Err, that’s contempt, not concept. As in, making a high-profile title exclusive to their console solely so they can push out the hardware rather for than any technical reason, would be showing contempt. I doubt Valve would do that.

I wish comments here had an edit button.

No we won’t. Your suggestion would only apply if Half-Life 3 was exclusive to the console, and didn’t also come out on regular computers at the same time. If that were the case I’d abandon Valve completely as it would show concept for their users.

As yet we can’t speak to it’s specs, the unit showed here is some of the current non-Steambox offerings. Presumably it’s a laptop folded up with no screen. If you’ve see how thin laptops are becoming these days it’s not too far fetched.

The problem with making things smaller, is that the cost goes up. That and the fact that Steam would need a fairly large HDD for it’s games makes me think the Steambox is going to be noticeably larger than this Xi3 unit.

I don’t get how it’s “modular” either, doesn’t seem like room to squeeze in a whole lot of swappable components. People keep throwing around “modular” and other buzzwords without actually telling anyone what that entails.

I just don’t see how you can run something like Crysis 3 solely on a “pc” that’s smaller than my graphics card alone, is the box full of magic sand?

In other words, you already have games that will run on the console (with more to come as they port them to linux) no need to repurchase and it’ll even continue your progress where you left off on your desktop.

The only issue, how will they fit the TB’s of HDD space that will be required in a tiny box like that. (Or maybe I just have too many games on Steam)

Also those saying that it looks like the Ouya, Xi3 were making these before Ouya which runs ARM w/Android where as Xi3 is x86. Very different.

Personal Computers have always taken many forms ;)

Man that would be cute. Trying to swap out a tiny little video card with your fingers. The RAM would probably require tweezers. :)

Seems PC’s aren’t going to be PC’s anymore – they’re going to be consoles… unless they plan to make miniature peripherals?? Is the hardware swappable? Like CPU and graphics? That’s the only way I could see this replacing PC’s.

Oh I know they can be stripped bare but in terms of memory usage today, i still have issues with my 6gb and windows 7 chucking a hissy fit. Admittedly I haven’t cut down on the things I should have though :P

The xbox 360 and ps3 may have only 512mb of ddr3 possibly even more but they also have optical drives and the ability to extend their memory (please correct me here i’d welcome it). I’m not sure consoles work the same way with loading X into memory once X has started but I’m guessing they do.

Now lets take a look at some of the games on steam, there are a lot of games that are specifically designed for PC and not just a port over and with each year that passes more and more of these games are starting to require more and more ram.

By the time this thing lands there is no way 2gb of ddr2 will cover it.

stoibs:
the day Valve and anyone else starts releasing EXCLUSIVES on this thing only as opposed to PC also is going to be an intersting day.

That’s the thing, this little tiny confusing (for me) box is actually a pc, as far as I know.

I’m not sure what people’s expectations were to be honest

ooshp: I’m still not getting it.
I mean, I’m sure Valve have done their research, but I just don’t see the market.
Then again, I don’t see the market for 5 billion iPads either, so it’s probably just me.
Clearly you can’t fit decent hardware into that thing. Homes are full of consoles. PCs are already vastly more powerful. I just don’t see the market. Are there that many people who want to play Half Life and Left 4 Dead on Linux with a controller?

I feel exactly the same, it seems like a gimmicky little bit of tech that’s MAYBE a minor time saver. I just can’t see how it’s next generation or revolutionary like some people/places are implying.

It’s certainly not what I was expecting when they said they were getting into that part of the market.

adal:
Reminds me of the Ouya.

I had the same thought…

I can spend a good 4-500 bucks (probably) on this chunk of metal, plug it into my tv, then proceed to fail horribly at gaming with a controller over the much more intuitive K+M and/or try to precariously balance my Keyboard and mouse on the coffee table – all the while getting less performance than my current PC Gaming Rig.

Sounds fun.

To each there own I guess and who am I to judge….however the day Valve and anyone else starts releasing EXCLUSIVES on this thing only as opposed to PC also is going to be an intersting day.

somexspec:
I hope they can increase the memory because 2gb won’t be enough for the OS and other junk they no doubt want to shove on it. Surprised to find out they are using ddr2 as well :/

It is surprising how much Linux can be stripped to the bare essentials and all the unnecessary crud removed when needed to perform a specific task. Heck, even Windows can be streamlined such that it works with limited resources (you don’t think the Xbox consoles has a completely new OS running on them did you?)

I mean, I’m sure Valve have done their research, but I just don’t see the market.

Then again, I don’t see the market for 5 billion iPads either, so it’s probably just me.

Clearly you can’t fit decent hardware into that thing. Homes are full of consoles. PCs are already vastly more powerful. I just don’t see the market. Are there that many people who want to play Half Life and Left 4 Dead on Linux with a controller?

phewcha:
This is going to make LANs so much easier.

I had thought that, but by the time you’ve already lugged a monitor, keyboard and mouse what’s the difference really between this and a tower?

elliotengi:
Steambox is looking increasingly like a big bunch of wank.

still doesn’t get it

This is kind of redundant for me though I only just finished putting together my second Gaming PC that its going into the lounge room right next to the TV with a 580 in it.

To play Steam games in Big Picture and play on the PC in the study when my partner is using the TV or I want to play an FPS.