Valve releases first generation Steam Machines

The target customer of the Steambox is not the kind of person who is going to just install a new OS...

Either way with all of that, I am just saying Steam, like madsci says, has the special setup right now, where if they did make a global library for steam, and made all Steam games compatable to play with players on any device, then they could have a console platform that looks like a console and has a controller and list games that work with that system and controller, and the PC with hardware specifications, and then they could try to take every customer on both sides of the fence.

Think about it. A steam console running a steambox os could have a controller and be capatable with mouse-keyboard for any games requiring one but most could use the controller as to not complicate, and it could easily allow people to get Netflix apps and anything a computer could run almost. Then, the PC verson could easily also allow people to play those games, and watch internet videos or whatever. They would act the same (steambox os), but the console could be a system they can sell that works like a single device, and PC players can continue using their PCs and perephials.

I think I have an undeniable argument that it is what they are slowly eyeballing to do. They release a controller. They release a crossplatform OS. They release prebuilt machines. They keep basically "testing" what it takes to make a console. Then one day, they will have a list of checks on their checklist, and will decide **** it, dump the cash into a console and may God look over them.

I don't know, speaking for myself here, i have a ton of steam games that only run on windows. So if i was to buy one, i would need to install windows to play most (if not all) of my games.
I don't really plan on buying a Steambox just yet (Smash Bros is going to take a good bit of cash, plus i plan on getting the big 3 consoles like i did with the last 3 gens, i know, i know.) but most people won't be able to play a good bit of the games on SteamOS that they already own just yet.

Which is something steam needs to work on. They really do need a magic way to make windows games run on their ****.

I don't see how they'll be a success, to be honest.

I think that most people who would install another OS on it are capable of building a PC instead.

Found this: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-01-11-valve-plays-the-long-game-again
Suggests that these things aren't really meant to blow people away or sell a ton, but just start trying to get the grounding for more solid future work