SteamOS Now Available For Download

[RicoADF]

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?

As someone who works in IT I must point out that the stupidity and ignorance of the average user can vary between Einstein and a dodo, you get people who know what their doing and those that shouldn't be allowed near a computer ever. I have given up saying "no one can be that dumb", trust me if it can be done then no matter how stupid it is more than 1 idiot will do it.

*snip*
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.

Don't be so stupid, this isn't timed exclusivity this is a BETA, an early development build, and since nVidia have had the biggest issues with getting running on linux in the past its no suprise their focusing on getting their drivers working, AMD has been far more compatible in the past and I suspect they know it'll be easy to add later on with less issues. At the very least their focusing on one issue at a time, this is a big undertaking and Valve has to make sure they pull it off because bad stigmas are near impossible to rub off.

Going by what you've said I'd say stay away from it for now, this early build is for those like myself who are technically minded and are willing to test early builds to help valve find any bugs. Wait until the official release and by then more games should be out.

 

[Da Orky Man]

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.

http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-linux/

Given that SteamOS uses the standard Linux Runtime, Skype ought to work fine on it. Plus, as was said in the article, compatibility with AMD cards in on its way, so no need to be so depressive about the whole thing.

 

[Yoshi4102]

Meanwhile at Valve, everyone is laughing at all the people who deleted windows accidentally while installing Steam OS. They must now accept their new overlord.

 

[iniudan]

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

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

Because about every every recent motherboard is UEFI, if you want to install on older hardware, there is instruction on how to create a bios compatible installation usb key, on the steamos forum.

 

[Shadow-Phoenix]

Nah I think I'll still keep with windows for a good few years valve, I'm happy where I am thanks.

 

[Albino Boo]

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!"

In case you have failed to notice SteamOS comes with steam built in just like Android, IOS and Windows comes with their respective shops. The clue is in the title.

 

[kasperbbs]

"SteamOS is designed to run Steam and Steam games. It also provides a desktop mode which can run regular Linux applications." Well that was obvious, but still sucks. The only reason to even consider installing this thing on my PC would be if it runs games with a lot better fps than windows.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

They should have made the warning label bigger for it and type in big bold comic sans [HEADING=2]PARTITION YOU'RE GOD DAMN HDD[/HEADING]

Even if they'd have done that people still would have installed it over their current OS. I know not everyone has done this before but at least read the instructions if you haven't.

 

[Smooth Operator]

The only reason to even consider installing this thing on my PC would be if it runs games with a lot better fps than windows.

The only reason anyone should consider SteamOS or a SteamBox is if they can't handle PC gaming with all it's maintenance, yes for the knowledgeable this is a cakewalk but for a novice hell let's even say my sister who has been using PCs for well over 10 years that is a bucket of mystery she would never go near without having me to fix everything.

So when SteamOS is done it may be a gaming for dummies standard, but it isn't now and it sure as hell will not be the more versatile OS.

 

[Colt47]

They should have made the warning label bigger for it and type in big bold comic sans [HEADING=2]PARTITION YOU'RE GOD DAMN HDD[/HEADING]

Even if they'd have done that people still would have installed it over their current OS. I know not everyone has done this before but at least read the instructions if you haven't.

I'd avoid the entire Hard disk partitioning and just get a second hard disk. Or better yet, use a Virtual Machine like VMWare player and try out the beta first instead of going off and installing it onto a perfectly operable machine. My heart goes out to IT people who have to deal with incompetent users that nuke their computers.

Personally, unless someone is 100% sure of the stability of an OS and that the installer includes utilities for setting up a proper boot loader (good old GRUB2), I'd never install it outside of a virtual machine. Even then, I'd make sure I have my windows or main OS backed up using Shadow Protect 5 or at least Windows Backup. Don't trust Acronis with anything other than basic file recovery for bad installs.

Speaking of which, I still need to get rid of Acronis and get my Shadow Protect 5 running.

 

[walrusaurus]

I'm not saying i set up the whole thing without reading the "Nvidia Only" right in the middle of the system reqs. But uh.... i may have done that.

Is it just me or has that particular middle finger been flipped at us more and more frequently lately...

Frustrating

 

[Evil Smurf]

Right on! I'll boot up my virtual machine and give this new OS a bash, it can live next to windows, android and Ubuntu

 

[MmmFiber]

Once they get support for AMD video cards, I will probably test this out. I'm interested to see how much like linux it is.

 

[Eric the Orange]

Once they get support for AMD video cards, I will probably test this out. I'm interested to see how much like linux it is.

well, I mean, it is Linux. It's what I believe is referred to as a "kernel" of Linux. Like Unbuntu or Unix.

 

[synobal]

It amazes me how many people don't understand that this is the beta for a full fledged OS, and it isn't some sort of evil scheme designed to destroy PC gaming.

I've seen some guys saying valve is trying to make a walled garden etc etc, but they are using an open source linux distro to do it? Please that would be like making a walled garden for your house and then forgetting to install any gates and then leaving 1 side open to the street.

 

[PoolCleaningRobot]

4 gigs of ram and an Nvidia graphics card seem a little steep for OS requirements. I'm curious to see how smooth this will run on decent computers. I would test the distro on my netbook but I don't meet those specifications and with the ram requirements I won't be able to run it in virtual box on my main pc

 

[Psychobabble]

Okay so no AMD support yet. I'll give it a whirl when that get's added.