ROG ALLY

Got my ROG Ally today (thanks Fed Ex!), and wanted to share some initial impressions and a couple tips for getting it all set up.

Hardware/Built in Software:
Overall I am extremely impressed with the device and build quality. Coming from a Steam Deck and Aokzoe A1 Pro, this thing feels like a big step forward. It has a great solid feel to it, but isn't as bulky as the SD or A1. The grain they use on the plastic really feels great in my hands. The built in controller is amazing, the dpad/sticks/buttons all have the correct level of responsiveness and the clicks feel right.

I love the built in mouse by using the right stick and the right buttons. This is also a big upgrade over the A1 and having to switch between mouse mode or controller mode. So far on the Ally leaving it in "Auto" seems to work great and it knows when it should register as a controller or a mouse.

The built in software is fine (I've never loved Armory Crate on the desktop), and works as intended. Easy to get to games and game launchers, and is mostly well organized. I'm not sure in the long run if I will use it, but for now I'm giving it a try because it does "simplify" having to navigate around Windows and gives it a more console like feel.

Setup / Getting Started:
I am an IT Specialist and have built and set up several desktop computers so my knowledge of Windows and setting up a computer are expert level. If you're not familiar with Windows and updating it, you might struggle a bit here but stick with it and I promise you will get better performance. This is the order I did things in, but you really could probably do it in any order:

1. Open Armory Crate (Grey Icon on the windows menu bar along the bottom), go to "Content" tab, then "Update Center". Click the button for "Check for updates". Once it is done, click "Update" on the top group and when that completes click "Update All" on the bottom group. Once all the updates are complete, restart your device. You might get a pop up to confirm you want to update BIOS and say "Ok".

2. Open the Start menu, select "Settings" and then "Windows Update". Say check for updates and let this download and install everything in the list (you might have to click "Download and Install" to trigger this. This might take awhile but once everything is completed click the "restart now" button. Do not click this until everything is completed or you could run into issues. Note - mine showed an update that wouldn't install, and even when clicking "Retry" it could not install. If you see this don't worry - we will fix it in step 5

3. After it restarts, go back to the Start menu, then settings, then Windows Update again. Say check for updates and wait to see if there are any more. If there is a "Windows Preview" type update you can click the button to download and install or leave it, I did install the latest. If you had more updates in this step, when they are all completed restart your devicee

4. Now that we have all Armory Crate and Windows Updates, open the Microsoft Store (you have an icon on your Windows Menu Bar. When it opens, click the "My Apps" icon on the left side, then click "Get Updates". This will probably take awhile too, but let everything download and install. Once all of these are complete, restart your device.