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Steam Machine launches today

store.steampowered.com

631–640 of 1001 posts

Re: Steam Machine launches today

#631
post #521

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is nice But this is not nice: > This item is not available for purchase in your region

I moved to New Zealand recently from the US and am now seeing that everywhere. A lot of the time some local ecommerce platform imports the Australian version of most electronics with a markup, but we don't have official retailers for a lot of products, most notably Pixel phones. Also no Apple stores, though there are official retailers for Apple products.

What's sad and ironic is that GabeN actually lived here for a few years (during COVID) and has even gotten a PR... you'd think he'd show some love for us hobbitses.

Re: Steam Machine launches today

#632

This is Framework level pricing. Provides some of the worst value for money on the market ($1,049 with no controller, additional $70 for controller): worse than the PS5 ($599), Xbox Series X ($599), Switch 2 ($449), and DIY PCs.

Good luck playing PC games on PS5 or Xbox Series X.

Re: Steam Machine launches today

#633

I am pleased to see hardware not being locked down as a selling point: > Yes, Steam Machine is optimized for gaming, but it's still your PC. Install your own apps, or even another operating system. Who are we to tell you how to use your computer? It feels very commonsense that you should be able to run whatever you want on the computer that you have purchased, but it is surprisingly uncommon.

Valve gets it. I very much want to support them and vote with my wallet. Unfortunately the Steam machine isn't a good fit for me. I will buy the frame in a heartbeat though. HMD with a FOSS OS? That's in its own class.

Color AR is a thing Frame doesn't support so sadly it's behind the times and I can't go back

Re: Steam Machine launches today

#634

back in 2019, I was thinking of getting an MBA and as part of the exploration, shadowed an MBA class at University of Washington for a day. It was so fun. One of the things they were discussing in the class that day was a case study of Valve, specifically around the Steam Machine. The team's consensus was that Valve was carefully arranging money in a barrel, lovingly soaking it in high octane gasoline, and was about…

this Steam Machine hadn’t been announced back then? Not even the steam deck, which has been a massive success.

Of course it was, they are talking about the 2012~2015 (not sure about the exact date) steam machine that was released and failed. It took a long time for enough pieces to fall into place that would lead to the success of the steam deck and now the, too soon to call a success, launch of the new steam machine (2026).

Re: Steam Machine launches today

#635
post #521

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is nice But this is not nice: > This item is not available for purchase in your region

I moved to New Zealand recently from the US and am now seeing that everywhere. A lot of the time some local ecommerce platform imports the Australian version of most electronics with a markup, but we don't have official retailers for a lot of products, most notably Pixel phones. Also no Apple stores, though there are official retailers for Apple products.

I'm across the ditch in Oz, and every time I am in NZ it is always peculiar just how forgotten they are in some spaces.

I live in Melbourne, and our population is larger than that of all NZ so I get why they kind of get forgotten, but it still sucks.

Re: Steam Machine launches today

#636
post #608

So SteamOS is just arch linux? I guess there are important differences?

Yup it is Arch Linux, that basically boots into Steam client with Big Picture mode. And if you switch to desktop mode you get a standard Linux with KDE Plasma desktop environment.

Re: Steam Machine launches today

#637

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Valve gets it. I very much want to support them and vote with my wallet. Unfortunately the Steam machine isn't a good fit for me. I will buy the frame in a heartbeat though. HMD with a FOSS OS? That's in its own class.

Color AR is a thing Frame doesn't support so sadly it's behind the times and I can't go back

genuinely what do you use AR for? I see alot of people saying this same thing. I don't have any VR/AR experience as the frame will be my first VR headset

Re: Steam Machine launches today

#638

I am pleased to see hardware not being locked down as a selling point: > Yes, Steam Machine is optimized for gaming, but it's still your PC. Install your own apps, or even another operating system. Who are we to tell you how to use your computer? It feels very commonsense that you should be able to run whatever you want on the computer that you have purchased, but it is surprisingly uncommon.

That is why the frame will be the most interesting to the people on HN. A VR PC you can do whatever u want with.

Except without color AR it will not as many of the interesting things HNers want to do require it.

Re: Steam Machine launches today

#639
I really appreciate Gabe's approach of treat the user as THE USER not the thing we are trying to use.

Very tired of every interaction with every tech company and subscription service making me feel used rather than served.

Re: Steam Machine launches today

#640

> Why a randomized reservation order? [...] we wanted to create a system that would be less frustrating and more fair for everyone. A launch that starts at a specific day and time tends to reward bots, people with fast internet connections, talented gaming fingers for quick F5/refresh reactions, and those who can schedule their life around that moment. By accepting reservation signups over the course of a few days, w…

I don't get why companies don't take advantage of the demand. For example: Start the bidding at BASE_PRICE (BP) + 2400. Then reduce the price by $1 every 3mins over the course of 5 days. Until the BP is met and then just carry on queuing. You could buy it early if you want it that much or just wait an extra couple of days and end up in the queue at the BP. I don't know if it would create pressure on that second it ti…

The funny thing is, someone paying $3,400 for a Steam Machine would be an idiot.

Internally, it's equivalent to a mid-grade PC from 2018. You're not playing AAA games in 4K on this thing.

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