After Alienware originally shipped out a Windows-based Steam Machine the Alienware Alpha, we now have them showing off and talking up their real SteamOS Steam Machine.
It's nice to hear them clearly talk about it, and it seems the Windows-based unit they shipped a while ago gave them plenty of feedback on how to do better. One bit of feedback they have acted on is changing the hard drive from a 5400 RPM to 7200RPM. and that should make everything a little quicker to load.
They confirmed their Alienware Alpha with Windows will stick around, for anyone who doesn't want SteamOS. They are planning documentation and other things for people who want to "upgrade" (their words) to SteamOS on the Alpha. That's pretty good of them to be thinking like that, and maybe some people will.
They stated they have been in partnership with Valve for three years, so hopefully it works out for the both of them. It will certainly be helpful for us if it works.
Here's probably the most interesting thing about what the Alienware rep said:
That alone has me excited, and has made me like Alienware a lot more. It's not enough to announce a product, but to actually go around yourselves and try to get others on-board, that's worth cheering them on for.
Thanks boilingsteam for the video. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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It's nice to hear them clearly talk about it, and it seems the Windows-based unit they shipped a while ago gave them plenty of feedback on how to do better. One bit of feedback they have acted on is changing the hard drive from a 5400 RPM to 7200RPM. and that should make everything a little quicker to load.
They confirmed their Alienware Alpha with Windows will stick around, for anyone who doesn't want SteamOS. They are planning documentation and other things for people who want to "upgrade" (their words) to SteamOS on the Alpha. That's pretty good of them to be thinking like that, and maybe some people will.
They stated they have been in partnership with Valve for three years, so hopefully it works out for the both of them. It will certainly be helpful for us if it works.
Here's probably the most interesting thing about what the Alienware rep said:
QuoteMyself and a few colleagues have been around the world talking to all of the major game publishers, and I'll say that sharing news about Alienware Steam Machine and our plans and how it will be our flagship product, getting those publishers excited to get their content library whether it's a back catalogue or new games coming to SteamOS, you're going to see over the summer a lot more titles and software, big AAA titles, indies, things that are going to be your favourite are going to be coming to SteamOS.
That alone has me excited, and has made me like Alienware a lot more. It's not enough to announce a product, but to actually go around yourselves and try to get others on-board, that's worth cheering them on for.
Thanks boilingsteam for the video. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Quotea lot more titles and software, big AAA titles, indies, things that are going to be your favourite are going to be coming to SteamOS
11 Likes, Who?
I was going to say that's probably them being optimistic, but they probably have a lot of inside confirmations from demoing their device to developers. So, I shall remain optimistic on this one.
4 Likes, Who?
Quoting: liamdaweI was going to say that's probably them being optimistic, but they probably have a lot of inside confirmations from demoing their device to developers. So, I shall remain optimistic on this one.
Yeah, probably... But hey, it's also Friday :)
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still i feel like the lack of things like fallout 4 or gta V is a big kick in the face.
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I'm torn between hype and disbelieve. 'over the summer' sounds like very soon, so wouldn't we have heard something at least about some of them? Unless the AAA games he's talking about are Shadow of Mordor and Batman, which isn't bad, but not really 'a lot'.
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I find it strange that these games haven't been announced. You'd think that, in the months leading up to the release of a console, that there'd be a lot of big names being thrown around as "launch day titles" to get people excited. Unless that's what he means by that quote.
I think "things that are going to be your favourite" is an interesting choice of words. :o
I think "things that are going to be your favourite" is an interesting choice of words. :o
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Man, I'm hoping so bad that he's not exaggerating when he says 'a lot'. It's not like I don't have sweet games to play, but E3 was slightly disappointing for a fanatux like me.
XCOM 2, Shadow Warrior 2 and Batman.
XCOM 2, Shadow Warrior 2 and Batman.
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my strategy: keep low expectations and be pleasantly surprised =)
3 Likes, Who?
I hate the fact you can't upgrade it. And the price tag, as well. I understand it's all due to the small form but it still bugs me immensely.
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Cyba.Cowboy Jun 19, 2015
"After Alienware originally shipped out a Windows-based Steam Machine the Alienware Alpha"
A "Steam Machine" is a hardware platform that runs the Linux-based "SteamOS" operating system, not a Microsoft Windows-based operating system... This was a Windows-based gaming computer, nothing more.
There's a pretty big difference, a fact this site should be well aware of.
Call it being picky if you want, but the terminology is important, if Steam Machines and SteamOS are ever going to marketed correctly... Otherwise you'll confuse people, and possibly even discourage people from SteamOS (e.g. someone buys a Windows-based computer with the Steam client - "Look, I have a 'Steam Machine!'"
Just because the majority of the users on this site use Linux-based operating systems, a Windows-based computer user might be reading this article... More likely, a third-party site will pick this article up, and then someone reading that site will mus-interpret what a "Steam Machine" is.
Um, did you even watch the video?
Aside from the obvious fact that a "Steam Machine" is quite literally a standard computer running the Linux-based SteamOS in a flashy case (i.e. it's just as upgradable as any other computer), "Chris" from Alienware even specifically states that you can upgrade the components!
I daresay that some Steam Machines will go with a console-like approach and make component upgrades difficult (e.g. with custom cases purpose-designed to be secure and tamper-proof, etc...), but it certainly won't be impossible for any of them and I would imagine that the process would be simple for most Steam Machines...
A "Steam Machine" is a hardware platform that runs the Linux-based "SteamOS" operating system, not a Microsoft Windows-based operating system... This was a Windows-based gaming computer, nothing more.
There's a pretty big difference, a fact this site should be well aware of.
Call it being picky if you want, but the terminology is important, if Steam Machines and SteamOS are ever going to marketed correctly... Otherwise you'll confuse people, and possibly even discourage people from SteamOS (e.g. someone buys a Windows-based computer with the Steam client - "Look, I have a 'Steam Machine!'"
Just because the majority of the users on this site use Linux-based operating systems, a Windows-based computer user might be reading this article... More likely, a third-party site will pick this article up, and then someone reading that site will mus-interpret what a "Steam Machine" is.
Quoting: maodzedunI hate the fact you can't upgrade it.
Um, did you even watch the video?
Aside from the obvious fact that a "Steam Machine" is quite literally a standard computer running the Linux-based SteamOS in a flashy case (i.e. it's just as upgradable as any other computer), "Chris" from Alienware even specifically states that you can upgrade the components!
I daresay that some Steam Machines will go with a console-like approach and make component upgrades difficult (e.g. with custom cases purpose-designed to be secure and tamper-proof, etc...), but it certainly won't be impossible for any of them and I would imagine that the process would be simple for most Steam Machines...
4 Likes, Who?
I have no doubt that SteamOS will get more AAA games thanks to Engines like Unreal 4 having native linux support now. A LOT of the new AAA games are built using Unreal 4. It's just a matter of Valve convincing developers to make games for the platform.
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Quoting: CybaCowboy"After Alienware originally shipped out a Windows-based Steam Machine the Alienware Alpha"
A "Steam Machine" is a hardware platform that runs the Linux-based "SteamOS" operating system, not a Microsoft Windows-based operating system... This was a Windows-based gaming computer, nothing more.
There's a pretty big difference, a fact this site should be well aware of.
Call it being picky if you want, but the terminology is important, if Steam Machines and SteamOS are ever going to marketed correctly... Otherwise you'll confuse people, and possibly even discourage people from SteamOS (e.g. someone buys a Windows-based computer with the Steam client - "Look, I have a 'Steam Machine!'"
Just because the majority of the users on this site use Linux-based operating systems, a Windows-based computer user might be reading this article... More likely, a third-party site will pick this article up, and then someone reading that site will mus-interpret what a "Steam Machine" is.
Quoting: maodzedunI hate the fact you can't upgrade it.
Um, did you even watch the video?
Aside from the obvious fact that a "Steam Machine" is quite literally a standard computer running the Linux-based SteamOS in a flashy case (i.e. it's just as upgradable as any other computer), "Chris" from Alienware even specifically states that you can upgrade the components!
I daresay that some Steam Machines will go with a console-like approach and make component upgrades difficult (e.g. with custom cases purpose-designed to be secure and tamper-proof, etc...), but it certainly won't be impossible for any of them and I would imagine that the process would be simple for most Steam Machines...
I disagree. I think we can call a Windows computer that boots into Steam Big picture a Steam Machine as well. Like the first Alienware ones we saw last year. They shipped with modified win 8.1 and the user never had to actually boot into desktop. It's the purpose of the device that makes it a Steam machine not the operating system. It is a gaming computer primarily aimed at TV gaming via the Steam platform. Steam OS is just Debian, nothing more. I don't know why people are making that much fuss about it. Any OS can be made to boot into Big Picture mode and have the Steam client manage the drivers.
1 Likes, Who?
Certainly made me see Alienware in a bit different light than before. Might even consider purchasing one now. I'm so easily deceived by marketing folk..
3 Likes, Who?
Quoting: maodzedunI hate the fact you can't upgrade it. And the price tag, as well. I understand it's all due to the small form but it still bugs me immensely.
Quoting: CybaCowboyUm, did you even watch the video?
Spoiler, click me
Step 1: See the title
Step 2: Don't watch video
Step 3: Espouse opinion in comment section
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Step 2: Don't watch video
Step 3: Espouse opinion in comment section
Step 4: ???
Step 5: Profit
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Mountain Man Jun 19, 2015
Quoting: darkszlufstill i feel like the lack of things like fallout 4 or gta V is a big kick in the face.Yeah, but we're getting Arkham Knight, XCOM 2, and Shadow of Mordor (among other games), so it's not all bad.
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Quoting: skryCertainly made me see Alienware in a bit different light than before. Might even consider purchasing one now. I'm so easily deceived by marketing folk..
to be honest i think this kind of move comes from valve... alieanware just is happy to comply with valve since they are in the middle to harvest earnings doing not much work only their thing...
alieanware doesnt give a crap about linux overall... but its not personal. They dont give a crap about anybody, they just follow the money...
(not that i care much... if they follow my agenda without trying to tricking me too much, they will see my money as well)
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Segata Sanshiro Jun 19, 2015
Great news! I honestly don't care much for their product personally since I think the price-to-performance ratio is terrible (but then again, it's always the case with anything prebuilt) but their commitment to the project is great and these mystery new titles are very intriguing :)
1 Likes, Who?
I know Alienware overall has a pretty bad rap for being overpriced, however I think some people forget who owns them. Dell owns Alienware and is one of, if not the only big name PC maker who offers both desktops AND laptops pre-installed with Linux(Ubuntu) and has done so for a while now.
I have a feeling there are some people working at Dell/Alienware who are probably just as excited as we are to finally see Linux gaming go somewhere. I may just be overly optimistic, but my fingers are still crossed anyways that Steam Machines take off, even if I have no reason to own one.
I have a feeling there are some people working at Dell/Alienware who are probably just as excited as we are to finally see Linux gaming go somewhere. I may just be overly optimistic, but my fingers are still crossed anyways that Steam Machines take off, even if I have no reason to own one.
5 Likes, Who?
grumpytoad Jun 19, 2015
Quoting: CybaCowboyQuoting: maodzedunI hate the fact you can't upgrade it.
Um, did you even watch the video?
Aside from the obvious fact that a "Steam Machine" is quite literally a standard computer running the Linux-based SteamOS in a flashy case (i.e. it's just as upgradable as any other computer), "Chris" from Alienware even specifically states that you can upgrade the components!
I daresay that some Steam Machines will go with a console-like approach and make component upgrades difficult (e.g. with custom cases purpose-designed to be secure and tamper-proof, etc...), but it certainly won't be impossible for any of them and I would imagine that the process would be simple for most Steam Machines...
After building my own small form factor steam machine, I disagree that the components are that easily upgradeable. You are tied to the limited wattage of your PSU, space around the GPU, and modest motherboard options. I think you will easily be able to upgrade RAM and your main disk drive, but everything else you'll probably have to make compromises.
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