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PCWorld: Microsoft should be terrified of SteamOS.
- Thread starter DoubleClutch
- Start date
Somewhere in an alternate timeline Windows failed and Intel failed. The Amiga OS and 68000 chips ruled the world only to be knocked off eventually by SteamOS.
You have to admit, Micrsoft and windows is pretty stagnant and seems to not be moving the needle forward for gaming too much.
You have to admit, Micrsoft and windows is pretty stagnant and seems to not be moving the needle forward for gaming too much.
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DenchDeckard
Moderated wildly
More options are always for the best. Competition is a key way to drive improvements of these OSs
I don't think MS should be terrified. They should be working their asses off to make sure that windows and xbox app on handheld is better than steam os for functionality and compatibility across multiple launchers.
Provide ease of use and the customers will lean which ever way they wish.
I don't think MS should be terrified. They should be working their asses off to make sure that windows and xbox app on handheld is better than steam os for functionality and compatibility across multiple launchers.
Provide ease of use and the customers will lean which ever way they wish.
Panajev2001a
GAF's Pleasant Genius
I disagree, some are. There is still way too much navel gazing focus on the craft itself (constant reinvention over evolution and stabilisation of concepts in the open source community, it always seems to take a corp using open source to cause the kind of stabilisation we also need).
On top of it there is a real toxic environment where developers and users do NOT want open source / GNU/Linux to become more welcoming and fear the purity and quality of their fiefdom tainted by the arrival of lesser folks… there is a lot of toxic active distaste for non technical users happy to edit configs, installing from source, and troubleshooting issues… or just fixing their own problems on their own (there is a lot of “I write software for myself… write your own PR for it if you want and maybe I will consider it… maybe” at best… fine, but that does preclude its expansion).
Not in any bad way, but when you point out that people are using Arch, for example, thanks to Steam Deck… feedback might be “not really, you are not really using it… it is not your daily driver, you are using something on top of it”. Fair point but it is yet another purity test over appreciating what the technology can do for people.
existensmaximum
Member
Sure let me correct myself: there's always someone who is willing to help with Linux questions
Cyberpunkd
Member
You think troubleshooting a Windows game is easier? Because that’s the very reason consoles exist.
Cyberpunkd
Member
Microsoft doesn’t care, their Xbox strategy shows as much. It’s all AI and Azure now, with a sprinkle of Windows corporate.
There was time when Microsoft wanted to rule the living room, that’s why Xbox was born. Probably if they succeeded more they would have put more effort. That ship has sailed now.
Astray
Member
Do it.
15 years is a short time in tech.
Just consider that Xbox is already a +20 year old thing now. Time genuinely does fly when it comes to tech.
TBiddy
Member
I don't agree with you on this. Consoles exist because they are accessible and a cheap entry point into gaming. I don't think consoles exist just because games sometimes are a bitch to get working properly on a PC.
Cyberpunkd
Member
Are you for real?
Paid online running you easily $100 per year over 5-6 years
Full priced game releases with $10 console tax
Expensive first party accessories
Now the Pro at 799€
kurisu_1974
Member
polybius80
Member
it was a catchy question, the Os rely heavily in open source with the exception of some apps
the point is linux is a kernel you are not being clear "what is difficult" as there are plenty of interface and desktop projects you can use with linux(kernel), a ubuntu server distro may not be easy to use for the average user but your ubuntu desktop is for example
Maddoxswe
Member
Nope !
TintoConCasera
I bought a sex doll, but I keep it inflated 100% of the time and use it like a regular wife
I have one, and that's just my opinion. I'm sure modern heavy games are playable there but I think the Deck shines much more when playing older or indie games.
For example I put many hours into Oblivion. Looked great and had good battery life. Tried Cyberpunk and had to make many compromises and the battery would run out much faster, so I think those games are better left for the desktop machine.
But as I said, it's just my opinion.
polybius80
Member
that changed with smart phones, people started to use different operating systems and interfaces, your average joe uses smart phones and tablets with linux based OS like android for most work tasks or along a traditional wintel system in lot of cases they simply use a chromebook, todays kids use android or iOS way before they use a windows pc, with the political climate in big countries like china they push for their own OS, all that young people wont have the same problems to change OS as our parents and our generation
TBiddy
Member
Noone is forcing you to buy the Pro or games at release. The PS5 Slim Digital was on sale for 373€ recently in a local shop. I consider that a cheap entry point.
Skifi28
Member
Much, much easier. On top of most people already having experience troubleshooting on windows, games are also designed to run on windows so a lot less can go wrong and you have a much higher chance of getting things to work. You won't be opening a terminal for sure. I still have nightmares about my last Linux experience where I had to troubleshoot a few things, never managed to get my laptop's network card working properly and I switched back to Windows again.
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Astray
Member
You don't kill Windows in a single stroke.
You kill it by taking one use case at a time.
Apple for example basically all but took over the designer use case, any creative application you can run on Windows is one you can likely run better on Apple's hardware and software combo.
If SteamOS comes in and starts building up marketshare for gaming specialized PCs, then devs will start noticing and will adjust accordingly, because that's gonna be another use case you can run better on something that's not Windows.
And so on and on and on..
This seems to be the crux that people are refusing to see. Not everyone has a pc exclusively for gaming. I don't know the numbers but i would wager only 10% of people use a pc only for gaming.
Linux just doesn't play nice with many software many people use work related and i highly doubt a OS coming from a company based around gaming will try to catter to that.
If they do a good light system that manages to do what windows does, i have no doubt people will jump ship.
Apple for example is useless in a vast array of engineering.. I know, because last year i wanted to buy a macbook and fuck me, never knew so many software was incompatible. Especially FEM software.
llien
Member
I don't care as I don't see why it even matters.
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Astray
Member
It's all about whether your use case is done best on your OS of choice.
Windows used to be the one OS that does all tasks at 7/10 or even 8/10 at worst, but that's changing because Microsoft has been making the product steadily worse.
Hero of Spielberg
Member
We’re talking average user here. Any talk of distros, kernels and learning curves for getting an OS running makes it more difficult to use for 99% of people than windows is.
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pudel
Member
As I mentioned....you have several alternatives to each of these programs. Just to mention a quick few:
Photoshop -> GIMP
Lightroom -> Darktable
Premiere -> DaVinci Resolve
Illustrator -> Inkscape
MS Office -> Libre Office
etc. etc.
Even this Linus guy seems to have high hopes for SteamOS:
I mean...MS being terrified of SteamOS is not the problem here. Everyone is being terrified by MS....THATS the problem. I am still baffled that no any government on this planet seems to be concerned about this "recall" screenshotting shit MS is going to pull with Win11 now.
Astray
Member
I'm fairly certain that there are specialized versions of Windows for governmental sales. So they probably will not include Copilot etc on those versions.
tronied
Member
From a handheld perspective, I'd say Microsoft definitely has something to worry about. They slept and took way too long to realise Windows in its current form is not a good option for handheld gaming.
From a desktop perspective, I don't think they have too much to worry about. Linux compatibility is improving and is being driven by SteamOS, but I don't think it's going to be the massive shift where all gamers (and certainly not general PC users) would dump and switch. Linux is still very much seen as an outlier (used by nerds) and is not in the public consciousness. Of course it runs the majority of servers, but the main issue is that is requires a singular vision from a company - Like Valve but that could appeal to the masses. SteamOS is not looking to provide a general computing option, but rather something strictly for gaming. There are currently too many forks and branches which make Linux unappealing and complicated to the general public. Compatibility with apps is also a concern, though this I think this is overblown as compatibility between now and 5-10 years ago has improved and there are always alternatives.
From a desktop perspective, I don't think they have too much to worry about. Linux compatibility is improving and is being driven by SteamOS, but I don't think it's going to be the massive shift where all gamers (and certainly not general PC users) would dump and switch. Linux is still very much seen as an outlier (used by nerds) and is not in the public consciousness. Of course it runs the majority of servers, but the main issue is that is requires a singular vision from a company - Like Valve but that could appeal to the masses. SteamOS is not looking to provide a general computing option, but rather something strictly for gaming. There are currently too many forks and branches which make Linux unappealing and complicated to the general public. Compatibility with apps is also a concern, though this I think this is overblown as compatibility between now and 5-10 years ago has improved and there are always alternatives.
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WhamBamThankYouMaam
Member
I want windows xp with security updates. Considering the gmfact that windows 11 is actually worde for gaming than windows 10, given the option I’d at least dual boot into a steamos partition for gaming.
If microsoft keeps doing all their apps as webapps then I am losing the point for a windows install.
If microsoft keeps doing all their apps as webapps then I am losing the point for a windows install.
Astray
Member
The Xbox Steam hybrid machine dream is dying before it's even out, give them the chance to grieve.
I also called this MS x Valve confrontation ages ago and was ridiculed for it:
Platform - The Verge: Microsoft wants to make the Xbox app the home of PC gaming
They should focus on making windows and dx12 not shit then.
This will take time, but based on the current situation on the ground, it will end badly for Microsoft.
The problem with being a dog that chases cars is there's a possiblity you don't actually reach any car, even if you strapped a rocket pack that's powered by billions of $ and dreams. They chased Sony and ignored the PC market because that was the trend at the time, now they're chasing Valve and pretend to ignore Sony because this is the new trend, soon they will have 2 failed gaming businesses instead of just one.
TheStam
Member
I like it on Steam Deck and I would like to switch to SteamOS but it's not there yet. I use my PC 90% with TV now and it would be great to just use it as a super Steam Deck. Booting into Big Picture mode is not great and not the same thing.
But there are issues like how non-steam games are a hassle most of the time. Game Pass doesn't work natively and probably won't ever. I can live without Gamepass though. But would things like HDR, Dolby Vision, Atmos and so on work or are there issues with compatibility / licencing... HDR works on the SD OLED but I heard that there are issues otherwise.
But there are issues like how non-steam games are a hassle most of the time. Game Pass doesn't work natively and probably won't ever. I can live without Gamepass though. But would things like HDR, Dolby Vision, Atmos and so on work or are there issues with compatibility / licencing... HDR works on the SD OLED but I heard that there are issues otherwise.
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existensmaximum
Member
I know about these so called "alternatives" . You can't possibly believe that GIMP or Darktable are serious alternatives to Photoshop and Lightroom for a professional or even for someone who is serious about their hobby. That is borderline trolling.
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That is true, but the point is that it still works and for the majority that will be the case.
Astray
Member
Give it time.
If you asked me 20 years ago if Windows had any possibility of losing computing marketshare to any other OS, I'd be laughing at you. Yet here we are now.
There are young people that I know of, who are being raised in a non-Windows environment, as in their parents have either sworn off Windows or don't use it actively. It's happening.
pudel
Member
Depends on the use case I would say. I have always the impression, people just dont want to leave their comfort zone...because they are used to their programs which they used for ages. It the end its upto you if you want to keep your head in the ass of megacorps or not. I have no problems with using GIMP as photoshop alternative. Than again, I am not working professional with these programs.
odhiex
Member
Even with only a 5-10% market gain for Linux (SteamOS) users, it would lessen the dominance of Windows in the PC market.
The same fear of Microsoft in the 90s (which dominated the computer OS market then) over Sony's threat with the PlayStation 2, eventually led to the creation of XBOX. It's all recorded here.
The same fear of Microsoft in the 90s (which dominated the computer OS market then) over Sony's threat with the PlayStation 2, eventually led to the creation of XBOX. It's all recorded here.
Hero of Spielberg
Member
pudel
Member
If you cant draw a circle in GIMP you totally deserve to be beaten up.Reminds me of this
existensmaximum
Member
Yeah, I know. Or you wouldn't suggest GIMP. I mean it's fine for what it is, and it's amazing that it's free and all but when it comes to features and workflow, it's just not an alternative to Photoshop.
DenchDeckard
Moderated wildly
As soon as I can do everything I do in windows on Linux i'll jump ship, but I don't have time to learn. I just need it to work. If that is possible I am in.
I don't know if the steam deck has improved, but I had so many odd little quirks with it that I didnt enjoy. It would often crash and lock up. I would need to reboot, update etc. Things would sometimes not boot from the OS, like it had got stuck but let me move through menus, but things wouldnt load etc.
This was well over a year ago, so I imagine it is much improved now. If it can launch all the windows launchers at some point, I would happily re invest.
I don't know if the steam deck has improved, but I had so many odd little quirks with it that I didnt enjoy. It would often crash and lock up. I would need to reboot, update etc. Things would sometimes not boot from the OS, like it had got stuck but let me move through menus, but things wouldnt load etc.
This was well over a year ago, so I imagine it is much improved now. If it can launch all the windows launchers at some point, I would happily re invest.
TBiddy
Member
Same could be said of Libre Office. I mean, if you just want to create a birthday invitation for your kids friends - then sure, it's ok. In a work environment? Not even remotely comparable.
Punished Miku
Human Rights Subscription Service
Horseganador
Member
It's normal for MS to be worried about SteamOS, too many times they have arrived late and poorly to the market.
Hudo
Member
I agree. As much as I like Linux, GIMP is not a viable alternative to Photoshop. But I think Affinity is.
Crayon
Member
I'd argue (did above somewhere) that it's great for a kid/senior type user. Idk what they are going to try that would get them in trouble. Generally the issue there is them clicking malicious stuff and random exe's, but Linux makes that less of an issue.
Back to that anticheat, though - some major games don't work but it should be caveated that it's because of an arbitrary decision. Same experience I realize, but the distinction is important there.
ChorizoPicozo
Member
why "professional"?