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A Linux gaming handheld just got indefinitely postponed because of spiking hardware prices
Quoting: A Linux gaming handheld just got indefinitely postponed because of spiking hardware prices —
The OrangePi Neo was going to be an exciting launch for fans of both portable gaming and open-source software. It's a console that doesn't look too unlike a Steam Deck, but it runs Manjaro Linux with KDE Plasma 6 and flatpak installations. The predicted price point for this console looked very reasonable: 450$ for the 16 GB RAM version, and $550 for the 32GB model, with both of them sporting 512GB of storage space.
Unfortunately, due to the RAM and storage crisis, there's a good chance that the OrangePi Neo won't sell for those prices. In fact, right now, the developers aren't sure when it will launch, as they have announced that the project has been put on hold as they work out what to do next.
How-To Geek:
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This Linux gaming handheld is now on hold, thanks to RAM and SSD price hikes
The skyrocketing prices for flash memory have already affected RAM sticks, SSDs, laptops, pre-built PC desktops, phones, and many other devices. Now, you can add the OrangePi Neo to the list—a handheld gaming PC using Linux that was supposed to be released soon.
The OrangePi Neo was first announced in early 2024, from the same company that sells single-board computers like Orange Pi 5 Ultra. It has a Steam Deck-like design, with an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U chipset and 7-inch 1920x1200 display. The specs list also includes 16 or 32 GB RAM, 512 GB or 2 TB of NVMe storage, a 50 WHr battery, and two USB4 ports.
The main selling point for the OrangePi Neo is that it’s built from the ground up to run Manjaro Linux, instead of the SteamOS, Android, or Windows operating systems found on other similar handhelds. The main interface is built around gamepad controls and launching games, but it can also switch to a standard Plasma desktop. It’s also designed around Flatpak applications and an immutable system structure.