Okay, so what opportunities over Windows does Steam OS have? No anti virus software necessary. Valve needs to make Steam OS update like a Chrome OS = low maintenace. From a licensing perspective I can upgrade and swap parts like crazy without having to worry about activation from the OS. Steam OS needs to be able to be streamed to from a Windw=ows PC running Steam or another Steam OS box enabling crappy hardware in my entertainment center. MS won't let me install Windows for no cost on a really cheap machine. Think Kabini or Mullins; like an HTPC build.
Will it be a tough choice? Yes. Windows 10 with DirectX 12, Xbox streaming, and free upgrade from Win 7 and 8. Any multi-purpose machine is going to favor Windows.
In any case, the Steam ecosystem is healthy with all these initiatives. Most of the games I have bought have been on it. It is very interesting for Indie gaming.
Valve's problem is called "Windows Store". They are scared to death, that people will switch from their wonderful "pay us 30%" service to Microsoft's. (I personally use gog.com with no-DRM only so couldn't care less)
The whole Steam OS/machine sounds like a brain fart at this point. The problem is called: "DirectX". Sony/Nintendo somehow address this problem, so should Valve.
Nobody needs yet another Linux clone that can merely stream windows games.
I always saw this as a direct competitor to consoles. Simplify the user experience to the same standard. A stepping stone to a full windows gaming machine but not reliant on directx or windows success. Valve gets a diversification from win/mac os constraints. From what I've learned about valves corporate culture this may also be a passion project. Their core is steam..then game dev.
This isn't a clone to stream but a platform to install games that happens to stream. They have to stutter step into the market because while sony/mms has the base to support dev (eeverything isn't dx) steam and Linux doesnt.
I want more consumerized spins of linux. I love openelec, arch, and now steam os. The are specific solutions not a windows/osx/Ubuntu do it alls. Like Xbox1 trying to do it all there will be growing pains if steam os tries to do more then play games. But I'm excited they're trying. If they fail, so what, business as usual for me. But if they succeedd, great things are possible.
Get Debian, put Steam on it and you'll have a better time.
In response to this whole Linux v Windows situation, DirectX has been and will continue to be (for a long time) the most supported API amongst game developers.
The best mainstream OS is not Linux either, because every distro I've tried you have to call a browser and other apps yourself. Not very user friendly.
Graphics rendering is much, much worse on Linux. Audio is much more irritating to deal with. SteamOS has a long way to go to improve on Windows 7, let alone DirectX 12 and Windows 10
If you Steam Stream and keep your powerhouse machine as the Host then you won't have to worry about Antivirus as much. On top of that you can still utilize Linux or a Steam Link machine as your Client lowering the need for antivirus.
It's odd that Saints Row IV is part of the SteamOS sale considering IT ONLY RUNS ON WINDOWS. The price is pretty good though at $4.99, will think about it.
The sale includes titles that are intended to run on Linux (like shadows of mordor) but haven't officially been announced yet. Don't ask me why they're doing to this way...
Really not convinced by the premise in any case. Unless you're a foss fanatic (yet you play proprietary games /o\) there is very little reason to run steam on linux or it's derivatives.
At least to my mind. But yeah whatever go go steam machines or something...
I just can't see any potential with Steam OS machines. To start with, there are not too many buyers who would choose a machine that expensive over the computer. Or if they have a computer, why not buy a console instead to gain access to exclusive titles. Count in the fragmentation over so many hardware companies, and than fragmentation within them (a lot of models with different specs). I don't believe these companies can manage a sustainable production of Steam machines. The only alternative is Valve ditches Steam from Windows, but that would be a suicide, as GOG (or Origin, god forbid) would take over in a minute.
Not to speak of being completly tied to a company that refuses to give refunds when the game is unplayable on the user machine (just a little rant). And then suspend your account and paypal because paypal decides that the user should be refunded.
Now that i done my little rant. Yes you are completely right. Steam machines are overpriced, when compared with consoles and have little/no benefits over getting a good old pc/console. Maybe their target market is around 7-12 year olds.
I agree, they should have a 24-hour refund policy. With a limit of 4 refunds a month and one per game or something to prevent abuse.
Charging back payment after the fact though, that's just non-payment so they're in the right there. If you don't like a store's policies then you don't have to shop there, in fact don't. That's how things are changed in capitalism, the store with the worst polices ends up with no customers.
It's hard to find a good model for determining eligibility of returns. 24 hours is not a good model alone.
Many single player games can be beaten in 5-10 hours, allowing people to beat the entire game and return it in one day pretty easily. On the opposite end of the scale, some people have poor internet conditions. The latest call of duty was over 50GB in size. On a 3Mb broadband connection at peak output (384KB/s) it would take 38 hours just to download. That's 14 hours longer than the 24 hour window to even determine if the game works at all.
And I'm not saying I have a magic solution to the problem, but time is probably not the best/only factor to consider.
Steam tracks how long you have played each game already, so both of those are BS excuses. Don't apologize for Steam, they could easily implement a policy like that. It could check to see that you've played the game for less than 30 minutes and have owned it for less than a week or something of that nature. Just as an example.
I'm not apologizing for steam at all. I think their no refund policy is absurdly stupid. I was merely stating that his solution is not good.
And no, your solution does not work either. A game not working is not limited to crashing to desktop immediately. Some people will spend hours in-game without ever getting to play due to connection issues to servers, playability/performance issues, etc. Don't pretend there is some kind of magic bullet to solving the issue.
The time starts AFTER you start the game the first time, Origin actually already has a feature like this. I'm literally suggesting Steam needs to improve to match Origin, which is pretty funny to me.
Steam can measure play time. I would say allow a few hours of play time. If you stay under that and want a refund, allow it. Otherwise not. A few hours should allow one to figure out if they can play the game on their system and if they like the game.
They should just make it mandatory that every game gets a one hour demo mode. Yes, it would increase stress on their DL servers, but they can afford it. And the good will would lead to more people being happy customers.
I won't buy a console specifically because they support the concept of exclusive titles. And they are STILL a drag on the quality of games as a whole.
We should all be able to play together, regardless of hardware, in my opinion.
As far as the Steam machine - yeah, the excitement that exists for them comes from console gamers that think they will finally be able to get into PC gaming for the startup price of a console. The fact is Nvidia is doing more to support that possibility than Valve is.
So because Nintendo or Sony or Microsoft make the game you expect them to release it for platforms other than their own? You don't have good business sense do you? Exclusives is what gets people interested in buying a specific console in the first place.
Except SteamOS is not really the cure for exclusive games, nor Steam as a platform. Exclusive games will continue to exist, whether it's a console exclusive, PC only, or even Steam only.
Anyway as far as console games getting into a Steambox? If they do it will be because they seek the promise of console-esque simplicity. Not because of the price. An entry level gaming PC doesn't suffer a substantial price disadvantage compared to these Steam machines.
Prices are too high if you're going to be asking people to also give up Windows. Include Windows with these products and you're giving out a PC with Steam Big Picture Mode at boot-up. Suddenly, those prices are pretty good for gaming PC's (for users unwilling to build their own).
But those prices without Windows just look... horrible.
Most of these companies will sell you a Windows machine with the same specs. See the Alienware Alpha, it's probably the best put together of these anyway.
As for being without Windows, I think that's the point of these machines. Steam is worried that Microsoft might try to force software to go through the Microsoft Store. That would do bad things to Steam's bottom line.
Well, MS is in fact starting to push their own store with Win10, which will bring features like cross-play and the ability to buy once and play across desktop, console, and phone. But the thing that is going unmentioned here is that to get these features to really work in your favor in Win10 you are probably going to need a Gold membership fee paid every year, which is frankly not going to play well in the PC market, so I think that Steam (and Origin, and others) are going to be just fine on PC for a good long time yet.
I don't think buying a gold membership to be able to play with friends who game on the XBox One is unreasonable, as long as they bring the Xbox Live features like free games to the PC. I already have a good gaming PC with a high-end gaming card, and a PS4, and would love to not have to pick up an XBox One to play with friends who are on that platform.
As a PC gamer, I can report that the PS4 games I've played are damn good, and indistinguishable from high-end PC graphics to my eyes.
That is nothing more than Gabe Newell's tinfoil hat conspiracy mind running amuck. Windows 10 + DX12 with upgrades being free for Win 7 and above for users means these things are DOA.
If MS goes that route then Steam is probably dead anyway. The problem is this: you cut out Windows and you cut out 99% of the applications you could run. Even if all games work on SteamOS (which they won't, especially not at first) you now have a glorified gaming console at the cost of a computer. I know I use my computer for a lot more than playing games. Gaming actually isn't more than a tiny fraction of my computer time.
Honestly, I'd love to be able to cut the M$ cord, but it's just not practical if you want to be productive. It's the same reason Linux has never caught on so far.
Lack of gaming is one of the biggest reasons Linux isn't mainstream.
Steam os can do 99% of what people do on this pc(assuming it could pay all games). So it's certainly not sacrificing the pc.
For the one percent most can find Linux alternatives.
Plus if ms does go that route. I think many more people would be willing to jump ship, I don't think ms can afford to ruffle people's feathers more then they have
There's nothing preventing you from developing software that runs normally on Windows. The app store is optional. As opposed to SteamOS requiring you to sell your game through their storefront. Who's the one building walls now?
The Alienware alphas have been out for some time. You can buy them right now. All the specs are online. I doubt they will be any different in November. And they do include Windows. They are steam machines and also fully functioning windows machines.
"They are steam machines and also fully functioning windows machines."
Are you sure about that? I've looked at the SteamOS but to install it, it wipes your machine and as far as I could tell it doesn't duel boot. The only reason I have not installed it is that I don't have a separate box to install it on.
The Alienware Alpha does come with Windows too. Don't know about the rest. But you can dual boot with any Steam Machine if you follow certain install directions.
I was never terribly interested in SteamOS, but this Steam Link box seems interesting. $50 to be able to play my PC games in my living room without having to have a second gaming rig? Yeah I can be okay with that so long as the input lag isn't too bad. Not going to be playing competative shooters that way obviously, but I don't realy play those anyway.
(Prices on Q6600s have dropped to ~$20 shipped on ebay "Buy it now" listings as well. E8400s are now ~ $10 shipped. So if wanted to play natively something really cheap can often be pieced together)
Why doesn't NVIDIA make a product like that: the Shield box. USB connectors for input devices, and HDMI-out for the TV. An I/O receiver for your desktop.
Please tell me that picture of the Steam controller is not final... that looks absolutely terrible! Many of the mockups looked much better, and the center multi-use selector area looked super interesting. They went from designing a neat futuristic controller, to building yet another controller that will no nothing much different from the Xbox and PlayStation controllers which already work just fine on PC.
I think steam machines, steam OS, and the stream controller are great ideas. They give console ease of use and controller/couch use, but offer upgradability and more performance. Problem is these prices are too high for what you get. An i3, with a 960 or a r9 280, 8gb of ram and a 1tb HDD would be a great steam machine, that vests the PS4 and could cost $500-$600, but they charge more like $700 (digital storm) and only a pentium!
These OEM's don't have the economies scale of a console maker like Sony producing a single spec machine. They can never match price. Hence why consoles have been popular for like the last 30+ years.
Not to mention for many of the consoles of the past the maker actually took a loss on each one for a period of time, which is one reason the market segment were so price advantageous over PCs in the first place (to get the mindshare they have now).
Ding, ding, ding! This is it. Consoles are sold at a loss to recoup via game and service sales. Which is why closed, proprietary systems are crucial for their success.
A regular PC + a Xbox 360 wireless adapter offers exactly the same couch experience as a console, but with better quality graphics. The console only wins due to cost, but is also much more limited than a general purpose computer.
"The starting price is $1999 with a maximum price of $4999, but it’s not clear what the base hardware will be."
I don't have words... They're trying to compete with the console market with a machine that costs upwards of **Five Thousand Dollars**?!?! Talk about completely out of touch.
Any word on whether Steam Link allows Xinput controllers (aka the Xbox 360 / Xbox One controllers) to be connected?
I mean, I think I'd lean towards a Windows 10 / Bay Trail PC for that type of need anyway (so that I could stream both Xbox and Steam games), but still just curious.
that gamepad could solve the FPS problem - I discovered when playing dead trigger on my phone that a virtual right thumbstick on a touchpad is scary accurate for aiming. On phones/tablets the actual issue with FPS is because you need to move your thumb to actually fire as there are no trigger physical buttons - but on that steam gamepad you can have both a physical RT/RB and a touchpad based right analog.
nothing wrong with the left analog replacing WASD in my opinion.
Ah, pay full price for a PC and get just their game launcher on it and nothing else, I don't see what's wrong with that. What's the next new paradigm, Angry Birds OS?
Vulkan should be the key in creating a competitive linux gaming device. I am sure that competitivity and low level programming is the key for the rising of PC gaming as it was some time ago. I had enough of shitty ports honestly.
So...are we expecting improved performance by running a game in SteamOS?
Otherwise I'd just get a Windows PC and run Steam in big picture mode? I don't mind paying $100 for a copy of Windows if I can also use it for productivity, entertainment, and so many other purposes.
I really don't get all the hype of a SteamOS gaming system, especially when all these so-called Steam machines are way overpriced because they uses small footprint PC components plus overhead for profit. Consoles are cheap because MS and Sony sells their hardware at a loss or no profit and rely on making money from game license.
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Novaguy - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
wait, not shipping officially until November 2015?eanazag - Friday, March 6, 2015 - link
Okay, so what opportunities over Windows does Steam OS have? No anti virus software necessary. Valve needs to make Steam OS update like a Chrome OS = low maintenace. From a licensing perspective I can upgrade and swap parts like crazy without having to worry about activation from the OS. Steam OS needs to be able to be streamed to from a Windw=ows PC running Steam or another Steam OS box enabling crappy hardware in my entertainment center. MS won't let me install Windows for no cost on a really cheap machine. Think Kabini or Mullins; like an HTPC build.Will it be a tough choice? Yes. Windows 10 with DirectX 12, Xbox streaming, and free upgrade from Win 7 and 8. Any multi-purpose machine is going to favor Windows.
In any case, the Steam ecosystem is healthy with all these initiatives. Most of the games I have bought have been on it. It is very interesting for Indie gaming.
JeffFlanagan - Friday, March 6, 2015 - link
It allows web browsing, so antivirus may be needed at some point.medi03 - Sunday, March 8, 2015 - link
Valve's problem is called "Windows Store". They are scared to death, that people will switch from their wonderful "pay us 30%" service to Microsoft's. (I personally use gog.com with no-DRM only so couldn't care less)The whole Steam OS/machine sounds like a brain fart at this point.
The problem is called: "DirectX".
Sony/Nintendo somehow address this problem, so should Valve.
Nobody needs yet another Linux clone that can merely stream windows games.
hero4hire - Sunday, March 8, 2015 - link
I always saw this as a direct competitor to consoles. Simplify the user experience to the same standard. A stepping stone to a full windows gaming machine but not reliant on directx or windows success. Valve gets a diversification from win/mac os constraints. From what I've learned about valves corporate culture this may also be a passion project. Their core is steam..then game dev.This isn't a clone to stream but a platform to install games that happens to stream. They have to stutter step into the market because while sony/mms has the base to support dev (eeverything isn't dx) steam and Linux doesnt.
I want more consumerized spins of linux. I love openelec, arch, and now steam os. The are specific solutions not a windows/osx/Ubuntu do it alls. Like Xbox1 trying to do it all there will be growing pains if steam os tries to do more then play games. But I'm excited they're trying. If they fail, so what, business as usual for me. But if they succeedd, great things are possible.
Antronman - Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - link
SteamOS is Debian with a steam UI.Get Debian, put Steam on it and you'll have a better time.
In response to this whole Linux v Windows situation, DirectX has been and will continue to be (for a long time) the most supported API amongst game developers.
The best mainstream OS is not Linux either, because every distro I've tried you have to call a browser and other apps yourself. Not very user friendly.
foxtrot1_1 - Friday, March 6, 2015 - link
Graphics rendering is much, much worse on Linux. Audio is much more irritating to deal with. SteamOS has a long way to go to improve on Windows 7, let alone DirectX 12 and Windows 10othercents - Friday, March 6, 2015 - link
If you Steam Stream and keep your powerhouse machine as the Host then you won't have to worry about Antivirus as much. On top of that you can still utilize Linux or a Steam Link machine as your Client lowering the need for antivirus.JonnyDough - Friday, March 6, 2015 - link
If you want Indie games cheap just look to Linux...many are free.webdoctors - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
It's odd that Saints Row IV is part of the SteamOS sale considering IT ONLY RUNS ON WINDOWS. The price is pretty good though at $4.99, will think about it.tuxRoller - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
The sale includes titles that are intended to run on Linux (like shadows of mordor) but haven't officially been announced yet.Don't ask me why they're doing to this way...
Alexey291 - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
List is far too short otherwise.quiksilvr - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
http://cdn.meme.am/instances/57901568.jpgAlexey291 - Saturday, March 7, 2015 - link
Really not convinced by the premise in any case. Unless you're a foss fanatic (yet you play proprietary games /o\) there is very little reason to run steam on linux or it's derivatives.At least to my mind. But yeah whatever go go steam machines or something...
Witchunter - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
I just can't see any potential with Steam OS machines. To start with, there are not too many buyers who would choose a machine that expensive over the computer. Or if they have a computer, why not buy a console instead to gain access to exclusive titles.Count in the fragmentation over so many hardware companies, and than fragmentation within them (a lot of models with different specs). I don't believe these companies can manage a sustainable production of Steam machines.
The only alternative is Valve ditches Steam from Windows, but that would be a suicide, as GOG (or Origin, god forbid) would take over in a minute.
ricardoduarte - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
Not to speak of being completly tied to a company that refuses to give refunds when the game is unplayable on the user machine (just a little rant). And then suspend your account and paypal because paypal decides that the user should be refunded.Now that i done my little rant. Yes you are completely right. Steam machines are overpriced, when compared with consoles and have little/no benefits over getting a good old pc/console. Maybe their target market is around 7-12 year olds.
Flunk - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
I agree, they should have a 24-hour refund policy. With a limit of 4 refunds a month and one per game or something to prevent abuse.Charging back payment after the fact though, that's just non-payment so they're in the right there. If you don't like a store's policies then you don't have to shop there, in fact don't. That's how things are changed in capitalism, the store with the worst polices ends up with no customers.
inighthawki - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
It's hard to find a good model for determining eligibility of returns. 24 hours is not a good model alone.Many single player games can be beaten in 5-10 hours, allowing people to beat the entire game and return it in one day pretty easily. On the opposite end of the scale, some people have poor internet conditions. The latest call of duty was over 50GB in size. On a 3Mb broadband connection at peak output (384KB/s) it would take 38 hours just to download. That's 14 hours longer than the 24 hour window to even determine if the game works at all.
And I'm not saying I have a magic solution to the problem, but time is probably not the best/only factor to consider.
Morawka - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
they should let you preload games even if you havent purchased them. and i know all about 3 Mbps DSL. it's awfulAlexvrb - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
Steam tracks how long you have played each game already, so both of those are BS excuses. Don't apologize for Steam, they could easily implement a policy like that. It could check to see that you've played the game for less than 30 minutes and have owned it for less than a week or something of that nature. Just as an example.inighthawki - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
I'm not apologizing for steam at all. I think their no refund policy is absurdly stupid. I was merely stating that his solution is not good.And no, your solution does not work either. A game not working is not limited to crashing to desktop immediately. Some people will spend hours in-game without ever getting to play due to connection issues to servers, playability/performance issues, etc. Don't pretend there is some kind of magic bullet to solving the issue.
Flunk - Friday, March 6, 2015 - link
It's not my solution, it's actually EA's.Flunk - Friday, March 6, 2015 - link
The time starts AFTER you start the game the first time, Origin actually already has a feature like this. I'm literally suggesting Steam needs to improve to match Origin, which is pretty funny to me.FITCamaro - Friday, March 6, 2015 - link
Steam can measure play time. I would say allow a few hours of play time. If you stay under that and want a refund, allow it. Otherwise not. A few hours should allow one to figure out if they can play the game on their system and if they like the game.Death666Angel - Saturday, March 7, 2015 - link
They should just make it mandatory that every game gets a one hour demo mode. Yes, it would increase stress on their DL servers, but they can afford it. And the good will would lead to more people being happy customers.Sabresiberian - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
I won't buy a console specifically because they support the concept of exclusive titles. And they are STILL a drag on the quality of games as a whole.We should all be able to play together, regardless of hardware, in my opinion.
As far as the Steam machine - yeah, the excitement that exists for them comes from console gamers that think they will finally be able to get into PC gaming for the startup price of a console. The fact is Nvidia is doing more to support that possibility than Valve is.
cmdrdredd - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
So because Nintendo or Sony or Microsoft make the game you expect them to release it for platforms other than their own? You don't have good business sense do you? Exclusives is what gets people interested in buying a specific console in the first place.Alexvrb - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
Except SteamOS is not really the cure for exclusive games, nor Steam as a platform. Exclusive games will continue to exist, whether it's a console exclusive, PC only, or even Steam only.Anyway as far as console games getting into a Steambox? If they do it will be because they seek the promise of console-esque simplicity. Not because of the price. An entry level gaming PC doesn't suffer a substantial price disadvantage compared to these Steam machines.
HisDivineOrder - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
Prices are too high if you're going to be asking people to also give up Windows. Include Windows with these products and you're giving out a PC with Steam Big Picture Mode at boot-up. Suddenly, those prices are pretty good for gaming PC's (for users unwilling to build their own).But those prices without Windows just look... horrible.
Flunk - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
Most of these companies will sell you a Windows machine with the same specs. See the Alienware Alpha, it's probably the best put together of these anyway.DaveLessnau - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
As for being without Windows, I think that's the point of these machines. Steam is worried that Microsoft might try to force software to go through the Microsoft Store. That would do bad things to Steam's bottom line.CaedenV - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
Well, MS is in fact starting to push their own store with Win10, which will bring features like cross-play and the ability to buy once and play across desktop, console, and phone.But the thing that is going unmentioned here is that to get these features to really work in your favor in Win10 you are probably going to need a Gold membership fee paid every year, which is frankly not going to play well in the PC market, so I think that Steam (and Origin, and others) are going to be just fine on PC for a good long time yet.
JeffFlanagan - Friday, March 6, 2015 - link
I don't think buying a gold membership to be able to play with friends who game on the XBox One is unreasonable, as long as they bring the Xbox Live features like free games to the PC. I already have a good gaming PC with a high-end gaming card, and a PS4, and would love to not have to pick up an XBox One to play with friends who are on that platform.As a PC gamer, I can report that the PS4 games I've played are damn good, and indistinguishable from high-end PC graphics to my eyes.
Jumangi - Friday, March 6, 2015 - link
That is nothing more than Gabe Newell's tinfoil hat conspiracy mind running amuck. Windows 10 + DX12 with upgrades being free for Win 7 and above for users means these things are DOA.Nagorak - Friday, March 6, 2015 - link
If MS goes that route then Steam is probably dead anyway. The problem is this: you cut out Windows and you cut out 99% of the applications you could run. Even if all games work on SteamOS (which they won't, especially not at first) you now have a glorified gaming console at the cost of a computer. I know I use my computer for a lot more than playing games. Gaming actually isn't more than a tiny fraction of my computer time.Honestly, I'd love to be able to cut the M$ cord, but it's just not practical if you want to be productive. It's the same reason Linux has never caught on so far.
SlyNine - Friday, March 6, 2015 - link
Lack of gaming is one of the biggest reasons Linux isn't mainstream.Steam os can do 99% of what people do on this pc(assuming it could pay all games). So it's certainly not sacrificing the pc.
For the one percent most can find Linux alternatives.
Plus if ms does go that route. I think many more people would be willing to jump ship, I don't think ms can afford to ruffle people's feathers more then they have
cmdrdredd - Saturday, March 7, 2015 - link
There's nothing preventing you from developing software that runs normally on Windows. The app store is optional. As opposed to SteamOS requiring you to sell your game through their storefront. Who's the one building walls now?v1001 - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
The Alienware alphas have been out for some time. You can buy them right now. All the specs are online. I doubt they will be any different in November. And they do include Windows. They are steam machines and also fully functioning windows machines.TallestJon96 - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
I'm hoping they go from the 860m (basically a 750 ti) to a 965m (basically a 960).piiman - Saturday, March 7, 2015 - link
"They are steam machines and also fully functioning windows machines."Are you sure about that? I've looked at the SteamOS but to install it, it wipes your machine and as far as I could tell it doesn't duel boot. The only reason I have not installed it is that I don't have a separate box to install it on.
v1001 - Monday, March 9, 2015 - link
The Alienware Alpha does come with Windows too. Don't know about the rest. But you can dual boot with any Steam Machine if you follow certain install directions.Akrovah - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
I was never terribly interested in SteamOS, but this Steam Link box seems interesting. $50 to be able to play my PC games in my living room without having to have a second gaming rig? Yeah I can be okay with that so long as the input lag isn't too bad. Not going to be playing competative shooters that way obviously, but I don't realy play those anyway.TallestJon96 - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
I'm with you on that. I'd love to be able to play in the living room, but a new PC isn't worth it.Computer Bottleneck - Friday, March 6, 2015 - link
Used Core 2 SFF boxes can be found really cheap when on sale:http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=3722770...
(Prices on Q6600s have dropped to ~$20 shipped on ebay "Buy it now" listings as well. E8400s are now ~ $10 shipped. So if wanted to play natively something really cheap can often be pieced together)
Deelron - Friday, March 6, 2015 - link
Yeah, I'm totally intrested in the Steam Link box, doubly if it could also work like a Roku.AnnonymousCoward - Sunday, March 8, 2015 - link
Why doesn't NVIDIA make a product like that: the Shield box. USB connectors for input devices, and HDMI-out for the TV. An I/O receiver for your desktop.CaedenV - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
Please tell me that picture of the Steam controller is not final... that looks absolutely terrible! Many of the mockups looked much better, and the center multi-use selector area looked super interesting. They went from designing a neat futuristic controller, to building yet another controller that will no nothing much different from the Xbox and PlayStation controllers which already work just fine on PC.JeffFlanagan - Friday, March 6, 2015 - link
It looks like a mock-up. The d-pad and touch disc look like they were either photoshopped onto the controller, or are stickers.iniudan - Friday, March 6, 2015 - link
The prototype with the LCD screen of the original reveal was scrapped quickly as having to look down during gameplay wasn't just practical.TallestJon96 - Thursday, March 5, 2015 - link
I think steam machines, steam OS, and the stream controller are great ideas. They give console ease of use and controller/couch use, but offer upgradability and more performance. Problem is these prices are too high for what you get. An i3, with a 960 or a r9 280, 8gb of ram and a 1tb HDD would be a great steam machine, that vests the PS4 and could cost $500-$600, but they charge more like $700 (digital storm) and only a pentium!Jumangi - Friday, March 6, 2015 - link
These OEM's don't have the economies scale of a console maker like Sony producing a single spec machine. They can never match price. Hence why consoles have been popular for like the last 30+ years.Deelron - Friday, March 6, 2015 - link
Not to mention for many of the consoles of the past the maker actually took a loss on each one for a period of time, which is one reason the market segment were so price advantageous over PCs in the first place (to get the mindshare they have now).Stas - Friday, March 13, 2015 - link
Ding, ding, ding! This is it. Consoles are sold at a loss to recoup via game and service sales. Which is why closed, proprietary systems are crucial for their success.JeffFlanagan - Friday, March 6, 2015 - link
A regular PC + a Xbox 360 wireless adapter offers exactly the same couch experience as a console, but with better quality graphics. The console only wins due to cost, but is also much more limited than a general purpose computer.Imaginer - Saturday, March 7, 2015 - link
For a first person games, I use the wireless keyboard plus wireless trackball.So essentially, you have all games covered, plus text communication too.
Mushkins - Friday, March 6, 2015 - link
"The starting price is $1999 with a maximum price of $4999, but it’s not clear what the base hardware will be."I don't have words... They're trying to compete with the console market with a machine that costs upwards of **Five Thousand Dollars**?!?! Talk about completely out of touch.
piiman - Saturday, March 7, 2015 - link
"Talk about completely out of touch."Those aren't even good PC prices , much less a console.
Imaginer - Saturday, March 7, 2015 - link
Wait... from two grand to five grand?That is the price range of a motorcycle, used!
I know if I was in the teenage range (of legal driver's license holder with a motorcycle endorsement) where my priorities lie.
jhoff80 - Friday, March 6, 2015 - link
Any word on whether Steam Link allows Xinput controllers (aka the Xbox 360 / Xbox One controllers) to be connected?I mean, I think I'd lean towards a Windows 10 / Bay Trail PC for that type of need anyway (so that I could stream both Xbox and Steam games), but still just curious.
Imaginer - Saturday, March 7, 2015 - link
I am going to get flak for this but...3DO version two incoming!!!
wintermute000 - Saturday, March 7, 2015 - link
that gamepad could solve the FPS problem - I discovered when playing dead trigger on my phone that a virtual right thumbstick on a touchpad is scary accurate for aiming. On phones/tablets the actual issue with FPS is because you need to move your thumb to actually fire as there are no trigger physical buttons - but on that steam gamepad you can have both a physical RT/RB and a touchpad based right analog.nothing wrong with the left analog replacing WASD in my opinion.
stephenbrooks - Saturday, March 7, 2015 - link
Ah, pay full price for a PC and get just their game launcher on it and nothing else, I don't see what's wrong with that. What's the next new paradigm, Angry Birds OS?AnnonymousCoward - Sunday, March 8, 2015 - link
I for one would pay $2000-$5000 for an Angry Birds box based on Linux with a custom gamepad.loguerto - Sunday, March 8, 2015 - link
Vulkan should be the key in creating a competitive linux gaming device. I am sure that competitivity and low level programming is the key for the rising of PC gaming as it was some time ago. I had enough of shitty ports honestly.nos024 - Sunday, March 8, 2015 - link
So...are we expecting improved performance by running a game in SteamOS?Otherwise I'd just get a Windows PC and run Steam in big picture mode? I don't mind paying $100 for a copy of Windows if I can also use it for productivity, entertainment, and so many other purposes.
I really don't get all the hype of a SteamOS gaming system, especially when all these so-called Steam machines are way overpriced because they uses small footprint PC components plus overhead for profit. Consoles are cheap because MS and Sony sells their hardware at a loss or no profit and rely on making money from game license.
Grolm - Friday, June 5, 2015 - link
Console games are much more expensive than PC games (even outside of steam sales).So The hardware might cost more but if you consider also the price of all the games you will buy it can become interesting.