review Steam Machine/Controller/OS Review

[BoneyardBrew Member]

I hope this is the right place! I created a website with a brief review of the Steam Machine/Controller/OS.

 

http://metroforsteam.com/steammachine/

[riahc3]

Hello,

I hope this is the right place! I created a website with a brief review of the Steam Machine/Controller/OS.

 

http://metroforsteam.com/steammachine/

You could have posted the review here for Neowin :)

[Chasethebase Reporter]

Hello,

You could have posted the review here for Neowin :)

 

Normally, this thread would be locked up, but since the OP has gone through the effort to make this site specifically for this review, I'll leave it up. Mainly because the site design is amazing.

 

Like, truly amazing.

[spacer]

How can you review something, especially an OS, that is in beta?

[Chasethebase Reporter]

How can you review something, especially an OS, that is in beta?

 

The OS and the Controller may be prototyes, but the actual box is very much final design, so it can be reviewed and benchmarked. And you can easily review beta software, either as an initial launch review or a progressive review, that is continually updated as major content updates are released.

[Ironman273]

How can you review something, especially an OS, that is in beta?

Huh? What does it being in beta have anything to do with a review?  If you got a Steam Machine and played with it you'd develop an opinion on it.  If you put that opinion to paper, you'd have a review.  If you made it available to others that don't have access to a Steam Machine, beta or otherwise, you'd have an online review.

[Athernar]

The OS and the Controller may be prototyes, but the actual box is very much final design, so it can be reviewed and benchmarked. And you can easily review beta software, either as an initial launch review or a progressive review, that is continually updated as major content updates are released.

 

The hardware isn't final either, all of them are prototypes as Valve don't plan on selling hardware.

[Chasethebase Reporter]

The hardware isn't final either, all of them are prototypes as Valve don't plan on selling hardware.

 

Isn't the internal stuff, like the Mobo and Graphics outsourced, or did they make that too (Save graphics, that's nVidia)

[Athernar]

Isn't the internal stuff, like the Mobo and Graphics outsourced, or did they make that too (Save graphics, that's nVidia)

 

To be more clear, there isn't much point in reviewing the hardware as said hardware will never be publically available. They don't plan on selling first-party machines.

[BoneyardBrew Member]

Hello,

You could have posted the review here for Neowin :)

 

 

Normally, this thread would be locked up, but since the OP has gone through the effort to make this site specifically for this review, I'll leave it up. Mainly because the site design is amazing.

 

Like, truly amazing.

 

I was afraid that may have been the case. I didn't see anything under the posting guidelines and rules so I took the chance.

 

I'm really glad you like the site, though! :)

 

Isn't the internal stuff, like the Mobo and Graphics outsourced, or did they make that too (Save graphics, that's nVidia)

 

Everything is outsourced but the case. Motherboard is ASRock, GPU is Zotac/Nvidia, CPU is Intel (cooler by Zalman), RAM is Crucial, PSU is Silverstone, SSHD is Seagate.

 

To those concerned about how a review can be possible with beta hardware and software:

I don't think it's ever too early for impressions. We review beta versions of Windows, don't we? Most potential buyers and users would like to know what they're getting into before making a decision.

 

Also, based on what I've read in the Steam group discussions and the like, users that weren't selected were interested in impressions and reviews. I think it's fairly obvious that things will change from this point onward. Hardware is hardware. Nothing proprietary here but the case, so if you're familiar with computer components you can take a good guess as to how well any Steam Machine configuration will run. The primary focus at this point is the controller and how well it handles games. The final model will have a touch screen but work almost identically to the prototype. Fair game, if you ask me.

 

I'm finding it a bit odd that people are shunning the idea of reviewing these devices, but to each his/her own.

[Skiver Veteran]

Nice review, shared that with a friend who I know is quite interested in this :)

[BoneyardBrew Member]

Nice review, shared that with a friend who I know is quite interested in this :)

 

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for spreading the word!

[Knife Party]

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for spreading the word!

Thanks for the review. I enjoyed the read. Passed on to my friend aswell. (Y)

[BoneyardBrew Member]

Thanks for the review. I enjoyed the read. Passed on to my friend aswell. (Y)

 

You're welcome. I appreciate that.

[compl3x]

Nice review and I also agree it is a well designed site  (Y) . It makes reading the review enjoyable. I wish more web designers would make sites like this instead of distracting crap all over the place.

 

Also starting following you on Twitter :)