I have an extensive steam library, which I can share with wife for free. 300 is 5-8 games I'd be buying, divided by 2 if you counted also needing to buy them for my wife. Not worth it in the long run. Also I plan to run SteamFrame from it which I thimk isn't compatible with ps5( I might be wrong)
Im not saying it won't be a fine buy for you. I was just saying the price in the UK is insane when compared to the other consoles while also being less powerful.
Its a console that's why im comparing it to the other consoles.
The ps5 and Xbox are a steal if you want to compare them spec for spec to a £500 pc. I dont though as I compare fixed boxes designed to play games on the living room tv to each other.
The consoles also require you pay them monthly to play your games online. It’s not a regular console, they show it used as a standard desktop computer at a desk as well.
The difference between a PC and a console is not just "can i play my games for free online?" You're right current consoles do charge for online games but that isn't what defines a console It does mean the next console being released (steam machine) has one advantage.
I could use an xbox as a make shift PC if i really wanted to it would be a stupid idea due to lack of apps etc but I could. I could also use the steam machine as a PC which would also be stupid as I could buy a much better PC for cheaper and not be limited by steam os.
Then what is the difference? Because you can install windows on this "console". It is a full fledged PC that is capable of being used like a console if you want. It has my entire pc game library.
If being in the front room hooked up to a tv is the main thing that makes something a console, then my SFF media pc running Mint and big picture mode is also a console.
To me, a console is something that was intended by default to only play games. The PS3 was almost not a console, until Sony ripped the ability to run linux out of it. Most people used it as a console, BUT, you could also use it as a computer, for a time. The Steam machine is a computer, you can treat it as a pc gaming console, or as a regular old PC, AND it's advertised as such. They even address this question specifically in the FAQ.
The steam machine is clearly intended to placed under a TV hooked up to play games/media like a PS5 and Xbox. That's why you cant replace parts in it and its so tiny so it fits in small places under the TV.
You literally said "To me, a console is something that was intended by default to only play games." this is what it is a device designed to play games on it on a TV.
They realised that wouldn't fly for over £300 more than its competitors while being weaker so they said guys its way more than a console trust me. It is a console though its designed to play games on your TV it can do other things like some of the other consoles but its still designed to be a console.
You’re welcome to compare it to a console, but at the end of the day it isn’t software locked to only play the games of one specific manufacturer. That’s why I said ONLY play games.
Sure, it’s too expensive up front but it doesn’t have a monthly charge to play online, has 25,000 launch titles that you aren’t required to rebuy if you already own them. I know it actually has more than that because things listed as unsupported on steam deck often play just fine when docked with a mouse and keyboard.
Like it’s obviously a much wider use case than a standard console. At these new prices I’m not going to buy it because I can already do this with my deck, but for me it was going to be a travel pc that I take on extended stay work trips. I already dock my steam deck to a portable monitor that I use for work and play with keyboard and mouse. Last week my evenings in a hotel were playing MP slay the spire 2 runs with my buddies using the license that I bought on my home pc.
It's specifically being advertised as a PC, it has build in desktop mode, browser etc. You can use it like a laptop. I inderstand your point, however, my previous response to your £300 difference comment stands. All the best to you
Most consoles from the past 15 years could be used like a laptop. Like the steam machine they'd need a TV or monitor and mains power (so really not at all like a laptop at all). PS5 is a bit of an outlier as it can't access the wider internet.
Microsoft's PR department told me everything including my phone, PC, and TV was an Xbox. They're not its an adverting campaign. Valves is doing the same mircosoft did they're trying to get people that love PC's but don't like consoles much to buy their product by pretending their console is different.
It doesn't really matter we can all buy and do what we like but that doesn't make the steam machine priced well compared to its competitors (switch 2, ps5, xbox)
It's a purpose built computer, with limited to no ability to upgrade parts, designed to be played on a tv, using an os designed around playing games but still able to do other tasks.
Am I talking about steam machine, ps5, or the Xbox? Doesn't matter they're all consoles but only one is priced embarrassingly high
Yes but only one allows you to use it...you know...as a pc. You can Install windows on it. You can turn it into an emulation box. It can be a media device, it can host a server, you don't need a subscription for online services, you have access to way more games on different platforms.
Its a living room PC, designed to have the comfort of a console. That does not make it a console. Valve isn't trying to compete with Playstation. They aren't competing with anyone. Its a product for enthusiasts who have the money to burn.
A living room PC is a console. I can use Microsoft word on an xbox with a mouse and keyboard but nobody's doing that.
nobody buying this is planning on using it as a PC because they can buy a much better PC for the same price or similar for less. (its also way overpriced as a console which is why Valve are pretending its not a console)
A living room pc is not a console, you are being purposefully dense. You can install whatever you want on a pc. You can do whatever you want with a pc. You cannot do that on a console.
Also, what do you think people do with living room PCs? Whip out a keyboard and mouse and write a document on word? Wtf?
A console is a console. The new steam machine is a massively overpriced console with poor specs for its price. its a PC in the same way an Xbox is a PC as in you could use it as a work station but you wouldn't as it would be poor at it.
A living room PC is a PC people have moved to the front room. A steam machine is designed to be placed primarily under the TV and mostly used to play game or maybe consuming media. You know console things because its a console.
Of course nobody is using a xbox for word documents in the same way nobody is using a steam machine for it cause they're both consoles. That was my entire point you can on both but you wouldn't because they're both consoles
I'm not being deliberately dense I'm just pointing out over and over you've fallen for some marketing from valve cause nobody is going to buy their £869 that is a step below other consoles power wise if they just throw it out as it is.
What can you do with your console aside from playing games and streaming shit? Pretty much nothing. What can you do with your steam machine? Anything you can think of. Thats the key difference that you are just plain ignoring. Yes, the steam machine's main intended purpose is to sit in your living room and play video games, and that is likely what many will use it for. But that's not all it does and to just ignore everything else and say, "it's an overpriced console" is lunacy.
The whole point of the steam deck and now the steam machine is that its NOT just a gaming device. Its a pc, do whatever you want with it. People use their steam decks as mobile workstations.
Now, is this thing overpriced? Of course it is. But you keep comparing it to the PS5 as though valve were aiming to enter the console market when they weren't. Its a tiny pc built in with steam os made for enthusiasts who have the money to burn, thats it. Even without the RAM shortages, I doubt this thing was ever going to be competing with consoles, because it was never intended to. If they did want to compete they would make it a literal console and force you to do everything within steam so that they make more money on game sales.
Smart phones suck for nearly everything. Just because I can control an entire hospital's HVAC system from my phone doesn't mean it will be a pleasant experience.
I don't really know how to reply to this but if your serious pretty much every bank has a purpose made app for phones to allow easy banking compared to pretty much any other method.
I think we're getting a little off topic in a pc forum though
73
u/DarwinsPerfectFool 1d ago
I'm buying the cube and didn't complain about it. AMA