The actual software target is their Steam Linux Runtime container. So all you need to install is the container environment, and if your 3rd party OS does that for you then you’re already done.
I would be surprised if the average person knew how to install an OS. The OS generally comes with the PC so the average user never need to install an OS. I imagine the average user doesn’t even have a USB stick to turn into bootable media and that’s just the first step. You have to know how to turn it into bootable media (the easiest way expects you to already have Windows) and then if the BIOS doesn’t automatically boot into it you have to know how to go into the BIOS to change the order and then you have to get through the installation. No average user is going to get through all that. Anyone doing that is already capable of installing Linux themselves and they’re probably more willing to give Linux a try because they can always install Windows if they don’t like it.
I would bet against this. I think people who buy a steam machine (and same for steam deck) will know what they get into.
And the device is focused on gaming and the games will probably run worse on that hardware if one installs Windows. Therefore I think that people who want to use Windows will not buy a steam machine.
I wish they would fully commit to this instead of just giving people the option to install any OS on it.
People are going to install Windows if they can’t or won’t figure their way around Proton/Steam OS.
The secret trick is that they can do both.
The actual software target is their Steam Linux Runtime container. So all you need to install is the container environment, and if your 3rd party OS does that for you then you’re already done.
I would be surprised if the average person knew how to install an OS. The OS generally comes with the PC so the average user never need to install an OS. I imagine the average user doesn’t even have a USB stick to turn into bootable media and that’s just the first step. You have to know how to turn it into bootable media (the easiest way expects you to already have Windows) and then if the BIOS doesn’t automatically boot into it you have to know how to go into the BIOS to change the order and then you have to get through the installation. No average user is going to get through all that. Anyone doing that is already capable of installing Linux themselves and they’re probably more willing to give Linux a try because they can always install Windows if they don’t like it.
I would bet against this. I think people who buy a steam machine (and same for steam deck) will know what they get into.
And the device is focused on gaming and the games will probably run worse on that hardware if one installs Windows. Therefore I think that people who want to use Windows will not buy a steam machine.
But maybe time will proof me wrong.