I read another article from Verge suggests an i7 CPU, 8GB RAM and unspecified Nvidia GPU as the minimum specs for gen 1 Steambox (SteamEngine surely). With HW spec upgrades every 4 years.
Valve don't plan to be the only HW maker, in fact they plan not to be a hardware maker at all. I'm sure they want the likes of Samsung, LG and various PC makers to get in on the HW act.
Considering this, I don't think Valve will announce anything unless they have at least 2 substantial HW companies on board to make the device.
Also no BD or DVD keeps costs and size down.
It'd be an improvement, but it still isn't a truly unified console theory.
“The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.” - Bertrand Russell
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."
Jimi Hendrix
