Sure, a freshly installed Windows (usually means pirated too) running an older game may have a small performance advantage over the same game that's then be retroactively "ported" to run Linux, the trouble is your average Windows computer you buy from the shop is HARDLY freshly installed. Besides the "rows" - literally - of tray applications (half of which are installed by the manufacturer) and other TSR services - including your anti-virus software etc, never mind the overall hit your Windows computer takes after you install the office suite (or heaven forbid - Visual studio) and most others drags your gaming performance to hell. All my mates reinstall Windows 3 times per year and their games play like junk on HW pricier than I have...

I think the biggest advantage SteamOS offers the average customers is the lightweight Linux kernel without having to know anything about our beloved open-source OS. Spec-for-spec the Steam Machines seem to be quite comparable price-wise to their PC equivalents, I would even call them cheap when you consider how expensive some branded PCs are. I am excited about a Steam Machines, and I have a PS4 too for those far more pricey games from the Sony Playstation Store, I buy 5 games on Steam/Linux for every 1 I buy on the PS4 simply on price!

In the end more competition means customers win, gamers win!

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Crack open a cold one and 'big game' hunt!

View this comment - View article - View full comments