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Forums - Gaming Discussion - Can someone explain the purpose of the Steam Machine to me?

Distant Star on 11 January 2014

It's a shift from Windows desktops to Linux desktops AND moving into the living room.
SteamOS is basically more optimized for gaming than Windows, but still less optimized then PS4 and Xbox One.



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chris_wing on 11 January 2014
Soleron said:
chris_wing said:

To provide a simple living room Steam gaming experience that doesn't rely on Microsoft technology (expensive license),

That's why they're all as expensive as the Microsoft Xbox One or more right?

As for simple - as an uninformed consumer which model do I buy? How do I know what games it'll run? What's "streaming"?

and to foster development of Linux games and drivers that can then migrate back to other Linux distros improving the over all state of Linux gaming& to help level the playing field against Windows based PC's that have traditionally had the lions share of games developed for it & only it.

How does this help Valve or its customers.

That's no explanation at all. What is the purpose for the consumer?

Less expensive then a Windows based PC, by exactually the cost of a Windows license, not hard to follow.

Which model do you buy?  the one that you can afford (pre built units will have Steam Machine rating scores, see below).

How do you know what games it will run?  By the Steam Machine product rating (not yet implemented) that will evaluate your machine, give you a score, and then you make sure the games you buy are playable with that score.  Steam my even notify you before adding games to your cart that are above your score to avoid buying games you can't run.

What's streaming?  Like netflix, but with games.

How does this help Valve or it's customers?  Valve is trying to break from it's dependance on Microsoft who are trying to close in on their market.  It helps valves customers who want a living room Steam experience but don't want to deal with Windows (raises hand).  It also will eventually improve the Linux games library, support and driver performance for all Linux Steam users as the advances made migrate back to the other distros.



jlmurph2 on 11 January 2014
Distant Star said:
It's a shift from Windows desktops to Linux desktops AND moving into the living room.
SteamOS is basically more optimized for gaming than Windows, but still less optimized then PS4 and Xbox One.


Does Linux support everything that people have for Windows(Office, Norton, ect.)? Because I imagine that would be a big factor in buying a PC.



JWeinCom on 11 January 2014

It's a smaller PC. Sort of like an apple mini I guess.



chris_wing on 11 January 2014
jlmurph2 said:
Distant Star said:
It's a shift from Windows desktops to Linux desktops AND moving into the living room.
SteamOS is basically more optimized for gaming than Windows, but still less optimized then PS4 and Xbox One.


Does Linux support everything that people have for Windows(Office, Norton, ect.)? Because I imagine that would be a big factor in buying a PC.


Linux has Libra Office, a free open source alternative, it's fantastic.  Norton?  What's a virus?



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jlmurph2 on 11 January 2014
chris_wing said:
jlmurph2 said:
Distant Star said:
It's a shift from Windows desktops to Linux desktops AND moving into the living room.
SteamOS is basically more optimized for gaming than Windows, but still less optimized then PS4 and Xbox One.


Does Linux support everything that people have for Windows(Office, Norton, ect.)? Because I imagine that would be a big factor in buying a PC.


Linux has Libra Office, a free open source alternative, it's fantastic.  Norton?  What's a virus?

Oh cool



UnknownFact on 11 January 2014

Just bringing PC games to the living room that's all.



chris_wing on 11 January 2014
jlmurph2 said:
chris_wing said:
jlmurph2 said:
Distant Star said:
It's a shift from Windows desktops to Linux desktops AND moving into the living room.
SteamOS is basically more optimized for gaming than Windows, but still less optimized then PS4 and Xbox One.


Does Linux support everything that people have for Windows(Office, Norton, ect.)? Because I imagine that would be a big factor in buying a PC.


Linux has Libra Office, a free open source alternative, it's fantastic.  Norton?  What's a virus?

Oh cool

I guess I should ellaborate.  Windows has all the software, Linux has an alternative for basically everything that does basically the same things.  I haven't even touched Photoshop since I started using Gimp.  Virus', malware, warms etc don't thrive on Linux systems, it's like putting a shark in an arctic lake.  Linux was built for security & is used widely on internet servers since they can't be attacked by common viruses.



IsawYoshi on 11 January 2014

Valve tries to get the general consumer and ends up with loads of different systems bound to make a mess.



Soleron on 11 January 2014
chris_wing said:
 

...

Less expensive then a Windows based PC, by exactually the cost of a Windows license, not hard to follow.

It cannot replace a Windows PC, so that's not relevant.

Which model do you buy?  the one that you can afford (pre built units will have Steam Machine rating scores, see below).

You've been around electronics long enough to know that nonexistent features cannot ever count towards a product.

How do you know what games it will run?  By the Steam Machine product rating (not yet implemented) that will evaluate your machine, give you a score, and then you make sure the games you buy are playable with that score.

That's already too much work for the consumer to do.

What's streaming?  Like netflix

How does this help Valve or it's customers?  Valve is trying to break from it's dependance on Microsoft who are trying to close in on their market.  It helps valves customers who want a living room Steam experience but don't want to deal with Windows (raises hand).  

That market is FUCKING TINY. And everyone who's in it will be buying a gaming PC with Windows installed. The Steam Machines as they exist now do not and cannot replace a PC for less than the cost of a PC.

Regardless, the market you speak of cannot justify the massive expense of this programme.

It also will eventually improve the Linux games library, support and driver performance for all Linux Steam users as the advances made migrate back to the other distros.

EVENTUALLY. Unfortunately, they are selling a half baked product right now and expect people to fork over actual cash for it.

Also, I bet we will see zero extra third party ports of major games to Linux unless paid for by Valve themselves.