ROG Xbox Ally Handhelds Revealed | Hacker News Reader

ROG Xbox Ally Handhelds Revealed

news.xbox.com

7 pointszathan8 comments

Will be interesting to see whether and how the purported improvements in terms of efficiency and standby life will find their way into mainline Windows. A lot of issues people like myself have with current day Windows can be traced back to intentional decisions which they could have gone back on at any stage in the last decade.

Changing settings between updates against users wishes, dark patterns, (re)installing what on any other OS would be considered adware, launching Recall without even the most basic security measures initially showcasing a lack of care, standby being at most a suggestion considering how often my work laptop burns up the inside of my backpack, everything connected with OneDrive...

None of this should require an outsiders perspective or an extensive reworking of what Windows is to fix, just a willingness to do the bare minimum. Will keep my eyes open for changes that can be traced back to these efforts, but fear that besides a potential improved game mode, most of this "trimming-of-the-fat" will remain with the Xbox version of Windows. Alternatively, bad habits take over again and they introduce the aforementioned issues into the Xbox version, rather than learning to remove that stuff from Vanilla Windows.

I wonder if somehow we'll be able to get this version of Windows available to download. Would be great to install in a living room PC or similar.

I'm also very interested if this version will be able to avoid having to leave the Xbox interface, be it to interact with other storefronts or to do some changes in Windows. Since they control Windows and have a strong position for partnerships, it may be possible.

What makes this any different Than the previous handhelds that mostly flopped?

A few hardware design decisions, mainly focused on ergonomics, etc. were made with direct input from the Xbox team. On the software front, this is (supposed to be) a version of Windows that has significantly stripped down background processes and improvements in terms of efficiency and standby performance. Whether this will be available for installation or remain an OEM option remains to be seen, same on how much will flow into regular Windows.

Seeing as they couldn't answer how the OS will handle running tasks after switching into and out of regular desktop modes when asked by Dave2D and Linus Sebastian, I fear that this is all far to early for anyone inside MSFT to have a proper plan as of yet if they don't have a clear answer for such key questions.

They need a direct switch 2 competitor. The catalogue of older games on Xbox gamepass is excellent and a lot of the best switch games are ports anyway.

Why would anyone buy one? Every parent in America knows their kid would hate them if they unboxed an Xbox handheld instead of the Switch 2 on Christmas. Not to mention, the Switch 2 is cheaper, easier to operate, has a library of kid-friendly and hardware-tailored games, and doesn't partner with Snoop Dogg to market the product. You're left with a small market of enthusiast and hardcore customers that probably treat your product like a novelty instead of a real competitor. It makes sense why Microsoft doesn't really care.

Xbox owners don't want one because they can already play Game Pass stuff. Their money is better spent on a Playstation or Switch. PC gamers also already have Game Pass, so if a bigger library is what they want then they should buy a Switch or Playstation too.

Ironically, if a Switch/PS5 owner wants to experience Microsoft's best exclusives, the Steam Deck is their cheapest option.

The switch target demo is parents. The kids don’t care if they play Minecraft on switch or Xbox. Pokémon and Zelda cary the console but Xbox with a pal world 2 could upset that money printer

Am I the only noticing the OG Sidewinder gamepad in the design?

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