ashecitism
Member
Just wait for CES in early Jan.
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Bolt II: Digital Storm's dual-booting Steam Machine, starting from $1899
- Thread starter ashecitism
- Start date
Just wait for CES in early Jan.
I concur with this statement.
There are plenty of people that offer over-priced pre-built PC's. The idea here was to create set-top Box PC's, that did the job, and were at least a little less expensive than the non-start pre-fabbed gaming rigs.
Basically, this isn't mass market friendly. The Steambox is trying to be at least nominally mass market friendly.
No, it's supposed to be living room friendly. That can mean mass-market or super-enthusiast.
I don't know where people are getting the idea that Valve are setting out to be exclusively mass-market only.
D
Deleted member 1235
Unconfirmed Member
is pc building gaf gonna build the ultimate steambox for cheap? I'm still using my PC I built with Gafs help some 5 odd years ago and I got a 'middle of the road' one at the time. I would never do anything else. paying that much sounds like crazy money.
GotEmRunnin
Member
A digital storm indeed.
UnrealEck
Member
A thread about Steam PCs (or Steamboxes), a pre-built PC in a small form factor with Steam OS loaded which comes with a specialised controller is going to be full of common misonceptions related to PC hardware and comparisons with console hardware completely ignoring the performance and high end hardware market as well as the fact that it is a PC and does what a PC does (even when this particular machine will be probably considerably more powerful than a PS4).
This'll be interesting.
This'll be interesting.
Also, nobody reads the earlier posts and every time a page changes, it all starts over.
Pfft, there have been living room friendly PC's for over a decade at this point. "Living room friendly," as a single sole selling point, is a complete and utter non-starter at this point. Nobody is going to pay this much of a premium for convenience, when consoles already offer the exact same convenience for less.
If you want to compete, you need to get the price down to a point where the mass market can get on board. Otherwise you're just going to be, "completely and utterly crushed," by more economic alternatives.
Besides that, this isn't a full fledged PC. The OS is essentially only good for gaming, for the time being. Asking people to spend the full Premium Pre-Fabbed PC price, for a cutdown PC, is just a staggering proposition.
No, they've got to cut the price, compete, or go the way of the dinosaur. There's no ifs and or buts about it!
sigh...
There haven't been anything like steam os or steam controller before.
There will be multiple price ranges with different performance classes and features.
It is a full fledged PC. You can access linux desktop with every SM. This being linux, you can use pretty much every window manager you want. You can also replace the os and software completely. You can use it as a regular desktop too.
There will be models that are priced very competitively.
Let me stop you there;
No there have not. The OS has always been windows which is not TV friendly.
Also, how many times do people have to repeat? THERE IS NO PRICE TO CUT. IT CAN BE *ANY PRICE YOU WANT*. This isn't about hardware, it's about the software. The hardware just gets the software into people's homes because not many people install operating systems.
I also dislike the know it all condescending attitude that I commonly see from PC GAF. But it's not just them. I see the dick waving in console youtube videos, articles, and etc. Reminds me of a certain popular religion TBH....
I'd like to stand up for PC GAF and say that most of us are not condescending arseholes.
On topic of this machine, it reminds me of the alienware stuff in a sense that they are trying to appeal to the guys that want the grunt but not to build it. This market definitely exists, but for the majority like myself and most consumers, it is out of bounds on price alone.
But this is the point of steam machines, something for everyone. I'm certain when the details come out, this may be even more specifically targeted to a certain subset of that audience.
You should also expect to see cheaper steam machines hitting the $299 mark with a dedicated graphics card. Further to that you can also expect streaming solutions in multiple forms possibly starting from $59 to $149 as a guestimate.
I hope people understand that the broad approach here ranges from manufacturers only aiming to serve a few thousand to those aiming to serve millions. I wouldn't expect the steam machines to do much for the next couple of years as they build the platform itself and support, much as steam did in the early days
Felix Lighter
Member
This particular unit is being offered by a high end prebuilt PC maker. This is a single offering by a single manufacturer who specifically states that they are not targeting console pricing and are aiming for high performance, not low price. Also, it states in the article that this model will also include an option to dual boot Windows and SteamOS. The SteamBox is not a one size fits all solution. I can guarantee you that they have no illusion of mass market appeal for this high end model.
There are other manufactures targeting mid and lower end and trying to compete with console pricing.
I don't think so, the whole idea of steam machines is that you have different manufactures who make different models for different people. Some will be high end, others will rival consoles in performance in price, others will be low end to work as a streaming solution only. There will be a steam machine for every flavor just like pc, and you can spend as much money on a steam machine as you can afford.
Mr. Poolman
Member
A brave new world indeed.
Optional dual boot to be exact.
uh, you are not going to get smallish factor living room pc without some custom cooling... it is going to be expensive. They have to make nice premium on it.
I just put some nice 280x with 8320 in 550D with 16GB and cheap drive, very expensive PSU and it was arm and a leg. It is a good computer but both CPU and GPU fan make a lot of noise at full speed. For it to "quiet", you would need to implement some custom cooling solution and test thoroughly before delivering the product... it is just not barebones PC.
I think best market for Steam boxes will be more expensive units where you can see how they spent extra money and what extra you got (compared to console). Because at low end price point, they will simply never compete. Ever. Never. Even large manufacturers like Dell, have to make "high" margins on these computers, let alone small butique ones.
I just put some nice 280x with 8320 in 550D with 16GB and cheap drive, very expensive PSU and it was arm and a leg. It is a good computer but both CPU and GPU fan make a lot of noise at full speed. For it to "quiet", you would need to implement some custom cooling solution and test thoroughly before delivering the product... it is just not barebones PC.
I think best market for Steam boxes will be more expensive units where you can see how they spent extra money and what extra you got (compared to console). Because at low end price point, they will simply never compete. Ever. Never. Even large manufacturers like Dell, have to make "high" margins on these computers, let alone small butique ones.
lemon__fresh
Member
SmokedMeat
Gamer™
Only $1,500? Well, what am I waiting for?! Why am I buying a $400 console when I can spend an extra $900 and save money on the PC platform?
Portugeezer
Member
Console killer
lemon__fresh
Member
This is a PC, yup.
DeadByDawn
Banned
Why even spend that $400 when you can get your entertainment from trolling GAF instead?
Why is it that a $500 Steam Machine with an R9 270(basically a 7870) doesn't compete price wise with consoles even though it'll cost as much as an Xbox One?
Find me a pre-built with those specs and that price along with Steam OS pre-installed. There isn't one. You can build one yourself, but it's not the same.
Their point was to build a Steambox that caters toward those who prefer PC gaming, have money to spend, don't want to sit at a desk, and don't want to build a PC themselves.
That's way too expensive. Someone looking to drop that kind of money on a machine to play PC games would likely be a person that would have no problem assembling the parts themselves.
I do like the dual boot functionality though, since games like LoL, BF3/4, Starcraft, WoW, etc can't be played on a Steam Machine since those games are not available on Steam
I do like the dual boot functionality though, since games like LoL, BF3/4, Starcraft, WoW, etc can't be played on a Steam Machine since those games are not available on Steam
jim-jam bongs
Member
Counterpoint: those of us who are in fact condescending arseholes are extremely good at it.
Senor Kami
Banned
I didn't say it was. Someone said that people are missing the point of Steam Boxes and Steam OS; that they are really about pushing/popularizing Steam. I'm saying anyone interested in a $1400 gaming computer is probably well aware of Steam and this is preaching to the choir. Nothing about Valve making this device.
You sound like a right joy yourself there. Nice generalization at the end. You certainly showed how you're better than this awful PC Gaf you speak of.
Anyways, you and your friend may not be idiots, but you guys definitely don't seem to understand all this.
How is a $500, 7870-equipped PC not competing with consoles? Its slightly more powerful than a PS4, will have a massive library of games available and has all the other benefits of PC gaming(mods, cheap games, options) and general PC functionality. And compared to the Xbox One, its the exact same price, is much more powerful and has all the other benefits I mentioned.
Certainly sounds like an attractive alternative to me. Will be even more so as time goes on and these Steam machines get far more powerful for the same amount of money.
The amount of people who buy alienware machines and other equivalents say otherwise.
Piercedveil
Member
I feel like if you plan to spend that much on a PC to play games, chances are you are capable of building one yourself and installing SteamOS on it.
The other Steam Machine by iBuyPower made more sense to me since it was about the price of a console, and it seems like it would be aimed at people who are console gamers looking to easily get into PC gaming. I think there is a good market for something like that.
The other Steam Machine by iBuyPower made more sense to me since it was about the price of a console, and it seems like it would be aimed at people who are console gamers looking to easily get into PC gaming. I think there is a good market for something like that.
GameAddict411
Member
Loool, way to twist things. But i get your point.
Right, but this company didn't make this machine to further Valve's goals. They made this machine to sell to people to make profit. Valve's own aims are really irrelevant here.
Lots of people buy Alienware machines. This particular company is going after the same audience.
lemon__fresh
Member
What specs?
"Digital Storm computer will start at a comparatively pricy $1,469."
"Options include a GeForce GTX Titan graphics card"
Looks like the titan is an option...
Here's something similar:
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX47085
There are plenty of manufacturers already doing this, that's all I'm saying. Which is why I said they missed the point.
Felix Lighter
Member
There is a market for high end pre-built gaming machines. It's not massive but that is who this particular manufacturer serves. People who want the power, have the money and do not have a desire to build themselves.
Your friend hasn't done enough research to be making those claims. He may not be an idiot, but he sure isn't Einstein. There's a $500 box that has a GPU better than a 7870 at the same price of an XOne.
Gaf in general is the worst.
Netherscourge
Banned
The SteamBox is starting to sound like it's just a PC emulator with an Alienware pricetag.
Right now, the controller is the only interesting thing about it. And we don't even really know if it's good enough to replicate or replace the KB/M setup. Or even the Dual Shock 4 at this point, which, BTW, is PC compatible.
Right now, the controller is the only interesting thing about it. And we don't even really know if it's good enough to replicate or replace the KB/M setup. Or even the Dual Shock 4 at this point, which, BTW, is PC compatible.
Alienware sells PCs for $500?
There's no 'one' SteamBox. This is just one example of one, and one that is very high end.
There is also a $500 one announced from a different maker.
Piercedveil
Member
Absolutely. I think Alienware is solid proof that there is a market. But like you said, it's not very big.
I guess it is good to have a Steam Machine at various levels, including high-end, high-priced models. I'm just interested in how well this will do.
Yes and yes.
maverick40
Junior Member
Well this is going to flop harder than the wii u
And why would pc gamers in the market for a high end rig even be interested In this when they can build an amazing rig for 3/4 of the price?
And why would pc gamers in the market for a high end rig even be interested In this when they can build an amazing rig for 3/4 of the price?
SmokedMeat
Gamer™
At $500 I'm interested in a Steam Box. Stupid question, but I assume they can be upgraded as well?
Since Xbox is dead to me this would make for the perfect replacement to go with my Wii U and PS4.
30 minute air or no buy.
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