It has a desktop mode that will allow you to use it just like any PC. It's Linux based so you'll have to become accustomed to that if not already.

The Deck forums might be of more use to you:
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/app/1675200/discussions/

IMO, I'm not much of a tinkerer, so I've used my Deck as it shipped from Valve. It's by no means a replacement for a full blown gaming rig, but it is impressive with what can run on it. They did get Doom The Dark Ages to run on it although not very well.

I've bought three, given two away as gifts and kept the first LE OLED model with the transparent case.

As a Linux-based system it is not too difficult to get accustomed to. You use something called the "Discover" app in desktop mode to download "packages" of different apps, and Chrome does exist in there too if you want it. It lets you know when the packages can be updated, and it is fairly simple and fluke-free overall. You can also get "Ungoogled Chrome" from there which is what it says on the tin. Discover is fairly well curated and has all kinds of useful stuff.

I've installed GIMP, VLC, Warpinator/Winpinator (for moving files between Steam Deck and PC), among other stuff, like Wine and Lutris for Linux-to-Windows compatibility layers.
Some of these apps you may want to hook up an external keyboard and mouse though.

As long as you don't expect to overly play games with aggressive Anticheat you should have little problems with the Steam Deck. If you have a large Steam library you probably have tons of games amassed you can play on it.
ProtonDB is a great site to see what games would work best on it: https://www.protondb.com/
It also gives you tips if a game refuses to start, what you can do to make it work anyway. Good user reports that give you lots of troubleshooting help.