Whats going to hold you back from running SteamOS/Linux

[Nvidiaguy07]

I love the idea of SteamOS, and ditching windows altogether. Over the past few years, Linux had made great strides, and more and more of what I do is browser based, and I dont need to use certain apps anymore (office). All that being said, I still am cautious about getting rid of windows. It always comes down to one or two things that I can't live without.

As of right now if SteamOS were out, these are my top reasons for not being able to switch:

windows only games - I'd imagine this is a pretty big one for a lot of people. I know they mentioned you can stream them from your other computer, but that doesn't really solve the problem as you would still have to have a windows computer in the house. Even if 5 or so years down the road all major titles are released on linux, you would still be missing out on the hundreds or thousands of older games that will never get linux support. Even valve themselves are going back and porting ALL their games, so you know no one else is going to either. Even it this were the only reason, it would be a big enough reason to me that I would at the very least need to dual boot incase I ever wanted to play any of my older games.

I think the only possible solution is a gaikai type streaming option for people who strictly run steamOS. I dont know how happy PC gamers would be about this considering the lag you would see, but for me I really wouldnt mind if there were some lag in xcom/civ/etc.

Either that or they would have to come up with their own WINE type environment that would allow you to play windows games in linux, I think this is a long shot though.

Windows Media Center - Ive been using a HD homerun prime for about two years now and I cant recommend it enough. Its hooked up to my network, so any computer or laptop running windows just has to boot into media center to watch cable TV. Also any xbox in the house also works as an extender, so theres that. I know that this device supports other OSes, but Ive tried it and it was a pretty bad experience. I cant stress enough how much better this is than any other way to watch TV.

On the other hand, I barely watch anything on cable besides sports, but my roomates do, so its kind of important.

Sound/video management I have a pretty complicated setup in my living room/basement. My computer is hooked up to a 56" upstairs through HDMI (sound through HDMI as well), and also hooked up to a projector downstairs via DVI, and sound goes out through stereo. Right now it works flawlessly, and the sound automatically goes to whatever screen is on. Ive tried Linux a while ago on it and could not get it to work. I realize this problem is very specific to me, but its just an example of something that will end up giving you a problem in linux that can be worked out in windows.

MS office - Not a huge deal anymore (for me), but I would imagine for some this would be a deal breaker.

Netflix - Does this finally work right on linux? Havent tried it in years

VSO convertXtoDVD - best dvd burning program by far. There has been nothing close IMO.

Xpadder - Is there an alternative? I use it for a few games

Cloud Services - Are all compatible with linux? (not sure if all are supported yet - drive, skydrive, amazon cloud)

wireless support - Ive always had trouble with wireless driver performance in linux. Ill be using a wired connection, but having wifi/bluetooth issues is a PITA.

Emulators - I have every emulator installed for when I want to play some older games, I dont think they are all supported in linux. I dont think dolphin is supported at all, and even if it was I doubt the wiimote would work.

Filesystem support If you end up dual booting, you might be in trouble if your using a shared folder for media. For example I have a large partition for TV shows and stuff, and I dont think I would be able to write to it in windows.

Remote Desktop - I use splashtop to use my pc from my phone/tablet (and watch tv and attempt to play games on, games haven't worked great yet). Also Im not sure how chrome remote works in linux.

Fitbit - Started using this a few months ago, no linux support.

And some other things to consider: GFWL(kinda goes with windows games), photoshop, you need a budget (been meaning to use this), silverlight (netflix), logitech software for keyboards/mice/controllers.

These are just some things that pop into my head when I think about what Ill be missing by switching to linux. Im sure i left some out, and maybe some i listed are no longer issues, but as someone who really wants to get behind this idea, most of these issues will have to be addressed by the time SteamOS is ready for mainstream.

Also one more thing to consider is, what would be the advantage of steamOS vs ubuntu running steam? Id imagine any features SteamOS has, ubuntu could also have, plus you would have a newer OS every 6 months, and whatever features Ubuntu offers. This is assuming steamOS might be locked down in some way to make the platform more stable.

Please feel free to correct me if any of my rambling is incorrect. What do you guys think about it?

 

[Imaginer]

Professional and play software in a nutshell aren't available on Linux alongside an ecosystem that's support is heavily fragmented to relying on single person development whose time is dedicated elsewhere and does not app support fulltime.

Windows works for me. It will continue to work well enough for me. Why do people like to change up everything for the sake of Fung shui is beyond me. Or thinking they are rebels and sticking it to the man?

It is expensive in time and effort to change in function and capability and to even garner a full 100% replacement, and for what? A new sticker? Woo?

 

[Childs]

The only thing I would need is new games going forward being supported. I usually dont play older games, even when I already bought them. I could always run Windows 7 in a VM to use a specific piece of software, but most things I do at home can be done on any OS. For example, if SteamOS was released now and BF4 was supported, I wouldnt have a problem moving over. Worst case scenario, I go back to Windows 7 after awhile.

 

[Revolution 11]

Professional and play software in a nutshell aren't available on Linux alongside an ecosystem that's support is heavily fragmented to relying on single person development whose time is dedicated elsewhere and does not app support fulltime.

Windows works for me. It will continue to work well enough for me. Why do people like to change up everything for the sake of Fung shui is beyond me. Or thinking they are rebels and sticking it to the man?

It is expensive in time and effort to change in function and capability and to even garner a full 100% replacement, and for what? A new sticker? Woo?

This x 1000!

I consider myself somewhat competent with computers, I like the aesthetic appeal of Linux/open source/libre software. (They are not the same, I get that too). I see the advantages of unlocked software, unlocked hardware. But its not there yet. The year of the Linux desktop is still not this year. Maybe next year...

But Windows just works. Even Windows 8 (whose UI and design principles utterly ruin all the work done on the core components) and Vista (which was clunky and had lots of overhead) also just works. Almost all third-party software that can run on a PC will run on Windows. The opposite is not true for other OS family groups.

Gabe has a lot of work to do on SteamOS before it will be a serious challenger to Windows in the desktop markets.

 

[Aikouka]

The problem is that the biggest strength of a PC is that it isn't just limited to gaming. Consoles have been moving away from this by being able to play Netflix or whatever, but it still feels like such a solitary experience as you're only doing one thing at a time. I don't know about you, but it's pretty rare that I use a PC and only do one thing at a time. I could have a movie or TV show playing while I'm writing this post (note: at this time I don't ).

In other words, you lose some of that utility by being shoehorned into this gaming-centric OS. The only benefit that I can see is being able to stream games to any TV from your desktop, but you don't need a full-fledged PC on the TV for that.

 

[HeXen]

I'd rather use an OS from a company dedicated to spending billions on it time and time again with lots of feedback and knowledge in their repertoire.
I see SteamOS more inline with console OS's...just a gaming OS with some apps for petty things if you're too lazy to crack open a real OS. hence why I'll go console for such.

 

[Gloomy]

I'm not touching SteamOS with a 10 foot pole. I still need to work on my computer. I'm pretty close to switching over to Linux full time (or nearly full time) though.

I do want a Gabe Controller though.

 

[T9D]

I'll just stick it on another harddrive and duel boot.

 

[mizzou]

Valve's gaming intentions > Microsoft's gaming intentions

I'm sure my main gaming PC will not be an issue moving it to SteamOS

I have laptop/spare PC for everything else.

 

[Revolution 11]

The biggest value from SteamOS to me is that it might push Microsoft off its behind and actually innovate again with a better DirectX.

 

[KeithP]

I love the idea of SteamOS, and ditching windows altogether.

...and Valve is counting on enough people like you to save their business model because they can't by themselves.

The reason the SteamOS exists is not because the market needs it. It is because Valve/Gabe Newell is afraid that app stores that come with Windows/OS X will eventually push them out of the market or at the least take a large cut of their sales. Not to mention the shift to gaming on tablets and phones also negatively affecting their business. They also hope to expand Steam's reach by getting into the console market which they currently have no stake in.

Ultimately, what will hold me back from running the SteamOS is that is offers no tangible benefits...

-Windows/OS X work fine in the living room and are much more versatile.

-I don't care if it is free, Windows and OS X aren't expensive.

-"Rock solid" Linux? Who cares? Stability isn't an issue in my experience.

-If a gamepad was an acceptable control option for me, I would be gaming on a console already.

They have a shot at modest success but that will come from converting console gamers rather than Windows gamers IMHO. However, as I said, as someone who games on Windows and OS X boxes, SteamOS offers nothing.

-KeithP

 

[Kneedragger]

I like the idea but have to see how its going to work out first. Any word of a built in VOIP or means to communicate while gaming? Most use the third party stuff..

 

[frozentundra123456]

Easy answer. I already have a perfectly fine OS for gaming that does everything else I want it to. Unless Steam OS runs virtually every game and gives a significant performance boost, I see no reason to bother installing it.

 

[Red Storm]

Lack of hardware, I don't have a desktop or gaming laptop currently (thankfully games like TF2, Minecraft, and Terraria aren't so resource intensive) and I don't plan on getting back into the fold until Star Citizen comes out, so maybe then I'll try Steam OS.

 

[PrincessFrosty]

Easy answer. I already have a perfectly fine OS for gaming that does everything else I want it to. Unless Steam OS runs virtually every game and gives a significant performance boost, I see no reason to bother installing it.

This.

Steam OS only brings drawbacks, it doesn't offer me a better experience over windows...

 

[Imaginer]

Why can't Steam take the Comixology approach but with games instead of comics? Those guys at Comixology prove that you can have a store within a store. In fact, the Windows store consolidates, categorizes, and allows searching for programs - desktop applications and apps - in one location.

Same with Amazon Kindle. And Barnes and Noble with the Nook app.

Valve is going out of their way for this one. It was obvious with launching the ability to get other programs besides games within their storefront.

 

[mmntech]

Valve said they were working with content providers to get media capability on SteamOS, so I assume that means Netflix. They still use Silverlight for the desktop player. I think they're one of the few sites that still uses Silverlight at all.

If SteamOS does become popular, a lot of the shortcomings of it and Linux will gradually be eliminated. Besides, it's free and there's nothing stopping you from dual booting.

 

[Imaginer]

Dual booting means saving/closing everything, restarting, and booting on another environment.

Constantly switching workflows and entertainment flows is in the past.

Not to mention, desired application interoperability and data/file interoperability that one will definitely want dual booting between work/play environments.

 

[cbrunny]

Absolutely nothing will stop me. I'll dual boot.

 

[imaheadcase]

THe obvious, not playing on a TV vs a computer monitor.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

I'd say the biggest hurdle is my Windows PC that already has a perfectly funtional version of Window on it to play games.

 

[crashtestdummy]

Absolutely nothing will stop me. I'll dual boot.

This. I'm enough of a hobbyist that there's no harm in playing with it. If it works great, I'll keep it around. If it sucks, I'll get rid of it.

I think people are looking at this too short-term. It's not going to be like a console release, where suddenly everyone is buying one and it becomes a major player right away. For the first few years, this is only going to be a hobbyist thing, mostly a toy for those that want to see if PC gaming can even work outside the windows space. When the inevitable kinks get worked out, it'll start a slow rise, and it'll only become a really big player when the console hardware starts to become outdated.

 

[HeXen]

=KeithP;35602828.
-"Rock solid" Linux? Who cares? Stability isn't an issue in my experience.

-KeithP

Some distro's aren't that stable and it's easy to screw up stability yourself if you tinker much. A dumbed down one like SteamOS has potential to be more fail prone from users.

KeithP;35602828.

-If a gamepad was an acceptable control option for me, I would be gaming on a console already.

-KeithP

No you wouldn't. Their too limited compared to PC.

 

[Childs]

Easy answer. I already have a perfectly fine OS for gaming that does everything else I want it to. Unless Steam OS runs virtually every game and gives a significant performance boost, I see no reason to bother installing it.

Its free. When MS makes the next major rev of DX requiring the next Windows, I will probably bow out of PC gaming. These days I use my PC as a console, with the only difference being using a KB and mouse. If I didn't play shooters I could get by with a controller. I dont think Windows is inherently important for PC gaming, and in many ways its holding it back because MS uses DX to force gamers to move to newer versions, or push that crappy GFWL service which gave many gamers a bad experience. Or throwing tons of money at traditional PC developers to make Xbox exclusives. Lets face it, MS would rather have PC gamers buy their Xbox instead of game on their PC. I would rather have my OS made by a company that wants PC gaming to be successful...or at least not try to cripple it. Windows is only good for gaming because most people already have it. There was a time when DX was a benefit...now it just fragments the user base.

If most newer games, or more of the games I want to play run on SteamOS, I would switch over in a heartbeat. Actually, if it was just BF and Valve games, that would be good enough.

 

[biostud]

Nothing, but I have no reason to run it either.