Re: ZDNet: “What We Really Think Of The Steam Machine”

Lawrence D’Oliveiro <[email protected]> wrote:

> Steam Machine review summary: interesting to see how the reviewers
> <https://www.zdnet.com/video/what-we-really-think-of-the-steam-machine/>
> take for granted features that a Windows-based PC cannot provide.
> 
> One of them talks about taking the box into the living room, and using
> it there, without a second thought (or complaints from the spouse).
> Remember, Microsoft tried to do its “Living Room PC” thing with
> Windows Media Center, and failed. But this Linux-based SteamOS
> operates without any drama in that role.
> 
> And then there is the well-known friction with everything
> Windows-based, including regularly having to download tons of updates
> before you can actually play your games. SteamOS actually gets close
> to the switch-on-and-go experience of a console, even as consoles
> themselves seem to be losing some of that smoothness themselves.
> 
> Very likely, the attractiveness of the form factor will prompt vendors
> to launch Windows-based rivals, just as happened with the handheld
> Steam Deck. And just like with the Steam Deck, the awkwardness of
> Windows will simply throw the slickness of the Linux-based interface
> into even more stark relief; to the point where some of those
> competitors will want to adopt SteamOS for their offerings as well.

Oh great. No article, just a video without a text transcription.  In the
video, a comment appears saying the price is $1049 for 512GB (which is
probably the drive size, not the RAM).  Pretty small storage capacity
for a $1K box.  Wouldn't take many video games to fill that up (for what
is left after consumption by the OS, the Steam app, and whatever they
bundled on the drive), especially since some games have fan missions
that could occupy more than a terabyte of storage.

https://store.steampowered.com/hardware/steammachine
Shows pricing for better models.

While they claim 4K video, even they recommend staying down at 1080 to
avoid lag in gameplay.  I'm not impressed, but then I don't a crappy
computer setup.  I jobbed my own high-end $2800 PC with a hell of lot
more RAM, a hell of lot bigger nVME and SSD drives, and sustainable and
stable 4K video.  I didn't buy some prebuilt meant for business-only
use.  The Steam Machine would be a severe downgrade for me.

Oh, wowie, it runs a Linux distro - SteamOS - but still has to use the
Steam app.  Seems every couple days when I load the Steam app that I
have to wait until it completes yet another update.  And sometimes it
also lags on logging in.  

And there are which games you can play on this.  Does the Steam app
ensure it present or offers games that have been curated as playable on
this box?  With the low FPS on this box for 4K games, they should also
mentioned Steam's recommendation for video resolution on this box (which
will probably the 1080p they downgraded their claim, and changing their
claim to "up to" 4K).  Or, are users yet again left to hoping a game
they want to buy, download, and play will work on this box?


Oh, and right now you can only join a waitlist hoping to get one, but
not knowing when.