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[alexandros]

I.....can't understand why people think yearly refreshes=them expecting you to buy a new one every year. I'm so confused, you guys can't seriously think you have to buy the newest model every year. I didn't upgrade my ipad 2 until the air came out. I waited until I saw something on the market that was a worthy upgrade. Some people in here are blowing this yearly iteration thing into a way larger issue than it is. It's not even an issue. The Alienware is not for people that want to upgrade individual components frequently, it's for people that would rather get a new machine every few years. They already have a living room PC model that can be upgraded traditionally.

What, and decide for myself when it is the right time to upgrade? I'm sorry but that's not going to work, I need Sony and Microsoft to tell me when it is is time for a new generation while I complain that the current generation went on for too long.

In time, people will come to understand why choice in both software and hardware is a great thing and the console mindset will subside.

 

[Anion]

Arg, I knew the Alienware steambox was too good to be true after reading the articles on how it could be more powerful than the psone and similarly priced.

Oh, well. I supose I will wait for gen 2 for these

 

[GraveHorizon]

So they're gonna be like $100, right?

 

[clubstoic]

This is all silly without specs or price.

 

[waby]

Makes sense, since most people buying Alienware are doing so because they don't want to build/upgrade/fiddle with their own machine anyway. There's a reason so many people buy their overpriced machines. They know their target audience well.

On the plus side for people who do care about upgrading, their machines will probably be very sleek and slim. Design can also be a selling point no?

I Agree with this one. Normal people are hyped when they see an Alienware hardware because of its looks.

 

[DarkFlow]

So you seethe with rage every time you see a small form factor PC or a laptop?

How did you know? But really, you all keep saying this is a new "option". It's not, it's the same option you had before, but now with a valve sticker. So that somehow makes it better, or something.

 

[Beant]

I don't get any of this backlash. Of course they are going to make new ones every year. New graphics cards/processors/mobo/whatever come out every year to put in them.

I am assuming the reason they wont be up-gradable is because they will be smaller cases and hard to get to things, similar to a laptop. So technically up-gradable, but not feasible at all for the average person (even the average gaffer). If this isn't the case and there is some sort of artificial limitation then I will eat my crow and shame on them.

Also, I think most people who would want to upgrade their steam machine would just build their own computer anyways.

 

[Daingurse]

That's a nope, but really the Steam Machine isn't a product for me personally anyway. Already got a long HDMI cable for my PC.

 

[HariKari]

They're trying to come up with the Android/Apple model where they think you'll buy this console every year or two. Wrong.

... where does it say that? Why is everyone flipping a bitch over this when they've got no problem buying a single spec console that stays the same for 6-7 years?

 

[DarkFlow]

... where does it say that? Why is everyone flipping a bitch over this when they've got no problem buying a single spec console that stays the same for 6-7 years?

Because PS4/xbone games don't get more demanding for that 6-7 years. A launch day ps4 can play the last game ever made for that system just as well as last the system ever made.

 

[HariKari]

Because PS4/xbone games don't get more demanding for that 6-7 years. A launch day ps4 can play the last game ever made for that system just as well as last the system ever made.

The type of game that the PC wouldn't be able to handle three or four years from now wouldn't even be available on consoles. If it was, you could just turn down the settings to meet or exceed what the consoles are pushing. What is so complicated about that?

 

[Gintoki313]

That is a really weird decision. I know you can upgrade the Alienware x51, but you just need specific parts. Why would they just make the Steam Machiine unupgradeable?

Kinda off-topic, but I really wish Alienware would get a new power brick for the x51. If they sell a new powerbrick, I could probably upgrade my graphics card past a gtx 670.

 

[RiccochetJ]

Sounds like a phone/tablet.

Sure you can download the game/app, but you're sol if you want to actually try and play it if you're running a 2 year old device.

Seeing as I upgrade my phone/tablet every couple of years, I'm interested to see if this will work for a console/pc.

 

[PG2G]

That is a really weird decision. I know you can upgrade the Alienware x51, but you just need specific parts. Why would they just make the Steam Machiine unupgradeable?

They probably figured the market wanted something that was well designed and compact over something that was large and flexible.

Sounds like a phone/tablet.

Sure you can download the game/app, but you're sol if you want to actually try and play it if you're running a 2 year old device.

Seeing as I upgrade my phone/tablet every couple of years, I'm interested to see if this will work for a console/pc.

Maybe they will work on having pre-defined / recommended settings for some of the more common SteamMachines. They definitely do need to address performance issues somehow though if they plan on selling these things like a console

 

[Spinning Plates]

Kinda off-topic, but I really wish Alienware would get a new power brick for the x51. If they sell a new powerbrick, I could probably upgrade my graphics card past a gtx 670.

I think your stuck with 330w now that Steam machines seem to be their focus.

 

[Guevara]

So not only can I not play all of my existing, non-linux steam games, but I cant update the hardware. Awesome. Super good job guys.

It really is the worst of all worlds.

 

[BurnOutBrighter]

More and more this seems like a gadget fad that will never really catch on.

 

[DarkFlow]

More and more this seems like a gadget fad that will never really catch on.

B..b..but OPTIONS!
You're not the market they want.
This is for people who don't know PC's.
No one's forcing you to buy it.

Did I miss anything?

 

[TheD]

Sounds like a phone/tablet.

Sure you can download the game/app, but you're sol if you want to actually try and play it if you're running a 2 year old device.

Seeing as I upgrade my phone/tablet every couple of years, I'm interested to see if this will work for a console/pc.

Of course you are going to be able to play games on a two year old Steam Machine!
It is not going to be any different to how you can play modern PC games on 2 year old hardware now, bar maybe some games coming with preset settings for some systems.

For games to be unplayable after only two years, the system requirements for games would have to go through the roof in those two years or the system would have to be insanely under powered, to the point of barely playing games when it came out!

 

[Grampa Simpson]

This thread is a-mazing! All the drive-by shit posts are a-mazing.

On topic, I'm very excited for this, and the gigabyte brix, and whatever other sub-pc size pcs come out to support this (and yes, I know the BRIX was pre-existing, but 'eh). I have been wanting a new HTPC - mostly for XBMC, but I've been unwilling to buy one due to not being able to justify something that just plays movies for $700. This will be sub-mini, will play games (maybe not the blockbusters at 1080p so much, but at 720p and mid-range surely) and dollars to donuts, I can get BPM to launch XBMC and probably PHT as well.

That and the WAF of it too. I got married last year. I'm not allowed to hook my desktop up to my TV anymore.

 

[RiccochetJ]

Of course you are going to be able to play games on a two year old Steam Machine!
It is not going to be any different to how you can play modern PC games on 2 year old hardware now, bar maybe some games coming with preset settings for some systems.

For games to be unplayable after only two years, the system requirements for games would have to go through the roof in those two years or the system would have to be insanely under powered, to the point of barely playing games when it came out!

The tweaks I can make to PC games these days is the difference between 15 and 60 fps. Playable is subjective. I'm extremely forgivable, but Dennis.

 

[Lazyslob]

So.. lowest spec "console" at a really high price. Unable to upgrade and then do it all over again next year??!?! No thanks.

 

[Vice]

So.. lowest spec "console" at a really high price. Unable to upgrade and then do it all over again next year??!?! No thanks.

It's not too bad of a model. Phones, laptops and tablets get refreshes quite often. Users aren't forced to upgrade but they can if they want to. It's like how PC gamers don't need to buy a new graphics card every year just because they get released.

 

[Steel]

... Is this some weird attempt to copy the mobile market?

 

[supersaw]

They probably figured the market wanted something that was well designed and compact over something that was large and flexible.

Dell hasn't exactly had their finger on the pulse of the consumer for a long time.

Given that a decent pci-e GPU required for 1080p 60fps playback of current titles runs in the realm of $400 it will be interesting what they will be putting into these.

Even if they go for laptop components I'm guessing the price would have to be $300+ and behind the curve performance wise at launch compared to desktop gpu's.

At that point you're better off just getting a laptop with a decent gpu and hdmi that to your tv with an xbox or steam controller.

 

[CambriaRising]

The type of game that the PC wouldn't be able to handle three or four years from now wouldn't even be available on consoles. If it was, you could just turn down the settings to meet or exceed what the consoles are pushing. What is so complicated about that?

3-4 versus 6-7. And are you really saying that you could run a 360 game released in 2012 on a computer from 2005, even on the lowest settings? Come on dude, who are you trying to fool?

 

[Coreda]

Buying the same console Steam Machine every year?

*takemymoney.jpg*

And they'll take care of all the complicated, messy hardware parts. Good guy Alienware. What champs!

 

[AJLma]

This would make sense if there were some kind of upgrade plan.

It will make more sense 2-3 years from now regardless. PC hardware has major updates about once a year, so it seems appropriate to me.

 

[Exuro]

This would make sense if there were some kind of upgrade plan.

It will make more sense 2-3 years from now regardless. PC hardware has major updates about once a year, so it seems appropriate to me.

This would be cool. Trade in the old version for a new one for only x amount more.

 

[csquared587]

So.. lowest spec "console" at a really high price. Unable to upgrade and then do it all over again next year??!?! No thanks.

Nothing like a good Steam machine or oculus rift thread to make my brain feel like it's going to leak out of my head. How many people are going to come in here and claim they would be obligated to buy one the year after their first?

 

[Lazyslob]

[/b]


Nothing like a good Steam machine or oculus rift thread to make my brain feel like it's going to leak out of my head. How many people are going to come in here and claim they would be obligated to buy one the year after their first?

What I'm saying is this doesn't sound like a good deal, especially if I cant upgrade it. I was saving for and wanted to build a gaming pc this year, but was also looking at other options such as these as well. I think I'm the type of person who they are targeting. Someone who doesn't know much about building a pc and they aren't exactly making it look good.

 

[Exuro]

What I'm saying is this doesn't sound like a good deal, especially if I cant upgrade it. I was saving for and wanted to build a gaming pc this year, but was also looking at other options such as these as well. I think I'm the type of person who they are targeting. Someone who doesn't know much about building a pc and they aren't exactly making it look good.

What exactly were you expecting from a device that small though? At most I could had seen is upgradable laptop hdd and memory just due to their sizes/availability.

 

[HariKari]

3-4 versus 6-7. And are you really saying that you could run a 360 game released in 2012 on a computer from 2005, even on the lowest settings? Come on dude, who are you trying to fool?

Yeah, except that part where PCs have overtaken consoles because their set-in-stone nature hampers them. This time, the consoles are launching at a power level that isn't remotely close to high end computers. XB1 is struggling to throw out Battlefield at a decent res and decent framerate with super aggressive LoD for fucks sake. It's never been easier or cheaper to build a PC that approximates console performance.

[/b]


Nothing like a good Steam machine or oculus rift thread to make my brain feel like it's going to leak out of my head. How many people are going to come in here and claim they would be obligated to buy one the year after their first?

What is it with these steam machine threads? They seem to attract an inordinate amount of haters.

 

[Lazyslob]

What exactly were you expecting from a device that small though? At most I could had seen is upgradable laptop hdd and memory just due to their sizes/availability.

Guess I shouldn't have expected anything. But the other alternatives seem more like regular pc's. This thing? I really have no idea.

 

[supersaw]

3-4 versus 6-7. And are you really saying that you could run a 360 game released in 2012 on a computer from 2005, even on the lowest settings? Come on dude, who are you trying to fool?

Your point is valid but I think it's important to note that PC ports / games don't get optimized for hardware from some arbitary timeframe but rather for current most popular hardware based on surveys etc.

It would be technically possible to optimise a current game for 2006 pc hardware, it's not like consoles get magically more powerful several years into the cycle; the specs are laid out from day 1 its all about optimisations in software from then on.

 

[KingSnake]

It's not, it's the same option you had before, but now with a valve sticker. So that somehow makes it better, or something.

So.. lowest spec "console" at a really high price.

How do you know what it is? Do you have a crystal globe or something and you already know the price and configuration?

 

[Lazyslob]

How do you know what it is? Do you have a crystal globe or something and you already know the price and configuration?

No, and im not expecting them to give me a 'bank for my buck' either.

 

[JLS213]

What is it with these steam machine threads? They seem to attract an inordinate amount of haters.

why can't people have their doubts? for as many steam machine haters there are twice as many white knights. i'll save my opinion for when all of these steam machines launch.

 

[ravenlord]

dead before born then....

 

[Bananajama]

When they first started talking steam machine and making it easy and accessible to console only owners.

I really was expecting something like this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24490331

Take a select few components each year and case them for easy plug and play upgrades.

What we're getting is something we might aswell just build ourself (or buy for those that don't want to)

 

[spoonablehippo]

Makes sense, since most people buying Alienware are doing so because they don't want to build/upgrade/fiddle with their own machine anyway. There's a reason so many people buy their overpriced machines. They know their target audience well.

On the plus side for people who do care about upgrading, their machines will probably be very sleek and slim. Design can also be a selling point no?

This ^

Id actually like a yearly release steambox, that's small and looks like a console, as long as it was sensibly priced! Maybe £249?
I wouldn't upgrade every year, maybe every other year perhaps?
Most of us are happy to do that with mobile phones anyway!

But I have a feeling it will be more expensive then that.

 

[Nealand Liquor]

Has a single manufacturer managed to actually fully grasp the concept of what a Steam Machine is supposed to be yet?

 

[angular graphics]

Has a single manufacturer managed to actually fully grasp the concept of what a Steam Machine is supposed to be yet?

Yes, Alienware.

 

[mechphree]

So basically, buy a PC every year like a new phone. The price better be extremely low to justify that annual cost if you want to upgrade.

 

[KingSnake]

So basically, buy a PC every year like a new phone. The price better be extremely low to justify that annual cost if you want to upgrade.

Why do you have to upgrade annually? Doesn't even make sense from the speed of technology development.

 

[angular graphics]

So basically, buy a PC every year like a new phone. The price better be extremely low to justify that annual cost if you want to upgrade.

No. Laptop manufacturers probably (I don't really know, I'm guessing) release new models every year but people don't buy a new one every year. Why do you think Alienware would expect that people will keep buying new a new one every year...

 

[wildfire]

Yeah, how dare I question a option thats about having none! All hail the valve overlords, gabe knows all!

So what pc option exists that allows you to have a machine in a form factor that small?

Keep on embarrassing yourself with your close mindedness.

How did you know? But really, you all keep saying this is a new "option". It's not, it's the same option you had before, but now with a valve sticker. So that somehow makes it better, or something.

So you know the specs and price? Please continue.

This thread is a-mazing! All the drive-by shit posts are a-mazing.

On topic, I'm very excited for this, and the gigabyte brix, and whatever other sub-pc size pcs come out to support this (and yes, I know the BRIX was pre-existing, but 'eh). I have been wanting a new HTPC - mostly for XBMC, but I've been unwilling to buy one due to not being able to justify something that just plays movies for $700. This will be sub-mini, will play games (maybe not the blockbusters at 1080p so much, but at 720p and mid-range surely) and dollars to donuts, I can get BPM to launch XBMC and probably PHT as well.

That and the WAF of it too. I got married last year. I'm not allowed to hook my desktop up to my TV anymore.

I was going to say get an Ouya but then I realized that isn't x86. There hasn't been a SFF x86 pc made until this year?

 

[Tacitus_]

What I'm saying is this doesn't sound like a good deal, especially if I cant upgrade it. I was saving for and wanted to build a gaming pc this year, but was also looking at other options such as these as well. I think I'm the type of person who they are targeting. Someone who doesn't know much about building a pc and they aren't exactly making it look good.

Look up a local PC shop (chains could also work, but I'd trust local shops more) and ask them to give you a build list. Then you can take a marker and write STEAMBOX on the side and ta-da.

 

[wildfire]

Dell hasn't exactly had their finger on the pulse of the consumer for a long time.

Given that a decent pci-e GPU required for 1080p 60fps playback of current titles runs in the realm of $400 it will be interesting what they will be putting into these.

Even if they go for laptop components I'm guessing the price would have to be $300+ and behind the curve performance wise at launch compared to desktop gpu's.

At that point you're better off just getting a laptop with a decent gpu and hdmi that to your tv with an xbox or steam controller.

The bare minimum for a decent gaming laptop is $800 and the good ones are 1400+.

This thing being less than $400 (I don't believe that will happen but you said $300+) and quieter while getting stressed by a game would be worthwhile.

What I'm saying is this doesn't sound like a good deal, especially if I cant upgrade it. I was saving for and wanted to build a gaming pc this year, but was also looking at other options such as these as well. I think I'm the type of person who they are targeting. Someone who doesn't know much about building a pc and they aren't exactly making it look good.

To put things in perspective.

I thought for sure I would be able to fit this

into this

Damnit.

You need to realize that physics makes your request impossible. If you want something upgradeable and compact get an X51 and read the GAF thread on how to take it apart since the small space can be a challenge for newbies.

 

[mrklaw]

So basically, buy a PC every year like a new phone. The price better be extremely low to justify that annual cost if you want to upgrade.

do you buy a GPU every year? Or do you wait 2-3 years until the performance justifies the cost? This would be basically the same.

This is basic, basic information that shouldn't be difficult to digest and understand. I'm especially worried about quite how many people have the capacity to put together a complex piece of equipment like a custom gaming PC, yet can't comprehend that you aren't being forced to buy a new steam box every year.