7 ms·

I'm guessing Valve's foray into Linux is more or less a hedge against Microsoft. If Windows 8 is a massive flop, the next best option is Mac or straight Linux.

by bryanh 14y ago

I'm guessing Valve's foray into Linux is more or less a hedge against Microsoft. If Windows 8 is a massive flop, the next best option is Mac or straight Linux. If Windows 8 is a success, well, I suppose it is business as usual albeit with some extra pressure from the Windows app store.

smokeyj 14y ago
A linux/Steam console would be pretty sick.
- sliverstorm 14y ago
  Yes, I think this is a better explanation than, "If Win8 flops we will go full Linux".
  - wmf 14y ago
    If Win8 flops I think people will keep buying Steam games on Win7. If Win8 (and its app store) succeeds then Valve needs plan B. IMO.
  - jlgreco 14y ago
    I am not convinced. If they were getting ready for a "steambox", why would they be spending their time getting their stuff in working order on multiple drivers? And if they were going to pick one and stick with it, I would think that Intel's would be out of the running to begin with. That they are taking Intel's cards seriously suggests to me that they really do intend on taking Linux on consumer laptops/desktops seriously. They may still go for a dedicated Linux console, but I think that will be very much in addition to Linux on the desktop.
    - scott_w 14y ago
      To get competitive pricing on hardware. If Nvidia have the only working drivers for Source on Linux, then they can push up prices on their hardware to Valve, safe in the knowledge that it could take months for Valve to port their entire games library to AMD or Intel. If Valve keep support for all three, then they can squeeze the hardware manufacturers for better prices lest they take their custom elsewhere.
      - jlgreco 14y ago
        I don't know. I think "Drop your price, or we'll stick an Intel GPU into our new console" is a pretty bad bluff, even if they can get Left4Dead running on it surprisingly well. NVidia and AMD should both know nobody would ever actually use an Intel GPU for something like that.
        scott_w 14y ago
        It's a little more nuanced than that. It can put the brakes on Nvidia and AMD from trying to screw the nut in pricing, especially if the entire Steam catalogue will play on a good enough Intel GPU.
    - Tuna-Fish 14y ago
      I don't think they want to get in the hardware business. Instead, what I would see them doing is develop a software package that any cheapo hw manufacturer can drop on a pile of x86 hardware and call the result a Steam console.
- dllthomas 14y ago
  I'd like to see this as a standard. Somewhere between the Linux Standard Base specification and the periodic Ultimate Linux Box, so I can know what to buy if I want to run the next round of games, developers can know what to target, etc. Then someone can make consoles to the spec.
jl6 14y ago
If nobody is interested in Windows 8, I expect the next best option is Windows 7 for the next 10 years - the new XP.
- heretohelp 14y ago
  Please. No.
  - TazeTSchnitzel 14y ago
    Windows 7 SP2 coming your way in 2 years, and in 5, Windows 7 SP3.
  - wmf 14y ago
    As long as the browser auto-updates...
  - CamperBob2 14y ago
    Why not? Windows 7 is a good OS.
- Shamanmuni 14y ago
  It's a definite possibility. However, with Android and iOS many people are learning that the world doesn't end after Windows and Ubuntu is very user friendly. The typical PC user uses a web browser, an office suite and videogames. With Chrome you have an excellent web browser regardless of OS; LibreOffice is fine for many users and it's interface is similar to that of Office pre-Ribbon, which many appreciate. Games have been a painful issue, but with browser-based games and Valve porting to Linux it's getting really better. I believe it's a matter of time until users begin questioning the Microsoft tax when they can get a useful OS sans viruses and malware for free.
  - merlincorey 14y ago
    > I believe it's a matter of time until users begin questioning the Microsoft tax when they can get a useful OS sans viruses and malware for free. You sound like mac users 5 years ago. There are viruses and malware for linux systems today. As the market share goes up, so too will the attacks.

by bryanh 14y ago

smokeyj 14y ago

A linux/Steam console would be pretty sick.

sliverstorm 14y ago
Yes, I think this is a better explanation than, "If Win8 flops we will go full Linux".
- wmf 14y ago
  If Win8 flops I think people will keep buying Steam games on Win7. If Win8 (and its app store) succeeds then Valve needs plan B. IMO.
- jlgreco 14y ago
  I am not convinced. If they were getting ready for a "steambox", why would they be spending their time getting their stuff in working order on multiple drivers? And if they were going to pick one and stick with it, I would think that Intel's would be out of the running to begin with. That they are taking Intel's cards seriously suggests to me that they really do intend on taking Linux on consumer laptops/desktops seriously. They may still go for a dedicated Linux console, but I think that will be very much in addition to Linux on the desktop.
  - scott_w 14y ago
    To get competitive pricing on hardware. If Nvidia have the only working drivers for Source on Linux, then they can push up prices on their hardware to Valve, safe in the knowledge that it could take months for Valve to port their entire games library to AMD or Intel. If Valve keep support for all three, then they can squeeze the hardware manufacturers for better prices lest they take their custom elsewhere.
    - jlgreco 14y ago
      I don't know. I think "Drop your price, or we'll stick an Intel GPU into our new console" is a pretty bad bluff, even if they can get Left4Dead running on it surprisingly well. NVidia and AMD should both know nobody would ever actually use an Intel GPU for something like that.
      - scott_w 14y ago
        It's a little more nuanced than that. It can put the brakes on Nvidia and AMD from trying to screw the nut in pricing, especially if the entire Steam catalogue will play on a good enough Intel GPU.
  - Tuna-Fish 14y ago
    I don't think they want to get in the hardware business. Instead, what I would see them doing is develop a software package that any cheapo hw manufacturer can drop on a pile of x86 hardware and call the result a Steam console.
dllthomas 14y ago
I'd like to see this as a standard. Somewhere between the Linux Standard Base specification and the periodic Ultimate Linux Box, so I can know what to buy if I want to run the next round of games, developers can know what to target, etc. Then someone can make consoles to the spec.

jl6 14y ago

If nobody is interested in Windows 8, I expect the next best option is Windows 7 for the next 10 years - the new XP.

heretohelp 14y ago
Please. No.
- TazeTSchnitzel 14y ago
  Windows 7 SP2 coming your way in 2 years, and in 5, Windows 7 SP3.
- wmf 14y ago
  As long as the browser auto-updates...
- CamperBob2 14y ago
  Why not? Windows 7 is a good OS.
Shamanmuni 14y ago
It's a definite possibility. However, with Android and iOS many people are learning that the world doesn't end after Windows and Ubuntu is very user friendly. The typical PC user uses a web browser, an office suite and videogames. With Chrome you have an excellent web browser regardless of OS; LibreOffice is fine for many users and it's interface is similar to that of Office pre-Ribbon, which many appreciate. Games have been a painful issue, but with browser-based games and Valve porting to Linux it's getting really better. I believe it's a matter of time until users begin questioning the Microsoft tax when they can get a useful OS sans viruses and malware for free.
- merlincorey 14y ago
  > I believe it's a matter of time until users begin questioning the Microsoft tax when they can get a useful OS sans viruses and malware for free. You sound like mac users 5 years ago. There are viruses and malware for linux systems today. As the market share goes up, so too will the attacks.