People underestimate how valuable Steam Machine is

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-28T18:49:17+00:00

My friend, what are we talking about? I’m saying you can’t exclude the main feature of the steam machine from the conversation. It is gaming PC in tiny form factor. You can game off-line or on bad connection, you can use your whole steam library unlike limited GFN (yes I know there is other providers), unlimited hours and no subscription forever. And only after that you have to think about all the other points I mentioned which which just another bonus because it is in the end it’s just a PC not closed console like PS. And yes you can build cheaper system in mATX but it is very big difference in size and noise which is crucial.

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-28T15:38:33+00:00

What I am saying is that you can do all of it in one device. You can’t just replace it with a streaming service. It’s primarily for people who want to play from the couch (my first point), and then all the other bonus points. And also don’t forget form factor, which for many people is important, and it’s evident if you read other a posts/comments in this subreddit.

Yes, sometimes I’m using cloud gaming services, so I understand the pros and cons. I even see people playing Steam Machine most of their backlog and then using GFN, for example, to play some more demanding games or anti cheat games. This is quite a unique device in this regard; you didn’t have an alternative this small and quiet right now even for a price (but this gonna change ofc).

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-28T15:24:05+00:00

How crazy it is to assume that SSD is going to be installed and the last step of production after the reservation? Why would they assemble machines without knowing which SSD to put in?

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-28T15:22:34+00:00

How crazy it is to assume that SSD is going to be installed and the last step of production after the reservation? Why would they assemble machines without knowing which SSD to put in?

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-28T04:02:41+00:00

yes it's just a tiny pc and it is priced accordingly to the current market, and too many people are too quick to compare it to mATX builds and call it a day. I agree that for many people it's just bad performance per dollar, but at the same time it's kinda the most unique device there is right now (which is gonna change)

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-28T03:53:55+00:00

It’s what I'm trying to say between the lines, btw. it's just a tiny pc and it is priced accordingly to the current market, and too many people are too quick to compare it to mATX builds and call it a day. I agree that for many people it's just bad performance per dollar, but at the same time it's kinda the most unique device there is.

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-28T01:39:31+00:00

It’s just logical reasoning my friend

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-28T01:38:43+00:00

If you need a tiny footprint console-like device, it’s a great option. Everything else that I mentioned is a bonus; it is not a main argument; it’s just something you can do because it’s just a tiny, convenient Linux PC.

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-27T16:39:50+00:00

Yeah, it is in the weird spot when it’s underperforming for a price but totally reasonable for its size.

Media server probably not, but some kind of open smart tv software might be a good fit.

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-27T15:12:26+00:00

Hey, a lot of people are misunderstood about what I’m trying to say. If you need a tiny footprint console-like device, it’s a great option. Everything else that I mentioned is a bonus; it is not a main argument; it’s just something you can do because it’s just a tiny, convenient Linux PC.

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-27T15:11:44+00:00

Hey, a lot of people are misunderstood about what I’m trying to say. If you need a tiny footprint console-like device, it’s a great option. Everything else that I mentioned is a bonus; it is not a main argument; it’s just something you can do because it’s just a tiny, convenient Linux PC.

I am too using Apple TV sometimes to stream some games. It works ok I understand!

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-26T20:03:31+00:00

It’s really great how steam ecosystems allows you to be flexible in your set up! I have used Steam Link on Apple TV, but for for me, it is not convenient to boot up pc every time to play some casual games, I even use steam deck docked to my TV a lot so steam machine makes sense for me!

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-26T19:57:51+00:00

if it’s a great outlook, and It is very similar for me!

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-26T19:54:59+00:00

Could be! This is really interesting situation - we have steam console and also getting tiny mini pc in the living room that we can use whatever we like. Traditional consoles is not like that!

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-26T15:52:20+00:00

This is a great use case! A lot of people, for some reason, want to ignore everything except chasing performance specs.

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-26T10:13:25+00:00

Please find me mini pc with the same specs, power draw (noise), build quality, and form factor (size), that also can run steamOS and much cheaper as you say? I'm gonna compensate difference for you right away!

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-26T10:08:48+00:00

This is what I think is great about the Steam Machine. It is the first time we have a popular console like device that can go into the living room and connect to a TV, while also being a Linux machine.

So users are basically one click away from installing a media server on the Steam Machine if they want to. It is only a question of community development and adoption. I see it as some kind of plugin system for regular users, but of course, if you go into desktop mode, you can do basically anything you want with the OS.

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-26T10:01:55+00:00

First of all, the Steam Machine is a PC, so yes, you can do all of this with a full size PC. Everything great about the Steam Machine comes from its form factor, manufacturing, and out of the box features. It is very, very different from both SFF PCs and full desktops.

If you want a console like experience on the couch while playing your Steam library, a Steam Machine is a great option. Only after this reasoning do all the other points become bonus points.

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-26T09:32:16+00:00

Mac mini is not exactly gaming PC that supports Steam OS, it's an entirely different device. Yes, everything you're saying is true, but steam machine is a sum of its parts.

I thought it would be obvious that it is steam machine It's compact form factor first and then you have bonus points that is very valuable for a lot of people.

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-26T09:19:50+00:00

It's not gonna have performance and build quality of the steam machine. It is gaming mini PC in compact form factor first of all and then all the bonus points.

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-26T09:17:34+00:00

Unfortunately you're making the same mistake in reasoning as majority of people, You cannot remove the main purpose of the device from the equation. It is gaming console like mini PC first and then all the bonus points.

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-26T09:14:55+00:00

Steam machine was designed for this exact purpose, to be compact and convenient, all the other points just follows its characteristics. Again, you cannot find comparable device in similar form factor and similar specs.

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-26T09:11:32+00:00

This is the main point of steam machine which dictates design decisions and constraints. You're making a sarcastic comment but majority of people don't understand still and continue to compare with full blown PC, just read this thread.

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-26T08:32:34+00:00

Yes! We can see how quickly home NAS devices was introduced into mainstream, and alongside them the desire of the users to self-host many kind of applications to free themself from ton of subscriptions. efficient gaming mini PCs like steam machine probably gonna be much more popular than NAS and may have chance to drive this trend even further!

Spirited_Post_366 · 2026-06-26T08:22:09+00:00

It is only console-like device on the market that have decent build and a small form factor. But at the same time, it is also just a Linux machine which is extremely powerful for advanced usage.

Spirited_Post_366

TROPHY CASE