I was watching this video the other day and our friend Bob made a comment about the steamdecks trackpads, essentially calling the bad. I want to know what the community thinks.

For me, they are a game changer. They are not the best implemented trackpads I’ve ever seen but on a handheld it made a world of difference setting up any desktop software like emudeck, and any of the associated emulators. Civ games in my opinion are easier to navigate and I would be hard pressed to try to play any type of RTS game without them. Not to mention that after a year of having the Deck, I just learned how to comfortably type with them. I’ve bound them to be a radial dial of tools within games and with the desktop mode.

This morning I heard of the Aya Neo Kun, a 75 watt hour x86 handheld with trackpads. Outside the GDP WIN 4 with it’s physical keyboard this is the only other x86 handheld I think I could consider using. I believe its physical trackpads would help me navigate the nightmare that is windows 11. I will always prefer a mouse and keyboard but on the go, they’ve been a handy tool to getting things done.

Love em, hate em, or just don’t care about em, I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts.

  • walderan@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    I use them in games that need precise aiming (hello Valheim) along with the gyro, as well as mouse based games. Also they’re great for binding a bunch of extra buttons that you don’t use that often, and they make the desktop experience much smoother if you don’t have m/kb around.
    I understand that having them is a compromise, so the rest of the controls end up more cramped, but at least for me it’s well worth it. I wouldn’t consider a different handheld pc, or a Steam Deck 2 without them now.

    • Hungry_Panda@lemmy.mlOP
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      1 year ago

      You use gyro in Valheim? For bows? Gyro controls are my kryptonite, I can get them to work.