SteamOS – entertainment for all – PC World

explains how to install SteamOS parallel copy of Windows. We advise what equipment works best in the role of the configured individually console gaming and home entertainment center.

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For some time now are available miniature computers that serve as the control entertainment in the living room. American game developer Valve Corporation known titles such as Half-Life and Portal, has decided to reach a new level of PC HTPC (Home Theatre Personal Computer).

SteamOS – a free operating system for players

Valve Corporation wants to achieve this aim by introducing its new operating system, SteamOS, which is based on the Debian Linux distribution. Online software distribution platform Steam, which decided the name of the new system is a component of the preloaded default. And this property has become one of the strong advantages of the new system in challenging market leader Windows, Linux because all varieties are made available free of charge to all users. Additional points system collects in the category of performance. Slim built on a Debian system can efficiently utilize hardware components installed, which translates in practice to a higher FPS rate and thus a higher speed to generate frames per second.

Even though the company has on offer Alienware PCs consoles Steam Machines, but you can not upgrade as the other computers of this type.

Consoles gained competition

To achieve a smooth animation in games is needed suitable hardware platform. Strictly speaking, the device called the Steam Machines are conventional computers, equipped with the usual, available for purchase components, but placed in a type enclosures SMFF (SMall Form Factor). The equipment is designed for the living room, after all, and hardly anyone wants to put housing tower next to the TV and sound system. These systems have a crucial advantage over gaming consoles such as Xbox or PlayStation One fourth Most of them provide better performance, and if necessary they can be furthermore expand and modernize, doposażając in the new components. Therefore, Steam Machines tend to be very long lasting solution.

At this year’s CES in Las Vegas, many manufacturers showcased various platforms Steam Machines in price range from 400 to 6000 dollars. Also Valve Corporation created a copy of Steam Engine’a, but this is a reference model designed for testing and OEM. Do not hit the store shelves. The only hardware component that provides and distributes Valve is Steam Controller. Talking about the game controller allows easy control action game from the couch. It has definitely end times in which we played with a mouse and keyboard. However, the current controller is still in beta testing, so it is available only for a limited group of people. At the beginning of March 2014. Manufacturer introduced an improved version of the gamepad, which is equipped, among others, two touch pads. For he resigned in the middle of the touch screen controller. This display was a prototype version of the gamepad.

Cases of small size and specific shape have become typical for computers Steam Machine. Take up little space and perfectly fit the style of the living room, harmonizing the appearance of other consumer electronics equipment.