"Alienware's Steam Machine will not be upgradable, new model every 12 months"

[beebskadoo]

The fact that it completely goes against Valve's goals with Steam Machines. 

Their goals included all different sizes of form factors. in order to achieve that sacrifices need to  be made. Valve knows that otherwise it's unrealistic expectations.

[Humbug]

What's to stop you from popping the hood and changing the gfx card? Is it simply a question of voiding the warranty?

[beebskadoo]

What's to stop you from popping the hood and changing the gfx card? Is it simply a question of voiding the warranty?

Most likely it's soldered on like a lot of modern notebooks are. 

[Xend54]

Well, this makes it much simpler to decide for the end user.

[rashdanml]

Their goals included all different sizes of form factors. in order to achieve that sacrifices need to  be made. Valve knows that otherwise it's unrealistic expectations.

I'm not referring to form factors. Their primary goal with Steam Machines is to make the hardware completely open and upgradeable (doesn't have to be fully upgradeable, but it should at least support some upgrade options). If it's not upgradeable, period, it goes against Valve's goals. 

[BernardoSLR]

AHAHHAHAHAHAHAH what a fucking joke, jesus...

[MbV93]

CyberPowerPC Steam Machine FTW!

[TheTechGenius]

People have gotten accustomed to the fact that most of our electronics can't be upgraded.. We buy laptops, smartphones, tablets, and game consoles. Why can't Alienware get the same treatment eh?

Its a PC, not a mobile device.

I bet since they are going down this road, they won't be putting in a high-end card into the system. Just so people have to buy a new system every year or so, so they can enjoy games at optimal graphic settings.

Well, this has nothing to do with me anyway, I build my own gaming PC's, Compact to full desktop, doesn't matter. I never really liked Alienware anyway though, they are not about the customers, the End-User like Razer and similar companies are.

Honestly, Alienware is not even in the competition in my eyes. I can care less about what Alienware does or doesn't do, they always do things half assed, and never follow through with anything. Thats just my two cents, don't take it personally Alienware Fans.

[Humbug]

I'm not referring to form factors. Their primary goal with Steam Machines is to make the hardware completely open and upgradeable (doesn't have to be fully upgradeable, but it should at least support some upgrade options). If it's not upgradeable, period, it goes against Valve's goals. 

I guess that's the good thing about an open approach. Alienware is free to make a locked-down non-upgradable box if they want. But they are just one vendor... each vendor can bring their own vision. So this does not affect the platform as a whole. If there's a demand for upgradale machines market forces will dictate that other vendor step in to cater to that demand...

[beebskadoo]

Its a PC, not a mobile device.

I bet since they are going down this road, they won't be putting in a high-end card into the system. Just so people have to buy a new system every year or so, so they can enjoy games at optimal graphic settings.

Well, this has nothing to do with me anyway, I build my own gaming PC's, Compact to full desktop, doesn't matter. I never really liked Alienware anyway though, they are not about the customers, the End-User like Razer and similar companies are.

If valve is targeting the couch type gamer and trying to win over console gamers there needs to be a dummy box. a box that doesn't need to be fucked with or upgraded.

Maybe there will be a high end card in the system, in order to do so they needed to customize it in order to fit the form.

Not everyone is comfortable or has the desire to build their own or upgrade their existing hardware. 

[Scionyde]

If valve is targeting the couch type gamer and trying to win over console gamers there needs to be a dummy box. a box that doesn't need to be fucked with or upgraded.

Maybe there will be a high end card in the system, in order to do so they needed to customize it in order to fit the form.

Not everyone is comfortable or has the desire to build their own or upgrade their existing hardware. 

 

All of the other Steam Machines can be dummy boxes, they don't need to be tinkered with. I think most people are disappointed because just having the option to upgrade the Steam Machine would have been nice.

[twod]

why do people even buy alienware?...Just cause they look nice? Overally priced, I usually find.

[Inimigor]

This has 2 sides...

1 - Cool! I have lots of friends who are not willing to get the work to upgrade their own gaming PCs, imagine a Steam machine full of Mini-ITX pieces!

2 - Crap! I want to build a small computer to be below my TV on the living room... But if i want to upgrade anything in order to run my games better (OR if ANYTHING FAILS) I'll have to change the whole Goddamn thing!

Why not both! Make it upgradable, and also release new ones oftenly!

[TheTechGenius]

If valve is targeting the couch type gamer and trying to win over console gamers there needs to be a dummy box. a box that doesn't need to be fucked with or upgraded.

Maybe there will be a high end card in the system, in order to do so they needed to customize it in order to fit the form.

Not everyone is comfortable or has the desire to build their own or upgrade their existing hardware.

The point is, there should of been at least an Option to upgrade it if you want to. I don't care who you are, where you work, how much money you make, Everyone likes to save money. Having the option to upgrade from HDD to SSD, GPU, etc.. would save the end-user a lot of money, by upgrading parts on your own, instead of buying a new system.

[Liam-Wabbit]

Regardless of what is fact or fiction, I think the windows side of Microsoft should start worrying !
I would of moved to Linux along time ago, specially since Microsoft activation protocol in XP and onwards.
Gaming and compatibility is the only reason I've grudgingly stuck with Microsoft.
But the future, we have PC compatible version of Android, Linux backed by Steam & Steam encouraging
programmers to make Linux flavours as well as Windows, & now steam making a Free Linux kernel based OS with there own flavour of a GUI.
Windows Microsoft & lets face it Play Station & Xbox have a lot to worry about when you get a nice console looking pc that does the same and more,
But this is the different part, marketed at console gamers as a real alternative to the locked spec consoles

Just out of interest, has any one hacked the PS4, Xbox One and put Windows, Linux or dual boot on them yet ?

would be nice to see a gaming grade laptop with Steam on it I would like to see that.

Will the be steam tested and recommended drivers (like Windows) to make sure all games sold by steam are compatible ?

[Kiwiandapple]

*Cough* Razer *Cough*

 

I like Razer though

 

Razer has mainly made peripherals, it's stepping into the PC world but their new prototype P.C is far from not upgradeable. Hell it's actually super easy. 

[Khraft]

What people didn't know this already?  In the specs at CES they already said that it was going to have a mobile GPU in it.  Considering that it will actually be the smallest Steambox (by quite a bit) though, imo this is acceptable.

[Damikiller37]

How is this even possible I thought Valve wanted the Steam Machines to be of a size of a console yet remaining what a PC is e.g. customisable... and then Alienware comes in and does this.

[Kevinkt]

Alienware is now officially the Apple of PC Gaming.

That's how Alienware always been tho =/

[JayDom]

This has 2 sides...

1 - Cool! I have lots of friends who are not willing to get the work to upgrade their own gaming PCs, imagine a Steam machine full of Mini-ITX pieces!

2 - Crap! I want to build a small computer to be below my TV on the living room... But if i want to upgrade anything in order to run my games better (OR if ANYTHING FAILS) I'll have to change the whole Goddamn thing!

Why not both! Make it upgradable, and also release new ones oftenly!

by making it upgradable and release knew ones there shooting themselves in the foot cause its alot cheaper to upgrade gpu for example instead of a whole new system, and for the people who cant be bothered upgrading there own, im sure if it resulted in saving "so and so" amount of money they would. 

[FranBunnyFFXII]

Linus, as well as everyone here

 

why dont you read the fuckin article before going ape shit?

 

 

 

The Dell-owned company has yet to release an exact price and system specifications for its Steam Machine, but it did say that it will run on an Intel CPU and an Nvidia GPU, and compete with next-gen console pricing.

As we've noted before, if you like Windows and the option to customize your machine, at that point you might as well buy one of Alienware’s small-form-factor X51 machines, which start at $700.

Even Azor agrees with us. “If you actually want to customize your Alienware Steam Machine, maybe change your graphics card out or put in a new CPU, you would be better off with the standard Alienware X51,” he tells TrustedReviews.

Jeez why don't people actually read the info instead of reading headlines and flipping their lids.

[Titanicium]

Razer has mainly made peripherals, it's stepping into the PC world but their new prototype P.C is far from not upgradeable. Hell it's actually super easy. 

 

Was actually talking about them being the actual Apple of Windows :mellow:

[Raboo]

Its just like apple

[Kiwiandapple]

Its just like apple

 

Or kiwi! no...? Nevermind.

 

Was actually talking about them being the actual Apple of Windows :mellow:

 

Sorry, that was confusing. But fair enough.. ^^ 

[sebolavarria]

*Cough* Razer *Cough*

 

I like Razer though

Razer treats its customers well and the ceo does alot.... Products are not always the greatest but atleast they are gentle as they metaphorically bend you on the table... Alienware is like old elite tv's they offer nothing other than a logo