@TheFallen924 @KingofCabal @barrybarryk @WarpedCore You're missing the point of these being prototypes and only from a single manufacturer.

Otherwise you're right, no need to spend 500$ on this unless it'll give you the exact same performance as the consoles.

@PILL0W77 @MarcusFeelius There are lots of chassies that you can use to make sure it's "not a mess". That's not for the "regular" customer that doesn't build their PC's themselves though.

Everything else I'd say we're on the same page and agree that the Steam-box isn't a replacement for a PC but an alternative for the people who enjoy consoles.

@buccomatic Oh, I know, the previous poster just threw out some numbers when the first one wanted specs.

@KingofCabal @jer_1 Please note that this is only a prototype and there will be "Steam-boxes" from a lot of manufacturers.

@RavenXavier No one is expecting this to be as powerful as our desktop PC's. The "Steam-box" isn't even competing PC's.

They're creating an alternative for people who enjoy a console-like experience but with the benefits of the Steam-sales and the ability to play your purchased games on your console (which is the Steam-box), Windows, Mac and Linux (as long as the game supports the OS).

@Ferrybird @KingofCabal Actually, the "real" reason for DRM is piracy but only because stock owners have no idea what they're doing and believe that DRM actually stops piracy (which it doesn't).

@KingofCabal @TheFallen924 @barrybarryk @WarpedCore Even if the GPU isn't upgradable there's no reason to complain really. Console users haven't been able to upgrade their GPU's and the Steam-box is mostly focused on the console-market, not the PC market.

@DrizztDark @Pete5506 He was wondering what specs a box like that would have...

@PILL0W77 @MarcusFeelius I would personally use a "real" PC for TV-gaming though as, while perhaps a bit more expensive, let me do more than the Steam-box.

However, that's only because I'm currently using a fairly potent HTPC and I'd use that one.

After all, from what Valve says it'll be "tightly controlled" (not the exact quote) and it's possible that it'll boot up into Steam's Big Picture mode and won't let you access other features (except browser that's already included with Steam) without modifications that a "regular" user wouldn't do. Time will tell, of course.

@MarcusFeelius @PILL0W77 I believe they want to expand their user base (and of course profit) by offering an alternative to console users with Steam's great sales, ability to play the same purchased games on your desktop, laptop, friends PC and on whatever OS you prefer (again, as long as the game supports more OS's).

I won't purchase a Steam-box, I've got my desktop for gaming, but I like the fact that they'll be offering their services for people who prefer a console-like experience over a PC.