Summary
Overview
This TechLinked episode covers Valve's Steam Machine pricing and specs, AI adoption trends and public sentiment, major tech updates including Windows bugs and Chrome's new Gemini integration, plus unusual stories about surveillance data leaks and animal espionage. The Steam Machine's higher-than-expected price point dominates the discussion, alongside concerns about AI's growing presence in social media and daily computing.
Steam Machine Pricing and Availability Announcement
Valve's long-awaited Steam Machine PC console hybrid has finally reached reviewers, but the pricing news is disappointing. Starting at $1,049 for the 512GB model and $1,349 for 2TB, it costs significantly more than originally envisioned and nearly twice the price of a PS5 while delivering similar performance. The device launches June 30th with a pre-order raffle system beginning June 25th due to limited supply.
- Steam Machine starts at $1,049 for 512GB, $1,349 for 2TB, with controllers costing an extra $79
- Pre-orders begin June 25th using a raffle system where users are chosen randomly to complete purchases
- Performance comparisons suggest PS5-class gaming at nearly twice the price
- Launch supply is lower than expected according to Valve
" The machine releases June 30th, with pre-orders beginning June 25th. However, Valve is using a pre-order raffle system, where users sign up before orders open and are chosen at random to actually complete their purchase. "
" That stings even more when performance comparisons suggest a system delivering roughly PS5-class gaming at nearly twice the price, and also years in the future from when that s*** came out. "
SteamOS Expansion and Future Features
Despite the pricing disappointment, Valve is expanding SteamOS beyond the Steam Machine with new desktop support and broader hardware compatibility. Starting with SteamOS 3, users will be able to build custom Steam Machine desktops with more supported PC parts than ever. NVIDIA GPU support is also in development, and AMD's FSR4 upscaling is already being tested for the Steam Machine, which could significantly boost performance.
- SteamOS 3 will support custom desktop builds with broader PC hardware compatibility
- NVIDIA GPU support is currently in development for SteamOS
- AMD's FSR4 upscaling is being tested for Steam Machine ahead of launch, potentially boosting image quality and frame rates
- Steam Controller's rumble motors can scoot the controller across a desk like an RC car
" Steam might be offering the nicotine patch of operating systems here. For over a thousand dollars! "
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