Submitted ⁨⁨9⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨cloudless@piefed.social⁩ to ⁨steamdeck@sopuli.xyz⁩

[Discussion] I am finally in the Steam Machine reservation queue. Can you guys convince me to CANCEL my reservation?

I am in the Steam Machine 2026 reservation queue now. Please convince me NOT to buy one. I don’t really have a gaming PC right now. I am hoping that the Steam Machine can replace my productivity laptop, so I can play modern games on it and also have better general performance for productivity apps.

My current gaming setup:

Laptop with integrated Intel Iris XE graphics (only for productivity and limited 2D gaming)
1440p monitor
Xbox series S
Switch Lite
Switch 2
Logitech G Cloud
GeForce Now performance subscription

I spend most of the time playing on handhelds (native/streaming), but occasionally on the computer monitor. Currently I stream from either GFN or the Xbox (remote play) to my Logitech G Cloud.

I have a huge backlog, and very limited time to play games due to busy life.

Other points to consider:

Xbox series S is too weak for some recent games, even at 1080p
I am not just going to use the Steam Machine with the monitor, I will mostly stream the Steam Machine to my Logitech G Cloud
I don’t mind the Linux desktop environment, I actually prefer it over Windows
Gaming laptops are too hot and noisy
I don’t want a large Windows PC, I like the steam machine form factor.
My Xbox series S is also used only for streaming to my Logitech G Cloud
GeForce Now has a limited library, there are many steam games I want that are not available on GFN
I’ve considered getting a Mac Mini, but the new one is too expensive.
I worry that GFN will raise their prices or put further limits. Or new games I want won’t be available on GFN. I feel like with GFN, I own nothing and it is out of my control.
I love retro games and emulation (The Logitech G Cloud is too weak for PS2/Gamecube/PS3 emulation)
I have very good internet connectivity and good wifi 7.

Additionally:

Gaming handhelds such as the Steamdeck and ROG Ally are too big and heavy.
I want to be able to play upcoming games such as Fable and Elder’s Scroll 6
I do not need to play on the couch with TV
I only play single player games, mostly RPGs
I enjoy the cheaper game prices of Steam (vs Xbox/Nintendo)
I don’t need native Microsoft 365 apps, I am happy with Linux apps
I don’t trust most mini PC brands
I am mostly a patient gamer, and often wait until at least 50% discount to buy games

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Comments

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inbn@lemmy.zip ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
I own one and these are the best arguments against:

much less upgradeable than a regular pc

still possible to build something much more performant for the same/less money especially if you compromise on size (although this is less true every day)

consoles still offer greater subsidized performance/dollar ratio

That said I love mine. I was nervous at first but even as a new release with some of the software kinks getting worked out it is still super low maintenance and has me playing more games than ever. I pulled the trigger based on my positive experience with the steam deck and I really do think it is a thoughtful, beautiful machine that is more than the sum of its (expensive) parts.
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MystValkyrie@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨7⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
I’m not sure how you feel about upgradability or if you need to have resolutions over 1440p, but aside from those downsides, the Steam Machine is the best deal in PC gaming right now, and would be an upgrade in your case.

It’s likely going to be able to run new AAA games for at least the first half of the PS6 generation while likely being way cheaper now than what Sony will sell its competitor for. It’s also incredible at emulating everything up to Switch, and even Bloodborne on PS4, and I can say from experience that it handles PS3/GameCube/PS2 amazingly well.

And unlike most Mini PC manufacturers, Valve makes high-quality, long-lasting products, and you can find detailed guides and replacement parts on ifixit. I’ve had awful experiences with companies like Minisforum, but I am a Steam Machine user and I can honestly say it’s the best “console” or PC I’ve ever owned.

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artyom@piefed.social ⁨6⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
I mean it’s not hard to create a compelling argument for not buying one. Just watch pretty much any of the reviews.

The easiest argument is that you can do better building your own PC and putting SteamOS or Bazzite or Cachy handheld editions on it.

However it will likely be much larger, less efficient, and possibly more noisy. And won’t support HDMI-CEC.

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- cloudless@piefed.social ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Most of the reviews I have watched are very positive about the Machine. Building my own PC doesn’t really get any cheaper these days, and I want the Steam Machine form factor.
  
  The only criticism I have seen are about not being able to do native 4K, which I don’t care for.
  
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  - artyom@piefed.social ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    Hardware Unboxed had the harshest review I found, calling it “impossible to recommend”, and the video was full of similar commentary. Honestly I unsusbscribed from this channel after this review (and based on many other of what I consider to be “bad takes"). But there were many other largely negative reviews that I came across with similar points. Namely the price is too high and the hardware is unimpressive.
    
    DIY does get quite a bit cheaper. Especially if you look at used parts, and account for repairability and longevity. I just had a PSU crap out on me on my desktop. If that were a Steam Machine there would probably be no parts available, as it was ~10 years old. But since it is a standard modular PSU people have been producing for like 40 years, I was able to choose between several dozen models that suited my needs and it just bolted right in.
    
    I don’t particularly want to convince you not to buy one. And if it’s the form factor and low noise you’re after, there’s not really anything comparable available. There are a thousand mini PCs but none of them have the giant fan/heatsink combo that creates the low-noise conditions. And it’s so much better than any other console.
    
    But you asked me to try 😅
    
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grue@lemmy.world ⁨8⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
I’ve considered getting a Mac Mini, but the new one is too expensive.

The cheapest Steam Machine is more expensive than the cheapest Mac Mini (although a Mac Mini with comparable RAM and storage is more expensive).

I don’t trust most mini PC brands

I’m not sure how much that matters if you’d be running Linux on it anyway.

Sorry, that’s all the argument I got. I myself just bought a Steam Machine with even less good reason, so…
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- cloudless@piefed.social ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  The Mac Mini m4 is no longer available where I am, the new Mac Mini m6 is slightly more expensive than the Steam Machine.
  
  The mini PC brands still matter even with linux, because I want hardware reliability and drivers support.
  
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  - grue@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    
    The Mac Mini m4 is no longer available where I am, the new Mac Mini m6 is slightly more expensive than the Steam Machine.
    
    Interesting. In the US, the Mac Mini is $899 for the cheapest model, while the Steam Machine is $1049. It’s another $400 for 24GB unified RAM/512GB SSD to match the Steam Machine’s specs, but the Mac Mini’s low end starts lower.
    
    The mini PC brands still matter even with linux, because I want hardware reliability and drivers support.
    
    Ah, that’s a different kind of “trust” than I thought. I thought you meant factory-installed malware because they’re mostly no-name Chinese brands or something like that.
    
    I have some experience with that, as I’m running Linux on four mini PCs of three different brands (a “Minisforum,” a “Bosgame,” and two “Nimo”). The Nimos have been fine (but I don’t recommend the Amazon seller I got them from because he screwed me out of some RAM). I had a problem installing Debian on the Minisforum, but it works fine with Kubuntu.
    
    The Bosgame is the most relevant: I got it for my parents and installed (I think) Kubuntu on it, but it seems to have some kind of driver problem with the power management because it doesn’t wake from sleep properly. It also got hot enough to scare my mom, although I’m not sure how reliable her complaint is because what she thinks is too hot might still be within the normal operating range, for all I know. (It’s at their house, so I don’t have easy access to diagnose it myself.)
    
    Anyway, even though it’s massive overkill for their “hardly computer-literate Boomer” use-case, I’m replacing that Bosgame with a Steam Machine solely because it’s the only mini PC I know of with first-party Linux support!
    
    (Sigh) At least the grandkids might get some actual gaming use out of it when they visit…
    
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barkingspiders@infosec.pub ⁨8⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Based on what you said, you can get a slightly cheaper pre built that’s more powerful. It’ll run the newer games better. The cube will struggle even on 1080 on a lot of the new AAA games. The cube premium is mostly to do with the form factor and console like features such as the CEC control for your media center. If you don’t care about that or the form factor get a cheaper pre built probably and install steamos or one of the forks.

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- cloudless@piefed.social ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Yeah I do care about the form factor a lot. And I want a quiet device.
  
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- grue@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  He did say he didn’t want a large PC. My gaming computer is damn near as small as it gets – see size comparison pic below – but (a) even that’s over twice the size of a Gabe Cube, and (b) the ITX motherboard SFX PSU do add some amount to the cost, along with the case itself. (I would’ve mentioned the mandatory AIO cooler my particular case requires, but it turns out those are surprisingly cheap these days.)
  
  Image (Note the Steam Machine measures 156 × 152 × 162.4 mm. About the same width as my A4-H2O, but only 2/3 as tall and 1/2 as deep.)
  
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giminic@lemmy.world ⁨8⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
GG on your place on the list. Got mine a few months ago. Played like half an hour on it. Have fun!

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- cloudless@piefed.social ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Why only half an hour?
  
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Waterpumpee@lemmus.org ⁨7⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
I quit GFN when they added the play time limits. Really gave me anxiety. Plus they tend to add games i could play with my framework laptop anyway. Was a good service until then.

If you are fine with GFN’s service, my advice would be to stick to it. I think you cant get away cheaper. If you are OK with their limitations. Also you still own your games and build a library with GFN.

Speaking of owning. You don’t own Steam games. You purchase a license to access them.

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- cloudless@piefed.social ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Yeah I felt the same anxiety at first, but then I realised that with my Xbox and Switch, I don’t really need that many hours with GFN. With my busy life sometimes I even have my month of GFN completely unused.
  
  I understand about the lack of software ownership, I was referring to the ownership of hardware vs GFN subscription.
  
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ericwdhs@discuss.online ⁨6⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
I know you asked for the opposite, but it actually sounds like you’re a good fit for the Steam Machine. You didn’t mention the price being a deal breaker. You will appreciate the form factor and quietness. You want performance, but you’re apparently not a stickler for it, and the Steam Machine should be enough performance for a long while, especially with the market stagnating. You already like Linux. You mentioned a busy life, and the Steam Machine doesn’t require you to build it, makes getting in and out of games as fast as it’s possible to be on PC, and is popular enough that you will have the most possible reference material for quickly setting unique things up (like emulation) or doing troubleshooting.

Now, it does have less modularity and upgradability than your typical desktop PC, including small form factor builds (usually still at least twice the size and noisier), but how big of a negative that is is up to you.

You mentioned the Steam Deck being too heavy. Have you tried using it, or is that an assumption based on its listed weight? I personally find it so well balanced that it feels lighter than it actually is, and that’s apparently a common opinion, but I’m always interested in seeing other opinions. It’s probably the best backlog killer available now (including over the Steam Machine) if you can work with its compromises.

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- cloudless@piefed.social ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Yeah I have tried holding the Steam Deck. I guess my wrists are weak as I am getting old. I think the Steam Machine’s price is reasonable for what it is, I am just not sure if it is worth it for my use cases.
  
  Thanks for writing a thoughtful response.
  
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  - ericwdhs@discuss.online ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    Fair enough, and you’re welcome.
    
    I will add that I have a Steam Machine I only occasionally use because I have a much better desktop already connected to my living room TV. However, I don’t regret getting it, because it’s genuinely a joy to use every time I have a good excuse to, and it’s a nice refuge from a tech industry that largely feels hostile to its users.
    
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CalcProgrammer1@lemmy.today ⁨6⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Steam Machine has been awesome for me as a TV PC and couch gaming machine. Cloud gaming is anti-consumer and being able to get away from subscription-based nonsense would be a serious advantage if you do choose to buy it. Owning your own hardware puts you in control, not NVIDIA. SteamOS is great but the Steam Machine is just a PC at the end of the day, you can put SteamOS on another PC and you can install other OSes on the Steam Machine. I have my Machine triple booting SteamOS, Arch, and Windows.

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user_6282638282@sopuli.xyz ⁨6⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Did you get the order email at the same time? I’ve seen numerous reports of this, but didn’t happen for me.

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- cloudless@piefed.social ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  No, I only got the reservation queue notice, not the order email.
  
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  - user_6282638282@sopuli.xyz ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    Thanks for relieving some anxiety lol
    
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TachyonTele_Esq@piefed.social ⁨8⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Do you want a steam machine?

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- cloudless@piefed.social ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  I don’t know. I’m 50/50 right now. I feel like my current setup is ok, the Steam Machine would be a nice to have and I am not sure if it is worth the cost for me.
  
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