The steam machine only has the one desktop and I found that this worked when I docked my deck
To force your Steam Deck to use only an external monitor while docked, switch to Desktop Mode. Go to System Settings > Display, select your Deck’s built-in screen, and uncheck “Enabled” so the video signal routes exclusively to your external monitor.
So, in “desktop mode” on the deck they have two separate desktops. It’s annoying because one doesn’t have the menu bar while the other won’t show on the TV without the other showing on the deck too.
Looks like they even have a flatpak for Filezilla, a popular FTP program (though, I don’t know how well it works as a flatpak; I’ve only ever used the Windows version of the app).
In the steamOS provided by steam, it uses arch. It is a bit neutered in respect of handling native arch packages via pacman. This is so steam can maintain a bit of stability for users new to linux and are not ready for the arch experiance.
You can install almost anything you’ll probably need as a flatpak and you can use the discover app store to find and install them.
For a more advanced use case you can also install nix and pacman applications. Probably better to stick with flatpak unless what you need isn’t available.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the file manager used in plasma (called dolphin) had ftp / network share capability built in like Nautilus does in GNOME.
The Steam Machine’s SoC is kind of like a modern notebook in that it has two full sized performance cores, and four smaller (area optimised) ones. Should handle desktop tasks relatively well, though its single channel config as shipped may hurt application performance quite a bit.
It should be able to run pretty much anything other x86_64 systems running an immutable Linux distro can, and there are various methods of running conventionally packaged (non-flatpak) Linux SW in such an environment.
You can see every available Flatpak program over at Flathub. Looks like they even have a flatpak for Filezilla, a popular FTP program (though, I don’t know how well it works as a flatpak; I’ve only ever used the Windows version of the app).
Development tools, browsers, productivity, and even games. You can also utilize AppImage programs if they’re available.
RetroFed
Yeah it’s like, “you were right there”
Really?
That sucks.
Yeah that let’s me use the desktop that doesn’t have the task bar and clock and all that
The steam machine only has the one desktop and I found that this worked when I docked my deck
I actually to had zoom in to look for it, that’s clean as hell!
Have you ever given thought to running those cables behind the wall? That would make it perfect I reckon.
Enjoy
for fucks sake!? How dare you
It has desktop mode but I haven’t tried it yet.
They dont. That’s why they asked. ffs
Does the Machine have a desktop mode, or is it just big picture/game mode?
Seems like a massive oversight on valves part to not let you toggle that on and off.
Yeah, and the mouse moves in-between them.
Does the screen on the deck function as a second monitor like that?
I’ve never docked mine.
I don’t have two 65” tvs
Line dual monitors?
And you know the measurements of their set up, how?
So, in “desktop mode” on the deck they have two separate desktops. It’s annoying because one doesn’t have the menu bar while the other won’t show on the TV without the other showing on the deck too.
It’s frustrating AF.
Neat! Its surprising how unfitting the PS5 appears to the rest of your ensemble! No Sony bashing intended.
I do appreciate how the Steam Machine is designed. Nothing over fancy. Xbox did it good With their designs as well.
Nice Job!
It’s got a couple 4” computer fans in the back of the cabinet drawing air out so hopefully that’s enough.
No overheating issues in that enclosed space?
Two desktops?
What do you mean?
Ooo stealthy, took me a minute to find it!
I play with my steam deck docked, so it’s basically a steam machine. How are you liking it? Do they still have two desktops on it?
Yes. I put flairs in, that seem appropriate. Please adjust if needed. I apologize again.
Thats okay, is it working now?
Thanks, this is useful information!
Awesome! Good to know!
I apologize. It is my fault. I did not set it up properly.
I use the flatpak, it works well
Been thinking about trying to add the mullvad-vpn and mullvad-browser apps to my deck via nix. Some links I’ve been researching below.
https://blogs.igalia.com/berto/2024/06/05/more-ways-to-install-software-in-steamos-distrobox-and-nix/
https://wiki.nixos.org/wiki/Mullvad_VPN
In the steamOS provided by steam, it uses arch. It is a bit neutered in respect of handling native arch packages via pacman. This is so steam can maintain a bit of stability for users new to linux and are not ready for the arch experiance.
You can install almost anything you’ll probably need as a flatpak and you can use the
discoverapp store to find and install them.For a more advanced use case you can also install
nixand pacman applications. Probably better to stick with flatpak unless what you need isn’t available.Thank you for this, it is really informative. Steam OS is quite exciting really.
I didn’t see a flair option when posting, and don’t see it in the edit dialogue, am I missing where it is?
Do you know about PieFed’s flair feature? It’s in the community settings.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the file manager used in plasma (called dolphin) had ftp / network share capability built in like Nautilus does in GNOME.
The Steam Machine’s SoC is kind of like a modern notebook in that it has two full sized performance cores, and four smaller (area optimised) ones. Should handle desktop tasks relatively well, though its single channel config as shipped may hurt application performance quite a bit.
It should be able to run pretty much anything other x86_64 systems running an immutable Linux distro can, and there are various methods of running conventionally packaged (non-flatpak) Linux SW in such an environment.
You can see every available Flatpak program over at Flathub. Looks like they even have a flatpak for Filezilla, a popular FTP program (though, I don’t know how well it works as a flatpak; I’ve only ever used the Windows version of the app).
Development tools, browsers, productivity, and even games. You can also utilize AppImage programs if they’re available.
Hey there,
thanks for your entry. Make use of flairs please:
Guides like this are great! Keep it up.
Anyone interested probably?
Who are you talking to?
I’m not getting one (here because I browse /all) but if I did — Deus Ex. Curious to see how it runs, especially with the controller.
Oh yeah. Absolutely. I am quite confident reading different news sites, that were not just farming for clicks.
I’m waitlisted until next year but at least that will give me plenty of time to hear others real world reviews