Piston new pc gaming console (might run steam)

http://asia.cnet.com/preorders-start-for...220799.htm

Update: According to Eurogamer, Valve is not involved in the Piston Console. However, it could still be running Steam and using the Big Picture feature for TVs.

You can now preorder the first Steam Box, a PC-based gaming console built around Valve's digital game distribution platform. Prices, however, start at US$1,000, though there's a US$100 discount if you order now.

The Piston Console was announced at CES earlier this year by manufacturer Xi3. The "grapefruit-sized" Piston uses Steam's Big Picture feature to bring console-style PC games to TV screens.

Xi3 is a modular PC vendor that has received funding from Valve, and its Piston Console is among a handful of such console-style PCs that are expected to arrive in 2013. The Piston Console is slated to ship in the holiday season at the end of 2013, which also happens to be the estimated launch period for Sony's next-generation PlayStation 4.

Valve's head honcho, Gabe Newell, had said in an interview earlier this month that Valve's Steam Box should be ready for testing "in the next three to four months".

According to a report by Siliconera, the Piston console retains its PC roots by offering users future hardware upgrade options. At the moment, those placing preorders can only select the size of the SSD, but the Piston is designed to enable the swapping of the RAM, motherboard, and even the AMD APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) that's powering the device.

However, such upgrades may not come cheap. As it is, switching to a 512GB SSD from the base 128GB version on the preorder page now adds US$750 to the price. This seems pretty excessive as one can easily purchase a similar SSD for less than US$500.

The report also quoted Xi3's Chief Marketing Officer, David Politis, who said that Piston "will ship standard with Windows", though users are able to install other operating systems on the device, like any PC.

Although Valve has been pushing Linux to developers with its Steam for Linux client, the majority of games are still on the Windows platform--there were just 81 Linux games available on Steam when we last checked. For any PC consoles to be successful, they probably have to support Windows, at least in the beginning. With upcoming consoles from Microsoft and Sony likely to sport PC hardware, it's difficult to imagine big-name game developers straying from the Windows platform anytime soon.

I dont think this is the answer for console gaming. In my opinion its going to flop hard, no pc gamer is going to jump ship from their customized gaming computers to buy a overpriced piston in a box. It might attract those hardcore steam fans which i know linger on southperry, but the price and the whole concept is horrible. It brings nothing new to the console war. I dont know how companies are able to put so much money behind projects that doesn't bring anything new to the table. So are gaming pc considered consoles now?

I still don't understand how a device that small could possibly hope to run Steam's library. Someone showed me a picture a few days back and it apparently fits in the palm of your hand.

Also, pre-ordering the thing 6 months in advance gets you...only $100 off? Really?

Seems like a terrible idea to me.

With the price of the Piston... yeah no.

It's nowhere near a replacement for anything.

The games i primarily use steam for are too nice to play on PC for me to ditch my PC.
Maybe if the price drops off and i get back into playing a lot of console friendly steam games, but for now i don't have any serious interest in it.

Later tonight i'll write up and build you guys a cheaper more powerful device.

Later tonight i'll write up and build you guys a cheaper more powerful device.

The price is directly related to the size of the machine. Of course you can build a cheaper, more powerful device...but it'll be mid tower sized, and not palm sized.

The price is directly related to the size of the machine. Of course you can build a cheaper, more powerful device...but it'll be mid tower sized, and not palm sized.

Would you rather spend a thousand bucks on something that can only run vidya, or 800 on something that can do everything?

Remember when consoles used to be affordable pieces of hardware to use exclusively for games? Pepperidge Farm Remembers

Would you rather spend a thousand bucks on something that can only run vidya, or 800 on something that can do everything?

You misunderstood me I guess. You were commenting about how you can build a more powerful device for less. I pretty much said "Of course you can build a more powerful device for less, they are charging so much for it because the machine is so small".

You misunderstood me I guess. You were commenting about how you can build a more powerful device for less. I pretty much said "Of course you can build a more powerful device for less, they are charging so much for it because the machine is so small".

Most of the price tag on that is the SSD I believe to be honest.

You're all missing the target audience for the Piston

Most of the price tag on that is the SSD I believe to be honest.

Well that wasn't the best horse to pick. Solid states aren't cheap, but they aren't really TOO expensive anymore.

You can pick a SATA III 128gb SSD up for sub $90 USD retail right now http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820227726

I don't imagine they will be using that exact SSD (nor do I think they will be purchasing them for retail price), but at most its $1 for 1gb on SSD's right now.

You're all missing the target audience for the Piston

People who don't know any better?

People who don't know any better?

Exactly, and people who want a Gaming-pc easy to handle, silent and without all those gimmicks you should know to keep your pc on top.

You're all missing the target audience for the Piston

Stupid/naive people?

Just because a PC is typically used with monitors doesn't mean you can't hook it up to a TV. That is the amazing use of HDMI.

Get wireless controllers, mice, and keyboards and you can put your PC in any room with a recent TV. You don't need a fancy and overpriced box.

Stupid/naive people?

Just because a PC is typically used with monitors doesn't mean you can't hook it up to a TV. That is the amazing use of HDMI.

Get wireless controllers, mice, and keyboards and you can put your PC in any room with a recent TV. You don't need a fancy and overpriced box.

But could that setup fit in your hands? Is it really silent? Doubt it.
I know it's stupid and I can't imagine how many people will actually buy this, but this is what they are targeting for, as much as we (I include myself cause I just start set up in mine and know I can see the vast advantages it givesto make your own PC) don't like it.
Let's just think about it as the Mac to Windows.

But could that setup fit in your hands? Is it really silent? Doubt it.
I know it's stupid and I can't imagine how many people will actually buy this, but this is what they are targeting for, as much as we (I include myself cause I just start set up in mine and know I can see the vast advantages it givesto make your own PC) don't like it.

I will agree that neither of those are true for any PC but I really don't see the need or the point for either. It's paying for such stupid crap, which is why I don't see it doing well. Fit in your hands? It's not a laptop. Sure it has portability but where are you going with it that you can't go with a decent gaming laptop? Silent? If your PC is too loud you're doing it wrong. The smallest game sounds should overpower your PC fans.

I honestly don't see the target audience here at all.

I honestly don't see the target audience here at all.

Of course you won't because you already know how to set up your own with better specs and cheaper.
But this is for people who doesn't care or don't want to learn to do so.
Also I think this is targeted to people who has a huge pc game library and that people want to share or play some co-op or whatever reason and don't want to/can't move their PC.
Just my opinion.

Of course you won't because you already know how to set up your own with better specs and cheaper.
But this is for people who doesn't care or don't want to learn to do so.
Also I think this is targeted to people who has a huge pc game library and that people want to share or play some co-op or whatever reason and don't want to/can't move their PC.
Just my opinion.

Honestly, anyone who has a huge PC library would know enough to know that this seems like a waste of money.

People who can't/don't want to move their PCs...that I can see more, but it still seems far too expensive for something like that considering it's size still makes me doubt it's capabilities. It's easier to buy all three gaming consoles currently released, hook them all up to your TV, and play some games that way. Would also widen your library significantly and probably cost the same if not way less. The price range just seems silly even moreso when you compare it to the console options.

Did they ever release specs?

Nope, but this is the biggest guess.