I almost exclusively use desktop mode. One of the main reasons I got a steam deck was to have a Linux PC connected to my TV at all times. I watch a lot of sports via pirated streams, and those only really work well in a web browser. A raspberry pi 4 was not quick enough to keep up with it, but the steam deck is more than capable.
Currently, just when I have to use it to install anything that I can't install via game mode, and when I need to tweak the system or game files, copy roms from my NAS, etc.
Mainly for installing things like emudeck or tailscale.
What do you use tailscale on the Steam Deck for?
Just to try it. They have a few blog posts about it. :)
I use tailscale for a few things like hosting services for friends.
I mostly use it to set up Non-Steam Games like Diablo. Once set up, I go back to gaming mode. I once briefly considered using it to resolve a server issue for a business client (by using SSH which for who knows why is expensive as fuck on iPad), but decided against it -- I was home to relax not work.
When I first got my Deck I installed several emulators for nostalgia (of course for games I own legitimate versions of), but after recently re-imaging my Deck I haven't had the urge to do that again. I got what I needed, and may do it again some day; but for now I'm satisfied by Steam games and Diablo.
These days manually passing save game files between it and my other PCs.
Sometimes to install stuff like emulators or when needed other launchers.
Hi from desktop mode!
I use a Arch Linux install (configured to have a 'as close as possible to SteamOS 3' experience, so I still have the usual gaming mode and desktop mode) and I use desktop mode for web browsing, programming (and related stuff), system maintenance and installing stuff.
I use Gaming Mode for gaming, ofc.
I mostly use desktop mode for messing about with things like emudeck and creating and forgetting an su password.
I connect mine to work monitors via a dock/hub. I use it to browse the internet as well play some text based web games.
Mostly for tinkering. If I'm setting up an abandonware game or modding a game I prefer to do so in Lutris. It makes it easier to hop back and forth.
I also use desktop mode for a lot of indie games I may only be playing for small amounts of time
I have been using mine to read comics recently, since the screen is larger than my phone's and the aspect ratio is about right when turned on it's side.
I put the Nix package manager on my Deck and use it for software development. You definitely want a BlueTooth keyboard to use it this way.
Mostly installing games from outside the steam shop.
I use it all the time. For everything besides gaming, where I like having the integrated gaming mode UI instead.
Of course, the Deck is my only PC currently, which isn't the use case that most have for it.
I'm in the same situation, the Deck has been my only PC for about as long as I've owned it (first batch, so about a year and a half now) and it's more than enough for my use case.
There was a period of time where I was too lazy to re-hook up my main PC to everything. I just hooked up my Steam Deck instead via a USB C hub.
It was then that I realized I don't really use my main gaming PC anymore. I just play on the Steam Deck and almost everything else is just general use most of the time.
Since then, I found I still prefer to do some tinkering on a way the Steam Deck isn't very good at, so I been thinking of selling off my PC and buying a capable laptop to have that extra ease as I found I don't need the extra performance anymore.
Setting up emudeck
Not frequently, I tried to use it to launch gog games via lutris but they were not performing as well as within the steam app.
Mostly I play games or browse the web / watch videos - But I do all of this with a dock and mouse and keyboard.
So far, only Minecraft.
Tinkering with settings, web browsing, coding, file management, terminal, DistroBox, YouTube watching, using multiple monitors, installing flatpaks, installing emudeck, installing cryoutilities, compiling code, Qt creator, etc.
There are some movies/websites that don't work well with Chromecast. Being able to play them on my steam deck while docked is often the easiest way to play them.
For viewing and commenting on this post, reading books and PDFs, doing Coursera courses, playing Minecraft Java edition...
@Moxvallix copying files, basically 😂😂😂 I'm still yet to buy a dock - afterwards it will be more useful.
When my wife uses steam link to play my pc on the tv I connect my dock to my keyboard, mouse and monitor and go about my business uninterrupted.
