Were we too nice to the Steam Machine?

以下是内容的中文翻译： The VergeCast节目中，主持人大卫·皮尔斯和评论员肖恩·霍利斯特深入探讨了听众关于The Verge近期对Steam Machine评测的提问和反馈。讨论主要围绕两个主题：产品的实用价值和价格，以及其开发商Valve所产生的影响。 听众Jude发来一封引人注目的邮件，批评该评测对Steam Machine过于宽容，认为如果它不是Valve的产品，早就被“批得体无完肤”了。Jude认为，对于没有游戏库的用户而言，Steam Machine与PlayStation相比性价比不高；而对于已有Steam游戏库的用户，则不如自行组装一台PC。这引发了一个核心辩论：究竟是购买Steam Machine、组装一台定制PC，还是选择传统游戏主机更好？ 肖恩·霍利斯特认为，Steam Machine主要对那些尚未拥有游戏台式机但渴望获得主机般体验的用户来说，是笔划算的交易。他强调，很难在保持Steam Machine的紧凑尺寸、安静运行和适合客厅的美观设计的同时，还能组装一台价格和性能相似的定制PC。尽管他承认有人可以以相同的价格组装出性能更强的机器，但很可能会牺牲其外形尺寸和静音性。 霍利斯特阐明了Steam Machine获得6/10评分的原因，解释说这个分数意味着它“比‘还行’和‘平庸’高出一点点”。该分数反映出这款设备“开箱即用体验不佳”，存在如不可靠的暂停/恢复功能等问题——这对于主机般的体验至关重要。他指出，如果这个核心问题得到解决，评分很可能会跃升至7分。他将其与Steam Deck进行了类比，Steam Deck发布时也存在问题，但通过Valve的更新稳步改进。 “Valve的整体影响”成为了讨论的一个重要焦点。像Adam这样的听众称赞了Valve长期以来致力于随着时间的推移支持和改进其产品的承诺，并引用了Steam Deck、Steam Link和Steam Controller等例子。霍利斯特表示同意，称Valve拥有“令人难以置信、前所未有的支持记录”，持续发布增强功能而非仅仅维护安全的更新。这与传统游戏主机更不可预测的未来形成对比，即使它们为了更好的向下兼容性而采用了x86架构。 然而，Steam Machine的硬件寿命是一个令人担忧的问题，由一位名叫Jim的听众提出。这款售价1000美元的设备除了存储和内存外，模块化程度有限，其图形性能（大致相当于配备8GB显存的RTX 3060）对于同价位的PC来说略显不足。霍利斯特承认，这款机器“要么价格应该低得多，要么配置应该好得多”。他承认，尽管其紧凑、安静的设计是一个优势，但这是以牺牲传统PC升级能力为代价的。他表示希望有更强大的外部扩展选项，如雷电接口，以增强其面向未来的能力。播客指出，与不期望高升级能力的Steam Deck不同，Steam Machine这类桌面级设备在寿命和应对不断变化的游戏要求方面有着不同的期望。 讨论还触及了Steam Machine的战略作用。霍利斯特认为，如果Valve能售出足够多的设备，它可以为游戏开发者建立一个“最低公分母”，鼓励他们像为主机优化游戏一样，为Steam Machine的规格进行优化。这可能会减缓高端PC游戏所需硬件不断升级的步伐，使Steam Machine成为一个稳定的目标。 最后，播客讨论了Steam Machine是否能作为流媒体服务的机顶盒。霍利斯特明确表示不能，解释说Valve并未投入流媒体应用整合。尽管可能存在基于浏览器的变通方法，但DRM的复杂性以及Linux对HDR、Atmos和4K流媒体等功能缺乏强劲支持，使其无法实际替代Roku等专用设备。 总之，Steam Machine被认为是一款前景光明的设备，拥有主机般的外形尺寸和Valve在支持方面的良好声誉作为后盾。然而，它目前面临着严峻的挑战，包括开箱即用的软件体验、与定制PC和旧款主机相比的性价比，以及为了长期保持相关性而受限的升级能力，尤其是在快速发展的PC游戏领域。

The VergeCast, with host David Pierce and reviewer Sean Hollister, delved into listener questions and feedback regarding The Verge's recent review of the Steam Machine. The discussion centered on two main themes: the product's functional value and price, and the impact of its developer, Valve. One prominent email from a listener named Jude criticized the review for being too lenient on the Steam Machine, arguing that if it weren't a Valve product, it would have been "torn to shreds." Jude contended that the Steam Machine offers poor value compared to a PlayStation for those without a gaming library, or building a custom PC for those who already have a Steam library. This led to a core debate: is it better to buy a Steam Machine, build a custom PC, or opt for a traditional console? Sean Hollister argued that the Steam Machine is a good deal primarily for individuals who do not already own a gaming desktop but desire a console-like experience. He emphasized the difficulty of building a custom PC that matches the Steam Machine's compact size, quiet operation, and aesthetic suitability for a living room, while maintaining a comparable price and performance. While acknowledging that some could build a *more performant* machine for the same price, they would likely sacrifice the form factor and quietness. Hollister clarified the Steam Machine's 6/10 score, explaining it sits "just a step beyond 'just okay' and 'mediocre.'" The score reflects that the device is "not quite ready right out of the box," suffering from issues like unreliable suspend/resume functionality – a feature crucial for a console-like experience. He noted that if this core issue were resolved, the score would likely jump to a 7. He drew parallels to the Steam Deck, which also launched with issues but steadily improved through Valve's updates. The "Valve of it all" became a significant point of discussion. Listeners like Adam praised Valve's historical commitment to supporting and improving its products over time, citing examples like the Steam Deck, Steam Link, and Steam Controller. Hollister agreed, stating that Valve has an "incredible, unprecedented track record of support," consistently releasing updates that enhance functionality rather than merely maintaining security. This contrasts with the more unpredictable future of traditional consoles, even as they embrace x86 architecture for better backward compatibility. However, the Steam Machine's hardware longevity was a concern, raised by a listener named Jim. At $1000, the device offers limited modularity beyond storage and memory, and its graphics performance (roughly on par with an RTX 3060 with 8GB VRAM) is considered slightly underpowered for a PC in its price bracket. Hollister conceded that the machine "should have been either priced much lower or kitted much better." He acknowledged that while its compact, quiet design is a strength, it comes at the cost of typical PC upgradability. He expressed a desire for more powerful external expansion options, like Thunderbolt ports, to enhance its futureproofing. The podcast noted that unlike the Steam Deck, for which high upgradability isn't expected, a desktop-class device like the Steam Machine carries different expectations regarding its lifespan and ability to keep up with evolving game requirements. The discussion also touched upon the strategic role of the Steam Machine. Hollister suggested that if Valve can sell enough units, it could establish a "lowest common denominator" for game developers, encouraging them to optimize games for its specifications, much like they do for consoles. This could slow the relentless pace of hardware advancement required for bleeding-edge PC gaming, making the Steam Machine a stable target. Finally, the podcast addressed whether the Steam Machine could serve as a set-top box for streaming services. Hollister definitively stated that it cannot, explaining that Valve has not invested in streaming app integration. While browser-based workarounds might exist, the complexities of DRM and the lack of robust Linux support for features like HDR, Atmos, and 4K streaming make it impractical as a replacement for dedicated devices like Roku. In summary, the Steam Machine is presented as a promising device with a console-like form factor and the backing of Valve's strong reputation for support. However, it currently faces significant challenges regarding its out-of-box software experience, price-to-performance ratio compared to both custom PCs and older consoles, and limited upgradability for long-term relevance, especially in the fast-evolving PC gaming landscape.