Hello,
Does anyone have any recommendations on a keyboard and mouse they use with the deck? I love the control scheme of the deck but some games just require a keyboard and mouse to be more enjoyable.
I got a laptray for a laptop which should be big enough. Always welcome any suggestions on those as well.
Thanks!
I typed out a huge reply complaining about Razer and then deleted it and tried another, shorter, reply which I also deleted and tried walking away from this thread. To make it briefest, don’t buy Razer. They don’t support Linux. Their windows software sucks a ton anyway.
I’ve used my Razer hardware with the Steam Deck and Dock like a sort-of laptop and it all works out of the box but LEDs sit on demo mode since there is no software to change them. You can’t change anything in fact so any macro keys are useless too. The selling point for me was customizability which isn’t there on Linux. Don’t quote me on that I know how absolutely stupid it sounds in any other context.
I bought all my Razer peripherals before they even announced the Steam Deck. The software has gotten worse and a newer version bricks a gamepad I like to use as a media controller from the couch. If I had to replace anything I would definitely go with any other brand now. I don’t see that happening any time soon though because the Deck does most if not all of the work in games now.
Sorry about having no recommendations in this reply. I have a bone to pick with Razer today. Synapse shit the bed mid episode last night and my media controller gamepad bricked out for a few hours. I recommend staying away from Razer for your sanity. Also don’t waste money on features not accessible on Linux.
My neighbor growing up who still lives with his parents and doesn’t drive has all his rent and car money spent on his computer. I have his old graphics card and it doesn’t struggle with anything I throw at it. I think he uses Steelseries. I trust his judgement more than mine. Steelseries probably holds up to a lot of wear and tear or else the guy wouldn’t be wearing them out and getting new ones.
Kind of a silly question if you don’t provide any selection criteria. You can literally use just about any USB keyboard or mouse you want.
Fc660mBT, bluetooth 65% keyboard that is my personal pick.
Keychron is solid, and offers a wide range of sizes so you can balance real estate vs functionality
I bought the small one (can’t remember the number, but has shallow keys) - it fits in my Deck case, and feels great to use. Good for games too
Find an old IBM model M at a garage sale, or craigslist. Use it until the end of time.
How would you plug it in to the steamdeck?
I plug my steamdeck into a USB dock, (for ethernet, video , etc) which has the Model M with a USB adapter.
I don’t know if there are direct USB-C to PS/2 adapters, but assuming not: USB-C to USB-A adapter followed by USB-A to PS/2.
Long live the Logitech K780!!!
I’d say not to look away from the K580 either. It can only switch between 2 devices vs 3 on the K780, but it’s also a bit lighter and smaller without that massive tray for devices (it still has one, a bit smaller). Which, for lap use as in my case, is more convenient.
I bought a Neuphy air 75 off Craigslist a few years ago. I don’t know if I’ve ever charged it.
I also have a Logitech MX Master that I just toss in a bag with everything else. I bought a $10 dongle to have HDMI out and charging in. I use Bluetooth for the mouse and keyboard.
Now I have mobile gaming machine and computer to plug into any TV to use Stremio.
I rather like the Logitech MX 2. It’s comfortable (for a right hander), and is shockingly reliable for a bluetooth device.
My recc for a keyboard is “good god never an Epomaker”. They look like a discount Keychron, but are fucking useless. A stuttttering messs.
It depends hardly on the kind of keyboard/mouse you want. My recommendations, based on workstation I’m keeping at home:
Keyboards
- Logitech K780 (as @supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz said)
- Logitech MX Keys (full or mini, if you don’t mind about numpad), this is my top keyboard atm, the one I’m using as developer mostly.
- Logitech G413/G413 TKL (wired, but works nice out of the box, mechanical, perfect for gaming and typing)
Mouses
- Logitech G203 (wired, works nicely on Linux too)
- Logitech M650 Signature (my favourite mouse, actually)
- HP 430 Bluetooth Mouse (works nicely, and does not require dongle because it works throught USB)
Extra
Logitech devices use to have all-in-one dongles, so you only need one for connecting all devices, saving you some USB ports. The unifyied dongle looks like this.
I picked up a slim Keychron mechanical keyboard (2.4ghz dongle, usb, or Bluetooth connection), plus a wired elecom trackball. I connect it with a uGreen steam deck dock, which also has an hdmi out if I want a larger screen.
Charachorders are literally perfect keyboards and I will never consider using anything else for any application
Tangent: I tried to hook up a keyboard to my steam deck and it just wouldn’t work. I tried two keyboards, both usb. I used a usb hub and a direct usb cable, but neither worked. Steam was open the whole time. All combinations worked fine on my iPad. What on earth was I doing wrong?
But you didn’t directly plug it in, there was always some sort of adapter involved (thanks for the generous ports, Valve). There must have been something wrong with the adapters. Sometimes, you just have to flip USB-C over for it to work (thanks, Intel).
Really, just get whatever peripherals you like. Don’t expect to be able to do a lot of extra doodads since you won’t be running any extra software to enable advanced features, so just get something you like that’s comfortable.
I use the same keyboard and mouse I use with my primary computer: a Nuphy Air75 v2 keyboard and MX Master mouse.
