"PC" is most often associated with a computer that runs a Windows operating system.  It goes back to IBM PC days.  It contrasts with Mac or Linux.  In this regard, Steam Machines that run SteamOS are not PCs.  There is also another meaning for "PC" which means "Personal Computer".  A Mac is that PC, as will very likely a number of Steam Machines.  Other Steam Machines may drop the keyboard and mouse completely.

Again, it depends on what definition of PC you use.

Hummm... PC for me is everything compatible witht he original IBM PC ideia "compatible computers that use an x86-compatible microprocessor".

Mac was not a PC... it was a Mac when used POWER instead x86... today Mac is a PC.

I have a PC using Linux.

Hey ethomaz, I agree with you! (Quick, somebody put this moment down in the history books )

I don't see this ever causing any harm to consoles. It basically operates the same way PCs do today, just with a new OS. It doesn't really target any of the benefits of a console and thus won't be digging into each other's markets.

@richardhutnik: Don't you think you are exaggerating a bit? I'm sure that Linux will get bigger and better support, but until we see if sales are good, we'll know how much of a game changer all of this really is.

I mean, what if the only "successful" Steam Machines are the cheaper and weaker ones? What effect will that have over the devs that rely on DirectX? Most of them already make 3 versions of their games (PC, PS3, Xbox360 => PC, PS4, XOne), will they add another one with OpenGl?

Or maybe that's the third announcement, the engines that will work with Linux like Source 2.0... maybe even UE3/4? Frostbite won't.

@Mohasus: Thanks.

Well until they announce price a true specs I'm still meh

True specs? It will have a minimum specs to run the StreamOS and play games but it is variable... the manufacture will choose the hardware * you will have cheaper and expensive solutions *... and you can buy a video card or CPU and change it too.

You can install Windows too

Any similarity is not coincidental.

There are companies chomping at the bit to come out with microconsoles that play in TVs.  The default OS they were going with was Android.  As I see it now, they have a second option.  That is the basis I had for saying it competed with Android for the home TV screen market.

As far as the software coming out, I am sure Valve is going to push, and enable development of games, that are on the PC, to also be released for the SteamOS.  I am believing, because of the closeness that the ONE and PS4 has to the PC, that the PC will be getting more and more console titles also.  End result, due to what Valve is going for, SteamOS also gets them in the SteamOS steam marketplace.

This is what I see as very possible. I will NOT forecast howwell it will sell.  And I am not going to go into what specs will be requried.  Don't take what I said as impact to be seen, just what will come out of it.  I can say, at least, that SteamOS is the strongest initiative yet to get Linux to go mainstream.  Whether it works, I won't say t hough.  No way do I bet against it though.  Steam is pretty huge at this point, and the whole videogame indusrty is going more and more the way of Steam.

Don't see the point really - if they don't have fixed hardware, whether it's just 1 or 5 different versions, how's this any different from regular PC. Oh, and I don't care for "it's optimized for gaming" and "it's $100 dollars cheaper" pitch.

The way I see it, if they are not offering fixed hardware with fixed future upgrade options it's the same mess as PC for devs, and more or less same "nightmare" for Joe Sixpack.

There is also optimized for the TV, which PCs are not.  

no offense but my Laptop is a direct competition to the PS4 and XOne. 

pretty much all laptops released recently top the specs.