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Comment by Wurdan | Hacker News Reader

I don't really get why people are calling it a console. It is a PC to me in all the ways that matter, and it's probably going to save me from spending 1500 euros on a mid-range gaming laptop that I don't really need. The only thing that I don't use my ipad for is playing games with my friends in other countries while we chat on discord. And the last 5 games we've played together do benefit from keyboard and mouse controls, but don't have huge spec requirements. And pretty much everything else for which I'd want a bigger screen than my ipad's can be done in the browser, which I can also happily install on the steam machine because it's just a Linux machine with some extra bells. So yeah, it will probably completely replace my need for a PC, and I'd be plenty happy to pay a PC price for it as a result.

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> I don't really get why people are calling it a console. It is a PC to me

because "console" isn't what a product is (supply) - it is a name for product niche (demand)

when someone talks about buying a console, the expectations are 1)significantly cheaper than "usual" computer 2)most likely optimized for games (controller input, easy install) 3)expectation of using already existing TV as display

consoles weren't different from low-end pc all the way since x-box

Because it gives you a console-like experience. What's so hard to get about that? In their own press release, Steam notes it's "just a PC."

Well, it's kind of a new thing, isn't it.

Just like the deck popularized the idea of "handheld PCs". Maybe the Machine will do the same to "console PC". It's a PC, but also a console.

To me, PC = Windows = Microsoft's Spyware and every other game company's anti-cheat root kits

Someone might say I can install Linux on my PC but then I have to deal with maintaining it.

So, what I hope the Steam Machine is, is effectively PC based console with no Microsoft, no root kits, and no maintainence.

> Someone might say I can install Linux on my PC but then I have to deal with maintaining it.

What maintenance do you mean? I do not know of an OS that does not require allowing updates to keep secure.

It definitely meets the other criteria you want.

Sometimes there are regressions in the kernel and other driver issues. My laptop is more than five years old and I had to boot an older kernel for a while until a regression got fixed. I guess that's less likely to happen on Windows. Not being as close to the hardware vendors means there are bound to be more edge cases even on boring distros like Ubuntu.

I don't know what Linux you're on. On mine I have to actively maintain it. I have to run something `sudo apt update` `sudo apt upgrade` every week or so and then deal with whatever breaks. Conversely, on my Switch and PS5 it does this automatically. I expect the Steam Machine will also update itself automatically. They have an incentive not to break things since it will cost them money to fix all the device they break. Linux on the other hand (not complaining) basically says "not our fault if it breaks". So, I'd prefer the Steam Machine where, I believe, it is their fault if it breaks and they will fix it.

If you don't need to get an expensive gaming PC your should not get an expensive gaming PC. The steam hardware isn't magic. You can already get equivalent specs for cheap.

You can? What am I looking for?

I've tried to hit the $600 mark and in the past few years it's gotten harder and harder. The GPU invariably ruins things. And normal APUs are too asthmatic to really game on.

Good, the Steam Machine won't be 600$ most likely, either.

Also you don't necessarily need a dedicated GPU, unless you go with Intel.

> You can already get equivalent specs for cheap.

This is the context. A Steam Deck is bizarrely great value compared to anything you can buy, even without a screen, controller and battery.

Again if you know otherwise, please share.

The APU from AMD they have is pretty much magic. You will not find anything comparable, any Ryzen APU you can actually buy is pretty much trash apart from very light-weight gaming. You absolutely need a separate GPU, and even low-end will set you back at least 250$. The only way to build something comparable for cheap would be to buy used.

The APU in the steam deck isn't anything too special (the 740M is comparable but is RDNA3). For the GabeCube they are using a customized 7600M, which previously has been used in many eGPUs for Chinese handhelds (at a very high price).

AMD does have some pretty powerful APUs right now, but I don't think we'll see it on many mass market

How customized it is, I guess we'll find out closer to release, but I am guessing just based on the dimensions that it is just customized specifically for the case, for space and cooling reasons.

A similar PC without the fit and finish with just consumer parts comes in at around $900.

Curious how much pull valve has with AMD to get this into people's hands.

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