Gaming handheld PCs are a great idea until you get to the point where you actually need to use the PC part. Most gaming handhelds use Windows 11, which is challenging to navigate without a mouse (let alone a keyboard). Valve sagely sidestepped this issue in two ways with the Steam Deck. First, SteamOS that’s built to easily navigate with a joystick. And second, dual touchpads for intuitive mouse-like navigation when you get to desktop mode (not to mention supported games).
At the time of writing, I’m in the middle of reviewing the Asus ROG Ally X, and while I’m enjoying my experience for the most part, navigating Windows 11 is a massive pain. My options are to use the joystick as a poor mouse facsimile or constantly reach for a microfibre cloth whenever I grubby up the touchscreen with Windows navigation. Neither option is ideal. So when I shared my frustrations with Valve Steam Deck developers Lawrence Yang and Yazan Aldehyyat in a recent interview, I was heartened to hear their replies.
“We would love if other companies use touchpads, though. We feel like that’s a pretty cool technology that would benefit PC gaming, that we’d love for more people to adopt,” said Aldehyyat.
Yang agreed that a trackpad is a great option for game and desktop situations, whenever a mouse is needed.
“That’s definitely one of the benefits of the trackpad, especially for mouse-based interactions. Whether it be a game or a desktop situation, the trackpad is definitely much better than trying to touch the screen with your finger or trying to use your thumb stick as a mouse. Both of those are not great experiences,” said Yang.
Admittedly, there are alternatives to navigating on trackpad-less Windows-based gaming handhelds, but they all require extra equipment. The most straightforward solution I’ve found is using Steam Link to connect from my desktop or laptop for remote keyboard and mouse control on the ROG Ally X. Alternatively, I’ve also previously invested in a compact Bluetooth keyboard/trackpad combo for the Steam Deck. The other option is to fork out extra for a ROG Ally-compatible dock and connect a keyboard or mouse, but that’s also the priciest solution.
1 min read
