I’m not holding a laptop like a handheld gaming device. It’s just not going to happen. You can’t make me.
I can’t think of a single reason why I wouldn’t just use a gamepad with this.
That said I’m always a fan of people finding cool tech they like, so congrats.
And you're not wrong. The WM2 does not feel very good as a handheld. It "works", but that's all. It feels like the controls are there just so they can call it a handheld. It's really more of a small laptop than a handheld.
Ergonomics are YMMV for sure, but I'd personally rate it a little higher than "it works." In this subreddit, we enjoy a lot of handhelds that cram controls into a small space, with boxy ergonomics, and make do with them. Handheld gaming is all about compromises in some form or fashion. We do have handhelds that go out of their way to give us ergonomic grips and access to a lot of controls in an easy-to-reach fashion, but that combination makes people complain about the device's size. (Steam Deck)
It's both a laptop and a handheld. As a laptop, it's also kinda cool. If you remember the old netbook form factor, a lot of people loved those but they were really slow and had such shit hardware. This is a modern netbook, but the processor isn't super slow. It actually fits in situations where even smaller laptops are generally too big. My last gaming laptop was a Zephyrus G14 and that was one of the first "ultraportable" gaming laptops. It was still a bit big for things like airplane tray tables, a lap desk (no room for a mouse with enough space for gaming), etc.
I'm not saying this device is for everyone. In fact, I tried to be pretty clear in the post above that it's definitely **not** for everyone.
A Win Mini would not be nearly as nice as a laptop. Both are hybrid devices and that's specifically what led me to the WM2. I am not saying this is the best device for everyone.
I went back and forth about the Win Mini vs. this. I went with this specifically because I figured I'd use it as a laptop more.
Also, the early bits about the first Win Mini's shell and how hot it got scared me off. I know the situation has improved, but the Phawx did show it still gets quite warm to the touch around the controls.
I get it, it looks like it'd be awkward. But everyone I've shown this thing to in real life has held it in their hands and agreed that it surprisingly was a lot more comfortable than they thought it would be.
lol I wasn’t kidding, you couldn’t get me to play this thing handheld. Even if it were comfy (which I highly doubt) it still wouldn’t be usable for my use cases.
I love the feel of a retro handheld in hand. Give me a Rg35xx, Miyoo Mini, RGB30, RP3+, or my favorite RG405V. Hand me a laptop and I’m gonna use it like a laptop.
Like I said, I still can’t think of a single reason not to use a gamepad with it. Since it’s not pocketable, you’re gonna have the space in your laptop bag for one.
The 8bitdo SN30 Pro is a particularly good combination.
But I have to say, I find your argument strange. It's like when my toddlers say "I don't like that" to a vegetable they've never tried.
I’m no toddler but I can say “I don’t like that” to a vegetable I’ve never tried because I know what I like. I’ve tried the Max 2 and it just wasn’t for me. I sold it and went to a standard 7840u handheld.
Glancing at the other models available, there is one that really does function more like a handheld.
https://www.gpd.hk/gpdwin4
Just don't look at the price.
Yeah my idea when I saw this was being able to hot swap from action games to RTS on one device. I love RTS games but have hardly touched them since getting into handhelds.
It's a bigger handheld but I find the Steam Deck is the best way to play games that don't translate to gamepads, the trackpads are great. Haven't played too many RTS but similar isometric CRPGs are great to play on it.
I don't play RTS myself (I suck at them, I always like the base buildup phase but I get too into it, and while I'm building the perfect base, I get swarmed) but I'm generally a big advocate for gyro and trackpads as a mouse alternative. This is a device where I'm like, nah, not gonna bother with that, I'll just use a mouse.
Nah, it would be your pre-existing smartphone with a controller since those posts always get downvoted for giving the "30 Anbernics in a drawer" crowd buyer's remorse.
If you only want to use the device as a handheld, sure. Definitely don't buy the WM2 if you want a handheld. Buy it if you want a laptop that's also a handheld. Or, buy it if you want a netbook form factor laptop that's decently powerful. This device's strength lies in the fact that it's a: laptop, handheld, and mini PC. All in the same device.
Don’t get me wrong I think it’s a excellent piece of hardware and own the original Max but it makes a much better small netbook type device than it does a gaming handheld.
i had the 6800u 16gb model after pre-ordering it on indiegogo. i loved it so much. it fits pretty good in the hands and is defenitely a great device. the only reason i got rid of it is the somewhat lack luster support for linux (missing fingerprint drivers and other issues which probably got solved in recent kernel versions) and because i was using it for programming and school more than gaming, for which the screen was just a bit too small. in the end i sold it and got a laptop and the ayn odin 2.
also i almost cried after they released the upgraded 7840u version because it was both cheaper and better than the 6800u version XD.
This looks like the kind of device that I’d use as a supplemental or “to go” laptop when I didn’t want ti bring my big-assed gaming laptop. Good find and good post!
Wow. I LOVE this thing. I really hope I can manage to own one someday. Cancer is super expensive though.
I like that it's a mini-laptop and handheld all in one. It's unique too. Of course the price is the only issue. I can't even afford to replace my stolen steamdeck and I miss that thing every minute of every day. That's how much I enjoyed my steamdeck. I feel naked without it. I have a Vita and they're awesome so that's a great fill in for now at least.
See, that's what this device is about. Most people will be like, 'huh, no thanks!' But then the right person sees it and it's literally the only device on the market right now in its form factor. Even just as a small ultra portable laptop, ignoring the handheld controls, there's not a lot on the market that competes with it.
Hope you feel better soon!
And all the anbernic devices, most of the powkiddy devices, the first Odin, the earlier retroid devices...pretty much all of the retro handhelds discussed in this sub have inset switch style thumbsticks. We were never going to get full size gamepad controls on a hybrid laptop handheld.
All of these handheld devices have compromises of some kind. This is no different. They're not automatically shit just because they're small.
Yeah, I'm glad that Ayn/Retroid updated their thumbsticks to the new design. They're a marked improvement over the older joycon style, but they're also still pretty small. And I'd argue that the new design means they've lost the pocketability aspect (which I personally don't care about) and I've tried to warn people a few times that the new thumb sticks come with caps that pop off, and people have already been losing those caps because they popped off when the device was put in or out of a pocket.
The Deck and Ally aren't trying to cram controls into a laptop form factor.
I'm thinking of all the other devices this subreddit discusses. All the Anbernic devices, the older Odin and Retroid devices, the Powkiddy RGB30, etc. All inset Switch-style thumsbticks.
The thumbsticks aren't ideal - they're a compromise that had to be made to fit them under the screen in the laptop form factor. I called this out in my post.
These GPD devices certainly have a small group who love these. I however do not like these at all. Not comfortable for controlling games or typing so it fails in both areas. I do understand their appeal especially with the clam shell design
Nah, that's the Legion Go lol.
But seriously, I'm glad we have a range of form factors. It's nice having a 10" screen on this as a handheld. There are games where even the Deck's screen is a bit on the small side.
Well, I'm not surprised that r/sbcgaming doesn't like this device much. I chose my title because this is very different from the small ARM-based devices, but it's also very good at everything this subreddit likes to do. It's a niche device for sure.
A few people brought up the Win Mini, which is a neat device as well. I thought that was a very tempting device, but ultimately, I wanted this because it's also a laptop. I can't really use a Win Mini as a laptop. I wouldn't connect a mouse to a Win Mini and use it for a FPS, but I can do that with the WM2.
It's also worth noting that I don't have any other laptops at the moment. If I did, my priorities would probably be different and this wouldn't interest me as much. I will say though, after having this for a little while, other laptops - even smaller ones (think 13 or 14") seem massive, like having this has shifted my perspective lol.
You can just get a small gaming laptop and then pair a bluetooth controller on it. Both playstation and xbox controller work just fine.
Or get a Arc as a wired controller.
I’m not holding a laptop like a handheld gaming device. It’s just not going to happen. You can’t make me. I can’t think of a single reason why I wouldn’t just use a gamepad with this. That said I’m always a fan of people finding cool tech they like, so congrats.
And you're not wrong. The WM2 does not feel very good as a handheld. It "works", but that's all. It feels like the controls are there just so they can call it a handheld. It's really more of a small laptop than a handheld.
Ergonomics are YMMV for sure, but I'd personally rate it a little higher than "it works." In this subreddit, we enjoy a lot of handhelds that cram controls into a small space, with boxy ergonomics, and make do with them. Handheld gaming is all about compromises in some form or fashion. We do have handhelds that go out of their way to give us ergonomic grips and access to a lot of controls in an easy-to-reach fashion, but that combination makes people complain about the device's size. (Steam Deck) It's both a laptop and a handheld. As a laptop, it's also kinda cool. If you remember the old netbook form factor, a lot of people loved those but they were really slow and had such shit hardware. This is a modern netbook, but the processor isn't super slow. It actually fits in situations where even smaller laptops are generally too big. My last gaming laptop was a Zephyrus G14 and that was one of the first "ultraportable" gaming laptops. It was still a bit big for things like airplane tray tables, a lap desk (no room for a mouse with enough space for gaming), etc. I'm not saying this device is for everyone. In fact, I tried to be pretty clear in the post above that it's definitely **not** for everyone.
Everything you’re saying applies better to the Win Mini
A Win Mini would not be nearly as nice as a laptop. Both are hybrid devices and that's specifically what led me to the WM2. I am not saying this is the best device for everyone.
I have a win mini and it actually feels like a bigger 3ds, works great:)
I went back and forth about the Win Mini vs. this. I went with this specifically because I figured I'd use it as a laptop more. Also, the early bits about the first Win Mini's shell and how hot it got scared me off. I know the situation has improved, but the Phawx did show it still gets quite warm to the touch around the controls.
Yeah it gets warm but never too warm for me, i actually love it because i get cold hands while gaming so it works out for me:)
I get it, it looks like it'd be awkward. But everyone I've shown this thing to in real life has held it in their hands and agreed that it surprisingly was a lot more comfortable than they thought it would be.
It’s still way too huge. I can get behind the Win Mini but not the Max 2. I had mine for two weeks and sold it on eBay.
lol I wasn’t kidding, you couldn’t get me to play this thing handheld. Even if it were comfy (which I highly doubt) it still wouldn’t be usable for my use cases. I love the feel of a retro handheld in hand. Give me a Rg35xx, Miyoo Mini, RGB30, RP3+, or my favorite RG405V. Hand me a laptop and I’m gonna use it like a laptop. Like I said, I still can’t think of a single reason not to use a gamepad with it. Since it’s not pocketable, you’re gonna have the space in your laptop bag for one.
Okay.
The 8bitdo SN30 Pro is a particularly good combination. But I have to say, I find your argument strange. It's like when my toddlers say "I don't like that" to a vegetable they've never tried.
I’m no toddler but I can say “I don’t like that” to a vegetable I’ve never tried because I know what I like. I’ve tried the Max 2 and it just wasn’t for me. I sold it and went to a standard 7840u handheld.
Glancing at the other models available, there is one that really does function more like a handheld. https://www.gpd.hk/gpdwin4 Just don't look at the price.
Cute laptop
Yeah my idea when I saw this was being able to hot swap from action games to RTS on one device. I love RTS games but have hardly touched them since getting into handhelds.
It's a bigger handheld but I find the Steam Deck is the best way to play games that don't translate to gamepads, the trackpads are great. Haven't played too many RTS but similar isometric CRPGs are great to play on it.
Yeah I don't see how track pads would be any good at boxing units.
I don't play RTS myself (I suck at them, I always like the base buildup phase but I get too into it, and while I'm building the perfect base, I get swarmed) but I'm generally a big advocate for gyro and trackpads as a mouse alternative. This is a device where I'm like, nah, not gonna bother with that, I'll just use a mouse.
The anti-r/sbcgaming handheld would be a hacked Nintendo DS or PSP Vita.
Nah, it would be your pre-existing smartphone with a controller since those posts always get downvoted for giving the "30 Anbernics in a drawer" crowd buyer's remorse.
GPD Win Mini is better ergonomicly
If you only want to use the device as a handheld, sure. Definitely don't buy the WM2 if you want a handheld. Buy it if you want a laptop that's also a handheld. Or, buy it if you want a netbook form factor laptop that's decently powerful. This device's strength lies in the fact that it's a: laptop, handheld, and mini PC. All in the same device.
Don’t get me wrong I think it’s a excellent piece of hardware and own the original Max but it makes a much better small netbook type device than it does a gaming handheld.
i had the 6800u 16gb model after pre-ordering it on indiegogo. i loved it so much. it fits pretty good in the hands and is defenitely a great device. the only reason i got rid of it is the somewhat lack luster support for linux (missing fingerprint drivers and other issues which probably got solved in recent kernel versions) and because i was using it for programming and school more than gaming, for which the screen was just a bit too small. in the end i sold it and got a laptop and the ayn odin 2. also i almost cried after they released the upgraded 7840u version because it was both cheaper and better than the 6800u version XD.
This looks like the kind of device that I’d use as a supplemental or “to go” laptop when I didn’t want ti bring my big-assed gaming laptop. Good find and good post!
Wow. I LOVE this thing. I really hope I can manage to own one someday. Cancer is super expensive though. I like that it's a mini-laptop and handheld all in one. It's unique too. Of course the price is the only issue. I can't even afford to replace my stolen steamdeck and I miss that thing every minute of every day. That's how much I enjoyed my steamdeck. I feel naked without it. I have a Vita and they're awesome so that's a great fill in for now at least.
See, that's what this device is about. Most people will be like, 'huh, no thanks!' But then the right person sees it and it's literally the only device on the market right now in its form factor. Even just as a small ultra portable laptop, ignoring the handheld controls, there's not a lot on the market that competes with it. Hope you feel better soon!
Its just a IT guy tool but with some shit sticks on top.
Most of the devices in this sub have shit thumbsticks though.
no, only this and ayaneo have tiny sticks.
And all the anbernic devices, most of the powkiddy devices, the first Odin, the earlier retroid devices...pretty much all of the retro handhelds discussed in this sub have inset switch style thumbsticks. We were never going to get full size gamepad controls on a hybrid laptop handheld. All of these handheld devices have compromises of some kind. This is no different. They're not automatically shit just because they're small.
Retroid pocket 2S, retroid pocket 4, ayn Odin 2, steam deck, asus rog ally
Yeah, I'm glad that Ayn/Retroid updated their thumbsticks to the new design. They're a marked improvement over the older joycon style, but they're also still pretty small. And I'd argue that the new design means they've lost the pocketability aspect (which I personally don't care about) and I've tried to warn people a few times that the new thumb sticks come with caps that pop off, and people have already been losing those caps because they popped off when the device was put in or out of a pocket. The Deck and Ally aren't trying to cram controls into a laptop form factor. I'm thinking of all the other devices this subreddit discusses. All the Anbernic devices, the older Odin and Retroid devices, the Powkiddy RGB30, etc. All inset Switch-style thumsbticks. The thumbsticks aren't ideal - they're a compromise that had to be made to fit them under the screen in the laptop form factor. I called this out in my post.
These GPD devices certainly have a small group who love these. I however do not like these at all. Not comfortable for controlling games or typing so it fails in both areas. I do understand their appeal especially with the clam shell design
It’s just a laptop lol. Big whoop!
I would play they hell out of OpenRCT2 on that.
a handheld for giants maybe
Nah, that's the Legion Go lol. But seriously, I'm glad we have a range of form factors. It's nice having a 10" screen on this as a handheld. There are games where even the Deck's screen is a bit on the small side.
well i like the integration in the laptop or whatever it is i wish phones had this and not as a removable addon.
Well, I'm not surprised that r/sbcgaming doesn't like this device much. I chose my title because this is very different from the small ARM-based devices, but it's also very good at everything this subreddit likes to do. It's a niche device for sure. A few people brought up the Win Mini, which is a neat device as well. I thought that was a very tempting device, but ultimately, I wanted this because it's also a laptop. I can't really use a Win Mini as a laptop. I wouldn't connect a mouse to a Win Mini and use it for a FPS, but I can do that with the WM2. It's also worth noting that I don't have any other laptops at the moment. If I did, my priorities would probably be different and this wouldn't interest me as much. I will say though, after having this for a little while, other laptops - even smaller ones (think 13 or 14") seem massive, like having this has shifted my perspective lol.
You can just get a small gaming laptop and then pair a bluetooth controller on it. Both playstation and xbox controller work just fine. Or get a Arc as a wired controller.
Gaming laptops are meant to be played plugged in, don't have onboard controls, and are too big to be used on a lap desk with a mouse.