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Can 'Alpha' draw gamers? [St. Joseph News-Press (MO)](St. Joseph News-Press (MO) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Last week, Dell's custom gaming computer division, Alienware, showed off a new gadget called the "Alpha." Several technology writers gathered to see if this thing was the real deal - to see if this little PC/box-looking thing could actually compete with the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4. The Alienware Alpha will be the first "steam machine" released to the public when it debuts during the holiday season. If you've never heard of a steam machine before, don't feel bad. It's an idea that didn't really come about until earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show. Steam machines are specialized gaming computers that are being developed by a variety of manufacturers. They're being created to offer more power and more customization than the video game consoles that Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo offer. Steam machines will run on SteamOS, a unique operating system based on Ubuntu Linux and produced by the game development company Valve. Steam machines will exist primarily to play Linux games that can be downloaded through SteamOS. However, users also will be able to stream Windows and Mac games running on Steam through other computers and run a variety of streaming video and music apps. What makes the Alienware Alpha unique, however, is that's it's coming out before the SteamOS is finished. The Alpha will use its own interface built from Windows 8.1 rather than the Linux-based SteamOS. However, Steam technology is still the lifeblood of this system, as the box brings PC gaming to your HDTV using Steam's "Big Picture" mode. The Alpha has an HDMI port with 4K capabilities for TVs and games that are compatible. The Alpha will start at $550 when it's released this fall. And because it won't be running on SteamOS or using Valve's special Steam controller, it will be shipped with Xbox 360 wireless controllers. However, Alpha buyers will be able to upgrade to SteamOS when it's finally made public in 2015. The developers at Alienware hope the Alpha can draw console gamers to the PC. However, the reviews so far have been fairly mixed. While writers tended to like the Alpha's simple interface and its customization options, others felt the system lacked power and balked at the high price tag. "In so many words, the Alpha is roughly as powerful as the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, only it costs more and is nowhere near as accessible," says Ben Gilbert of Engadget.com. "Size-wise, the Alienware Alpha splits the difference between a Roku box and a current-generation game console. But unlike the consoles it's built to compete with, it has user-replaceable components - you can swap out and upgrade (nearly) everything," says Tim Moynihan of Wired.com. "It's ambitious and crazy and might go horribly wrong. ... but for now, the Alpha looks like it might be the box to finally bring PC gaming into mainstream living rooms," says Hayden Dingman of PCWorld.com. All of them say they'll pass more judgment when the Alpha hits stores in November. Until then, the steam machine will remain in neutral. (c) 2014 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |