SteamOS Official Thread.

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Boomstick777

Boomstick777

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SteamOS is an operating system based on the Linux kernel in development by Valve Corporation. It will be the primary operating system for the Steam Machine games consoles, and freely available to install on PCs when it releases on 13 December 2013.

SteamOS is designed primarily for playing video games. Users will be able to stream games from their Windows or Mac computers to one running SteamOS, and it will incorporate the same family sharing and restrictions as Steam on the desktop.[1] Valve claims that it has "achieved significant performance increases in graphics processing" through SteamOS.[2] The operating system will be open source allowing anyone to build on or adapt the source code,[3] which can allow access to Xbox, Playstation and Nintendo games and will run on Steam Machines.[4]

Since SteamOS is designed for playing games it will not have many built-in functions beyond web browsing and playing games; for example there is no file manager or image viewer. Though the OS does not, in its current form, support streaming services, Valve is in talks with streaming companies to bring the feature to SteamOS.[5]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SteamOS


http://www.pcper.com/reviews/General-Tech/Video-How-Install-and-Configure-SteamOS-Beta
 
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SteamOS Guide: Steam OS and Steam Machines Explained

What is SteamOS?
SteamOS is a gaming-centric operating system made by Valve, the developer/publisher behind games like Half-life 2 and the proprietor of Steam, the biggest digital games portal in the world.

The system is designed to offer an experience that bridges the divide between PC gaming and the more relaxed style of console gaming, and to try and bring back the ‘PC games’ (i.e. non-console) audience, which has gradually eroded over the last decade.
Read more at http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/steamos-and-steam-machines-faq-guide#p8wBiROfsJHJv0QA.99
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Read more at http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/steamos-and-steam-machines-faq-guide#p8wBiROfsJHJv0QA.99
 
Macro said:
I don't get it, why would anyone want to lock themselves into an OS which only allows you to buy games from one company and then wraps them heavily in DRM so you can't even trade or resell the games you buy? At least with Windows you have a choice where else to buy games with no DRM and if you want DRM'd Linux based games for the TV go with PlayStation, at least you can buy/sell second hand and I suspect the console will be somewhat cheaper than a well enough specced "steambox" PC. Can't help but feel Gabe really has lost the plot a bit on this one, people aren't daft.
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Reason why people might want to try it out..

The OS is free, try it and don't like it, you have lost nothing.
Supposedly the performance can be better for gaming.
A lot of people are tired of Windows, especially Windows 8.
People like Steam.
It also has a desktop mode which I'm assuming could very well allow other games to be played that can run on Linux.
It would generate more support for Linux gaming as a whole, speed up AAA game development on Linux, competition against Windows gaming is welcome.
It's different, variety is the spice of life :p
 
Q: What software runs on SteamOS?
SteamOS is designed to run Steam and Steam games. It also provides a desktop mode which can run regular Linux applications. SteamOS makes use of the standard APT package manager for software updates; you can add third-party sources to your subscribed repositories to gain access to more applications. SteamOS currently provides a limited set of packages, but many Debian wheezy packages work fine on SteamOS. We plan to make a wider variety of packages vailable directly from the SteamOS repositories over time.
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Awesome.

http://steamcommunity.com/groups/steamuniverse/discussions/1/648814395741989999/
 
Q: What are the SteamOS Hardware Requirements?

Intel or AMD 64-bit capable processor
4GB or more memory
500GB or larger disk
NVIDIA graphics card (AMD and Intel graphics support coming soon)
UEFI boot support
USB port for installation
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Hmm, does this mean no display for AMD cards?
 
I'll have to wait it out a bit before I install, seems AMD drivers aren't integrated into the current SteamOS build, and adding them might be difficult? The installation of SteamOS seems like it could be complicated as well. If someone who tests it out wants to put a guide up here at some point, that would be appreciated.
 
gropingmantis said:
Its not that hard to install fglrx yourself from the binaries but given the state of the SteamMachines its not a surprise. Also AMD's Linux support sucks hard. Thats not to say Nvidia is much better, seems like only Intel really know how to make good Linux graphics drivers.
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Hopefully now SteamOS is in the wild, both AMD and Nvidia will step up their Linux support. I imagine a few months from now, it'll start to take shape as a usable OS. Hopefully in a few years, Windows will no longer be required, might mean Microsoft have to innovate to keep people on Windows :p Competition is a good thing..
 
How to Install and Configure SteamOS Beta

A not-so-simple set of instructions

Valve released to the world the first beta of SteamOS, a Linux-based operating system built specifically for PC gaming, on Friday evening. We have spent quite a lot of time discussing and debating the merits of SteamOS, but this weekend we wanted to do an installation of the new OS on a system and see how it all worked.
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Installed and had a play with SteamOS today on the PC in my sig. Installation was easy. The desktop mode runs fine, setup the browser the way my Windows one is and everything seems fine. Games seem to look great but run weird, I'm not even sure if my GPU drivers have installed, on Steam info it shows 0 vram memory on my GPU. I am new to Linux so will take some time to get used to.

Overall, very impressed so far. I could live with the desktop enviroment for 24/7 use, I need to work out how to install VLC, and latest AMD drivers, then will be happy with it..
 
If more games were supported, and programs were made easier to install during desktop mode, I would switch for good. Until then it's Windows for me. Using Linux made me appreciate just how good Windows is tbh. SteamOS has great potential though, maybe 1 or 2 years and it will be a good alternative..
 
uncle_rufus said:
:eek: Geeeuuurrrrrrgggggggghhharaahhhh (imagine the sound that Sideshow Bob makes in the simpsons when he steps on the rake and it hits him in the face)



In all seriousness though I can understand why someone very used to Windows might be put off... And frankly for a lot of the most typical tasks most people use their Windows machine for Linux isn't really any better (it's not a lot worse either but hey)...
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Yeah I'm not anti Linux, but it's just not compatible with 90% of the stuff I use on my Windows PC. If I was just web browsing etc, SteamOS (Linux) would be fine. SteamOS looks like it could be great, especially if the hardware can get more performance, but right now, it didn't run or look as good as Windows titles. In a year or two I imagine it will have come a long way, will def consider using it again then, as I would love a solid alternative for Windows. SteamOS just not quite ready for prime time yet...
 
New SteamOS beta tempts more testers with support for older PCs and dual-booting

Valve released its SteamOS beta with a warning: Only touch this if you know what you're doing. While that surely did something to separate true testers from the first wave of eager users, there were a few problems. Even the qualified needed a relatively new machine with UEFI, and a dedicated one at that, given attempts to make the OS a secondary boot option were troublesome at best. However, a fresh beta that folds in efforts by both Valve and the community is now available.
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http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/22/steamos-beta/?ncid=rss_truncated
 
Crytek embraces Linux and SteamOS

Valve's Steam Machine consoles are getting a shot in the arm from Crytek, which has promised native Linux support in its latest game engine.

The fourth-generation CryEngine is being used in several upcoming games, including Evolve, Homefront 2 and Star Citizen. It also powers the Xbox One launch title Ryse: Son of Rome. CryEngine's newfound Linux support doesn't necessarily mean these games are coming to Valve's Steam Machines, but it could allow for Linux ports in the future.
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http://www.pcworld.com/article/2107242/crytek-embraces-linux-and-steamos.html
 
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