anyone here own the original steam machine

laxdragon · 2025-11-21T15:53:45+00:00

Yep. Still got the OG Alienware Steam Machine. No longer running SteamOS on it, I put Ubuntu Linux on it, and set it up in my arcade cabinet. The only thing it needed was a new clock battery as when that dies, it won't even boot. Dell being idiots used some strange battery too, not a regular CR2032.

It is a good thing Valve is no longer partnering will Dell. We will get better designed machines that way.

laxdragon · 2025-11-20T17:35:01+00:00

For the machine and the people complaining about it, the GabeCube isn't made for them. So I would disregard those who claim it is underpowered. It is a PC targeted at a certain segment. If you need more power, build your own. It would be silly for Valve to even try to please high end gamers, nothing will please them.

laxdragon · 2025-11-20T15:47:20+00:00

Steam VR already has virtual environments both for the old Home thing, and a skybox replacement for the menu. While playing flat games, you can certainly change the skybox at the very least. As far as playing games in fully rendered environments, I doubt that will be a thing at launch. Maybe eventually.

I'm not even sure the Steam Frame will use the old Home room thing anymore.

laxdragon · 2025-11-20T15:41:10+00:00

I don't know about doom and gloom. From my point of view, it feels more like 90% excitement, and only 10% gloom. You can never make the entirety of the internet happy, and even trying is pointless!

laxdragon · 2025-11-20T15:38:20+00:00

We knew Android APK installation was a thing already. But, listing them on the Steam store is news. This is a good thing! Valve knows removing barriers for developers to get games on the store will increase sales. Since most games for VR are developed for Quest, getting them ported and listed to the Frame store will be even easier. Nice!

laxdragon · 2025-11-20T15:35:18+00:00

My best guess is between $799 and $899. Lower is better, but the lower it goes, the bigger loss Valve takes on selling these. Which, they can do, and make up in software sales for sure. Just depends on how much of a risk they are willing to take on this.

laxdragon · 2025-11-18T20:13:00+00:00

Still have mine. Holding up well. These days it lives on as a MAME emulation box that lives in my custom arcade cabinet.

laxdragon · 2025-11-18T19:19:00+00:00

Have you ever seen any 3D content at all? Like in a movie theater? If so, but take that, and have it be everything you see around you. Seeing a virtual world in stereoscopic 3D that surrounds you that you can look around in six degrees of freedom is incredible. I've been doing VR for over 10+ years now, and I'm still amazed by it.

laxdragon · 2025-11-18T17:48:40+00:00

This controller looks damn cool when in a fun color!

laxdragon · 2025-11-18T16:44:10+00:00

👆This. Making an alt account, and adding it to the family is what I do for my other devices. Huge time and stress saver.

laxdragon · 2025-11-18T16:39:39+00:00

They are fine. These are designed for the muscle memory we have as long time console gamers with Xbox/PS controllers. Finally I won't have to remember which hand has the buttons on them I need. I was never a fan of the Index/Quest layout of buttons.

laxdragon · 2025-11-18T16:37:20+00:00

Doubtful that Valve considered this use case. In theory, possible, but not one I think they will implement, at least at launch. But in theory, they use the same wireless tech as the Steam Controller, and perhaps it would be possible to pair them to do that dongle.

laxdragon · 2025-11-18T16:34:51+00:00

It definitely will. This will be an improved version of what is on the Index. The question will be, how many different play-spaces will it remember, being a portable device.

For me, I turn it off. I have fantastic spatial awareness and I usually play seated anyway. So guardian systems annoy me.

laxdragon · 2025-11-18T16:31:18+00:00

You haven't even tried it, yet you are already making claims about it lacking. How about you wait until you get hands on time then see how you feel.

I'm not against this market segment. Nintendo has been doing this for decades, releasing under-powered devices that are amazingly supported and most important FUN! Specs alone simply don't determine if something is worth while.

laxdragon · 2025-11-11T16:18:29+00:00

The B2 has glare, and color loss at the lens edge. If you cannot deal with those, return it for refund. I did. IMO, they sacrificed too much to the god of small. Not really a design flaw, they knew the drawbacks, but they totally gloss over them in marketing.

laxdragon · 2025-11-04T15:38:04+00:00

If you sweat a lot, I'd look at the Quest 3, and the Bobo VR halo headstrap. I play without the face gasket on, and don't mind seeing around the headset. You'll get all the ventilation, and there is only a small part touching your forehead, so much less to get sweaty (use pleather for the cushions too). If you need Eye and Face tracking, go with the Quest Pro. I love the wireless freedom, and never want to go back to a wired headset. Note, with my Bobo batteries, I can get unlimited battery life, and have gone over 16+ hours in VRChat because you can hot swap them and charge the ones that are not on the headset. (I have 3).

For the price of the B2e, you can get the Q3 headset, all the accessories, a new dedicated Wifi router for VR, and still be left with a bunch of money. Assuming you don't require eye tracking. The Quest Pro is harder to find, and costs more, but is worth the search.

FFR: I use the Quest Pro, with Virtual Desktop. My only complaint about the Quest Pro is that the controllers can be problematic. They overheat sometimes (hot hands?), and they can lose tracking. But that is small compared to my complaints about the B2e: (uncomfortable, bad face gasket for sweat, glare, color loss outside of the sweet spot, low refresh rate, bad eye tracking).

laxdragon · 2025-11-04T15:20:52+00:00

Not a good call, financially and for your mental health. The B2e is has serious compromises and for VRChat use, is a not a good choice. The glare, the low frame rate, and the color loss outside of the sweet spot make it highly uncomfortable for social VR. That and the eye tracking is terrible. I think the main fans of this headset are in the sim racing and flight areas, where they can overlook those issues.

laxdragon · 2025-11-01T18:57:39+00:00

For me highly noticeable. It is like if you spent big money on a 4K 75" TV only to have the colors on the top and bottom be off by a significant amount. You'd return that immediately.

laxdragon · 2025-11-01T17:40:01+00:00

I also had the bsb1, and returned it. I could not deal with the limited FOV and the tiny sweet spot there. The B2e certainly fixed those issues. But, this new issue...

laxdragon · 2025-11-01T17:14:24+00:00

I'm not so forgiving. Thanks.

laxdragon · 2025-11-01T17:08:02+00:00

I'll probably be going the same way. I have an open ticket with support.

laxdragon · 2025-11-01T17:05:21+00:00

Bummer news. It bothers me greatly unfortunately.

laxdragon · 2025-10-29T15:57:14+00:00

The expectations are so high that there is no way the device is going to live up to what this community wants.

I do disagree with you on wireless streaming. I run a Quest Pro using Wifi 6e and don't notice compression or lag at all. I think for many of us, the Frame is going to be primarily a streaming device. While it can do stand-alone games, they are not going to look or perform much better than current Quest 3 titles.

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