Initial Setup & SteamOS Overview
Getting the Steam Machine setup is extremely easy. Place it in your home theater or where you plan on using it, connect power, HDMI, and Ethernet if you plan on using a wired connection. Next grab the Steam Controller and install the batteries. Now press the power button on the front of the unit and you are good to go.
To give you an idea of size you can see the Zotac Steam Machine in my home theater with the Alienware Steam Machine and NZXT DOKO.
When you turn on the unit for the first time SteamOS will go through all of its initial setup questions and it will ask you to login to your Steam Account. The entire process should take no more than 10 minutes.
SteamOS itself is a specialized custom version of Debian Linux. This brings the cost of a Steam Machine down because the creator of the Steam Machine does not have to pay a fee for the use of the operating system like they do for a Windows-based machine. Now you would never really know you are running Linux as SteamOS automatically loads Steam in Big Picture mode when you turn the system on.
Steam’s Big Picture mode is very easy to navigate. It is very easy to go through your Game Library, search and buy games from Steam, see when your friends are online and chat with them and there is even a web-browser built in. It is extremely functional and if you are strictly going to playing games then I don’t see any major problems with it. Check out the video below to see a full overview of SteamOS.
Considering the form factor, can you really build a comparable PC in the same price range (or even at all)? There are some folks – myself included – for whom the form factor is quite important, so I was willing to dish out some extra cash for the SN970. However, using this hardware as a Steam OS machine limits its capabilities dramatically, so if somebody is willing to buy it, you might as well add additional cost of XBox One controller and Win10 license – with those additions you’ll have a full blown gaming PC in the sexiest of the form factors.
Thanks for the review – I too now own 2 Steam Machines and still have mixed feelings. But I think the potential is there – I’m just wondering if Valve will bring that potential to realization. With that said – I’ve kept SteamOS on both my Steam Machines (one an Alienware, the other a CyberPower Syber). The Zotac looks like a nice upgrade from the Alienware.
My issues with SteamOS isn’t the lack of games, or even the performance of games. I think they perform fine. Not as good as the windows counterparts – but as good or better than the Console version. What is holding it back to me is it doesn’t replace my Xbox One fore media functions (Netflix, Vudu, etc.). I hardly game on the Xbox One anymore – except for Shape Up which is a kinect based exercise program. But I do still run a slew of media related apps. I have a very large collection on Vudu now. Without a Blue-ray/DVD Player coming with most steam machines – and the clunky browser interface, I’m afraid that it’s a huge hole that I’m not sure Valve can fix. They can’t write their own Netflix or Hulu App, and there isn’t critical mass yet for those companies to even consider it.
Hopefully that changes around – cause other than that, I have no issues with my Steam Machines.
I have nothing but issues with Windows as a living room device. There is ALWAYS something getting in the way – whether it’s a notification that won’t go away or a device driver that quits or games getting launched simultaneously (like my kids always seem to do). Windows 10 has made it even worse as Microsoft keeps going more an more towards touchbased GUI’s. It’s clunky at best… At least SteamOS addresses those issues – which is why I’ve decided to stick with it on the Steam Machines and keep windows on my gaming PC’s. Kids are happy with it so far – so no reason to put Windows on it. Xbox 360 Wireless Controller works great with it as well. I know there are a few developers now working on getting the Xbox One Controller to work wirelessly (right now it works only wired).
sure, Win 10 is far from perfect OS, but for a hardcore gamer it’s still far better option than Steam OS, the benefits (bigger selection of Steam games, better performance, access to non-Steam games) outweigh the problems. then again, if one doesn’t require their hardware to be utilized to its fullest potential, Steam OS might be a viable choice – but if that’s the case, this particular machine seems to be an overkill for this purpose.