Steam Machine and SteamOS hands-on

Engadget got some hands-on time with a Steam Machine with an Intel i7 and a GTX 780; no optical drive; undisclosed HDD/RAM specs. Read the report here: This is Valve's Steam Machine prototype and SteamOS (hands-on)

A question: how much would a PC like this cost if it was sold by an OEM at a profit (i.e., not sold subsidized like the PS4 and Xbox One)?

And an observation: the software, at least in stock form, is much like the Kindle OS where the UI is limited to make it just a conduit to one company's media, not a full-fledged OS.

Now, Gabe Newell has promised that it won't be locked down--if you know what you're doing, you can change this and make it a more all-purpose OS--but that's definitely not going to be the state of the software coming out of the box.

 

That's one hellava boombox.

Some of my friends say this can compete well with consoles. As much as I like to agree, it might be treated like a PC than a console since many of its components, especially the GPU, can be changed (Just like a PC). But then again, who knows.

I wonder the cost of this machine, but it may vary due to different GPUs. So far it looks very promising.

 

You can build a comparable machine for 1000$ or less. If the experience is streamlined enough, I'm betting millions of the users who own both a PC and a console will migrate to the PC for good. My laptop alone can get close to that machine on the GPU, at least @ stock.
If the OEMs play their cards right (not launching crappy machines at exorbitant premiums with no sense for performance) and launch well-thought out configs (intel quad-cores matched with 270x crossfires or equivalent for example), this SteamOS gig could really take off imo.

 

Pricing is going to be the big question mark. According to Engadget, SteamOS doesn't offer anywhere near the functionality of a PC, so people are going to be comparing this to Xboxes, not Alienwares. And if this ends up being a $1000 device that offers similar functionality of an Xbox albeit with better graphics (gaming, media viewing, and web browsing), it's going to fail hard. But if this is $500-$600, it could be very successful so long as game developers port their games to Linux.

 

I say wait a bit. Nothing is as it should be on the day one. Pretty much everything sucks on the first day of the release. Heck, Steam itself sucked a lot back in the day.

 

I know there's always teething issues on day one of ANYTHING, but I'd like a product to at least have a clear vision of what it's supposed to be. I'm not getting that vision from SteamOS. It's got the rhetoric that it'll have all the advantages of a gaming PC and a gaming console all in one, without the drawbacks of either...but that's physically impossible. And it can't seem to decide which side of the fence it wants to be on.

 

Valve claims that the whole Steam triad is supposed to compete with consoles, but I still don't see it. The No.1 benefit of consoles is a single, consistent hardware platform for the life of that console with the attendant low development cost/diversity and high optimization. No matter how many hardware revisions, the base hardware remains the same. Some parts (HDD, USB, PSU, software features like otherOS) may change but the CPU,GPU,RAM remain largely the same. SteamOS+steam machine(s) aren't in the same ballpark. Its a moving target PC in a nice box running a locked down OS.
1. Multiple gpu's ranging from the weak to titans.
2. Multiple cpu's from the weak to extreme.
3. Limited OS that can run very little outside games from one store.
So it basically combines the weaknesses of both gaming platforms into one nice little package. But at least RAM has a baseline of 8GB.
The engadget article left me very disappointed and the major positive I took from it was confirmation that other OS's (Ubuntu, windows) could easily be installed on the steambox. That makes them just another oem pc.
On a related note,who are those that actively enjoy playing games with touchpads/trackpads? They work perfectly fine for navigating UI's. Some, like those on the Macbooks, are a joy to use but never have I thought using it to play games was even adequate. Fostering 2 of them on the unsuspecting populace is going to be unimaginable and learning how to properly utilize the steam controller will take a long time.
Despite all my misgivings, kudos to them for being imaginative and trying out new things.

 

Can't say I'm very excited about the OS or the hardware, but by golly I can't wait to try that controller... that to me is the biggest positive to this whole venture. A custom tuned wireless controller for PC gaming when not at the desk!? Sign me up! I can't wait!

 

Xbox controllers play nicely with Windows and are a good control solution for any game originally ported from a console (i.e., most modern AAA games).

 

Yes, I've got a wired as well as the wireless adapter, and the Xbox 360 controllers work great as far as compatibility, and remain my choice for racing or some action games, but I have really high hopes that the Steam controller improves the situation for first person shooters and strategy games... I was really impressed with the video they released showing it mapping the mouse input. From what I can tell it's a tuned and very responsive touch panel that makes shooters accurate. I can't for the life of me enjoy playing these type games with the 360 controller, but hate being chained to the desk to play them with a mouse.

 

All aboard the Valve Hype Train!

 

I'm just hoping that media functionality (e.g. browsing) will be intuitive to navigate so i can laze in my couch while gaming then switching to some webpage.

 

Cue the cries of horror and anguish when the Xbox One was shown off with this capability. Although the Dualshock 4 and Steam Controller would work better than any Xbox controller for this. Still can't get over how locked down SteamOS looks.

 

I'm just gonna park this video right here, if for no other reason than to demonstrate how high the bar is for SteamOS in this respect (see 1:02)

 

The current Xbox 360 already has some of that voice command functionality except it activates when I don't want it to with just casual conversation going on. I hope Xbone is better. I'm still looking for some decent reviews/videos of the new Kinect.

 

I remember a lot of people scoffing when I compared SteamOS to Kindle's fork of Android. Now, maybe they're still different because, in the hands of a very technically competent person, Steam Machines can still have the OS modified or a non-SteamOS partition installed, but at least in terms of out-of-the-box user experience, the two are very similar. The Steam Store IS the user interface.

 

It's more like a Chromebook.

 

you should buy the ps4, but do it in brazil, its cheap just U$2k, xbone is U$1.2k

glad I have my sega genesis 16bit few!

anyway I like the format of the steam box, I want that case once I see some temps and other stuff

 

This looks pretty amazing!

 

That article seemed a bit biased, " And let's be honest, the performance of a high-end PC isn't what matters here -- what matters is how game console-like it is."

I think they missed other points. Like what else can SteamOS do other than a web browser and play games? Can it play movies?

And the big question I have is how much performance is improved under SteamOS? Can I get 25% better frame rate or 5%?

I wondef if we will be able to buy the controller before the SteamBox ships?

 

I'd lay money we're talking closer to 5% than 25%. And that's without considering that a hastily-thrown-together port can cut your framerates in half (I know this as someone who gamed on OSX a number of years ago). I remember an OSX port of Knights of the Old Republic being barely playable on a 2008 MacBook Pro 15 with a dedicated GPU. KOTOR came out in 2003!

On another issue, while everyone at NBR seems well-informed as to the whole porting issue, judging from other forums, there's a LOT of confusion about the fact that SteamOS will not run the entire Steam library, but only games which have been ported to Linux. A loooooot of people seem to think that every single game on Steam will be playable on SteamOS. Think Windows RT caused confusion? This stands to be a much, much bigger issue unless Steam starts clarifying for people that most of the Steam library will not be available on SteamOS (and I doubt we'll see such candor).

 

I seriously doubt steamos will offer any performance benefit relative to a full featured linux distro and very little performance benefit over Windows. Still beggars the question - why not roll out all these steamos features into the linux steam client?
Another problem I have with steamos now is that steam is the default interface. Any other store that competes with steam will be at a very serious disadvantage. Upon booting into the os you are thrust straight into steam, why go anywhere else to get your fix?
People always seem to gloss over the fact that steamos (which is generic linux based not based on the more user focused ubuntu) will have about 225 games, mostly indie games with almost no AAA title. That'll relegate the steamos to be mostly streamos, streaming games from windows pc's. That's not good enough imho.

 

I assumed they went for a custom Linux to get better performance, that is why they didn't just roll it into the current Steam linux program.

As for AAA titles, there have been a handfull announced, but Gabe said there would be many AAA titles availible. So I think these will be announced later. He knows you need AAA titles to sell the box. This also relates to porting, since some are being developed with linux as a target, not as a secondary port. Another piece of this is the improved drivers, which Nvidia has said they will support. That part still needs work.

They haven't advertised yet, so not sure if people are confused and think it will play all games or not. The engadget article was misleading though since they actually said you could play all games, then add you need to stream from another computer. Hopefully this is made clearer.

 

not to sound corny but i'm pretty excited about this thread and 95% of the replies thus far offer interesting points from both sides. i might get an xbone when it comes down at least $250 in price. i'll definitely throw at least as much money as it costs new at a steam machine config well before then.



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The Xbox one is a piece of trash to me, no offense. Do you see what machine I'm sporting? I'm a performance freak.

 

With a machine like that you're equally likely to be unimpressed with a $500 Steam machine, or even a $1500 Titan-equipped Steam Machine that doesn't have any Linux-compatible AAA titles that make use of its graphics firepower (besides Metro: Last Light).

The people with multiple-thousand-dollar PC gaming rigs? Besides streaming to the TV, a Steam Machine offers very little to them. You already own the gaming hardware you're going to use. And is it worth $500 to you to stream your games to your TV instead of on your Alienware?

 

Yay for crap from the fattest, ugliest, heaviest cry baby, Gabe Newell.

Boohoo, consoles kicking PC butt. Boohoo, I don't want to work with Microsoft anymore. Why won't anyone listen to my temper tantrum. Boohoo, listen to me, I'm Gabe Newell.

I truly hope SteamOS dies in a huge a fire before it even gets started. Linux gaming machine, retarded.

 

So, while on the topic of streaming games, is this a viable and satisfying option? I can't get past the issue of how there's got to be some input lag. I tried OnLive and the input lag totally ruined the experience for me. I realize this will be locally based so theoretically faster, but will it ever be as good as playing on the actual machine?

I like the concept of leaving the loud and hot fast machine in the other room, but only if the gameplay experience isn't changed.

 

Just pee on the SteamBox and get yourself a PS4 already... Good grief. This is the dumbest thing to gaming ever...

 

I personally have no love for Gabe Newell for a number of reasons, and I'm 99% sure this will crash and burn just like Ouya (the Android gaming console) has...but I don't wish failure on anyone in the industry. The more competition there is, the better off we consumers are.

 

Temper tantrum? Ironic.

 

how this topic can elicit such animosity towards a perfect stranger and millions of disabled persons is truly beyond me.

 

You know where we'd be if nobody took risks? Bleeping typewriters.

Some hail mary passes connect. Some don't. I'm glad that companies take risks, whether it be BB10, Ouya, SteamOS, Windows RT, the Asus Taichi, the LG G-Flex...nobody knows which risks will pay off until you try. I don't think SteamOS is going to take off, but there is absolutely no reason for anyone (besides a Valve shareholder) to object to Valve giving it the old college try.

 

Yes, I wish more companies took risks. Instead we get the same thing over and over. Here's to the inovators, the risk takers.

I hope if people see more reviews or benchmarks on the SteamOS, they will post them. Also interested in reviews on the Steam game controller. And I think the only real question on the Steam boxes, is what will the prices be.

 

Another SteamMachine unveiled. Digital Storm's Steam Machine will cost $1,500 and will have an Nvidia Titan and liquid cooling:

Digital Storm teases hybrid Steam Machine, reveals $1,469 starting price and not much else

 

No you got it wrong. They start at $1469 and can be configured with up to a Titan. Considering that Titan is still a $1000 GPU, it's obviously not going in the cheapest SKU.

 

Thanks for the correction. My main point was that this is definitely meant to compete with a hardcore gaming PC, not a PS4 or Xbox One.

 

Yeah the $500 iBuyPower Steam Machine is the console-killer considering it's got better specs in a similar form factor and includes a Steam Controller.

 

I'll call it a "console killer" when Linux attracts widespread AAA developer support.

 

That's beside the point. You can still run Windows and Steam Big Picture Mode on it just fine in addition to SteamOS.

 

My view of a console killer.

It must have an OS that is easy to use and revolves around gaming with the other social crappy applications on the side.
It must be a compact box like the PS4, but feature much better hardware.
It must be quiet. No R9 290X leafblower there, or else I could just build a PC myself.
It must be affordable, ie not expensive.
It must have an extensive game support, or else its no match against PS4`s game library and all those game studios making console games. It will be useless against a PC without great game support too.
It must offer some IO that is better than a keyboard. The Steam Machine controller looks sweet.


Steam Machine looks pretty cool. With GTX 780 (-5% ish from Titan but half the price), if it can play games from Steam library, if that controller works great, if its not super expensive, if it is not noisy, if SteamOS is easy to use. I can see it become a serious threat to Sony and Microsoft.

 

Apparantly they are shipping out Steam Machines this friday to Beta-testers.

Steam Community :: Group :: Steam Universe

 

Who wants to buy a prebuild high end PC anyway?
Where's the fun in that!

 

Well, Gabe has hinted that they have AAA games coming. Only a tiny handful have been announced. So hopefully there are many in progress.

Console buyers do.

 

You can't actually build a comparable mini-ITX system with off-the-shelf components as small as the Steam Machine. If you've seen the size comparisons, the Valve prototype Steam Machine is about the same size as the current Xbox 360 S and slimmer than the Xbox One. Boutique mini-ITX systems such as the Falcon Northwest Tiki, iBuyPower Revolt, Alienware X51, etc. are considerably larger. So I would say the form factor is one reason to go with a pre-built Steam Machine. There is the convenience factor of course and also price if more Steam Machines turn out to be as price-competitive to DIY as the $500 iBuyPower one.

 

Half Life 3 confirmed!

 

So who is brave?

SteamOS: It's here! · Blog · Steam Database

NB: Only works for Nvidia cards at the moment

 

Will it work through proxy?
Don't answer, I already know it!

 

I would try it if it werent for I just have formatted and installed a thousands windows updates and programs.
Not doing that again for a while :/

 

Still debating but it's tempting. Not sure whether to set aside a partition on my primary rig or throw it on my new Sager when it comes in next week

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