My main question is if Steambox will be more open then the PS4 and next-gen Xbox. Technical prowess is only one aspect of why some people value PC gaming; another major reason why people game on PCs is because they have access to mods, console commands, and so on. If the Steambox offers a mix between console and PC gaming, it may attract the people who want both the convenience of consoles and the variety of PC gaming.

I am running the Steam Linux client and have tried the Big Picture interface already, it is a solid well done gaming environment with all the things hard core gamers like. A few months in, and less than a month after release client it has 80 games and a good portion of the valve library. By fall it will have a few hundred games. Porting is very simple from Windows PC versions, in unity you select the compile linux option. It runs PC hardware so there is no new architecture for devs to adjust to. I don't think they are making a mistake at all in releasing a console pc. It takes pc gaming to the masses.

Compare the launch lineup that steam console will have and what PS4/Xbox720/WiiU have and it is a very interesting platform for gaming. It will be a nice compliment to my WiiU (Nintendo+Steam for my next gen).

Why linux, free (they can sell the console cheaper without a MS tax), virus free, excellent updating system, better frame rates on the same hardware in Valves own testing (see their blog entries). Plus development wise all they need is the game client, the rest of the OS requires no development effort. Compare that to consoles where OS updates and development are an issue.

No need for retail games outlets is another plus. I hate having to wait in line or hit multiple stores to get a copy of a game.

It looks cool; will it fix the problem of all routers sucking? I've tried every brand, they all randomly disconnect, fail, flash lights at me for no reason, drop packets, and are /hot/.

thank you. I was begining to feel lonely. It was also rumored that it will be affordable via 3 sku's , $99 (casual) $399 (competitive), and  $??? (enthusiast)

^.^ You need to write more often in Vgchartz. 

I would love to see a SteamBox but only if its around £250ish.

Imho , Steambox would be for console gamer who would want to experience pc game for a quick buck, before ps4/Nextbox. It's the perfect timing, actual consoles are not on par with todays pc output, and we all know that nextbox/ps4arenot for this year or next.

Now, for me, it's just completely useless (like steam big picture), because since I'm 4yo I have a computer, and now it's just in the middle of my living room.

STEAMBOX IS POINTLESS!!!

Ignoring a person's desire to own everything associated with Gabe, why will people buy it? Do you guys who want it agree that it has no advantages over a PC (excluding cost)? Do you guys who want it agree that it had no advantages over consoles (excluding mods)? If you answered yes to both of those then the only advantages of the Steambox are potentially cost and mods. Since we don't know those two things, why would you already want it?

Now what if it costs between a gaming console and a gaming PC while having a modding potential between consoles and gaming PCs. I still fail to see how more than a couple thousand people would be interested.

the PS4 is pointless....

No,

THE PS4 IS POINTLESS!!!