I do want to elaborate though. My recommendation here is literally Lawrence Sontag’s from yesterday’s Inside Games. (About 13:30 - 14:30). The Steam Machine is a very strange product with a murky target audience. Hardcore gamers aren’t going to pay a parts premium for ~4yr old specs and probably have their HTPC/living room consoles already sorted out. Valve has some promo stuff about the SM being a real workstation which is hardly worth considering.
The only real appeal is to young people interested in PC gaming but scared of the setup that also have a lifestyle that makes conventional “desk and Herman Miller chair” gaming difficult. In that case, it’s odd to take seriously that the premium is worth so much to them for the ease of use when the specs are already so below state-of-the-art. A ROG Ally is worth considering because any potential buyer is already taking a big performance cap but would gain the mobile and controller functionality
I think the biggest advantage is that it will dictate the “standard” spec platform. there will be games that will push it beyond it’s limits. but rather than gradual demand for spec creep, it’ll focus the gaming industry on those specs.
also, not everyone wants to get into PC building in order to have a good machine.
I’m assuming OP asked for a spec match machine, not a computer that can open steam.
I could probably install steam in a 100$ laptop I bought on Facebook.
You’re right and I think I misread OP’s question.
I do want to elaborate though. My recommendation here is literally Lawrence Sontag’s from yesterday’s Inside Games. (About 13:30 - 14:30). The Steam Machine is a very strange product with a murky target audience. Hardcore gamers aren’t going to pay a parts premium for ~4yr old specs and probably have their HTPC/living room consoles already sorted out. Valve has some promo stuff about the SM being a real workstation which is hardly worth considering.
The only real appeal is to young people interested in PC gaming but scared of the setup that also have a lifestyle that makes conventional “desk and Herman Miller chair” gaming difficult. In that case, it’s odd to take seriously that the premium is worth so much to them for the ease of use when the specs are already so below state-of-the-art. A ROG Ally is worth considering because any potential buyer is already taking a big performance cap but would gain the mobile and controller functionality
I think the biggest advantage is that it will dictate the “standard” spec platform. there will be games that will push it beyond it’s limits. but rather than gradual demand for spec creep, it’ll focus the gaming industry on those specs.
also, not everyone wants to get into PC building in order to have a good machine.