• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Alienware Steam Machines are un-upgradable, will be released annually

D

Dr Dogg

Member
To keep it as small a form factor as possible this was pretty much inevitable anyway. Pricing is going to be the key factor for a lot of people though.

hoserx said:
How does releasing new systems every year mimic the life cycle of a console?
Click to expand...

Reading through the article I get the idea he's saying that consoles have long lifecycles but they will be refreshing every year as in not emulating their model. Though it does seams a bit of a garbled message and seams they misunderstood the quote.
 
J

Jburton

Banned
Alienware lining up a whole series of over priced, under powered (it's dell after all) steam consoles to fuck us with yearly.
 
Krisprolls

Krisprolls

Banned
Mmmm, steam machines get better and better. I think they're officially dead on arrival. There's nearly zero point buying one if you can't even upgrade them. Either a standard PC or a console will do better for less money on the long run.
 
A

Addnan

Member
New PC hardware comes out all the time, so I don't see what's wrong with offering newer hardware. This tiny thing isn't going to use desktop parts so yeah upgrading would be near impossible I would guess.
 
D

Durante

Member
It seems that people read "released annually" as "you need to upgrade annually". This is not a console. The platform is not the hardware.

maquiladora said:
Sounds like they are going after the market that sees annual tablet/phone releases as the norm.
Click to expand...
Yeah, they certainly are trying to mimic that market.
 
Z

Zoc

Member
I don't like it, but the truth is that I haven't upgraded my gaming PC since I got it two years ago, and at this point, I think any money spent on upgrading it would be better saved towards a new build.

If, say, soldering the GPU, CPU, and memory to the MB allowed them to save money and make a smaller, cooler-running box, then the lack of expansion ability might be worth it for me.
 
C

chaosblade

Unconfirmed Member
Interrobang said:
Wasn't that the whole point of the Steam Machine...?
Click to expand...

No, the point of a Steam Machine/SteamOS is

1) To cut the ties between Microsoft and PC gaming
2) To make a simple, console-like PC gaming experience.

Steam Machines aren't intended for PC gamers. If you're the kind of person who is going to be changing your hardware out and stuff, these were never for you. These are intended to entice console-only gamers to start using Steam and play PC games.
 
W

Won

Member
Of course you don't need to buy a new one every year.

Still yearly update seems unnecessary and a bit overkill.
 
Jessie.Bristol

Jessie.Bristol

Member
So the thing will cost (according to AlienWare) the same as an Xbox One ($500) but release every year... sounds about right. I don't see them selling any of their Steam Machines.
 
M

Mister_Bubbles

Member
I was ready to get on board with the Steam Machines instead of getting a new PC this summer, but everything I hear about them just makes me realise that the whole concept is not ready for primetime yet.

I think buying a cheap Steam Machine dedicated solely to streaming into in the living room from a great PC elsewhere in the house is the way I will go.
 
D

Dennis

Banned
Guys, guys. Just because they release a new version every year doesn't mean you have to buy a new one every year to play.
 
K

KennyLinder

Member
chaosblade said:
No, the point of a Steam Machine/SteamOS is

1) To cut the ties between Microsoft and PC gaming
2) To make a simple, console-like PC gaming experience.

Steam Machines aren't intended for PC gamers. If you're the kind of person who is going to be changing your hardware out and stuff, these were never for you. These are intended to entice console-only gamers to start using Steam and play PC games.
Click to expand...

Hold on though, what happens in 5 years when "Assasin Creed 10" doesn't run for shit on your 2013 Alienware Steam Machine that cost the same as a PS4/X1, but on PS4 the game plays perfectly still?
 
I

Interrobang

Member
chaosblade said:
No, the point of a Steam Machine/SteamOS is

1) To cut the ties between Microsoft and PC gaming
2) To make a simple, console-like PC gaming experience.

Steam Machines aren't intended for PC gamers. If you're the kind of person who is going to be changing your hardware out and stuff, these were never for you. These are intended to entice console-only gamers to start using Steam and play PC games.
Click to expand...

I think one could argue one of the most appealing aspect was that they stated "you could build your own," which sort of translates to being able to upgrade it - to me at least.
 
D

Draft

Member
You mean Steam Machines won't be copying the same business model that the traditional consoles use? Wow, how are they supposed to compete with the Playbox and Xstation without doing exactly the same things as Sony, MS and Nintendo?
 
L

lol51

Member
There is no incentive for the hardware manufacturers to take a loss on the price of these steambox units. I don't know why some of you expect cheap entry points. The consoles are cheaper because the money is recouped elsewhere (example, PS+ subscription or a percentage of game sales) Alienware won't see money when people buy games off steam.
 
J

Jburton

Banned
Durante said:
It seems that people read "released annually" as "you need to upgrade annually". This is not a console. The platform is not the hardware.

Yeah, they certainly are trying to mimic that market.
Click to expand...


Well as we are told about the rate of progress within the PC market is it's strength, and the fact that so many PC releases are so awfully optimised then if you wish to be PC gaming at a level better than consoles (graphics etc) then owners of this system will very likely need to upgrade very regularly to be able to avail of most new releases while maintaining a base level of graphical standard.


Using low powered laptop GPU parts in these machines is a sure fire way to insuring defunct performance within a short space of time as it chokes to keep up, certainly in a much worse manner than a desktop part.
 
S

Saty

Member
What's the matter? Think of it as you deciding 'next-gen' transitions for yourself. Happy with your current machine and the visual fidelity it's pushing? Then keep it. Wanna make a jump? Buy the newest. Not that i'm saying you need it buy one yearly but one in 2-3 years? Plausible. More choices ain't a bad thing.
 
Interfectum

Interfectum

Member
Interrobang said:
Wasn't that the whole point of the Steam Machine...?
Click to expand...

Are you a PC gamer that also owns a console? Here is a turn key solution to replace that console and put Steam in your living room.

Are you interested in getting a console but not sure which one? Here is another option that does not involve building PC but still gives you access to Steam and 300+ games, has a gamer focused OS and comes with a controller built for the OS.

Are you a PC gamer that builds PCs, has PCs in the living room and is happy as a clam? Then Steam Machines are not for you.
 
I

Interrobang

Member
Interfectum said:
Are you a PC gamer that also owns a console? Here is a turn key solution to replace that console and put Steam in your living room.

Are you interested in getting a console but not sure which one? Here is another option that does not involve building PC but still gives you access to Steam and 300+ games, has a gamer focused OS and comes with a controller built for the OS.

Are you a PC gamer that builds PCs, has PCs in the living room and is happy as a clam? Then Steam Machines are not for you.
Click to expand...

I think most people have been looking at them as semi-futureproofing their gaming hobby, ie: instead of buying PS5 of XboxTwo, upgrade a few pieces and you're on your way.
 
C

chaosblade

Unconfirmed Member
KennyLinder said:
Hold on though, what happens in 5 years when "Assasin Creed 10" doesn't run for shit on your 2013 Alienware Steam Machine that cost the same as a PS4/X1, but on PS4 the game plays perfectly still?
Click to expand...

I never said the idea was flawless, I'm just stating what the goal is. And whether or not that's the case just depends on the hardware used in the Steam Machine, because if the GPU is a bit better than what's in the PS4 it could theoretically last as long as the PS4 would, so long as the DX version is still supported (just like the 8800GT, which was serviceable until games didn't support it at all).

Interrobang said:
I think one could argue one of the most appealing aspect was that they stated "you could build your own," which sort of translates to being able to upgrade it - to me at least.
Click to expand...

You could build your own PC years ago, how is that enticing for a Steam Machine? There is literally nothing special about a Steam Machine versus something you build yourself, it's the same thing you're just paying an extra markup for the Steam Machine, or maybe getting something cheaper that's not upgradable.
 
A

alexandros

Banned
Durante said:
It seems that people read "released annually" as "you need to upgrade annually". This is not a console. The platform is not the hardware.
Click to expand...

To be honest, I don't understand the negative reaction at all. This is obviously very good news for people who want the "console experience" on PC. Fixed hardware means that developers can target those specs for a number of years as a sort of baseline. It seems to me that this is what many of us wanted, a base level of hardware that devs can target?
 
K

kiyomi

Member
Dennis said:
Guys, guys. Just because they release a new version every year doesn't mean you have to buy a new one every year to play.
Click to expand...

Of course not, but it means anyone who buys one, eventually knows they're gonna be totally obsolete compared to newer models. And since you can't upgrade it, you're not only taking away one of the defining benefits of PC gaming, which is the steady recycling of replacements and improvements, but you're also taking away the cost-effective, entry level purpose of a console.

Again and again, I don't see the target audience the Steam boxes are meant for.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Forbes: Steam reviews are a weapon, but one of the only ones players can wield
35
1K
Bkdk replied
  • Poll
SONY/SIE: The Balance Of Chasing Margins, Multiplat Expansion, And Maximizing The Console
Opinion Business Analysis 2 3
101
8K
vaibhavpisal replied
Phil Spencer interview - Says that their intent is for all Xbox games, including Call of Duty, to be available on Xbox Game Pass Day One
2 3
102
8K
Kenneth Haight replied
[IGN] Seriously, Nintendo, It’s Time to Release a Switch Pro
2 3 4 5 6
296
20K
Knightime_X replied
  • Locked
Gamingbolt: Sony’s Decision To Make PSVR2 Over A PlayStation Handheld Is Baffling
2 3 4 5 6
269
18K
Jimmyisback replied
Top Bottom