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

kotaku.com

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

#5

Post by megaman821 »

I don't understand this sentiment. If you don't like Metro, launch the desktop and forget it even exists. For rarely launched apps, hit the Win key and start typing the name and for frequently used apps, pin to your taskbar. Steam still works exactly the same on Windows 8.

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

#6

Post by huggyface »

lazugod wrote: post #2

It's a catastrophe for Valve if third party markets like Steam don't fit seamlessly into the future of Windows.

And it's a catastrophe for users if third party markets like Steam don't fit seamlessly into the future of Windows.

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

#7

Post by summerdown2 »

megaman821 wrote: post #5

I don't understand this sentiment. If you don't like Metro, launch the desktop and forget it even exists. For rarely launched apps, hit the Win key and start typing the name and for frequently used apps, pin to your taskbar. Steam still works exactly the same on Windows 8.

Am I the only one who likes having a gorgeous desktop wallpaper, with icons arranged in clusters according to usability? Or to have overlapping windows?

Everything I've heard about Metro suggests limited customisation of the desktop and apps that insist on being full-screen or some guaranteed fraction. All of this feels like evolution in reverse to me.

I've never used Windows 8, but the stories coming out make me never want to.

http://kotaku.com/5929067/gabe-newell-wants-to-support-linux...

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

#8

Post by huggyface »

megaman821 wrote: post #5

I don't understand this sentiment. If you don't like Metro, launch the desktop and forget it even exists. For rarely launched apps, hit the Win key and start typing the name and for frequently used apps, pin to your taskbar. Steam still works exactly the same on Windows 8.

I'm not sure of his reasoning, but he is not saying that Windows 8 is a catastrophe for users directly.

I think Windows 8 is a catastrophe for everyone in the PC space. I think we'll lose some of the top-tier PC/OEMs, who will exit the market. I think margins will be destroyed for a bunch of people.

Sounds more like all it is a problem for all of the many players in the Windows space. Now of course Microsoft can do what they want with their ball (subject to DOJ purview), but so can everyone else, including companies like Valve who have been a major influence in keeping the PC relevant for an entire market.

If Steam and 2,500 games were available on Linux, that would make a huge case for that platform in the home.

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

#9

Post by Donito »

The title should be: "Gabe Newell Wants to Support Linux, Because Windows 8 is a 'Catastrophe' [for steam]".

Steam is, from a user perspective, a video game marketplace on PC. In Win8, they will have to compete with the built-in windows marketplace, where most games will published directly. In other words, Win8 is a catastrophe for them as it's endangering their business.

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

#10

Post by nas »

My gut feeling is they have more compelling reasons to port Steam to Linux. Look at the growth in the number of relatively powerful personal computing devices (smartphones, tablets, etc) that don't run Windows. It's also been suggested that Valve is looking at developing their own game console. It is reasonable to spend some effort making their system less tied to the Windows API.
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