News Valve names first Steam Box hardware partners

Ooh, a Scan Steambox! CES is going to be a good one this year!

 

After trying out the steam OS I still have to see why I would like to replace my steam client on my windows machine =\

 

It works well as a dual boot doesn't it? I haven't tried it but I'm sure I've seen it somewhere here that there are advantages.

 

It should work, its generally just another linux distro (well custom distro) with the steam client smacked on as the default window manager, at the moment I just don't see the point (other than maybe, and its a big maybe that games will perform a bit better on a dedicated gaming OS), but after testing trying it out questions like "what if I want to work on a project while gaming, what if Wanted to write a document in Word and decided to set a game to Window Mode, well the basic of what I do most of the time. then it makes you realize the steam OS is really just for the Living room, the benefit that this could bring that I see is I have a game bought through the steam client, then it should be available as well to the HTPC running steamOS as well, if valve pulls it off then it should be easier to have a HTPC, still depends though if building and setting up an HTPC was already easy for you in the first place

 

If you have a capable Windows machine nether do i, well unless for some reason you cant use that in the living room. But then I'm not sure you would be Valve's target market as I'm guessing you have already bought into the Steam ecosystem.

 

You've been able to buy Steam Boxes for ages, we all just called them Linux powered HTPCs before. I'm genuinely confused as to why people think these will do well. I don't see how they are better in any way to a Windows powered PC that can run a massive library of games already and comes in a multitude of form factors from hundreds of manufactures.

You can walk into any independant shop right now and they will build a gaming HTPC for you no problem. Plug in an xBox controller and install Steam and job's done.

 

SteamOS is not meant for you or me. It's meant for people who want a console-like "plug and play" user experience, with powerful pc-like hardware, the option to change and customize stuff should they ever want it and upgradeability in the future.
I think it's a bit too early to judge whether or not Steam Machines and SteamOS are something people will want to buy. Maybe it'll be like when the first tablets came out: everyone thought "why the hell would you ever want that?", and now they're everywhere.

 

i think his point is that it already is plug and play. get someone to build a pc and slam steamOS on it, and buy an xbox360 controller or just wait and grab the steam controller... you literally would have no real differences in the experience. just plug everything up and shoot stuff/solve puzzle/free hyrule.... that easy.

 

You say that as someone who knows about computers your average joe can only walk in a shop and ask for an xbox one or ps4...Steam are hoping to persuade them to ask for a Steambox.

Many will have never heard of Steam.

 

And this is exactly what Valve wants. What you are talking about is the concept of a "Steam Machine". What's the difference between buying it from a manufacturer or from a local computer store, or even building it yourself if you know how? In the end it's still a plug-and-play machine that gives the comfort and user experience of a console, with the functionality of a PC.

I don't think Valve's main aim is to get those pre-made boxes in everyone's livingroom, but instead to spread "a PC with SteamOS" (aka Steam Machine) as a valid, simple and well-recognised alternative to consoles (and by consequence push more games towards Linux).

 

The best way to look at it is Valve are building a console. An open console. You could make your own, pay someone to make a similar one or just buy one in a box at a gaming shop. Valve are looking at expanding their market with this.

I'm interested at the price points these will be retailing for. And the controller needs to be out yesterday.

 

The one thing I am most excited about with SteamOS is the one that seems to get almost no attention:
Valve are working towards vastly better Linux driver support for Nvidia GPUs and for Nvidia digital audio under linux. Imagine a proper Nvidia driver with full surround sound over HDMI instead of stereo only. And if AMD want any of the SteamBox pie, they will have to come to the table with decent drivers too.

 

AMD are beavering away on new Linux Drivers, they released 13.12 last month with a bunch of fixes.
If anyone is interested arstechnica has a gallery and most of the specs from each of the announced partners.