Valve's 'get it early' Steam Machine promotion sells out

[Corky34]

To be honest though I can't remember the last time I "searched" for drivers, updates are pretty seamless for the most part, I use steam and can't even remember last time I had to go looking for a patch etc.

Not doubting you but looking at your system specs of a Asus Z97-P, GTX 970, Samsung 840 pro I have to admit that I find it hard to believe you haven't updated any drivers since you got that hardware.

I don't see anything in the Steam machine that makes it a real viable alternative to a PC. While I appreciate its a games machine, it is just a PC and you might as well just go get a PC really. Some games will or won't work and latest releases generally get their Steam OS version a few weeks to months afterwards.

That's because they're not meant to be a viable alternative to a PC, like I said if you're already running Windows then a full blown Steam Machine probably ain't for you.
The full blown Steam Machines are intended to create a console-like experience on the PC platform, Valve don't want to convert PC users into Steam Machine users as they're probably already customers of Valve, they want to convert console gamers as that increases how many people use Steam, increases their potential revenue.

I am not convinced myself, think the Steam link will do well, think Steam machines won't be going that far.

Indeed, like I said if you're already running Windows then a full blown Steam Machine probably ain't for you, if your happy using Windows then SteamOS and Steam machines are probably worse than what you're using now, you would probably be happy with the Steam Link if your PC is in another room, or maybe just a Steam Controller.

[directhex]

Not doubting you but looking at your system specs of a Asus Z97-P, GTX 970, Samsung 840 pro I have to admit that I find it hard to believe you haven't updated any drivers since you got that hardware.



That's because they're not meant to be a viable alternative to a PC, like I said if you're already running Windows then a full blown Steam Machine probably ain't for you.
The full blown Steam Machines are intended to create a console-like experience on the PC platform, Valve don't want to convert PC users into Steam Machine users as they're probably already customers of Valve, they want to convert console gamers as that increases how many people use Steam, increases their potential revenue.



Indeed, like I said if you're already running Windows then a full blown Steam Machine probably ain't for you, if your happy using Windows then SteamOS and Steam machines are probably worse than what you're using now, you would probably be happy with the Steam Link if your PC is in another room, or maybe just a Steam Controller.

"this product is not aimed at me personally, and is therefore entirely useless"

[Jonj1611]

I never said it was useless or anything to that effect. I just don't think the steam machines will do very well in the long run. There quite high priced and the low end systems aren't that impressive. I think people when looking to buy will also look towards the PC as that can do it all. There is always a market of course but I don't think they are a game changer. They say sold out but you don't know if they had 50 units or 50 million

On the driver front corky of course I downloaded drivers but it wasn't a hassle or difficult. Most were already installed including the Nvidia drivers with Windows update. I also never said I never downloaded drivers did I so not sure what your basing your comments on.

[Psycownage]

Steam link looks interesting, can't see any benefits of steam controller over x360 controllers though.

Not worried that I have missed this, more interested in VR

[Jonj1611]

Having used the Oculus it was certainly impressive and I would like to see what the other manufacturers can produce as well

[anacdahudee]

Both of the steam machines are not really something I would invest in, though I'm surprised that it did take a little while for them to sell out for the get it early. Either they had a fairly large allocation for the event or consumer interest has dropped off a bit due to valve time and the constant change announcements.

For me the biggest interest out of the entire event is Valve's push towards Linux and the trickle of engine and game updates that have allowed for a massive increase (comparativly) of games that run natively on Linux. I have a MSI Windforce mini PC for the living room and a Lenovo laptop which both run Linux Mint. The only reasons my main machine is still on Windows 7 is because of the games and video drivers. I'm just hoping the more Valve pushes down this road there will be even more compatability, choice and an improvement in drivers for video cards and also Razer peripherals.

[Jonj1611]

I like Linux but so many things I use just don't run on it. Primarily that was games and I used to use things like crossover to get them running. Now as mentioned things have improved a lot. Given the choice I would prefer to use Linux but until the majority of what I use which is 3d applications etc run well on it or natively I will have to stick with Windows for now.

[directhex]

Steam link looks interesting, can't see any benefits of steam controller over x360 controllers though.

Not worried that I have missed this, more interested in VR

Cities Skylines or Civ 5 work on a Steam Controller. They really don't on a 360 pad.

[Corky34]

On the driver front corky of course I downloaded drivers but it wasn't a hassle or difficult. Most were already installed including the Nvidia drivers with Windows update. I also never said I never downloaded drivers did I so not sure what your basing your comments on.

Sorry maybe I'm confusing your statement that you can't remember the last time [you] "searched" for drivers, I know windows update sometimes lists drivers but IIRC they're few and far apart, often listed as optional so don't get installed by default, and often don't include things like motherboard and/or SSD firmware updates.

My point being that at some point I assume you knew what hardware was in your PC, that you had to go to a website and workout what hardware related to what driver, it wasn't as simple as how consoles update themselves in that you switch it on they download an update automatically and it's done.

For yourself and most people on this forum I would assume they have sufficient knowledge about what hardware is in that box in the corner, how to check for drivers, to know if they should or shouldn't install optional windows updates, etc, etc. But Steam machines are not intended for us, they're intended for people that don't want the hassle that comes with running a PC, a hassle that you probably don't see as a hassle because for you it's easy.

[Jonj1611]

Ah I see what you mean now. Right yes, well only the mainboard needed a driver, SSD's do not need drivers, well unless you want to install the software for them for firmware updates etc, but you don't need drivers for them to run obviously, and to be honest most mainboard drivers are already included in Windows or available as a download through Windows update, the only optional things I installed were programs from Asus, I think there may have been one mainboard inf update but that was it. Of course Nvidia had an update but again that was part of Windows update.

I think the point I was trying to make was the long process of searching for drivers has long gone, anyone remember driverheaven or many of the other driver sites that you used to use in the hope that you may get a driver to work your Iomega Zip drive on the parallel port.

I do see a market for the Steam machines, but feel its a niche one.

Though I am happy to be proved wrong and will mark my diary for two years time and see where we are at

[realstock]

Content will kill this Steam machine pure and simple.

Take a look at the list of available games on Linux

It is laughable, just have a look at the top sellers for instance, is there anything you would want to play that hasn't been played and shelved years ago already... for me its a no.... well tell a lie i am playing don't starve on and off.

[anacdahudee]

It is laughable, just have a look at the top sellers for instance, is there anything you would want to play that hasn't been played and shelved years ago already... for me its a no.... well tell a lie i am playing don't starve on and off.

Sure there is nothing show stopping on the Linux side at the moment and there isn't going to be. Ports are being done by small specialist development teams, some of which used to make there living porting games to Mac. The user share just isn't big enough to have any real focus or demand on porting the games. Its probably going to be the case that when the machines launch there will be very little, but this is no different than the current gen consoles when they launched (which arguably are still unable to produce an interesting lineup), and it may be possible that Valve will coordinate the release of some more titles for the big release.

The most important news here though is that Valve's involvement with Linux has caused enough of a change that three of the biggest engines: Unreal, Unity and CryEngine are all now compatible with Linux. This paves the way for games currently in development to be shipped onto Linux in the future and we may start to see more of a challenge to the status quo of Windows for gaming.

[ARr0w]

well, in my opinion Game consoles are not that much fun as computer