I pray the Steam Machine becomes a competitive console.

[Eddie_Raja]

Seihaku said:

Eddie_Raja said:
Steam machine really isn't a console. In reality it's just Steam OS, and it is attempting to be an alternative to Windows for gaming.

It's Steam OS, a game dedicated OS, running on its own standalone hardware. So technically it kind of is a console, but it's more of a HTPC.

 

Though if other companies do like Alienware and release a Windows 8.1 and Steam OS version of the same hardware for roughly the same price, you may as well get the Windows 8.1 version for the license and dual boot Steam OS. Or just have Windows 8 autorun Steam in Big Picture mode on boot.

FWIW, Steam Big Picture seemed almost like a side project initially, and it still worked better than the Xbox One or PS4 GUIs from a practicality standpoint.

It's not dedicated hardware at all.  All of these "Consoles" are made from off the shelf parts.