Valve’s reference Steam Machine’s core idea is fantastic; it’s essentially a console that comes with the benefits of a PC; A dedicated gaming operating system, low level access to hardware, a small form factor, plus open systems,mods and the ability to upgrade the machine as you see fit. Only Alienware seems to have not gotten the memo. They’ve confirmed that their Steam Machines are not upgradeable. and it gets worse.
Alienware confirmed not only are their Steam Machines not user moddable, they’ll also be refreshed annually – much like cell phones and tablets. Speaking to Trusted Review, Alienware general manager Frank Azor explained that the Steam Machines from the company are going to be fixed.
“Lifecycle-wise, consoles update every five, six, seven years, we will be updating our Steam Machines every year,” Azor said. “The platform will continue to evolve as the games become more resource intensive.”
“There will be some configuration options when you purchase it,” he continued, “maybe you can get a faster CPU, maybe some more memory something like that.” But, when it comes to getting new parts into the machine, “there will be no customisation options, you can’t really update it.”
Those who do want to tinker, he says, are better off with standard PCs.
“If you actually want to customise your Alienware Steam Machine, maybe change your graphics card out or put in a new CPU, you would be better off with the standard Alienware X51,” he said. You could, of course, also buy a machine from a different vendor, or assemble one yourself.
I really feel that Alienware has missed the point entirely. Not only are Alienware’s Steam Machines some of the most expensive ones, they’re also the least durable. I also think that they’re targeting the wrong market; people who want a console experience will just get consoles. The people who’re really interested in steam Machines are capable of building their own.
If I was a Luddite, and offered the choice of a $400 or $500 console that would last me 6 years, or a $500 Steambox that would be replaced with a newer model in a year, I know exactly which one I’d go for.
Last Updated: January 22, 2014
Kensei Seraph Moe Ninja
January 22, 2014 at 07:51
I like that “different vendor” idea.
frikkenator
January 22, 2014 at 08:07
I think the idea was to create a platform on which vendors can build however they see fit, and I reckon there is also a massive market for users who do not want to mod or upgrade themselves, so it’s a great idea in my mind.
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:11
Agreed. They’re making these for the market after all.
Gerhard Davids
January 22, 2014 at 10:02
Agreed, they clearly state that. They aren’t missing the point they are making a business decision.
Just like buying a laptop will limit your upgrade options. It’s not missing the point of modular computing, it’s just another flavor of the same thing.
Robert Hart
January 22, 2014 at 08:07
I think Lazygamer have the incorrect memo of what a Steam Machine is 😛 Steam Machines are not meant to be modifiable or upgradable. A steam machine is for the type of person who does not want to upgrade their hardware, and would buy a console simply for that reason. Its a console that can play Steam games.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
January 22, 2014 at 08:10
From Valve’s reference material:
http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamMachines/
“We have designed a high-performance prototype that’s optimized for gaming, for the living room, and for Steam. Of course, it’s also completely upgradable and open.”
Valve’s own prototype/reference machine is built to be upgradeable.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 08:19
“build a robot”
SOLD
George
January 22, 2014 at 09:05
BURN!
Robert Hart
January 22, 2014 at 09:05
Yes that is Steams developer kit. It has nothing to do with Alienware.
Robert Hart
January 22, 2014 at 09:07
I dont see what the Steam prototype has to do with the Alienware Steam Machine. They are clearly ONLY referring to the Steam prototypes that they sent out to the 200 lucky people who got them.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
January 22, 2014 at 09:11
The point is that the Steam Machine is intended to be user upgradeable. As of right now, from the dozen or so manufacturers, Alienware is the only one that isn;t open and upradeable. More may come – but i don;t think the steam Machine is targeted solely at people who want a console experience. For those people, consoles already exist.
Robert Hart
January 22, 2014 at 20:10
I don’t agree with both of your points. I don’t think it’s fair to say that the popular approach should be the only approach allowed. Often when you ask a console gamer why they play console instead of pc, the reason is because they don’t want to upgrade their device.
The presumption that if you want a console you must then get a ps or xb is very flawed as you can’t play steam games on those consoles.
The only thing that steam consoles are required to do is play steam games in the lounge using a controller. Anything else is left up to the manufacturers imagination and is entirely up to them to decide on. There is no rules which restrict how to deal with the different target markets and valve have no say in the matter because beyond the software, they are not involved.
Personally id like one which is not powerful and is as small as possible because as I already have a strong pc, I’d only really play platformers and indi games in front of my pc.
With love.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
January 23, 2014 at 06:57
Good. Points. I can accept that.
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 08:10
Why is this suprising?? Alienware is the Ferrari of the Pc gaming market… You pay for their logo and of course they wouldn’t want you to change the parts as their parts are “special”..
Weanerdog
January 22, 2014 at 10:35
You can upgrade the X51
Dazz71
January 22, 2014 at 12:03
The Ferrari of the pc world? Not in my world it isn’t. A Ferrari is an overpriced car that can actually go faster than most other cars. Alienware is overpriced fluff, for idiots who pay for the name who then get ridiculed on most gaming forums. Go to a gaming forum and say you’ve got an alienware and see. My pc is far faster than 95‰ of alienware yet costs so much less. I can’t buy parts and make a Ferrari. As long as there are people stupid enough to pay alienware there will be people dodgy enough to sell dog crap sandwiches as steak
Robert Hart
January 22, 2014 at 20:13
I’ve built all of my pc in the past and have also played with some alienware pcs. They are very nice rigs and the build quality is stunning. If you don’t want to build your own pc or if you want the warranty and support then alienware offers a very nice solution for you.
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 22, 2014 at 08:11
Honestly…Truthfully…For realz….I don’t know what’s the point of a Steam Machine….
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 08:11
Cmon preach it UMAR!!
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 22, 2014 at 08:12
Lol No seriously…..I honestly don’t understand the Steam Machine
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 08:13
Neither do I man… Why not just build pcs and get the steam Os and use that then…Simple.
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 22, 2014 at 08:14
Exactly. I mean PC gamers pride themselves on building their own rig…So…Why this?…
HvR
January 22, 2014 at 08:25
Price, say if Valve goes ahead with a Steam machine for the main stream market they would be able to have the same buying power as MS and Sony. This way they would be able to price a mid range gaming PC in the range of Xbox360 or PS3 cost now.
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 22, 2014 at 08:27
But would that actually work?What PC gamer would be satisfied with that? And Console gamers are already aligned with Xbox, Nintendo and Sony
HvR
January 22, 2014 at 08:35
It opens up a new market segment, there is a lot of games only available/playable on PC (and vice versa). Doing this reduces the biggest barrier to entry for a console gamer wanting to play PC games.
I for one would be interested (depending on the price, performance etc.), saving 50% on gaming rig is always a win.
I do not have to time to game as much as I used to so justifying the expense of a high gaming PC is hard. I’m basically limited to spending a few bucks extra on my work PC but then if I’m busy running some work related autonomous processes at night (which consumes all the juice of the i7) I can not game on it and switch over to m PS3 in the living room.
But it is a sit and wait game, I will definitely not be an early/first adopter.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 08:36
Well there are a LOT more games on PC, plus they’re cheaper. But if you’re only interested in playing mostly AAAs you’re probably better off with a console really.
I think they’re missing a trick by showing all these new primary gaming machines instead of the streaming stuff they were talking about when they announced the SteamOS. That’s far more interesting than a new PC.
Weanerdog
January 22, 2014 at 10:41
So it is accessible to the non PC gamer types who will use it as a console only.
Robert Hart
January 22, 2014 at 20:14
It’s not for pc gamers. It’s for console gamers who want to play pc games.
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 08:11
Better off building your own Steam Machines people…
Anon A Mouse
January 22, 2014 at 08:11
I still don’t get the Steam Machine. Is it a PC trying to be a console or a console trying to be a PC? This mid of the spectrum grey area isn’t really interesting to me tbh.
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:13
I feel the same way. As a pc gamer I find it interesting, but as a pc gamer I like to build my own rig. Maybe there are some people who switched from pc to console and this falls right in their spectrum.
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 08:14
One shouldn’t be a pc gamer if you don’t know about the parts.. just my view on it. Should know how things work and preferably know how to build your own rig.
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:17
Steam is a great system though, and there’s no way that Xbox or PS would adopt it, so they built their own console. I don’t think the Steam Machine is unnecessary, it has great appeal, I just won’t buy it myself.
Weanerdog
January 22, 2014 at 10:54
I see the potential of the OS. As you can put a relatively cheap rig together and then use it to stream your games to your television, but also as a media center, PVR etc. As to the steam machine it will only make sense if they are actively developed for and you could get all the AAA titles on Linux.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 08:30
When they first announced it I figured it would be something like standardised PCs that compete with consoles. Now they’re just pre-built PCs with an untested OS. Pass.
Unavengedavo
January 22, 2014 at 09:30
“Now they’re just pre-built PCs with an untested OS”… but isn’t the the same as the Xbox One? 😛
No Longer SIR Twakkus
January 22, 2014 at 08:31
Hey, the IPad/Tablet computers are right in the middle of the mid spectrum grey and it flourishes there. I am sure the Steam Machine will find its market or like in the case of the IPad, creates it own.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 08:13
Frankly my dear, I don’t give a tiny little rats ass about the steam “machine”, I am however VERY interested in the experimentation with the new controller and even more interested in the actual OS.
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:14
I don’t think I’ll be getting the Steam controller. Though it does intrigue me. For what I use a controller for I don’t think it’s going to be worth it.
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 08:18
finally seeing the light..
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:19
Getting an Xbox controller. Just love how those things play.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 08:20
say what now?
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:21
For racing and arcade games dude. Don’t worry. My kb and mouse can never be replaced.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 08:22
Just trolling you meneer 😉
Yeah, platformers and racing games I also jam on my logitech rumblepad2
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 08:22
To play pc games with it… You have to admit works nicely.
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 08:21
They feel great! I have never had sore hands or thumbs from using one.. I cant say the same about Ps3 or 4 controller as haven’t had much time with them..
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:21
I’ve had some time in the past on my PS3 and, in my personal opinion, they’re uncomfy as hell.
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 08:23
Then again you may have giant hands… but they do feel a tad odd here and there..
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:24
I do have giant hands. But my girlfriend has the hands of a hobbit and she also prefers the xbox controller.
iAmWeasel
January 22, 2014 at 08:37
PS3 controller < Xbox 360 controller < PS4 controller.
X1 controller? Heck only knows.
That is my order of preference.
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:39
Have only touched a PS4 controller. So still a virgin on that one and can’t really say whether I like it more yet.
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 08:40
It feels good!
iAmWeasel
January 22, 2014 at 08:43
The way it conforms to my hands is awesome. Xbox 360 controller feels a little small compared, and I used to get a slight cramp on the side of my hands from it. Also the analogues on PS4 are a little tighter which makes it feel more precise. Pretty much prefer all the buttons as well.. especially d-pad.
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:45
Honestly, being a pc gamer I don’t use my controller as often, but I like the positioning of the Xbox analog sticks. Though those long grips on the PS4 controller are flippin comfy.
iAmWeasel
January 22, 2014 at 08:49
I used to be 100% on board with you about the layout of the sticks, and then I tried the PS4 controller and now strangely enough the symmetrical layout feels better to me. Honestly never thought I would say that one day.
Mossel: A Tale of One Mollusk
January 22, 2014 at 09:05
Got myself a XBox controller over the weekend! I am thoroughly enjoying laying back and jamming some brutal legend with it! I am actually quite amped to install DmC again just to test it out on that!
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 09:40
Haha. No way dude
I played Brutal legend all wekend with my old xbox controller. Loving it.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 08:20
Like I said, I’d like to experiment with it, NOT cast away years and years of experience on the best input methods
😛
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 08:21
Speaking of Steam… the Hitman collection’s on special for $8.99
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 08:22
not bad!
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:22
I saw. And the new humble bundle is all audio books. So that twitch of mine is returning.
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 08:23
I saw and bought 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 08:46
I saw that too, pity there’s nothing there that I’m really keen on.
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 09:01
Or don’t have?
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 09:03
lol. In this case no, I don’t have any of those. It’s a strange feeling now that you mention it.
Mossel: A Tale of One Mollusk
January 22, 2014 at 09:07
Audio books? O_O
Seeing that I spend 2 hours in traffic per day that could be awesome!
EDIT: Meh, was hoping there were some business books or biographies.
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 09:41
Haha. That could actually be quite cool. My drive is 10 min. So I have time for three songs usually.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 08:23
BUYBUYBUY, does it include Absolution?
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 08:23
yes, yes it does.
Absolution being downloaded already lol
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 08:23
See if you can beat my scores!
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 08:24
LOL! I doubt it.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 08:24
Hehe, you never know, you might be a natural ASSassin
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 08:25
HAHAHA! It’s too early for a smart come back to that.
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:26
He’s the natural assASSin.
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 08:35
You walk over to the dark side more and more each day… Steam is taking over you..
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 08:37
Lol! I’m mostly just playing World of Warcraft at the moment anyway… got a few games to play on Steam soon… but I still play GTAV on weekends.
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 08:39
Wow shame on you! I wanna play so bad!
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 08:41
make a plan then dude 😛
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 08:42
making a plan to get uncapped this year!
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 08:44
Awesome!!!! Like I said before, check if Telskum has any good deals on 1mbps and you’ll get 2mbps… and try make sure you get installation included… you can change ISP’s once the contract period is over. I’m pretty happy with my 2mbps line.
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 08:51
The only thing I have yet to find out is, I get it gotta get phone line installed, will do that when move out flat. Thats not too bad R550, but what about making converting to adsl line, cant find out that cost.. or does mweb do that for you when you sign on.. Then besides that the rest aint bad at all. I mean R199 for 2 mb line plus pay for line rental through them is like R339 not too bad at all..
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
January 22, 2014 at 08:52
dude, i went with afrihost.
copper line installed, phoned them, and they did the conversion etc everything
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 08:53
for how much?
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
January 22, 2014 at 08:57
I’m on a 10Meg Uncapped, 900 (line rental and Data)
http://www.afrihost.com/site/product/uncapped_adsl_bundles?src=website_nav
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 09:01
Yeah it isn’t bad, but if you get the installation done for ADSL you shouldn’t have to do the conversion as they put you into a DSL port on the exchange.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 08:37
I think you are just nasty because you are super jelly of us
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 08:37
probably am!
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 08:42
Oh and PS2 finished downloading… just have to find time in my WoW schedule to get onto it 😛
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 08:43
Cool, let me know once ready
RinceThis2014
January 22, 2014 at 08:43
Awesome. I’ll make a challenge for you when you finish the game 🙂
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 08:44
Which will be..
RinceThis2014
January 22, 2014 at 08:46
Eh? You create your own level, much like you can create maps. So there are loads of variables.
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 08:52
He is getting it for pc you know that right?
RinceThis2014
January 22, 2014 at 08:53
Ah. Well same game 😛 He can make his own if he doesn’t want to roll with SOMA!
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 22, 2014 at 09:38
LOL! I was mugging people on GTA Online while you were getting mugged in real life… if that’s not rolling with SOMA, then nothing is!
RinceThis2014
January 22, 2014 at 09:42
Good man 🙂
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:31
I haven’t played Hitman Ablution yet. Can’t be crap though, can it?
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 08:31
Ablution???????
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:38
Yes. Hence the crap reference. 🙂
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 08:38
Its actually the best in the series for me.
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:41
Will give it a try. Haven’t played a Hitman in forever tbh,
RinceThis2014
January 22, 2014 at 08:44
Only on cup of coffee number one, too early for this!
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 08:51
Isn’t it always too early for you?
RinceThis2014
January 22, 2014 at 08:57
Only according to your mom! And too early to be mean man, shesh. There have to be rules man, RULES!
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:58
F@ck the system.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 09:02
You’re right, I apologise. I’ll wait until you’ve had another cup of coffee before commenting on your inability to satisfy women, including my mom. And to think all I want is for her to be happy. ;P
RinceThis2014
January 22, 2014 at 09:09
Implying I have an ‘inability to satisfy’ women would mean that I give a hoot about their satisfaction, your mom included #foreverSP!
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 09:17
Still haven’t had cup no.2 hey?
RinceThis2014
January 22, 2014 at 09:23
Nope. Also realizing that the work emails I am typing are fucked. Think I am still a bit messed up from last Friday. Scary to type something and reread it to see how many mistakes you have made in a simple sentence.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 09:27
Shouldn’t you still be off?
RinceThis2014
January 22, 2014 at 09:35
Too much work to do. Got in to the office and have 250 emails already, from 2 days off.
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
January 22, 2014 at 08:31
that’s what they said of Duke Nukem Forever
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:32
Only in Duke Nukem Forever you actually played with crap. Literally.
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
January 22, 2014 at 08:33
ha ha yeah, BTW… so much of lag last night…. but fun 🙂
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:34
Yea. Near the end the lag was getting quite bad, but it was awesome none the less.
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
January 22, 2014 at 08:34
Saw Zoe hit 1k at a stage
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:36
Poor Zoe in that last round. All the zombies kept gunning for her.
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 08:37
They can smell fear!
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:38
We were trying to pick them off one by one and she ended up being the first one on the list.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 08:39
We made a good team last night in that versus mode!
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:41
We really did. And the Emperor’s smell wasn’t even that off putting, playing so close to him all the time. 🙂
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 08:51
I like to believe that my strong masculine scent inspires those around me to new heights.
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
January 22, 2014 at 08:42
Yip, you kicked us solidly in the behind… need to see how we can get the ping down
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 08:44
Aye, I’m looking into a dedicated server solution
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:46
That will help a lot.
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 08:34
Its a great game, a bit hard here and there but good.
Kensei Seraph Moe Ninja
January 22, 2014 at 08:40
Ablution – an act of washing oneself.
Is it a Hitman game where you have to clean the blood off yourself after a kill?
TiMsTeR1033
January 22, 2014 at 08:41
nope.
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
January 22, 2014 at 08:41
No that is probably in the next MGS
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 08:48
Steam cleaning?
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:50
Aw yeah
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 08:49
It’s a great game. Definitely worth playing.
eXpZA
January 22, 2014 at 08:29
CAREFUL: Hitman Contracts has NO AUDIO. I’ll post the link soon.
edit: https://twitter.com/Hitman/status/425640097388953601
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 08:24
This is not a very smart idea. A long-life span is one of the main selling points of consoles which Steam machines are essentially attempting to compete against. Easy upgrading as needed is a way to do that, not replacing the whole damn more expensive machine every year. People will always feel that the current machine can’t deliver the same experience as the newly released one.
The SteamOS will be more important anyway, if it works well.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 22, 2014 at 08:25
Yes, SteamOS is what is getting me excited.
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:25
I know some crazy people who have too much money and upgrade their pc’s every year or even less. I suppose it’s for them. If there’s a market they’ll make it.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 08:28
True, but it confuses the overall market again. A bajillion differently specced Steam machines all operating differently at wide price ranges is pointless because we already have those, they’re called PCs & it’s what puts people off already. It should be simple.
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:29
Agreed. I’d love to build a nice rig one day and just put the Steam OS on there though. It’s all about the OS for me.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 08:31
Me too. If it runs all my games, great. Free is better for me than R2/3k for Win, especially if it works just as well.
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:33
My only issue so far with not switching to linux for my gaming pc is that it might not run all my older games.
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
January 22, 2014 at 08:34
well if i remember correctly, you can stream the games from your Windows PC with steam client on, to your steam box
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:35
Oh yes. Forgot about that.
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
January 22, 2014 at 08:35
But then the question is, why would i switch over to the Steam OS? if i still need the Windows OS/Steam Client
General JJ PanGirl
January 22, 2014 at 08:37
True. Sticking to my pc on this one. I’ve been fine since I was a kid, why should it change now?
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 22, 2014 at 08:40
That’s what they’ve said, but they’re only announcing complete new gaming machines & I don’t want two machines. So no real point for me as I’m not going to switch machines or dual-boot either. Why waste my time with a free OS that doesn’t do everything if I have a paid one that does?
If they started talking more about streaming boxes instead of Steam machines I’d pay more attention.
CypherGate
January 22, 2014 at 08:30
Once they go on sale they will realise that the decision to not make it upgradable will cost them dearly. Expect them to change this to what the Steambox was intended to in the first place.
ElimiNathan
January 22, 2014 at 08:56
I doubt you would HAVE to upgrade them annually, the older version would probably still be able to run the new games more than sufficiently. I don’t think its a terrible idea. It’s like Nvidia or AMD releasing their custom rigs every few months or so, we don’t see ppl complaining about that ?
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
January 22, 2014 at 09:09
1) Why can’t they be updated? Are the chassis closed in such a way they can’t be opened? This sounds suspect.
2) This has the potential of killing the market if others think “Oh great idea! Let’s do the same in the name of profit!”
Robert Hart
January 22, 2014 at 09:12
Knowing Alienware, you can upgrade easily. They just say that because its geared towards the market where people frown upon having to upgrade.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
January 22, 2014 at 09:18
As a peasant console gamer, i’d be up for a Steam Machine with *easily* upgradable hardware that is plug n play.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
January 22, 2014 at 09:18
Ehh, I mean pleasant 🙂 😀
Rags
January 22, 2014 at 10:21
I swear I can teach my brothers 3 year old kid to assemble a pc under an hour.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
January 22, 2014 at 10:51
I unfortunately like the rest of the masses, have the brain capacity of a two-year old 🙁
Rikus
January 22, 2014 at 09:18
I cannot help to think “Ouya” when I hear “Steam Machines”. And no, not “oooooh yeah”, Ouya. That crappy failure of a console. The reason I think that is because there are many similarities.
1. Both are (“were” in the case of the Ouya) targeting niche markets they thought are bigger. In the case of the Ouya, they thought all people would want to buy dedicated hardware to play Android games and Valve believes that everyone would want to buy dedicated hardware to play Steam games.
2. Not only are both running fragmented operating systems, since both Android and Steam OS are Linux-based, they are also running on fragmented hardware.
To keep the post short, I’m not going to elaborate further. If my implication is unclear, I will. I’m not saying Steam Machines will fail. I just think that the market is not as big as Valve (and everyone else on the bandwagon) wants it to be. Most people playing and buying games off Steam, already have a PC capable of running those games. So in the end, only Steam sales will really benefit from Steam Machines. Not the guys making the hardware.
Just my opinion.
Skyblue
January 22, 2014 at 09:25
Amen.
Unavengedavo
January 22, 2014 at 09:39
I don’t know why people are making such a huge fuss about this. Sure Alienware won’t allow you to upgrade. But at the end of the day, no one is forcing you to buy it. It’s not like it’s a PS4 or Xbox One that you have to buy in order to play the games you want on it.
If you want a Steam Machine then build your own one from individual parts you bought at Matrix or where ever. Or just buy one of the other vendor’s versions that you can upgrade!
Alienware are just going to shoot themselves in the foot, sure there will be some people that would go out and pay a fortune to buy a new one every year. But those people also have an iPhone 5s so I don’t really care about them 😛