Falcon NW Tiki Steam machine on the way! (...oh, I guess from Asus, too...)

[JasonPratt]

The Asus model will be like a "console" (read: PS4) and retail for $700 (plus monitor and accoutrements).

The Falcon model will not be like a "console" (read: it will be like a Falcon Tiki), and if you have to ask you can't afford it.   >:D

Both will run SteamOS.

...what's SteamOS? Win10 that works? Linux or Linux, however you say it, or find it or run it or mod it or play it?  ???

These are questions I don't care much about, but other people might and I love Falcon NW, so... 


Edited to add a link to all the currently coming Steam Machines, which I originally forgot to do 

http://store.steampowered.com/sale/steam_machines

[Staggerwing]

So far this thread suffers from lack of link.

[bbmike]

What's the advantage of one of these over a good ole fashioned Windows PC?

[Huw the Poo]

What's the advantage of one of these over a good ole fashioned Windows PC?

That's an excellent question.  Even Steam diehards and Linux diehards are struggling to think what the target demographic might be.  I think it's a waste of time from Valve's perspective, but speaking purely (and selfishly) as a Linux user I'm all for it; anything that raises the profile of my chosen OS as a gaming platform is fine by me!

[JasonPratt]

So far this thread suffers from lack of link.

{smacking forehead}

http://store.steampowered.com/sale/steam_machines

That shows all the proposed Steam Machines coming, so far, not just the Falcon and Asus machines.

Will update the OP, too.

[JasonPratt]

I kind of think it's a waste of time from the buyers' perspective, but from a marketing perspective Valve would be foolish not to go for it assuming anyone bothered to set up a product, which clearly about a dozen manufactures decided to do.

Valve thus presumably picks up a small royalty from every unit sold, and never has to hit a lick at a snake. The manufacturers were already building that kind of thing anyway, so they sell a few more because of the connection to the Steam name.

Everyone wins, except the user. Maybe them, too, I can't tell yet.

[Staggerwing]

It remains to be seen if it will be cheaper to buy one of these readymades or build your own Steambox from comparable parts (though most likely a bit larger and more clunky-looking), factoring the value of one's own time and abilities into the build. The low-end Alienware offering does seem like it would a bit anemic in the performance dept.

[JasonPratt]

Oh it will always be cheaper to build one's own, no doubt.

I gladly pay Falcon for their skill and ongoing tech support (and for not needing much tech support because of their skill). My late pupil, who was a genius in several ways (going for his master's degree in late teens, when he died), was skillful enough to build a new rig every year or two, and still didn't pay as much as I did on one rig (probably). His rigs also struggled to run as fast, despite them being giant towers and mine being a laptop. But he enjoyed the challenge, and was able to keep his rigs current, while my 'desktop replacement' laptop naturally started lagging behind eventually.

Then again, his all burned up eventually, and mine still works today, albeit only on XPSP2. But he learned a lot more doing his than I ever did or ever will. So there are pros and cons either way.  O0

[JasonPratt]

Like Mike and Huw said, though, I can't figure out why I would pay Falcon (or anyone else) for this, instead of for one of their regular Tikis (even running a Linux OS, assuming I wanted to do that for some reason).

Admittedly, it's nice that they'll be releasing around my birthday. But still. If I wanted a console sized Falcon, why wouldn't I get a Tiki Z or whatever the equivalent will be come this November?

http://www.falcon-nw.com/promo/tiki-z

[Staggerwing]

If you do build your own one advantage is that you can do some targeted upgrades to extend the life of your rig before replacing it. It will remain to be seen if the readymades will allow processor and gfx upgrades or more memory and, if so, you are restricted to only a few options due to space ( such as 1/2 height gfx cards) or proprietary board or power supply design.

[JasonPratt]

Upgrading isn't usually a problem for Falcs; though on the other hand that does somewhat depend on how much space you have and those Tiki rigs, by design, don't have much. They had to redesign the inside a little in order to put two Titans into the new Tiki Z.