Alienware Say Steam Machines Will Open The Flood Gates On New Linux Gamers

Well... TBH for the regular gamer it doesn't matter what runs PS4 or Xbox1, I don't think they will care if its Windows or Linux running SteamBox, All they would see is a great customizable machine, with a good performance with the same UI when it's SteamOS or Windows, this way, AlienWare can start shipping the new consoles and the next version will be Linux based without the users even noticing what changed, its a great solution (for them) to test the market and ready the ground for the next versions.

I don't think we should care, as long as the "next version" will be Linux, we should only look at this as a place holder ;)

It won't be the same UI that's the point. Alienware are doing a completely custom UI for their Windows Steam Machine. Still don't think anyone should be able to call something a Steam Machine unless it has SteamOS on it.

Two things:

1. If a user buys this, making their entire Windows catalogue available to them, why would they want to switch to another OS with a fraction of the available content?

2. How is Microsoft allowing this, seeing as it runs their OS and will be eating away chunks of their XBox profits? They get money for the OS license, that's it.

2. How is Microsoft allowing this, seeing as it runs their OS and will be eating away chunks of their XBox profits? They get money for the OS license, that's it.

I don't see how an allowance is required from Microsoft, this is a regular PC with regular licensing.
If they *like* it is another matter. But any PC can theoretically be a Xbox competitor.

Plus, MS' Xbox division and Windows division are two different entities.

Is it a real article or is PCGamesN an Onion-like website for video games?

1. If a user buys this, making their entire Windows catalogue available to them, why would they want to switch to another OS with a fraction of the available content?

Fully agree.

I don't think this is _only_ a side effect, but might be a strategic move to weaken the market position of SteamOS even before it goes live.

It is said steam has 75M users, right?

Considering 7M units of PS4 have been sold in 6 months since release (with 1M pre-orders) SteamOS might double (1.5M units?) in hardware survey in the first month or two?

While their illusions of grandeur translate to at least 30M? pre-orders. Crack it is. Or more like over-hyping to increase their own sales since they will definitely be a flop. They run Windows and use 360 controller, why would anyone order from them?

Worst thing yet, their flop will establish a negative mind-sight for vendors going for the real thing. I'm shocked Valve does not put an end to their 'steam machine'.

I think they should wait for the controller and a polished SteamOS with more AAA games supporting it in the future. I thought I heard the Steam controller will use non-standard wireless. I don't know if that's correct, but if it is, Windows based Steam consoles pre-controller might miss out on integration with the tranceiver. The only benefit I can see from these is that the hardware from each OEM will have time to be tested and proven in the console-like form factors, but then again I think they will more than likely do a good job at it. I personally won't have a doubt that ASUS ROG will have a rock solid piece of hardware, but I'd rather wait for the Steam Machine full debut. I already have a Windows PC and a 360 controller. A real Steam Machine will have exactly what I want and nothing more unless I want to pay more for redundancy. I want a pure experience with all the goods focused on what Valve and game developers are dedicating towards the Steam Machine initiative.

I thought I heard the Steam controller will use non-standard wireless. I don't know if that's correct, but if it is, Windows based Steam consoles pre-controller might miss out on integration with the tranceiver.

IIRC correctly, the Alienware Alpha is Steam Controller-ready and includes the compatible wireless hardware. It was also the case on another Steam Machine (don't remember the manufacturer, it was the "white one with a glowing part") that was presented in details a few monthes ago. So I guess that Valve at least gave the specs for the controller compatibility and all official Steam Machines will have it.

Usual corporate bullshit.
Do one thing, say you do the entirely different thing and report to press yet another thing.

You can't expect Steam Machine hardware vendors to just wait another half a year to a year longer than they were initially promised for SteamOS, this might work with Software, but you can't wait with Hardware ready to ship. In half a year it'll have lost a huge chunk of its monetary value.

This is on Valve delaying SteamOS and the Steam Controller, the Hardware vendors are just trying to save their investment by selling the hardware before it's losing its worth.

This was bound to happen with the first generation of Steam Machines given Valve's track record on punctuality.

I mean they could've still shipped them with SteamOS but I can't blame them for feeling uncomfortable with shipping beta software.

This was bound to happen with the first generation of Steam Machines given Valve's track record on punctuality.

These "partners" should have KNEW this was a possibility because of exactly this.

There's no REAL excuse for shipping Windows in a "Steam Machine."

In half a year it'll have lost a huge chunk of its monetary value.

Wanna bet they'll still sell it for what they had originally planned to?

I think that launch a Steam machine with SteamOS prematurely, without a stable and mature video drivers (amd) and with few AAA titles would be a early death of this adventure... I hate having an extra partition for windows only for playing but I prefer this to have a unstable system and a very poor support.

Please do not forget the statement that Xbox1 and PS4 and even the previous models had just a bunch of good games and overall not more than 30 together at launch date.

SteamOS does have more than 500 by now and I'd even say more few very good ones.
It is clear that there will be no Halo for SteamOS or e.g. GTA, since both are exclusive stuff for which these companies have paid for good money.

But I read far too often that "Linux has no games", which is entirely not true, but still present in peoples' minds. Yes, I have no Halo with a Steambox, I have no GTA, I also do not have Risen or whatever - anyway, I'd need both (PS + xbox) to have all these games at home.

Also one should keep in mind that new games are being ported pretty much often, so yes: all this is true for older ones, I can not expect Max Payne 1 to be ported or whatever old-school but still-good game, but at least in my case: everything I want to play, I do have it, natively on my Linux machine. And more is to come.

Sadly, and I believe that this is not such a good decision: Valve does not want SteamOS to be exclusive in any way. 1: one may use any other OS that runs steam, 2: no exclusive games are to be launched, say Half Life 3. Seriously, imagine HL3 as Linux-only. Windows or Steambox+windows would not stand a chance. But Valve does not want that, since the sales (no matter what OS) make the money, not the OS they are running on.

people seems to be p1ssed off at alienware for some reason. but, seriously they don't have a choice.

- ship with beta as default and you're bound to be scr3wed in QA
- sit on hw for final and you lose millions on hw price drops, not to mention all R&D went to waste, since PC hw changes fast

they did promise that steamos will be supported under warranty and the only reason why i won't buy it is because they don't ship without OS. there is absolutely no chance in hell i'm paying for another windows license in my life. never used them, but i could equip small company with the licenses i bought with computer

This was bound to happen with the first generation of Steam Machines given Valve's track record on punctuality.

These "partners" should have KNEW this was a possibility because of exactly this.

There's no REAL excuse for shipping Windows in a "Steam Machine."

Unfortunately with hardware you have to start manufacturing well ahead of actually selling the first batch, so you can meet the initial demand in units worldwide. Also don't forget all of the R&D that went into the product, they'd have to scrap all of it if they wanted to wait on valve and use newer hardware appropriate for the new launch time frame.

Hardware manufacturing fully depends on accurate launch time frames, if they're off they have to think of something else. The alternative would be waiting until SteamOS and the Controller is ready and then wait at least another half a year to a full year for the first proper Steam Machine that isn't just a rebranded miniITX computer.

In the end we're talking about business here, you can't expect hardware manufacturers to take the fall for Valve's tardiness, they're making what they consider to be the best out of a bad situation.

The only thing that would bother me personally, is them selling it as an official "Steam Machine" but I highly doubt they have permission to slap on that branding if they don't use SteamOS or the Controller.

In the end it's Valve's responsibility that the launch of Steam Machines is a smooth one and not one of the hardware manufacturers, if you want to blame anyone look no further, it is 100% on Valve. It'd be a different story if Valve had everything ready and the manufacturers decided that there wasn't enough appeal to SteamOS to support it after all but that's not what they did, instead they still publicly support the project even after they'd have every reason to be unhappy with Valve's performance.

A Steam Machine isn't a Steam Machine without the REAL SteamOS...period

[/quote]These "partners" should have KNEW this was a possibility because of exactly this.

There's no REAL excuse for shipping Windows in a "Steam Machine."
[/quote]And what? You won`t buy their Steam Machine, you will hate them all your life or you will create petition, don`t you? :D
Really, what do you expect? This is company, not gamers. Ordinary gamers can wait for Steam OS, but company will not do this. They need money. And money. And more money. And only then they think about gamers.

what the hell is SteamOS to a user ?

- PC1: windows 8.x, autostarts Steam in big picture mode, full collection available
- PC2: steamos, autostarts Steam in big picture mode, partial collection available

the general user looks at the last part, can I see all my steam games, for the rest why should he care if its windows or linux under the hood, we do, the general user does not.

as for alienware, 100% good on them to at least sell the machines with a running/working OS while the hardware still has value instead of sitting on it and throwing it away.

It won't be the same UI that's the point. Alienware are doing a completely custom UI for their Windows Steam Machine. Still don't think anyone should be able to call something a Steam Machine unless it has SteamOS on it.

I think you're misunderstanding. It's Windows getting the custom UI, not Steam. They're probably making Windows look more like Steam OS so people won't be confused. As far as Steam itself goes, when they ship a Linux version it will be the same Big Picture mode they've been using under Windows.