Gabe Newell Wants to Support Linux, Because Windows 8 is a 'Catastrophe'

Post by zanny » Thu, Jul 26, 2012, 3:30 AM UTC

notatoad wrote: post #107

fpp wrote: post #77

After the Vista Candy shop its toy blocks now... - haven't looked under the hood of W8 yet but if MS wants to limit me what I can install on my computer / take over boot / BIOS control this one will certainly find no home on any of my computers. Call me old fashioned but if I go to a shop and buy a computer (or have it send to my place) I actually want to own it and not find a clause on line 432'678 of the license ag…

None of those things are true. Microsoft will not limit what you can install, take over your bios, or control your boot. In fact, windows 8 is the first windows to play nice with Linux boot loaders. Windows RT (aka tablets) is the only space where bootloaders will be locked. Don't get me wrong, locking it down anywhere is a shitty thing to do, but spreading misinformation is also a shitty thing to do.

Post by cookiecaper » Thu, Jul 26, 2012, 3:35 AM UTC

Xuzz wrote: post #117

james4k wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Steam's cut is 30%. However, for that 30% you get to update your game whenever you want, and virtually as often as you want. By that I mean they don't impose any direct limits on how often you update, but the general rule is no more than once a week aside from hotfixes and the like. I'm not aware of any digital marketplace that gives you this much control, especially as video game updates will often be hundreds of me…

Apple's app stores, on both iOS and Mac, both host games and allow unlimited free updates to them.

Post by cookiecaper » Thu, Jul 26, 2012, 3:40 AM UTC

cooldeal wrote: post #27

bcbrown wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A business catastrophe, not a usability or market catastrophe. "I think margins will be destroyed for a bunch of people."

You're right, and I also wouldn't trust anything he says about Windows 8 since he has a vested interest in keeping easy distribution restricted to Steam. He will face no such competition on Linux.

Post by yuhong » Thu, Jul 26, 2012, 3:48 AM UTC

zanny wrote: post #121

notatoad wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

None of those things are true. Microsoft will not limit what you can install, take over your bios, or control your boot. In fact, windows 8 is the first windows to play nice with Linux boot loaders. Windows RT (aka tablets) is the only space where bootloaders will be locked. Don't get me wrong, locking it down anywhere is a shitty thing to do, but spreading misinformation is also a shitty thing to do.

Secure Boot and signed kernels called. Microsoft is pushing OEMs to sell laptops in the next several years with forced secure boot for x86 platforms.

Post by james4k » Thu, Jul 26, 2012, 4:05 AM UTC

cookiecaper wrote: post #123

Xuzz wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple's app stores, on both iOS and Mac, both host games and allow unlimited free updates to them.

But there's still a major chokepoint: Apple's review process. Does Steam have a similar review/approval loop? I would guess not, since they don't allow just anyone to start selling on Steam like the "mainstream" app stores do.