SteamOS Now Available For Download

[Steven Bogos]

SteamOS Now Available For Download

Those of you working on putting together a "Steam Box" of your own can now test out Valve's proprietary operating system.

It's finally here! Earlier in the month, we heard that Valve would be shipping out the very first download it for free [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/130459-Beta-Steam-Machines-and-Controllers-Shipping-Dec-13].

You can download the SteamOS client via the unofficial torrent [http://repo.steampowered.com/download/SteamOSInstaller.zip] to relieve some of the strain on Valve's servers.

Valve have put together a couple of guides on the OS, including a detailed guide on building a Steam Machine for commercial sale [http://store.steampowered.com/steamos/buildyourown]. Either way, any potential Steam Machine will have to meet the following minimum system requirements:
Processor: Intel or AMD 64-bit capable processor
Memory: 4GB or more RAM
Hard Drive: 500GB or larger disk
Video Card: NVIDIA graphics card (AMD and Intel graphics support coming soon!)
Additional: UEFI boot support
USB port for installation


If you have any more questions, you should check out the "in-home streaming" [http://steamcommunity.com/groups/steamuniverse/discussions/1/648814395741989999/]) is not available in this build of the OS. Valve stresses that this is still an early beta, and to stay tuned for more updates.

Source: SteamDB [http://steamdb.info/blog/35/]


Permalink

 

[CpT_x_Killsteal]

"WARNING: Both installation methods will erase all content on the target computer"

Read the guide before you go installing willy-nilly. Gonna have to find a way to have two OSs on my computer I guess. I'm sure I'll find it with a bit of googling, so it shouldn't be too difficult.

EDIT: I'm sure the more tech-savvy people already knew what installing it would do.
EDIT 2: I barely have any space on my HDD left anyways :S

 

[Skeleon]

As I said back then, I'm still not sure why I would want this. At all.

But sure, let's see what people's experiences with it are and whether or not they get royally screwed some way or another. Or maybe it is advantageous in some manner? Who knows. I'd prefer not to be the guinea pig.

 

[Cecilo]

As I said back then, I'm still not sure why I would want this. At all.

But sure, let's see what people's experiences with it are and whether or not they get royally screwed some way or another. Or maybe it is advantageous in some manner? Who knows. I'd prefer not to be the guinea pig.

It is advantageous for those that do not want to have to deal with Microsoft going "Haha. All your money goes through us now, just like Apple. Thanks!"

 

[Skeleon]

It is advantageous for those that do not want to have to deal with Microsoft going "Haha. All your money goes through us now, just like Apple. Thanks!"

I'm not even sure what that's supposed to mean, bolded. What money's now "going through" Microsoft and Apple and what do you mean by "going through"?

And why would "All your money goes through Valve now, thanks!" be any better?

Also, if I want an alternative OS, why not just use Linux rather than this peculiar version of it (as far as I remember, that's what the SteamOS is based on, anyway)?

 

[Skeleon]

Its meant to be optimized for games.

Okay, let's have the folks try it out then and we'll see whether there's any reason to switch. Although when I hear "optimized for games", I tend to - perhaps unfairly - think "reduced functionality in other areas".

No bloat from Microsoft. While still being free.

Just get the non-Valve-ified Linux. *shrug*

 

[Infernal Lawyer]

There's already a thread on the Steam Forums complaining about how he/she deleted all of his/her data. Handle with care, children!

 

[Stavros Dimou]

You know, how the hell do people NOT know reformatting deletes your data?

and how the hell do they reformat without first backing up their files?

This is basic computer maintenance. What are they doing with a BETA of an OS meant for specialists if they can't do the basics? What am I missing here?

People are so much misinformed or with false expectations. What I read on the Steam Forums is messages from users who seem like they didn't even read the download page of what they downloaded and tried to install.

Some are making rant threads because SteamOS BETA, a CONSOLE operating system doesn't run their Windows programs natively...

Others say Valve is evil because it wants to steal from Microsoft its consumers.

Others are bashing the thing because not everything works,while Valve has already said that not everything will work because its a BETA and not the final,consumer version that will be out in 2014.

People just jump on the bandwagon of hype and download and install things without even knowing what it is that they are installing and without having prior experience on doing it.

 

[Captain1ndustry]

Has anyone gave this a try? How does it handle video card drivers, etc?

 

[Infernal Lawyer]

You know, how the hell do people NOT know reformatting deletes your data?

and how the hell do they reformat without first backing up their files?

This is basic computer maintenance. What are they doing with a BETA of an OS meant for specialists if they can't do the basics? What am I missing here?

People are so much misinformed or with false expectations. What I read on the Steam Forums is messages from users who seem like they didn't even read the download page of what they downloaded and tried to install.

Some are making rant threads because SteamOS BETA, a CONSOLE operating system doesn't run their Windows programs natively...

Others say Valve is evil because it wants to steal from Microsoft its consumers.

Others are bashing the thing because not everything works,while Valve has already said that not everything will work because its a BETA and not the final,consumer version that will be out in 2014.

People just jump on the bandwagon of hype and download and install things without even knowing what it is that they are installing and without having prior experience on doing it.

Wow. In the Steam Family Sharing Forums, you could get stomped on for so much as suggesting features (e.g. Ask for parental controls and people just accuse you of not knowing how to control your kids :/)

But meh, that's what you get. Everyone believes Valve when they say it's the second coming of Christ, but don't notice when they say it's a Beta and thus not a full product yet.

 

[major_chaos]

I wasn't particularly excited for this in the first place because even if I'm going to use it as a secondary OS just for gaming (the only way I would ever even consider using it) I still want skype which I doubt will work, not to mention that none of my non steam games will even run. But none of that really matters seeing as apparently we are giving timed exclusivity to graphics card manufactures now and thus as a AMD user I literally can't run it.

 

[Ninja_Bob117]

I wasn't particularly excited for this in the first place because even if I'm going to use it as a secondary OS just for gaming (the only way I would ever even consider using it) I still want skype which I doubt will work, not to mention that none of my non steam games will even run. But none of that really matters seeing as apparently we are giving timed exclusivity to graphics card manufactures now and thus as a AMD user I literally can't run it.

You should from what i understand be able to install skype or some third party software that can use skpyes network as it is just running on a normal Linux base

 

[cookyt]

I wasn't particularly excited for this in the first place because even if I'm going to use it as a secondary OS just for gaming (the only way I would ever even consider using it) I still want skype which I doubt will work, not to mention that none of my non steam games will even run. But none of that really matters seeing as apparently we are giving timed exclusivity to graphics card manufactures now and thus as a AMD user I literally can't run it.

The OS is based on Debian 7 which Skype provides a linux client for: http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-linux/ You should be able to install non-steam linux games on it, but not your Windows-only games. The Nvidia-only thing is a pain, but the OS is in beta, and Valve has been working on grahpics card issues with Nvidia, it would makes sense here. AMD card support will likely be provided in the official release.

 

[Strazdas]

"WARNING: Both installation methods will erase all content on the target computer"

Read the guide before you go installing willy-nilly. Gonna have to find a way to have two OSs on my computer I guess. I'm sure I'll find it with a bit of googling, so it shouldn't be too difficult.

EDIT: I'm sure the more tech-savvy people already knew what installing it would do.
EDIT 2: I barely have any space on my HDD left anyways :S

linux needs its own file system so the HDD partition its installed on will be cleaned. This would be basic knowledge, but humans....

You know, how the hell do people NOT know reformatting deletes your data?

and how the hell do they reformat without first backing up their files?

This is basic computer maintenance. What are they doing with a BETA of an OS meant for specialists if they can't do the basics? What am I missing here?

You assume average PC user knows basic computer maintenance. They dont.
What are they doing with a BETA of an OS? following valve fan hype.

 

[Vie]

So wait, it requires UEFI? Or simply supports it?

If its requires, then I'm rather confused as to why.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

It's never a good idea to install a beta version of an OS. Especially if it's Linux based.