Problem is people that like PC games already have a PC usually, so naturally that is their target audience.

Who is going to buy a Linux system that doesn't offer all the features a normal PC has if that person already owns one ? Sure there might be those unknowledgeable ones that don't know that you can easily set up your PC to your TV and have that couch experience. Those will be amazed at first, but I'm sure even they will realize that genres like RTS, Manager games, MMOs, Counter-Strike (looking at the most played Steam games) are not as good to play with a controller, which means that the couch experience is ruined (at least to some degree).

Overall there is far too much (internet) hype for this piece and the more it gets the more unlikely it will become to match expectations.

What are the specs and price for this thing? I haven't been keeping up with any news regarding steambox.

The official steambox hasn't been announced.

Valve has a vision for the future which is:

Low-end (streaming): Steam will be available on Micro-Consoles/HDTV integration.
Mid-end (downloadable): Valve will release a Linux-based system that will be setting a standard in terms of specifications. (pricing 299/399)
High-end (downloadable): Anything that exeeds the mid-end standaard can have steam running on their hardware Desktops/Laptops (Windows/Linux/Mac)

Don't forget they are making a new type of controller, that may allow mouse keyboard type precision from the couch.

Steambox will not be a high end PC, it will be a mid range system power wise. There is a market for an inexpensive system that can play cheep Steam games. I'm not buying into any of the new consoles because the games will/do cost too much & the environments are becoming to controlled and closed off.

I think the idea of the Steambox is to take the guess work out of "Will this game work on my computer?". Look at almost any game on Steam & look at it's system requirments. Someone new to PC gaming, or who isn't in the PC gaming world at all will look at those numbers & their head will spin. Now imagine if in front of those specs it says, something like "optimized for Steambox". "Oh, Steambox, I have that." click, buy.

i could see myself buying a steam box over putting together a gaming PC. i'm not sure it will tear me away from consoles but if consoles end up sucking i'd probably view steambox as my number 1 alternative.

Then why the hell did you open fire at me when i said the same thing you said? Did i change your mind or you just like disagreeing with me ??

I never commented to you in this thread -_-

If i did in another thread it is probably because you were ranting about sony.  I get that you are a sony fan but you tend to bring them in a lot of threads where they dont need to be.

http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread.php?id=152742 i only mentioned  Sony as an example.

Even in that comment I say that it's a bad idea for valve.  MSFT is completely right.  You are talking about a company that is in the top 3 in the world.  They have money to take chances and invest.  Sony at the rate they have been going in the last decade does not.  They continue to lose money from multiple divisions.  Valve is even smaller than sony and if they make too big of a mistake then they will have screwed up everything they have worked for.  I dont believe they will be pushing this thing too much but if they do I find it to be a horrible idea

Correction: Sony is only loosing money from the electronics division. Everything else is profitable Movies,music,gaming...etc