I was thinking that they might require a Steam account to order, the same way they stopped scalpers for Steam Deck, but there’d be ways around that.
It’d be hilarious if you needed something like “profile level 10” to order though.
Comment on Valve's new hardware will NOT be loss leaders
squaresinger@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
It can’t be a loss leader.
The steam machine is, hardware-wise, just a regular Mini-PC. Valve even lets you put whatever OS you want on there. So if this was a loss leader, that would mean that non-gamers and even small businesses would buy these, would install Windows on them and use them as office PCs, with Steam probably not even installed on the PC.
With the Steam Deck, the form factor made it impractical or at least really weird to use them as office PCs. The steam machine doesn’t have that issue.
Datz@szmer.info 3 weeks ago
StopSpazzing@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Ohhh only allowed to buy steam level / 10 whole numbers only. I could get 9. Woot.
pory@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
This part’s basically guaranteed, yeah. But there’s a secondhand market and also surely some scalping companies saw the Deck launch and went yknow what? It doesn’t cost us much in the long run to make a few hundred Steam accounts now and buy some $0.10 team fortress hat on them just in case Valve does the incredibly predictable thing of releasing more desirable hardware.
Joelk111@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Exactly, but I don’t see anything keeping them from selling the Frame at a loss or tight margin. What else are you going to use that with but Steam games?
Even the Steam Controller is useless without Steam Input, but I’d argue it won’t necessarily sell more games. Maybe they could include it with the Steam Machine for “free” to bump the price of the machine up enough to not make sense for a company, but still sell it at a tight margin to sell more games.
Don_alForno@feddit.org 3 weeks ago
Why would they sell any hardware at a loss at all? Console manufacturers do it to lock people into their ecosystem and sell them games at a premium, Valve doesn’t need that, people are already overwhelmingly favoring their store.
Joelk111@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
The same reason people go into debt for a burrito. It’s easier for people to justify a smaller cost now, and valve will make than money back later with extra games sold, especially in the case of the Frame.
Inkstainthebat@pawb.social 3 weeks ago
As someone who loves VR gaming, isn’t that a lot of faith for the unpredictable at best market that is VR games?
Stefan_S_from_H@discuss.tchncs.de 3 weeks ago
Was it confirmed that you can install Windows? The video said software, I don’t remember that you could install any operating system. It comes with an Arch Linux.
Stefan_S_from_H@discuss.tchncs.de 3 weeks ago
I found an answer on the Steam Machine page: 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?
qaz@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
They said that you can change it if you want, but did they say they will provide Windows drivers for their semi-custom Ryzen chip?
Stefan_S_from_H@discuss.tchncs.de 3 weeks ago
I just realized that “another operating system” can mean so many things that aren’t Windows.
We need to be patient and wait until some crazy people defile their Steam Machine for Internet points.
rbos@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
It’d be interesting seeing Microsoft in a position where the vendor isn’t automatically making their drivers for them. It’s a massive advantage they have.
Goodeye8@piefed.social 3 weeks ago
I’m pretty sure that is up to AMD and not Valve.
Joelk111@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Hearing that is so refreshing. Microsoft/Google would never put something like that on their website because you are the product.
Revan343@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
It’d be really funny if it’s designed specifically not to meet Windows 11’s arbitrary requirements. You can install Linux though! :D
prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
You can install Windows on the Steam Deck (psychos), so I imagine it’ll be like that.
Tattorack@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
“Hello chat! Today’s challenge is to make the Steam Deck lose 20% of its performance. I can’t wait to get started!”
Tattorack@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Look at their website. It pretty explicitly states you can do with the Gabe Cube whatever you want. Including changing the OS.
Skullgrid@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
You can install OSX on there /s
overload@sopuli.xyz 3 weeks ago
I see what you mean, but this device is a little overtuned for an office PC, at least GPU wise.
squaresinger@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
There are quite a few office jobs that benefit from a decent CPU. Anything to do with images/photos/video/rendering for example.
Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 3 weeks ago
Plus PCs cost fuck all compared to staff, may as well get them efficient tools if they will be using them a lot.
IMALlama@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
You’re 100% correct at a sane company. At my employer the hardware team is incentivised to cut costs and impacts to productivity are someon else’s problem. Corporate metrics lead to some pretty hilarious situations.
entwine@programming.dev 3 weeks ago
Lol this reminds me of that time the US Air Force built a giant compute cluster using PlayStation 3s. Idk if Sony sold those at a loss, but they certainly didn’t see any game purchases coming from the US Department of Defense
UnsavoryMollusk@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I guess this small articles provides us with the beginning of an answer? engadget.com/2010-02-05-playstation-3-still-a-los…