Steam machines now for sale

[qubit]

Check them out here: http://store.steampowered.com/sale/steam_machines

 

[Frag_Maniac]

I'm wondering if anywhere on the SM part of the site they actually tell you what the current number of games is in the made-for-SteamOS library. Just saying "Play the largest library of games" is very misleading, unless of course you want to install Windows and just use it as an alternate form of PC. Which makes getting a Steam Machine kinda pointless.

The amount of time and money it takes to make current gen games Steam OS compatible, plus the many games that won't likely ever be open to it due to competing game browsers, makes me wonder if it will ever be practical.

A gaming platform is only as good as the variety and quality of it's content, esp one so close in design to a PC. Not only that, there is Dx12 and performance enhancing features coming for graphics hardware next year, which will make it an even tougher sell.

And what about modding made for Windows games via simple file editing or via one of many tools compatible with Windows? Will all that go away? SteamOS appears to be a mere browser OS, with no file access like Windows.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

Steam OS is linux, Linux game list will pretty much work with Steam OS, so thats about 900 games, including Atilla Total War and soon to be Saints Row 4, Shadow of Mordor etc. Now that they are real games are being updated to support steam OS. From what I remember the number is close to 950 games with about 260 that could possible be ported short term.

yea bout 950 and 260 possible additions
https://steamdb.info/linux/

List of games on sale many of which may soon be ported to Steam OS. including
- Shadow of Mordor
- Payday 2
- Batman: Arkham Knight - Going to be a same-day release, currently pre-order!
- Saints Row IV
- Company of Heroes 2
- Magicka 2
- Total War: Rome II
- The Witcher III
- GRID Autosport
- Total War: Attila
http://store.steampowered.com/sale/steamos_sale

 

[silapakorn]

SteamOS seems unnecessary for those who already got Windows.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

It is but since Steam OS is free, Big Box manufacturers can now offer gaming PCs for even cheaper than before. Not to mention if more games are ported over it makes for a cheap free platform aka no cost of Windows up front to play some games. For most this is worthless but for enticing the console crowd. It may prove more effective.

 

[ShiBDiB]

Has anyone messed with steamOS? How open is it? Can you install other linux apps (word processors etc..) or are u stuck on some steam ui?

 

[FordGT90Concept]

From what I've heard, diehard Linux users don't care for SteamOS because it is obvious it was done by amateurs. Steam itself actually leaves the same impression.

The Alienware one is enticing but seeing as I'm past due for a computer upgrade, my computer is where my money is going.


Here's a partial list of games:
http://store.steampowered.com/universe/games/

There will probably be a complete list available at launch. Right now, they're just trying to promote it.

 

[Over_Lord]

I'm most interested in the Zotac SN970, with 6th gen Intel processor and GTX 970M.

 

[RCoon]

I've already got barebones for SteamOS. Once Skylake is out, I'll be transferring my Haswell i5 to my Steam Streamer and I'll just use that to stream games from my gaming PC. In-Home Streaming works well enough for me to not have to buy a dedicated GPU to play shiny games.

 

[Frag_Maniac]

Steam OS is linux, Linux game list will pretty much work with Steam OS, so thats about 900 games, including Atilla Total War and soon to be Saints Row 4, Shadow of Mordor etc. Now that they are real games are being updated to support steam OS. From what I remember the number is close to 950 games with about 260 that could possible be ported short term.

yea bout 950 and 260 possible additions
https://steamdb.info/linux/

List of games on sale many of which may soon be ported to Steam OS. including
- Shadow of Mordor
- Payday 2
- Batman: Arkham Knight - Going to be a same-day release, currently pre-order!
- Saints Row IV
- Company of Heroes 2
- Magicka 2
- Total War: Rome II
- The Witcher III
- GRID Autosport
- Total War: Attila
http://store.steampowered.com/sale/steamos_sale

It's more of a browser OS built on Linux. I've also looked at the actual Linux games database recently and 90% of the games are not anywhere near popular titles. There's very few most would want to play. Going forward, I'd be more concerned about what percentage of AAA titles they can manage to procure. I've also yet to be able to find anything concrete on whether Steam OS will support modding. It appears not.

I just see the whole Steam Machine concept as a tough sell, esp when Windows looks to be getting a perforamce facelift soon, and even cross vendor multi GPU capability.

 

[MilkyWay]

I don't think us enthusiasts will ever really move to a steam machine at least not as a main machine but for those who just want a machine for the odd game to pass time and want to surf the internet or watch a movie, its a good alternative to a laptop. Most people might buy a laptop to JUST surf the net or type up a word processing document. If people didn't have to have both a laptop and a gaming console it would be great. The problem i have is that console games are optimised for the hardware and even tho there are similarities between the current gen of consoles and pc hardware, STILL PC games are not as optimised. So a few years down the line you might be able to play FIFA 18 on a PS4 but would you be able to push the same graphics on a Steam machine from 2015?

Probably come down to price, it has to be low enough to compete with consoles as anyone else is going to spend the extra for the upgradability a regular motherboard offers.

Steam Machines are basically just a pc with at least some minimum mandated spec and the Steam OS. The thing is that if you have the option to use another operating system, you can use any Linux distro you want and install steam or use Windows and steam, because big picture mode exists.

This sort of reminds me of the MSX standard. Anyone could build an MSX standard compatible machine and any computer with the MSX logo was compatible with MSX software, then they did MSX2 and MSX2+ (+ was more optional additions as you could add more ram and an FM sound cart MSX Music standard to any MSX2) and later MSX Turbo which wasn't used much.

The steam streamer box is more interesting as you can build a gaming rig and not have to ALSO have a console or another pc in another room. You want to game in the living room or bedroom, buy a Steam Link and use ethernet. Its only what $50? thats less than RRP AAA+ games. Instant access to a massive back catalog of titles.

 

[qubit]

Looking at those prices and putting them together with the choice of games on SteamOS and the lack of general desktop useability compared to Windows I can't see this taking off. This is especially true with the performance advances coming with DX12. People are either just gonna get a regular PC with Windows or buy a console. Shame really, because it would be great to have a truly viable secondary platform to Windows. No, the Mac doesn't cut it either.

 

[GLD]

There is NO WAY I would pay the $480+ premium to play the current Steam OS list of games.

Putting (free) Steam OS on a closet rig with no OS could be an option.

 

[xorbe]

I don't know about "now for sale". All items say "Nov 2015". There are like way too many options for the typical consumer to choose from -- similar to what plagues Linux adoption.

 

[NC37]

Never buy hardware when the maker refuses to disclose all the info. Few of those rigs are doing that. They list GTX graphics of 9 series, but not the specific number. Of course they won't because then you'd know it was utter crap. I know I've heard some of them use mobile chipsets. That has it's own inherent problems.

Want a real steam machine? Build yourself a PC. Done...and you know what is better? You can upgrade it later without buying a whole new machine!

 

[BiggieShady]

Steam machines will survive because the whole concept is so flexible. If the dedicated machine running linux games doesn't take off, low powered browsing, media watching, pc-to-tv game streaming machine will be successful. Nvidia shield tv box is more of a latter and that's where majority of steam machines will be.

 

[qubit]

Never buy hardware when the maker refuses to disclose all the info. Few of those rigs are doing that. They list GTX graphics of 9 series, but not the specific number. Of course they won't because then you'd know it was utter crap. I know I've heard some of them use mobile chipsets. That has it's own inherent problems.

Want a real steam machine? Build yourself a PC. Done...and you know what is better? You can upgrade it later without buying a whole new machine!

I agree with your point, but I think it looks like this now, because it's preliminary. Also, some of those PCs do actually list the specific hardware, so it looks like it depends on the vendor.

Those PCs won't be sold until November, by which time there will be lots of new generation hardware available to put in them. Let's wait until they actually go on sale before calling foul.

 

[GLD]

I am happy with my AM1 5350 rig running Win7 64bit playing Metal Gear Solid Integral from the year 2000, with my Logitech WingMan RumblePad from the same era. Epic!

 

[vega22]

as soon as source 2 lands i am switching to linux

 

[64K]

I can't evaluate any pre-built from the majority of PC gamer buyers perspectives because I build my own. I have the flexibility to get the brand of components that I want with the look that I want at sale prices usually. A lot of gamers, especially casual gamers, don't see things like I do. They are less critical. They just want to plug'n'play. I see people routinely coming on this site asking if this pre-built or boutique build is good for gaming and inevitably I think no because the pre-built is using a cheap PSU restricting GPU upgrades in the future or there's too much CPU and too little GPU etc. With the boutique builds it seems they all charge too much and they limit the choices of components that the customer can choose from but I probably look picky about components to those gamers.

Backyard auto mechanic enthusiasts probably wonder why I don't do my own car repairs and save money and choose the brands that I want.

I don't know how the average/casual gamer sees a Steam Box. Maybe they see them as a fair price. Maybe they see them as cool. I don't but that's jmo. I also think that without Windows they are severely limiting themselves on game choices but then maybe the average buyer of a Steam Box already has a console too. Who knows. Maybe Gaben does.

 

[Devon68]

If I were interested in one it would be the either the Webhallen S15-01 or the Zotac SN970.
But still I would rather build my own.

 

[denixius]

These machines too expensive and unneccesary for me, and I don't think, I can buy any of them. I love my PC.

By the way, Falcon Northwest Tiki Steam Machine is looks cool.

 

[peche]

as soon as source 2 lands i am switching to linux

when they land this new engine a lot of new games may come with it... i really hope that half life 3 come to my game library some day

Regards,

 

[Vayra86]

SteamOS is looking to be too late to the party, ever since Microsoft announced Windows 10 will be free and open to everyone.

This was the only real, concrete hurdle that a Windows PC had and SteamOS had not.

Sure there is accessibility and ease of use as well, plus standard controller support, but even then the expense is high for a machine that can effectively do less than a Windows PC out of the box. But we can all guess what Microsoft's next step will be after releasing Windows 10. They are already moving towards the unification of all platforms and they will most definitely include gaming in this, possibly destroying all the USP's that Steambox/SteamOS has currently.

I think Gabe is going to have a hard time and he might even be forced to get back on his statement that Windows is horrible for us all.

 

[Ja.KooLit]

well look at the release dates. NOV 2015 8 months from now. lol.

Well its better I build my own now than wait. Probably dont need that powerful one cause I can do steam streaming anyway

 

[Ja.KooLit]

SteamOS is looking to be too late to the party, ever since Microsoft announced Windows 10 will be free and open to everyone.

This was the only real, concrete hurdle that a Windows PC had and SteamOS had not.

Sure there is accessibility and ease of use as well, plus standard controller support, but even then the expense is high for a machine that can effectively do less than a Windows PC out of the box. But we can all guess what Microsoft's next step will be after releasing Windows 10. They are already moving towards the unification of all platforms and they will most definitely include gaming in this, possibly destroying all the USP's that Steambox/SteamOS has currently.

I think Gabe is going to have a hard time and he might even be forced to get back on his statement that Windows is horrible for us all.

windows 10 is free upgrade from windows 8/8.1. Dont remember about windows 7 but..... its not free and open to everyone like steam OS.