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Comment by unpopularopp | Hacker News Reader

I want the Steam Deck so badly but at this point I'm afraid they will just announce a new/better version of it. Knowing my luck that would happen like 1 month after I've bought it lol

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A new version isn’t coming any time soon. Valve already said it will be quite some time. Valve also has a terrible track record for developing new versions of their devices. It’s more likely that they were trying to kickstart the form factor but once there’s a healthy competitive landscape they will lose interest. It’s not a company strong on execution. They have the corporate equivalent of ADHD.

The device as it exits today is fantastic and it will play a giant portfolio of PC and emulated games until you wear out the battery and joysticks.

Go buy it on sale right now and enjoy it.

Valve said the new revision isn't coming for a while, and tbf it's a "relatively" inexpensive device so you'd be able to sell it without losing a lot of money even when a new one is announced. I'd recommend getting the cheapest 64GB version and upgrading the drive yourself.

Before cracking the case and doing surgery try running it with a microSD card first. ~40 USD for a good 512GB micro SD card provides sufficient performance for many games. Lastly, remember to remove the micro SD card before opening the case otherwise you will snap the SD card.

I agree. I have the 64gb with a 512 SD card in it, and it was totally sufficient for over a year. In the last month I also upgraded the internal drive, and that's another nice performance improvement, but it was still a great experience before that.

They make 512GB microSD cards now? This really is the future.

They (SanDisk, etc) currently make and sell 1TB microsd cards. 2TB ones are supposed to enter production late this year / early next.

I wouldn't be surprised if they are working closely with AMD on a more customized chip suitable for the next iteration, and possibly waiting for the TSMC 3mm node to have some availability to make a chip that's very power efficient.

>Valve said the new revision isn't coming for a while,

That doesen't make it tue. I worked in consumer electronics development in the past, and it was normal to deny any rumors of an updated and improved product being in the works because otherwise consumers would not buy your current stuff and just wait it out for the next better thing.

Otherwise known as the Osborne effect:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osborne_effect

I find it a worthwhile purchase even if another one comes out immediately. A new version won't change the fact that the original is a great and capable device that is a lot of fun and very convenient to use.

I don't think a new version will come out at all. Steam Deck profits are like console profits, it's sold very little margin to get you into the ecosystem, in this case Steam. But when ASUS, Lenovo, and everyone else is making similar devices that run Steam anyways, Valve's profit stream will be there whether they make the devices or not.

At release the Steam Deck competed with the Nintendo Switch, which doesn't run Steam. The Steam Deck has pushed Steam into the handheld market, but other devices can keep it going without a second Steam Deck.

Even if they announce it today no way you're getting it within at least half a year given current shortages, waitlists etc.

I just bought one since it’s on sale. You could go with the ROG Ally or hold out for the Legion Go, but they are 2x as much.

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