Well wotever this is its really really pricey I cant see it selling to many.

The Piston isn't even a console, it is a computer. Technically every computer is therefore a "steam box".

I think what Valve is doing with Steam Box is a desing concept and not a fixed hardware itself... we will see a lot of Steam Box with different spect in line with the design and concept Valve created for Steam Box.

Even the OS is open... Valve said the Steam Box sold by them will use Linux but the partners can use Windows or anything else to make the Steam Box.

It's like... give me a time to remember a product like that lol... well kind like a Video Card... you have the same AMD or nVidia GPU but a lot of companies make it with different specs (VRAM size)... of course the Stream Box is more closed and you have to be partner to make a Steam Box.

Steam Box is a computer lol... a computer with all resourses to run the games on Steam... you didn't use it like a computer... it boot and enter in the Steam app and you download, play, etc the games from the Steam app.

It's like a get a PC and make it only open the Steam app when boot and remove every other interaction with the OS.

Os course there is a low hardware specs defined by Valve to make the Steam Box... so it can run the games in 1080p (the max supported resolution for HDTVs).

I think designing a true Steam dedicated console is a huge challenge in itself, because of the sheer library of games offered through Steam. If the console itself were to run every game offered it would have to be immensely powerful, or each game would have to be custom tailored to run at the specs built in. Would Valve do this? Or make it a requirement for every developer who submits a game to publish via Steam? The other option would be to make it a dedicated streaming device, which brings up the very same issues people have concerning Gaikai.

Other thing.... the Steam Box is not to compete with the consoles... it's a PC gamer machine.

Hmm, I think of Valve's Steambox more like I think of M$'s Surface tablet. It's the flagship device--basically exactly what M$ envisioned Windows 8 on a tablet to be, but there are other "third party" alternatives as well, at different price points. Google's Nexus devices are a good example as well, although they don't manufacture those themselves.

There will be a Valve Steam Box, though, and I doubt it'll be as expensive as this Piston is. We'll have to wait and see. I know I definitely won't be buying it, though. Heh.

Your example is better than mine lol.

I think we will see: Valve Steam Box (the default or minimum specs), X Steam Box, Y Steam Box, etc... Valve will use the concept that to make money... you can't make your own Steam Box without be accept by Valve... err pay royalties.

PC gamers can already plug their PC into their TV and play games, Steam even has their console like "Big Picture" option on PC now. With the Steam Box Valve was looking to make something that could be more mainstream, for people who weren't capable of or can't be bothered to build and maintain a high end PC.

It should be interesting, whatever they end up doing. :)