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Key Takeaways
Elgato’s Stream Deck Neo affords a extra inexpensive, work-focused various to the common Stream Deck.
The Stream Deck Neo consists of capacitive contact buttons to navigate between pages, maximizing performance.
With a compact, skilled design, the Stream Deck Neo supplies eight buttons at a aggressive value of $99.99.
Whether or not you’re streaming or engaged on a spreadsheet, a macro pad may also help you in additional methods than you possibly can think about. With its launch of the Stream Deck Neo, Elgato is popping its focus to the world of labor. The brand new Neo would possibly simply be your excellent productiveness companion.
Stream Deck vs Stream Deck Neo
Chances are you’ll be confused about which Stream Deck mannequin to purchase, and the choice’s about to get more durable. The Neo is the newest addition to Elgato’s Stream Deck lineup, sitting between the Stream Deck Mini and the common Stream Deck.
The “Neo” tag comes from the brand new budget-friendly lineup that the corporate has launched. These merchandise, which goal to be extra accessible to a mass viewers, embrace a key gentle, mic, and webcam. However the Stream Deck Neo is one thing new altogether.
The gadget is bigger than the Stream Deck Mini, so it packs in additional performance. However it’s additionally inexpensive sufficient to attraction to new patrons who aren’t full-time Twitch streamers. For my part, the Stream Deck Neo hits the spot should you’re in search of a macro pad to spice up productiveness with out having to spend an excessive amount of cash.
How Does It Assist Productiveness?
At its core, the Stream Deck Neo could be very a lot a daily Stream Deck. You get eight buttons, with particular person shows, that you could set to do something you need. The Deck additionally allows you to create customized profiles for particular person applications.
The Neo’s core performance is supported by Elgato’s Stream Deck utility. This implies the Stream Deck Neo, the common Stream Deck, Stream Deck Mini, and Stream Deck XL all work the identical manner.
Take into account that you possibly can nonetheless use your common Stream Deck to assist your productiveness. However the additions that Elgato has made to the Neo might allow you to much more.
Devoted Web page Buttons
In contrast to different Stream Decks, the Neo has capacitive contact buttons to change between pages. These pages allow you to create a number of teams of shortcuts or instructions, in case you want greater than eight.
On older Stream Decks, you needed to dedicate a minimum of one or two of the primary buttons to navigate between pages. That does not sound like lots, however these 15 keys on the common Stream Deck can run out fairly shortly.
The Stream Deck Neo solves this drawback by including two capacitive contact buttons which can be mapped to change between pages. This frees up all eight buttons for precise performance. Because the navigation buttons are at all times in the identical spot, illuminated by particular person lights, they’re fast and straightforward to make use of.
Extra Buttons
Talking of buttons, the Stream Deck Neo hits the precise spot with its eight buttons. In case you’re simply planning on utilizing a Stream Deck for work macros and common productiveness, 15 buttons on the common Stream Deck may be overkill, whereas the six buttons on the Stream Deck Mini may be too few.
Contemplating you do not have to assign buttons to change pages, the Stream Deck Neo has simply the precise variety of buttons.
The Information Bar
The Stream Deck Neo comes with a small show referred to as the data bar, between the 2 page-switching buttons, that reveals helpful, fundamental info. In case you’re utilizing a daily Stream Deck and need it to inform the time or date, it’s important to dedicate a button to that job. Nevertheless, the Neo can show this info in its data bar.
Admittedly, the data bar does not try this a lot; you possibly can set it to indicate both a web page indicator or the system time. Elgato’s software program design does counsel that we’ll see extra choices sooner or later, although.
One nice use of the data bar could be if it displayed completely different contents based mostly on the energetic web page. Hopefully, Elgato will add extra utilities to the data bar sooner or later, which can significantly improve the gadget’s performance.
Extra Work-Centered Design
The design language of the Stream Deck lineup has remained kind of the identical because it launched in 2017. For most individuals, it’s a easy black field with customizable buttons on high. With the Mk 2 iteration, you may get the Stream Deck in a white colour with interchangeable faceplates, however that is about it.
The Neo takes every part good in regards to the Stream Deck’s design and places it collectively in a package deal that may look simply nearly as good on an accountant’s desk because it does for a gamer taking part in Fortnite. The collapsible stand on the rear additionally provides you two completely different slant angles and an choice to put the gadget flat in your desk.
The general type issue is sort of compact, and the rounded edges give it a neat, skilled look. So the Stream Deck Neo gained’t look misplaced in your desk at work. The white colour scheme pairs particularly effectively with a Mac, in case you’re seeking to up your productiveness on a Mac together with your Stream Deck.
A Aggressive Value
Final however not least, the Stream Deck Neo is promoting at a really compelling price ticket of $99.99. For comparability, the Stream Deck Mk.2 retails at $149.99, whereas the smaller Stream Deck Mini is available in at $59.99. The one different choices within the lineup are the large Stream Deck XL at $249.99 and the Stream Deck + at $199.99.
The latter two serve very completely different functions, however should you’re seeking to get a Stream Deck for productiveness, the Neo could also be your best choice. It’s not as costly because the common Stream Deck, however retains full performance and, so far as I’m involved, a significantly better design. The Stream Deck Mini is an efficient various should you’re on a good finances, however the limitations of its six buttons would possibly hamper your productiveness as an alternative of enhancing it.