It’s not every day that a device built for leisure finds itself repurposed for productivity, but with the ever-growing interest in portable computing, the lines between gaming consoles and work machines are starting to blur. Case in point: the Lenovo Legion Go S, a handheld gaming PC with muscle to spare, but inherently designed for SteamOS and a typical gaming experience. The experiment at hand: leveraging this quirky, compact device as a primary work PC, complete with all the headaches and triumphs such a role reversal brings. What follows is a firsthand account of the challenges, surprises, and practical realities, cross-examined with available evidence and broader technical context, of using the Legion Go S for “real work”—writing, image processing, and internet browsing—instead of the games it was born to run.
The Legion Go S, like virtually all modern handheld PCs aimed squarely at gamers, boots by default into a gaming-centric OS. In this case, that’s SteamOS, a Linux-based operating system engineered with game libraries and controllers top of mind. But SteamOS also harbors a more traditional desktop environment—in this instance, KDE Plasma—accessible with a deliberate long-press of the power button and a quick menu selection. This isn’t just a bonus for the tinkerers. It transforms the Legion Go S into a potential on-the-go productivity tool, albeit one with significant design biases toward gaming.
Initial impressions count for a lot, and KDE Plasma—one of Linux’s most mature and Windows-esque desktop experiences—bridges the gap between familiarity and novelty for those rooted in the world of Windows or Mac. The taskbar, quick settings, and application launcher immediately echo conventions honed over decades, making the leap less intimidating for non-Linux veterans. For a user with decades of experience across Microsoft and Apple platforms, this approachability earns early points.
With a stockpile of USB-A-to-C adapters, plugging in external input devices proved effortless. Linux’s (specifically KDE Plasma’s) robust driver support meant that both mouse and keyboard functioned immediately, setting a precedent for plug-and-play usability. This aligns with the broad reality of modern Linux distributions, which have made vast strides in hardware support over the past decade, especially for mainstream peripherals.
Still, the reliance on adapters (or better, a USB-C dock, available for about $20) is more than a minor inconvenience for prolonged, serious use. For professionals, carrying adapters introduces fragility into a setup, both physically and in terms of workflow reliability.
Once up and running, Edge delivered as expected: bookmarks, passwords, payment info, and extensions, all promptly available after syncing. This seamless transition for work tasks hedges one of Linux’s lingering criticisms: that it deters those deeply embedded in proprietary ecosystems. At least for browsers, this gap has narrowed considerably.
The answer for longer sessions: an external monitor, specifically the Espresso Displays 15 Pro—a critically acclaimed portable 4K monitor. Here, the Legion Go S met its limits. USB-C delivers both data and power, but not enough juice to run the display alone. Only after daisy-chaining a dedicated power adapter through the monitor’s second port did the full desktop spring to life, with bonus power pass-through to the handheld—an elegant, if cable-heavy, solution. This is par for the course with most slim gaming portables, and not a failing unique to Lenovo’s offering. Nonetheless, it illustrates the necessity of power planning for anyone attempting a “desktop replacement” experience on a device this size.
Despite these obstacles, external devices—from basic wireless peripherals to specialized hardware like a FLIR thermal camera—were recognized and mounted without issue. Linux’s open architecture and vast device support matrix shone here, perhaps even exceeding plug-and-play reliability found in more closed ecosystems. But the physical dance of constant port swapping underscored the need for a thoughtfully chosen USB-C dock—a $20 investment that, in practical terms, is essential for anything more than the most cursory on-the-go workload.
This instability, while ultimately navigated with workarounds, highlights a key concern for users considering such a workflow: Linux compatibility on non-standard hardware is always a calculated gamble. While most mainstream laptops and desktops boast bulletproof Linux support, gaming handhelds—optimized for SteamOS’s unique demands—often feature custom input hardware or tweaks that desktop environments might not yet fully support. The situation could improve with future updates or community-contributed drivers, but at publication, this critical limitation remains.
Installing GIMP as a stand-in for the user’s preferred Pixelmator Pro (which is macOS-exclusive, and as of recent news, now part of the Apple family) worked without a hitch. For casual and even professional image edits, GIMP stands apart among free alternatives, and its Linux pedigree ensures both portability and mature support on such devices.
But prolonged handheld-only use—navigating with on-screen keyboards, touch controls, or thumbsticks—remains, as the author bluntly put it, a chore. The Legion Go S, like other gaming handhelds, is ergonomically engineered for short bursts of gaming, not day-long typing or spreadsheet number crunching.
For users with access to a USB-C hub or dock, the situation improves dramatically. Adding classic desktop peripherals (full-sized keyboards, mice, multiple USB drives, SD cards) restores missing convenience, turning a gaming device into a makeshift desktop with far fewer compromises. It’s a workaround, but not an insignificant one; and it underscores just how important third-party accessories are for versatile workflows.
Nevertheless, any gaming handheld, including the Legion Go S, faces inherent limits in sustained heavy-threaded performance or tasks like 4K video editing. Thermal constraints quickly impose CPU/GPU throttling, and configuring power delivery through external supplies (vs. battery alone) is key for maintaining peak performance in desktop mode.
On the software front, most mainstream desktop and cloud productivity tools are now serviceable, if not outright first-class, on Linux. Browsers are a non-issue; cloud storage sync (OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox) can be managed either natively or via browser with minimal friction. Alternatives like OpenOffice, LibreOffice, and GIMP match most mainstream needs, though editing workflows built around entrenched Windows or Mac-only titles (such as Adobe Creative Cloud) will face either emulation hurdles or be forced to rely on web-based versions, where available.
Recent advances in Linux desktop environments make the dream more plausible, but hardware and software compatibility for gamer-focused devices remains less future-proof than that of notebooks or convertibles designed with workplace reliability in mind.
Still, it’s not a journey for the faint of heart or those intolerant of the occasional crash and cable shuffle. The touchpad driver bug, limited port selection, and the need for constant peripheral management are reminders that this is a gaming machine first, a desktop contender second.
If you’re game to experiment and already invested in a flexible, cloud-based workflow, the Legion Go S can be more than a toy—it can become, for stretches of time, a bona fide productivity tool. But for long-term comfort and mission-critical work, a more traditional laptop remains the safer, surer bet. Until then, the best recommendation for anyone inspired to attempt this hybrid lifestyle is simple: pack an adapter, expect even the best-laid plans to go awry, and celebrate the successes—however incremental—along the way.
Source: Tom's Hardware I tried using the Legion Go S handheld as my work PC – here’s what happened next!
Getting Acquainted: From Game Launcher to Desktop
The Legion Go S, like virtually all modern handheld PCs aimed squarely at gamers, boots by default into a gaming-centric OS. In this case, that’s SteamOS, a Linux-based operating system engineered with game libraries and controllers top of mind. But SteamOS also harbors a more traditional desktop environment—in this instance, KDE Plasma—accessible with a deliberate long-press of the power button and a quick menu selection. This isn’t just a bonus for the tinkerers. It transforms the Legion Go S into a potential on-the-go productivity tool, albeit one with significant design biases toward gaming.Initial impressions count for a lot, and KDE Plasma—one of Linux’s most mature and Windows-esque desktop experiences—bridges the gap between familiarity and novelty for those rooted in the world of Windows or Mac. The taskbar, quick settings, and application launcher immediately echo conventions honed over decades, making the leap less intimidating for non-Linux veterans. For a user with decades of experience across Microsoft and Apple platforms, this approachability earns early points.
Functional Foundations: The Basics of Connectivity and Input
Hardware always sets the stage, and on the Legion Go S, connectivity options add both versatility and constraints. Equipped with two USB-C ports, the device is, on the surface, prepared for moderate expansion. The real-world challenge, as quickly discovered, is the ubiquity of USB-A connectivity for common peripherals like keyboards, mice, and niche accessories—here, a simple Logitech wireless setup originally designed for a traditional desktop.With a stockpile of USB-A-to-C adapters, plugging in external input devices proved effortless. Linux’s (specifically KDE Plasma’s) robust driver support meant that both mouse and keyboard functioned immediately, setting a precedent for plug-and-play usability. This aligns with the broad reality of modern Linux distributions, which have made vast strides in hardware support over the past decade, especially for mainstream peripherals.
Still, the reliance on adapters (or better, a USB-C dock, available for about $20) is more than a minor inconvenience for prolonged, serious use. For professionals, carrying adapters introduces fragility into a setup, both physically and in terms of workflow reliability.
Application Installations: Discovering (and Enduring) Linux’s Software Gateways
No productivity journey truly begins until a browser is installed. KDE’s Discover application store provided a familiar app-discovery experience, but the download of Microsoft Edge—a browser chosen for its sync with existing accounts and workflows—was painfully slow, at times dipping below 1.5 Mbps on a network capable of more than 600 Mbps. This proved an anomaly rather than norm, reflecting either the quirks of chosen Linux repositories, temporary network congestion, or driver-level limitations. On most comparable Linux systems, browser installations should be near instantaneous on fast broadband connections.Once up and running, Edge delivered as expected: bookmarks, passwords, payment info, and extensions, all promptly available after syncing. This seamless transition for work tasks hedges one of Linux’s lingering criticisms: that it deters those deeply embedded in proprietary ecosystems. At least for browsers, this gap has narrowed considerably.
Display: The Eternal Challenge of Handheld Productivity
Screen real estate is a make-or-break factor for productivity, and an 8-inch panel—however vibrant—is rarely sufficient for extended workloads. The Legion Go S’s lack of a built-in kickstand echoes a trend: form sometimes trumps function in handhelds. While the device sits upright on its own, any nudge threatens its precarious poise, and the fixed angle guarantees ergonomic compromise.The answer for longer sessions: an external monitor, specifically the Espresso Displays 15 Pro—a critically acclaimed portable 4K monitor. Here, the Legion Go S met its limits. USB-C delivers both data and power, but not enough juice to run the display alone. Only after daisy-chaining a dedicated power adapter through the monitor’s second port did the full desktop spring to life, with bonus power pass-through to the handheld—an elegant, if cable-heavy, solution. This is par for the course with most slim gaming portables, and not a failing unique to Lenovo’s offering. Nonetheless, it illustrates the necessity of power planning for anyone attempting a “desktop replacement” experience on a device this size.
Peripherals: The Conundrum of Limited Ports
Limited I/O is an Achilles’ heel for any ultraportable repurposed as a workstation. Two ports quickly disappear in a cloud of adapters and must-have devices (monitor, keyboard/mouse, camera, external drives), leaving users in constant negotiation with their setup. The user encountered frequent swapping: monitor for keyboard, then for FLIR C2 camera, then back, each operation juggling adapters and prompting brief work interruptions.Despite these obstacles, external devices—from basic wireless peripherals to specialized hardware like a FLIR thermal camera—were recognized and mounted without issue. Linux’s open architecture and vast device support matrix shone here, perhaps even exceeding plug-and-play reliability found in more closed ecosystems. But the physical dance of constant port swapping underscored the need for a thoughtfully chosen USB-C dock—a $20 investment that, in practical terms, is essential for anything more than the most cursory on-the-go workload.
System Instability: The Touchpad Freeze Dilemma
Even the most robust experiment reveals breaking points. Here, it came in the form of touchpad interactions under KDE Plasma. When attempting to use the integrated touchpad as a pointer (in lieu of the now-disconnected mouse), the Legion Go S abruptly froze and rebooted to the default SteamOS interface. Two attempts yielded the same result: a crash loop with clear ties to the desktop environment’s driver support for this specific hardware.This instability, while ultimately navigated with workarounds, highlights a key concern for users considering such a workflow: Linux compatibility on non-standard hardware is always a calculated gamble. While most mainstream laptops and desktops boast bulletproof Linux support, gaming handhelds—optimized for SteamOS’s unique demands—often feature custom input hardware or tweaks that desktop environments might not yet fully support. The situation could improve with future updates or community-contributed drivers, but at publication, this critical limitation remains.
File Handling and Cloud Integration
With the setup otherwise stable, transferring work files was mostly routine, save the logistical shuffle of devices. Downloading images from Google Photos—backed up automatically from an iPhone—demonstrated the power of cross-platform cloud workflows. Here, the browser-based Microsoft Word (via Office for web) and open-source GIMP for image editing spelled out a modern, platform-agnostic reality: the browser, not the OS, is often the true productivity hub.Installing GIMP as a stand-in for the user’s preferred Pixelmator Pro (which is macOS-exclusive, and as of recent news, now part of the Apple family) worked without a hitch. For casual and even professional image edits, GIMP stands apart among free alternatives, and its Linux pedigree ensures both portability and mature support on such devices.
User Adaptation: Ergonomics and Workflow Realities
Initial skepticism about using a gaming first device for work melted quickly enough once the right desktop environment, browser, input devices, and display connections were established. For text entry, email, review writing, images editing, and routine file management, the Legion Go S didn’t present insurmountable hurdles.But prolonged handheld-only use—navigating with on-screen keyboards, touch controls, or thumbsticks—remains, as the author bluntly put it, a chore. The Legion Go S, like other gaming handhelds, is ergonomically engineered for short bursts of gaming, not day-long typing or spreadsheet number crunching.
For users with access to a USB-C hub or dock, the situation improves dramatically. Adding classic desktop peripherals (full-sized keyboards, mice, multiple USB drives, SD cards) restores missing convenience, turning a gaming device into a makeshift desktop with far fewer compromises. It’s a workaround, but not an insignificant one; and it underscores just how important third-party accessories are for versatile workflows.
Performance and Thermal Management
While not the focus of this experiment, a digression on performance is warranted. The Legion Go S is powered by x86 silicon (details vary by SKU, but AMD and Intel chips are common in this market) capable of handling general productivity and light creative workloads with ease. Benchmarks from related reviews suggest performance exceeding that of most arm-based Windows tablets, with modern SSD storage, ample RAM (at least for browser-based multitasking), and decent thermals courtesy of smart internal design.Nevertheless, any gaming handheld, including the Legion Go S, faces inherent limits in sustained heavy-threaded performance or tasks like 4K video editing. Thermal constraints quickly impose CPU/GPU throttling, and configuring power delivery through external supplies (vs. battery alone) is key for maintaining peak performance in desktop mode.
Network and Software Ecosystem Limitations
An unexpected pain point: downloads throttling in Discover, KDE’s app store, despite fast broadband. This could be a localized glitch or reflect larger issues with package repository bandwidth or configuration. For users determined to make a Linux device their full-time desktop, tweaking repository sources or switching to faster mirrors is often recommended. For the casual experimenter, patience (and knowledge of Google search for quick troubleshooting) is a virtue.On the software front, most mainstream desktop and cloud productivity tools are now serviceable, if not outright first-class, on Linux. Browsers are a non-issue; cloud storage sync (OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox) can be managed either natively or via browser with minimal friction. Alternatives like OpenOffice, LibreOffice, and GIMP match most mainstream needs, though editing workflows built around entrenched Windows or Mac-only titles (such as Adobe Creative Cloud) will face either emulation hurdles or be forced to rely on web-based versions, where available.
Critical Strengths and Persistent Weaknesses
Strengths
- Flexibility, Adaptable Hardware: The Legion Go S, with simple USB adapters and a stable Linux desktop, handled mainstream peripherals and productivity tasks with negligible delay.
- Open Source and Secure: By leveraging KDE Plasma and open-source apps, the device eliminates licensing headaches, reduces risk of vendor lock-in, and bolsters security.
- Cloud-Centric Workflow: With browser-based Office and cloud storage, work progressed seamlessly across platforms—evidence of web platforms’ dominance.
Weaknesses & Risks
- Limited Port Selection: Dual USB-C, while modern, quickly becomes a bottleneck. Essential for serious use: a multiport dock or adapter.
- Software Instability: Major issue—repeatable KDE Plasma crash triggered by the integrated touchpad—a reminder that Linux drivers for gaming handhelds remain a moving target.
- Ergonomics: Without external peripherals and a second display, extended work is impractical due to cramped interfaces and limited adjustability.
- Inconsistent Performance: App store download slowness and power constraints on the external display are not unique to the Legion Go S, but they compound the friction of repurposing an unconventional form factor.
- Potential for Data Loss: Reboots and freezes can risk unsaved work—a notable vulnerability when toggling between incompatible drivers or input configurations.
Comparisons and Broader Context
The experiment on the Legion Go S mirrors similar user experiences reported for devices like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally, which also blend gaming muscle with Linux/Windows flexibility. Each tries, more or less successfully, to blur the lines between gaming device and general-purpose portable PC. For tinkerers and early adopters, the learning curve is manageable—at least for mainstream productivity. For general users or enterprise deployments, the inherent risks and instability around critical peripherals should prompt caution.Recent advances in Linux desktop environments make the dream more plausible, but hardware and software compatibility for gamer-focused devices remains less future-proof than that of notebooks or convertibles designed with workplace reliability in mind.
Practical Recommendations
- Invest in a USB-C Dock: This single upgrade elevates the Legion Go S from curiosity to credible productivity companion, eliminating the port-juggling dilemma.
- Lean on the Cloud: Browser-based workflows reduce the hassle of file transfers and sidestep OS limitations.
- Stick to Supported Peripherals: If your work depends on niche devices, test them first. Some may lack the Linux drivers or kernel support necessary for reliable operation.
- Plan For Friction: Software updates, driver quirks, and desktop environment bugs occur more frequently outside mainstream office laptops. Daily work should be saved often, and fallback systems kept close by.
Conclusion: The Fun and Folly of Repurposing the Legion Go S
Attempting to use the Legion Go S as a daily workhorse is, above all, an exercise in adaptability—the user’s and the device’s alike. For light and web-based productivity, the Legion Go S passed with high marks once paired with the right external hardware. The process underscores the immense adaptability of modern Linux desktops and the surprisingly robust hardware support even in esoteric gaming portables.Still, it’s not a journey for the faint of heart or those intolerant of the occasional crash and cable shuffle. The touchpad driver bug, limited port selection, and the need for constant peripheral management are reminders that this is a gaming machine first, a desktop contender second.
If you’re game to experiment and already invested in a flexible, cloud-based workflow, the Legion Go S can be more than a toy—it can become, for stretches of time, a bona fide productivity tool. But for long-term comfort and mission-critical work, a more traditional laptop remains the safer, surer bet. Until then, the best recommendation for anyone inspired to attempt this hybrid lifestyle is simple: pack an adapter, expect even the best-laid plans to go awry, and celebrate the successes—however incremental—along the way.
Source: Tom's Hardware I tried using the Legion Go S handheld as my work PC – here’s what happened next!
