this post was submitted on 02 Jul 2024
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The example with Android makes no sense as a argument in our discussion.
Wrong. It does matter. Plus, it matters what software and what configuration it uses the moment it gets counted in the stats.
The discussion is not about what you try to tell. You can say what you want, it does not matter that the Steam Deck uses hardware that is PC and software that is a hybrid of Desktop and Gaming operating system. And when going to the web with a web browser, then the Steam Deck is in Desktop mode, and therefore seen as a Desktop PC. Not only act it like that, the functionality is a Desktop PC.
The Steam Deck has two modes if you forgot that, and we are talking about the Desktop PC mode. Which is what the stats are all about.
Desktop is a form factor not "software" and there are microwaves and refrigerators with "PC hardware" (in quotes, because it's actually a pretty ill-defined term), but they still are not "Desktops" even is you install Fedora on your fridge.
That's just a definition for you. For the stats it does not matter what form factor it has. For the software and operating system, the form factor has 0 meaning. We are talking about stats and I explained it multiple times why the Steam Deck is a desktop PC from the perspective of web browsing stats. But I will end the discussion here now, as we are running in circles. Have a good day.
Ok I also try it one last time 🤣
Go to Google images and search for "Desktop". What you see is Desktop machines amd setups and how I and the vast majority of the world use the word "Desktop".
Now search for "handheld game console". It's very likely that one of the first few results is literally a SteamDeck.
Now back to the stats. As I already said. SteamDeck will be tracked as a Desktop because stat tracking sites just use Browser User Agents and try to detect what the device actually is, but that's very hard if not right out impossible because clients (including the SteamDeck) intentionally (for privacy and compatibility reasons) lie about what they are all the time!
If you take your mobile browser and enable "Desktop site" or "Desktop mode" it will lie(!) and make the server think it's a Desktop - even though it is really not. A smartphone doesn't magically become a Desktop PC. If I browse the web with my typical mobile browser - every site will track my activity as smartphone. If I switch to Desktop mode most sites will track me as a Linux Desktop Machine. But my device has not changed.
So you are right that the SteamDeck is tracked as a Desktop PC. But that's because the Server has has either no better category for the device or can't determine what the device really is because it lies about what it is.
https://webaim.org/blog/user-agent-string-history/
Stat tracking always had (and will have) two big issues (which can't really be fixed).
Devices which lie about what they are (see link above) and the problem that they have to come up with some categories and there will always be some devices which fall between the categories (Think fridge, microwaves, sex toys, etc.).
If your SteamDeck is currently actually connected to a monitor a mouse and a keyboard than you are actually using it as a Desktop PC. But if you use it like most people - even though the SteamDeck lies about it - it's not a Desktop, because the word "Desktop" really is about the form factor - it's not just my definition. Give any of your friends a piece of paper and a pencil and ask them to draw a Desktop PC - I would actually be amazed if anybody in the world (even you! outside the context of this discussion) would draw anything even remotely resembling a Steam Deck.
👋