What category should Steam Machine be classed under?

Which category?

  • PC

    Votes: 195 67.5%

  • Console

    Votes: 40 13.8%

  • Hybrid

    Votes: 54 18.7%
  • Total voters
    289
Consoles are PCs today as PCs are consoles. It's all wishy washy today, there's no clear definition of anything anymore, everything's relative, that's just the current zeitgeist. What is a woman?
 
MidGenRefresh said:
You need to look up definition of what a video game console is.
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A computer that can run games builds with it's own significantly different OS, API, etc... The moment its games can't run natively on the same Windows/Linux that desktops, laptops and Steam Decks PCs run, it's a console, not a PC like the formers.
 
rodrigolfp said:
A computer that can run games builds with it's own significantly different OS, API, etc... The moment its games can't run natively on the same Windows/Linux that desktops, laptops and Steam Decks PCs run, it's a console, not a PC like the formers.
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That's your definition of what a video game console is. Big difference. Just say, "It doesn't fit my own definition of what a video game console is", and that's perfectly fine.
 
It's a SFF PC running a free Linux OS with Steam installed in it.
There's nothing to "classify", we've had such devices in PC space for years.
 
rodrigolfp said:
Those are official from the guy(s) that invented a console??
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Do you understand that language evolves just like technology does? If you still think a video game console is just a device that accepts a cartridge and plays a game, then I'm sorry, but I have nothing more to say to you. Following that same flawed logic, the PS3 wouldn't be a game console because it came with Linux support. Stop embarrassing yourself.
 
MidGenRefresh said:
Do you understand that language evolves just like technology does? If you still think a video game console is just a device that accepts a cartridge and plays a game, then I'm sorry, but I have nothing more to say to you. Following that same flawed logic, the PS3 wouldn't be a game console because it came with Linux support. Stop embarrassing yourself.
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The exactly same Linux builds that desktops, laptops and Steam Decks can run??
 
pudel said:
Thats way to general. This means every laptop, desktop pc, mini pc, handheld is a console....and thats nonsense.
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That's the definition, straight from the dictionary, I didn't make it up. You could probably add "primarily designed to play games" and that it "comes with a dedicated controller to play games", and it would fit even better. The Steam Machine is primarily designed for gaming, everything else is just a bonus. It's a console PC hybrid.
 
MidGenRefresh said:
That's the definition, straight from the dictionary, I didn't make it up. You could probably add "primarily designed to play games" and that it "comes with a dedicated controller to play games", and it would fit even better. The Steam Machine is primarily designed for gaming, everything else is just a bonus. It's a console PC hybrid.
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And if I put SteamOS on my laptop or my desktop pc...are they than suddenly a "PC hybrid"? Because it does than the exact same thing as this little steambox does?
 
...and it's a PC

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?
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Sure sounds like a console to me.
 
pudel said:
And if I put SteamOS on my laptop or my desktop pc...are they than suddenly a "PC hybrid"? Because it does than the exact same thing as this little steambox does?
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And if I jailbreak my PS4, install Linux on it, and start running spreadsheets? It doesn't matter what you do with it, it's the design and experience offered straight out of the box that matters.
 
MidGenRefresh said:
And if I jailbreak my PS4, install Linux on it, and start running spreadsheets? It doesn't matter what you do with it, it's the design and experience offered straight out of the box that matters.
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If you jailbreak yr console and have full access and control over it what its running and how its running...than its a pc and no console anymore! You got it!
 
pudel said:
And if I put SteamOS on my laptop or my desktop pc...are they than suddenly a "PC hybrid"? Because it does than the exact same thing as this little steambox does?
Click to expand...
How is an OS relevant to this topic at all?

What is an Android console then? A smartphone, because smartphones normally run Android?
 
pudel said:
If you jailbreak yr console and have full access and control over it what its running and how its running...than its a pc and no console anymore! You got it!
Click to expand...

That's why Steam Machine is a Console/PC hybrid. It offers the best of both worlds. Same as Steam Deck. It's an awesome console handheld in SteamOS mode and you can turn it into a Linux powered PC with few button presses.

Again, it's the experience out of the box that matters. The intent of the manufacturer. Not what users is willing to do with the hardware.
 
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hououinkyouma00 said:
Eh I don't know about that. This isn't any different then then Steam Deck in that respect and isn't the Steam Deck subsidized?

Steam Deck can also take other OS and they've talked about it since Day 1.
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Why would you think the steam deck is subsidized? They might be willing to take less profit than someone else - but I don't think Valve sells anything at a loss.
 
Parazels said:
How is an OS relevant to this topic at all?

What is an Android console then? A smartphone, because smartphones normally run Android?
Click to expand...
Smartphone OS's are usually pretty locked down as well similiar to consoles. I would call "mobiles" more a console experience than a free pc...yep!
 
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MidGenRefresh said:
The Steam Machine is primarily designed for gaming, everything else is just a bonus. It's a console PC hybrid.
Click to expand...
It's primarily designed for anything you want to do with it like any PC. Just like any other pre build PC can be sold with Steam installed and booting directly into Big Picture mode and that doesn't magically make it a hybrid PC/console.
 
rodrigolfp said:
It's primarily designed for anything you want to do with it like any PC. Just like any other pre build PC can be sold with Steam installed and booting directly into Big Picture mode and that doesn't magically make it a hybrid PC/console.
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It literally comes with a gaming controller and by default boots into SteamOS, which offers a console-like experience. Have you even used a Steam Deck, mate? I think the manufacturer's intent is pretty clear. It's a console/PC hybrid designed to offer the best of both worlds.
 
Not surprised at the result with all the console gaming gatekeepers and system war veterans around. But it is a box that plugs into your TV, uses a controller as its input, and boots into a gaming/entertainment UI. It is a console first.
 
I don't see why we need to overthink what categories these systems are. Its a PC. Hell, Playstation and Xbox has pretty much been off the shelf components for two gens, they're basically closed ecosystem PCs too.
 
MidGenRefresh said:
It literally comes with a gaming controller and by default boots into SteamOS, which offers a console-like experience. Have you even used a Steam Deck, mate? I think the manufacturer's intent is pretty clear. It's a console/PC hybrid designed to offer the best of both worlds.
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Any pre build PC can be sold with whatever controller the seller wants to sell.

SteamOS is freaking Arch Linux build that just boots directly into Big Picture mode, thing that any other Linux distro and even Windows can do.

I have a Steam deck and is basically the same shit as my Nobara in my desktop. I run the exactly same games and emulators on both.

54225196214_d237fd9285_b.jpg


MidGenRefresh said:
Well, if that's their design principle, then Valve's designers are retarded because they're forgot to include the essential PC input devices.
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Mouse and kb are not essential. You have trackpads on the controller plus virtual keyboards are a thing.

Wildebeest said:
Not surprised at the result with all the console gaming gatekeepers and system war veterans around. But it is a box that plugs into your TV, uses a controller as its input, and boots into a gaming/entertainment UI. It is a console first.
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ANY desktop and laptop can do this.
 
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MisterXDTV said:
It's hilarious that people here want to convince other that a machine that can only run PC software, is not actually a PC....
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All the confusion stems from the fact we're running on definitions of the 80s and 90s. Back then we actually needed a machine specifically designed for gaming to game properly, and games were practically all running on the metal in consoles. PCs and Consoles had to be built with very clear purposes in mind due to hardware constraints, so the difference was much clearer.

Nowadays every computer is designed more or less on the same principles, consoles included. In terms of general architechture, the GabeCube isn't all that different from a modern console, the only difference being those are a closed ecosystem with a highly controlled OS
 
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I went with hybrid as
1) it can be powered on by controller like a real console (PC's cant do this).
2) Its primary interface is game controller (Its PC desktop is secondary feature)
3) only partially upgrade able, RAM, storage (so not no upgrades like console but not fully upgradeable like PC).
 
Guilty_AI said:
All the confusion stems from the fact we're running on definitions of the 80s and 90s. Back then we actually needed a machine specifically designed for gaming to game properly, and games were practically all running on the metal in consoles. PCs and Consoles had to be built with very clear purposes in mind due to hardware constraints, so the difference was much clearer.

Nowadays every computer is designed more or less on the same principles, consoles included. In terms of general architechture, the GabeCube isn't all that different from a modern console, the only difference being those are a closed ecosystem with a highly controlled OS
Click to expand...
200w.gif
 
MidGenRefresh said:
Who's saying it's not a PC?
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You are saying that it's a console, when it will never run any software specifically made for it

A cube box with a controller DOESN'T MAKE it a console

And you say "It combines the best of both worlds"

I could argue that "it combines the worst of both worlds" actually
 
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rodrigolfp said:
ANY desktop and laptop can do this.
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The difference is that people expect Valve to give them a properly integrated and plug and play experience for doing this. Even a huge corporation like Apple can make devices like this and promise a great gaming library and a smooth experience, but they just do not deliver. Most people also understand Microsoft to be trailing some distance behind Valve on this.
 
MisterXDTV said:
And you say "It combines the best of both worlds"

I could argue "it combines the worst of both worlds" actually
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No, I said it's a hybrid, because that's what it is. Nowhere in the definition of a console does it say it must have software that only runs on it. That's absurd.

MisterXDTV said:
And you say "It combines the best of both worlds"

I could argue that "it combines the worst of both worlds" actually
Click to expand...

Having lived with the Steam Deck since its release, it has become my favorite gaming device ever, easily. One could say it's a great console PC hybrid. I can run almost every game I've ever cared about with no problem, and it doubles as a very capable personal computer. It's a win-win in my book.
 
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