The Steam Machine is the Only PC I want to Use Now

Linus Tech Tips

125,613 views • 3 hours ago

Video Summary

The Steam Machine, initially conceived as a living room console competitor, is re-evaluated as a superior desktop PC and workstation. Despite not being the fastest or most repairable, its thoughtful hardware design and seamless SteamOS integration offer a user experience akin to a Mac Mini, leading to a preference for Linux over Windows. The review highlights SteamOS's user-friendly interface, customization options, and efficient performance, contrasting it favorably with Windows's often intrusive and complex system.

While the Steam Machine excels as a workstation, its gaming performance is noted as a drawback. The review also points out limitations such as the USB-C port's lack of display output and Thunderbolt capabilities, and the absence of a 2.5 gig network port. File transfer issues with iPhones and Google Drive are also discussed, though remote file transfer via Tailscale is praised. Despite some drawbacks like the lack of auto-scrolling and initial printer support issues, the overall sentiment is that SteamOS offers a more comfortable and well-intentioned user experience compared to Windows.

Short Highlights

The Steam Machine excels as a desktop PC and workstation, offering a user experience superior to Windows.
SteamOS provides a seamless, user-friendly interface with easy customization.
Limitations include slower gaming performance and specific port functionalities.
File transfer issues with iPhones and Google Drive were encountered.
Overall, SteamOS is praised for its well-intentioned design and patient user experience.

Key Details

Steam Machine as a Desktop [00:00]

Initially seen as a living room console competitor, the Steam Machine is argued to be a better desktop PC or workstation.
It's described as the closest experience to a PC Mac Mini, leading to a preference for Linux over Windows.
The "year of the Linux desktop" is predicted for 2026, with the Steam Machine leading the charge.

"Maybe the best desktop PC that I've ever used."

Hardware and Design [01:41]

The Steam Machine is an outstanding little desktop cube PC with expansion options like an M.2 slot and DDR5 SODIMM slots.
It offers reasonable repairability through a partnership with iFixit and an unassuming, quiet design.
Gaming performance is noted as an area where it falls short, but this is not an issue for workstation use.

"What Valve designed here is an outstanding little desktop cube PC that manages to offer up some expansion in the form of an M.2 slot and two DDR5 SODIMM slots."

SteamOS Software Experience [02:23]

The excellent Steam OS software is a significant factor in the device's performance.
Steam OS is based on Arch Linux, KDE Plasma desktop environment, and Flatpak, with Valve contributing to their development and curation.
Switching between the gaming interface and the desktop is a quick reboot process.

"A lot of what I'm about to say about Steam OS is really about Arch Linux, the KDE Plasma desktop environment, or Flatpak, the package manager that makes browsing and installing applications on Linux very App Store-like."

Desktop Customization and Usability [03:13]

The KDE Plasma desktop is lightly customized and user-friendly, especially for Windows users.
Customization takes about 10-30 minutes, with monitor resolutions detected immediately and configuration menus being simple.
Features like Windows snapping, pointer acceleration off by default, and thoughtful features like wiggling the mouse to embiggen it are praised.

"All it takes is a quick reboot-to-desktop mode button, and within seconds, Game Scope is gone, to be replaced by a lightly customized KDE Plasma that is made to be just so friendly to Windows refugees like myself."

Connectivity and Networking Limitations [05:36]

The Steam Machine has a high-speed USB-C port, but it's not wired for display output or Thunderbolt peripherals.
It lacks a 2.5 gig network port, relying instead on high-speed wireless networking.
Exceeding gigabit download speeds on a CPU with six Zen 5 cores should be possible without a separate 2.5 gig USB NIC.

"But, unfortunately, it is not wired up as a display output, nor does it have USB-4 capabilities to allow it to work with Thunderbolt peripherals."

File Transfer and OS Issues [06:37]

Mounting network locations is not well-supported, especially on immutable OSes, though the KDE team is addressing this.
SMB shares are easy to find and bookmark, but thumbnail previews for network files can be slow to generate.
iPhones cannot be accessed over USB out of the box, making large file transfers difficult and often requiring Windows.

"Out of the box, iPhones can't be accessed over USB at all. And this is a real problem for ingesting video."

Linux Improvements and Annoyances [09:24]

Many Linux issues, including audio interface support and printer support, have seen meaningful improvement.
Auto-scrolling, a useful feature for reducing repetitive strain, does not work properly on Steam OS.
While the OS is immutable, which protects against system-destroying modifications, it can cause issues with installing necessary utilities not available as Flatpaks.

"Windows has this great feature that allows you to click with your middle mouse in the blank space on a scrolling webpage or application and then just move the mouse to start a smooth continuous scroll."

Overall Comparison and Conclusion [13:14]

SteamOS, despite some annoyances like notifications, feels well-intentioned and offers a more patient user experience than Windows.
Windows often requires debloating to remove interruptions and intrusive prompts, which can be a PTSD-inducing experience.
The Steam Machine, even with its limitations, manages to be a better experience than Windows out of the box.

"But, because everything about it feels well-intentioned, I have so much more patience for it."