What category should Steam Machine be classed under?

Which category?

  • PC

    Votes: 151 66.8%
  • Console

    Votes: 32 14.2%
  • Hybrid

    Votes: 43 19.0%

  • Total voters
    226
Valve's own words. Don't believe they tend to compete with any console makers.

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What makes it a PC???

Valve said it is.

Also, you can use it for other tasks. For example You can open a terminal, install packages, edit configs, run servers, and treat it like any Linux computer.

You can install another OS if you want.

You can run other applications, such as LibreOffice, Blender, do a spot of Python coding if that's your thing.

It's a PC running off Linux. A PC doesn't equal Windows.
 
So if some shop sells a pre build PC with Windows/Linux and Steam booting directly in Big Picture mode, with a controller, it will magically be a hybrid???


Consoles invented "cubes" shapes??

Console-sized gaming PCs are a pretty recent thing, yes.

And this thing is definitely evocative of both the GameCube and the XSX.
 
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Come on, the size and shape of this device is obviously more "console" than "gaming PC". That's the whole point, you're supposed to have it under your TV like a console etc.
How is more the shape of consoles?? PC cases normally are just " stretched cubes".
400

While consoles can have shapes like this:

230926092701-atari-2600.webp


What is closer to an almost literally cube???
 
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It's funny, because I know this is a thing but it's always been very silly to me. You call things console and PCs.

They are both computers.

Console vs PC is a social construct.

All video games are computer games.
True.

Also video games have always been digital whether they come on a floppy disk, cartridge or are downloaded to your hard drive.
 
It's a PC. Could even install Windows and Playnite on it and get access to all the stores.
Disappointingly specs but otherwise it's very interesting, looks nice, I could easily see some friends buy this instead of a console. Pricing is extremely important though. If it's above $500 it'll bomb.
 
It's a PC, in a console form factor, with a UI front-end like a console, and convenience features like a console (suspend state, display-off updates, etc.).
 
It's funny, because I know this is a thing but it's always been very silly to me. You call things console and PCs.

They are both computers.

Console vs PC is a social construct.

All video games are computer games.

"Video game consoles are a specialized form of home computer geared towards video game playing, designed with affordability and accessibility to the general public in mind, but lacking in raw computing power and customization. Simplicity is achieved in part through the use of game cartridges or other simplified methods of distribution, easing the effort of launching a game."

Yes, consoles are computers, but not all computers are consoles.
 
It's funny, because I know this is a thing but it's always been very silly to me. You call things console and PCs.

They are both computers.

Console vs PC is a social construct.

All video games are computer games.

Not really.

A computer is any device that processes data according to its software. In that regard, yes they're both computers.

However, both are very different.

A "PC" is the term for a general-purpose computer (like Windows desktops, laptops, or Macs) that can run a wide range of software and not just games. On a PC you can run Excel, SQL, code via Python, do some data engineering work, write documents. It can run web servers, machine learning tools, 3D modeling, video editing etc etc.

A console plays games and plays media. It cannot do a fraction of the things you can do with a PC. Not even close. A console is good for gaming. That's it. People only buy consoles for gaming, but a PC could be purchased and used for a vast number of reasons.

So yes, both computers, but both very different in what they can do.
 
I get the feeling anyone who doesn't obviously know it's a PC outright, is just an xbox fan trying to spin some narrative for the future.
It's a PC end of story, if you don't understand that, your in the wrong hobby or trolling.
 
Valve said it is.

Also, you can use it for other tasks. For example You can open a terminal, install packages, edit configs, run servers, and treat it like any Linux computer.

You can install another OS if you want.

You can run other applications, such as LibreOffice, Blender, do a spot of Python coding if that's your thing.

It's a PC running off Linux. A PC doesn't equal Windows.

So the difference is in the software? I'm so confused about this console vs. personal computer thing since a console is also a computer and it feels rather personal but who knows!


I'd put windows 11 on this immediately and get rid of whatever ugly Linux distro they've got it ruining on
 
So the difference is in the software? I'm so confused about this console vs. personal computer thing since a console is also a computer and it feels rather personal but who knows!


I'd put windows 11 on this immediately and get rid of whatever ugly Linux distro they've got it ruining on

Software plays a big part, but not the only difference.

PCs are open systems. You can crack them open and replace parts, or even buy the parts and custom build your own. You can't do that on a console as it's a closed system.

Same with the software. You can't change the OS on a console, but you can on a PC. If you don't like Windows you can install a version of Linux or vice versa.
 
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