The Steam Box Has Arrived?

[Fatboi1]

ok let me put it like this. the Xbox One as a product didn't exist until it was released last month. there was no box on the market that ran the Xbox One's OS and could play it's exclusive games and go on Xbox Live ect. granted some Xbox One games exist on other platforms too but as a total package the Xbox One is unique.

the Steam box is not a unique product. Steam already is on the market. the games Steam runs are already on the market. the Steam OS can be loaded on PCs right now. so what i'm wondering is if all the components that compose the box and the experience are already available on the market why do people care if Valve puts out what effectively amounts to just another PC. what's unique about the Valve PC that makes it stand out? especially considering it's comprised of off the shelf components that are available now. you don't have to build it yourself either companies and individuals offer Custom built PCs as a service.

You gotta show me where I can buy that console like case.
Asking what's unique about the Steambox is like asking what's the point in buying sandwiches from Subway when you can just go buy the ingredients and make it myself. Again why should I buy from Subway when I can just buy sandwiches from the local papi store?? This just seems like a extra option. You probably have multiple rooms and now that the steambox is out(soon to be), you can just get a prebuilt small form factor PC and stream games from the main PC to the steam box. I know I'd rather just buy one premade in that size versus me spending time building it and paying small premium.

 

[kash10003]

i like building the PC more than actually playing the games

 

[winb83]

You gotta show me where I can buy that console like case.
Asking what's unique about the Steambox is like asking what's the point in buying sandwiches from Subway when you can just go buy the ingredients and make it myself. Again why should I buy from Subway when I can just buy sandwiches from the local papi store?? This just seems like a extra option. You probably have multiple rooms and now that the steambox is out(soon to be), you can just get a prebuilt small form factor PC and stream games from the main PC to the steam box. I know I'd rather just buy one premade in that size versus me spending time building it and paying small premium.

your home made sandwich isn't going to taste the same as a Subway sandwich though.

computers on the other hand are digital so Bioshock Infinite on the Steam box is equal to Bioshock Infinite on Brand X PC or a home built PC. the most unique thing about the Steam box is the case its in but even then with mini-itx builds we've reached a point where PCs can be put in cases smaller than the typical AV receiver that look normal sitting on a TV stand. hell my center channel speaker is larger than my PC case.

as for the small premium part yeah right. there's gonna be a hell of a premium to get those off the shelf components cooled in that console case. i can only imagine how expensive a custom built heat sync that does a decent job and fits in a case that small would cost. had to put this in my case because its too small to fit a good sized air cooler for the CPU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103180

 

[marcuz]

You just answered your own question. Not everyone wants to build shyt themselves. If what you're saying was a factor then consoles wouldn't exist.

Fred.

consoles have existed for the last 40 yrs, where do you pc heads get the nerve

 

[marcuz]

i like building the PC more than actually playing the games

considering PC gaming isn't fun, i don't blame you

 

[Fatboi1]

your home made sandwich isn't going to taste the same as a Subway sandwich though.

computers on the other hand are digital so Bioshock Infinite on the Steam box is equal to Bioshock Infinite on Brand X PC or a home built PC. the most unique thing about the Steam box is the case its in but even then with mini-itx builds we've reached a point where PCs can be put in cases smaller than the typical AV receiver that look normal sitting on a TV stand. hell my center channel speaker is larger than my PC case.

as for the small premium part yeah right. there's gonna be a hell of a premium to get those off the shelf components cooled in that console case. i can only imagine how expensive a custom built heat sync that does a decent job and fits in a case that small would cost. had to put this in my case because its too small to fit a good sized air cooler for the CPU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103180

Well they said the cooling situation is done via each component breathing independently in a shroud of some sort.

 

[Rice N Beans]

ok let me put it like this. the Xbox One as a product didn't exist until it was released last month. there was no box on the market that ran the Xbox One's OS and could play it's exclusive games and go on Xbox Live ect. granted some Xbox One games exist on other platforms too but as a total package the Xbox One is unique.

the Steam box is not a unique product. Steam already is on the market. the games Steam runs are already on the market. the Steam OS can be loaded on PCs right now. so what i'm wondering is if all the components that compose the box and the experience are already available on the market why do people care if Valve puts out what effectively amounts to just another PC. what's unique about the Valve PC that makes it stand out? especially considering it's comprised of off the shelf components that are available now. you don't have to build it yourself either companies and individuals offer Custom built PCs as a service.

The main draw is that Valve does PC gaming and are now doing hardware. What other vendors not on consoles do that? They have a big chance to tighten the shoelaces when it comes to developing on PC. There can now be at least targeted hardware.

 

[Rekkapryde]

Price?
Edit: Nah brehs. This shyt is like 2 stacks after tax.

2 stacks?

 

[hex]

consoles have existed for the last 40 yrs, where do you pc heads get the nerve

The fukk are you talking about? Re-read what I said, then explain to me how your response has anything to do with the point I was making.

Fred.

 

[Cladyclad]

Do I need a computer or is this stand alone

 

[daze23]

ok let me put it like this. the Xbox One as a product didn't exist until it was released last month. there was no box on the market that ran the Xbox One's OS and could play it's exclusive games and go on Xbox Live ect. granted some Xbox One games exist on other platforms too but as a total package the Xbox One is unique.

the Steam box is not a unique product. Steam already is on the market. the games Steam runs are already on the market. the Steam OS can be loaded on PCs right now. so what i'm wondering is if all the components that compose the box and the experience are already available on the market why do people care if Valve puts out what effectively amounts to just another PC. what's unique about the Valve PC that makes it stand out? especially considering it's comprised of off the shelf components that are available now. you don't have to build it yourself either companies and individuals offer Custom built PCs as a service.

Valve is NOT going to be selling these things

there is no "Valve PC". there is Steam OS and a Steam Controller. "Steam Machines" will be made by the same hardware folks that already make pre-builts. or by users, because yes, it is just a PC running Steam OS. these 300 prototypes are just prototypes for the concept of a small form factor PC running Steam OS.

some select quotes:

http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamMachines/

Entertainment is not a one-size-fits-all world. We want you to be able to choose the hardware that makes sense for you, so we are working with multiple partners to bring a variety of Steam gaming machines to market during 2014, all of them running SteamOS.

While these products are still in development, we need your help. As always, we believe the best way to ensure that the right products are getting made is to let people try them out and then make changes as we go. We have designed a high-performance prototype that’s optimized for gaming, for the living room, and for Steam. Of course, it’s also completely upgradable and open.

This year we’re shipping just 300 of these boxes to Steam users, free of charge, for testing.

When can I buy one?!

Beginning in 2014, there will be multiple SteamOS machines to choose from, made by different manufacturers.

I’m pretty happy with my PC Gaming setup, do I have to buy a new piece of hardware now?

No. Everything that we’ve been doing on Steam for the last 10 years will continue to move forward.
If you guys are delivering an OS to hardware manufacturers, why is Valve also making its own box?

We're conducting a beta of the overall Steam living-room experience, so we needed to build prototype hardware on which to run tests. At Valve we always rely on real-world testing as part of our design process. The specific machine we're testing is designed for users who want the most control possible over their hardware. Other boxes will optimize for size, price, quietness, or other factors.

 

[daze23]

your home made sandwich isn't going to taste the same as a Subway sandwich though.

computers on the other hand are digital so Bioshock Infinite on the Steam box is equal to Bioshock Infinite on Brand X PC or a home built PC. the most unique thing about the Steam box is the case its in but even then with mini-itx builds we've reached a point where PCs can be put in cases smaller than the typical AV receiver that look normal sitting on a TV stand. hell my center channel speaker is larger than my PC case.

as for the small premium part yeah right. there's gonna be a hell of a premium to get those off the shelf components cooled in that console case. i can only imagine how expensive a custom built heat sync that does a decent job and fits in a case that small would cost. had to put this in my case because its too small to fit a good sized air cooler for the CPU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103180

this is the heatsink those prototypes use

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118142

 

[daze23]

Valve is NOT going to be selling these things

 

[Orbital-Fetus]

damn, i just got back from Target and Walmart and there are no Steam Machines in stock...probably sold more the first day than PS4 and Xbone combined.

 

[NatiboyB]

Price?
Edit: Nah brehs. This shyt is like 2 stacks after tax.

Welp I'm about to leave the thread I was thinking it was like 600 or something.