Alienware Alpha Controller?

[󠀡󠀡tezman58]

A friend of mine told me that if you order the alienware alpha in November you will get the steam controller with it is this true? NOT THE STEAM MACHINE

[God Ginrai]

The Alienware Alpha *is* Alienware's Steam Machine.

[madjr]

Alpha is not a full "Valve" steam machine. It doesn't come with Valve's OS or Controller. You will need to order the controller separate if you go for the alpha.

Originally posted by God Ginrai:

The Alienware Alpha *is* Alienware's Steam Machine.

they have similar specs and It has the alienware logo, not the Steam logo in the machine itself.

Same with syber, there is one that comes with a Logitech controller, while another comes with the more advanced steam controller.

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Steam_Machine_I

(personally I like the Syber a bit more with its nice upgrades special on ram and video card; but the Alienware has an advantage in size and power consumption)

[Balderick]

the alpha (windows) version comes wth hivemind ui which marries desktop mode and steam big picture in a far more user friendly manner than steamos does.

Does steamos still give a warning of the like - "Accessing desktop mode can make serious changes to the system. Desktop mode is not officialy supported" when accessing desktop mode first time after selecting the "activate desktop mode" setting in big picture settings?.

yes the embedded gpu small form factor machines does give reason to shop around and the syber is a nice choice too as it has discrete card support so gpu can be easily upgraded. GPU is probably the first and only thing most folks want to upgrade. Valves own prototype beta boxes were fully upgradable too. Valve never did share those CAD files as promised to allow modders to create custom builds of steam machines.

i really like the kodi hivemind skin and hivemind ui that come with the alpha (windows) and the fact steam is not the only gaming client that is available to use for games out of the box. Origin and battle.net and others are ready to use ootb as well as plex and other media related fetaures which all add up to very good pc and console hybrid experience.
Steamos steam machines come with steam big picture mode only and is steam features only out of the box. Valve have done nothing to make steamos a true pc console hybrid experience. The alienware steamos machines are being marketed as a gaming dedicated machines and not pc console hybrids which just acknowledges steamos is way less useful than a windows machine running steam as seperate user.

I have the asus rog gr8s in my wish list as it too has discrete gpu support but it has disappeared from steam store.

[madjr]

Originally posted by Balderick:

Steamos steam machines come with steam big picture mode only and is steam features only out of the box. Valve have done nothing to make steamos a true pc console hybrid experience. The alienware steamos machines are being marketed as a gaming dedicated machines and not pc console hybrids which just acknowledges steamos is way less useful than a windows machine running steam as seperate user.

I have the asus rog gr8s in my wish list as it too has discrete gpu support but it has disappeared from steam store.

Hmm, seems you are still confusing the purpose of steamOS.

A "console like" experience is the point of SteamOS. Else it would come with a desktop linux like Ubuntu or Linuxmint and a Kodi (hivemind) like interface.

When a person buys an Xbone he doesn't go crying that he can have a Desktop and use Excel or spreadsheats... He would had gone with a normal computer in the first place.

Console users want plug and play, that's the intended market, just like I can't use a desktop on a Steam-link either.

But if you want to Install windows at some point on the SM, you can and if you want to convert to steamOS at some point on an alpha you also can and if you're more advanced and want to dual-boot like I plan you can (as with another computer am using).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uVcsFhv2Vo

So in terms of "default" purpose it goes something like this:

-Streaming on a Steam link:
--Pro: very affordable, streaming works well on most cases. Uses own pc.
--Con: Limited functions and tied to another pc.

-Console like Steam machines:
--Pros: more optimized = less variables, virus/malware free; Comes with a Steam controller; Free to OEMs, so has potential to be cheaper; 100% free upgrades for life; user can change OS or dual-boot with windows too. People perceive it more as an original console, so who knows what support or even time exclusives it might get in the future. Promotes use of an industry standard like Vulkan along with Google and others. Count as Linux sale, so more users and games. Valve might also offer at some point a standardized "nexus like" line.
--Cons: smaller library of 1600, but growing at about 100 titles per month / 1200 per year; If you're already heavily invested in windows gaming, you might want to opt for a Steam-link or Alpha till the library is big enough or your fav game gets a port.
For updates on ports or new games check here:
https://www.gamingonlinux.com/

-Windows alpha:
--Pros: bigger library, since it has been a gaming platform for longer; user can change OS or dual-boot if he likes.
--Cons: Valve has no control over the OS; prone to malware very easily so it needs tools in the background consuming resources; Cortana and other privacy problems; More variables, so harder to optimize. Only comes with a 360 pad. Tied to microsoft's DX12, which is another way to lockdown or monopolize the industry...; Counts yet again only as a windows sale...

Well the Alienware landing page does explain it well too:

http://www.alienware.com/Landings/steammachine/

Either way, which ever you choose, they all contribute to getting more market from consoles and to the Masta Race! :D

[󠀡󠀡tezman58]

Thank you for the responses guys

[Balderick]

SteamMachines were intended to be pc console hybrids and and not just quasi consoles!?

The xi3 piston aka the original steam box as well as many other prototype steam boxes including Valve's own prototype boxes were all FULLY upgradable. The confirmed sff steam machines all use embedded gpus which means they are NOT fully upgradable.

Big Picture is not unique to steamos. afaik there is nothing that steamos does that no other steam client can. In fact the opposite is more accurate but i admit this is becoming less and less of a reasonable arguement thanks to all the goodies being added to Big Picture.

Dells website for the alpha shows the alienware alpha (windows) and alienware steam machine side by side. The former is being marketed as a pc console hybrid and the latter is being described as a gaming dedicated machine. http://www.alienware.com/Landings/asm_aa_compare.aspx?iframe=true&width=100%&height=100%

Valves webpage for oems clearly defines the steam client either as part of steamos or not as the only criteria in simplistic terms of what qualifies oems machines as steam machines. http://store.steampowered.com/steamos/oem

Valve really should make things a lot clearer to both oems and prospective customers. They should at least update their official documentation after moving goalposts!

[cammelspit]

It's all Dell there man. My brother works for Dell and he just got back from training courses in Texas at the headquarters no one knows what a steam machine even is there its sad.

[madjr]

Originally posted by cammelspit:

It's all Dell there man. My brother works for Dell and he just got back from training courses in Texas at the headquarters no one knows what a steam machine even is there its sad.

Yea...

But at least Alienware's Chris is doing some promotion right

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzDQhnA_3qM

He needs to get more people on board.

[Balderick]

I had that vid in mind when cammelspit mentioned the low number of Texans that understood what a steam amchine is but got side tracked looking for it!.

;-)

[cammelspit]

Ya, the main site trained had never even seen a steam controller. Thankfully he took his along with him instead of bringing his mouse so he had it in his laptop bag. Dude didnt want to let it go apparently. Had a gaggle of training department guys oohing and awing over how cool it was. Makes you wonder tho. Who actually IS responsible for the marketing of things like that. They need to be "reassigned" maybe as a janitor.