows machine, there are some drivers and features that won’t work.

Anyway, even before I ordered the Steam Deck, I mentioned that I wanted a Windows-based device, but the expensive pricing (above $1,000) have kept me from pulling the trigger.

The ROG Ally is aggressively priced at $700, with a cheaper $600 model available at a later date. I’m glad I never purchased the OneXPlayer or Aya Neo handhelds.

Obviously, I don’t have the ROG Ally yet, but looking over the specs, almost everything is better than the Steam Deck, including faster processor, better screen (1080p at 120hz refresh rate), a faster UHS-II MicroSD card reader, faster-charging at 64W, slightly smaller, lighter, better cooling (two fans), free three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, fingerprint reader, Dolby Atmos with smart AMP, and, again it runs Windows 11.

Although I praise that with Windows I have access to more of my games, the bad side to Windows is that it wasn’t designed to be on a small 7 inch screen. Navigating Windows with joysticks probably isn’t fun either… however, I’m willing to put up with all that so I can use GOG or Battle Net.

I think for most people, the Steam Deck will be just fine for people (especially if they don’t like Windows), but I really feel the ROG Ally will fit most gamer’s needs.

Plus, importantly, with a direct competition, I hope Valve get off their butt and release a Steam Deck 2 or something. They don’t have to release it, maybe just make an announcement on what they are working on. Maybe not just Steam, but I would welcome even more computer makers get into this market. I would love to see an official MicroSoft handheld. They already make the MicroSoft Surface and the Xbox… why not make an exclusive Xbox Handheld? Heck, Sony should make a Vita 2!

Right now, I’m still playing in Steam Deck and putting in over 80 hours, at 30 minutes at a time during my lunch break, on Fallout 4. I love the ability to start up a quick game while I have a little time.

Yours,

Weekend Gamer

Details from tomshardware.com:

Spec	Steam Deck	ROG Ally
CPU	Custom Zen 2 "Van Gogh," 4 cores, 8 threads, 2.4 - 3.5 GHz	AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4, 8 cores / 16 threads, up to 5.1 GHz, 4 nm)
GPU	8 RDNA 2 compute units, 1.0 - 1.6 GHz	RDNA 3, 4GB VRAM, 12 compute units at 2.7 GHz clock with Z1 Extreme, 4 compute units at 2.5 GHz with Z1
RAM	16GB LPDDR5	16GB LPDDR5-6400
Storage	512GB m.2 NVMe SSD	512GB NVMe PCIe 4 M.2 SSD
External Storage	SD card slot (UHS-I)	SD card slot (UHS-II)
Display	7-inch touchscreen, 1280 x 800 (16:10), 60 Hz, IPS, anti-glare etched glass	7-inch touchscreen, 1920 x 1080, 120 Hz, IPS touchscreen with Gorilla Glass Victus and Gorilla Glass DXC
Battery	40 WHr	40 WHr
Power	45 W	65 W
Operating System	SteamOS 3.0 (Linux)	Windows 11 Home
Weight	1.47 pounds / 669 grams	1.34 pounds / 608 grams
Price	$649	$699.99
Release Date	February 25, 2022	June 13, 2023

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vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Google I/O 2023

Read More Google a Google home, as everything is built around the Google Home Hub application. If you don’t mind giving Google your information, you can use many of their services - for free. That’s the attractive thing, it’s mostly free. …

Here’s all the products announced at Google’s I/O 2023.

Pixel Tablet
We’ve seen similar designs from Lenovo, but hopefully the upcoming Google Pixel Tablet will be a faster and better experience. Like that other design, the Tablet is a picture frame when you dock it to the magnetic charger and speaker. If you want to use it as a tablet, you just pick it off the stand… think of it as a tablet that is always charged.

I’m not entirely sure if I will use it on a daily basis, since I already love my iPad 12.9 for the big display and fast processor… the Pixel Tablet is kind of a step down.

Pixel 7A
At $500, the “A-Series” of Google’s phones are the affordable version of their Pixel phones. I’ve been unimpressed with their previous A phones. The phones are not fast or flashy, they’re basically a budget/cheap version of their regular phones… Having said all that, I think the 7A is the phone that I’m actually interested in. That’s because, for the first time, their A phones are going to include wireless charging. I have been all-in on wireless charging, it is hard for me to go back to the old way of charging my phone.

While I’m not in the market to replace my iPhone 14, I might pick up the 7A as my backup phone… mostly because for a limited time, Google is throwing in a free Pixel Buds A-Series if you buy the new 7A phone. I have a Pixel Bud Mint Color and I think it’s one of the best earbuds I own. I love that rubber nub that locks the buds in my ear.

I guess it all depends on if I can buy the Asus ROG Ally (the better and faster Steam Deck) or not. I have already devoted my budget of $800 to buy the new handheld gaming PC.

Pixel Fold
As soon as I saw the price for this upcoming Google’s folding phone, at $1,800, that’s a hard pass for me. As cool as it looks, there’s no way I’m spending that kind of cash on sometime that is unproven. I would love for the price to be sub $1,000... that is the magic number for me.

As a fan of technology, I’m always interested in seeing new products. My complaint about Google has a bad reputation about introducing something and then not supporting it. Plus, I hate to say it, but their products look boring.

Still, I love the fact that I can find any Google products in retail stores, such as my local Target or Walmart. Knowing me, I might just end up buying their Pixel Tablet on a whim, while standing in line at a Best Buy or something.

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vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com