Just as Valve previously announced, the first public version of SteamOS is now available at their repository. However, if you want to download it right away, it will be very problematic, as everybody tries to do the same. Fortunately, people at SteamDB have managed to provide an unofficial torrent download of SteamOS. It will take some time to download and test it, but in the meantime here is what has been announced in Valve's FAQ.
Just as expected from the initial Steam testing on Linux, SteamOS is based on Debian GNU/Linux (just like Ubuntu). Most of the system will be open source, only Steam and drivers will be closed-source parts of the initial install. While the system will boot to Steam by default, the desktop and root access is present for additional system customisation. Valve says that SteamOS is compatible with most of Debian drivers, packages and programs. By default SteamOS is configured to use 2 accounts – a more restricted steam account where Steam games will run and desktop account which can be configured for administrator access. Those accounts are local and separate from Steam logins while their privileges should limit the ability of malicious software to harm the system. Standard Debian update services will be used to update SteamOS automatically from Valve's repository.
The hardware requirement are very limiting at the moment for SteamOS 1.0 'Alchemist'. It is 64-bit only, which should not be a problem these days. 4 GB RAM is listed as a minimal requirement, which is relatively steep, although it is unlikely that the system itself will be using that much for itself alone. 500 GB hard disk also seems like an insurance to have enough space for installed games. The current version of SteamOS only supports Nvidia's GPUs, which limits the first batch of testers. If it is only a driver issue, it will be easy to fix for users themselves, but considering AMD's current Linux drivers, the performance will not be as good as it should. Finally, only UEFI boot is supported, so recent motherboards are required to run SteamOS. There is also NO DUAL BOOT at the moment, so do not install it on your main PC.
Overall, it is easy to see why Valve only recommends first release to those who are comfortable with Linux. Out of the box hardware support is limited and installing it will require some skills. Only 300 lucky people receiving their beta machines will be able to test SteamOS no matter how much or little they can do in Linux. For the rest of us it is time to do some testing of our own.
Posted 25-12-2013, 02:52
I'd have switched to OS X a long time ago if not for contractual obligations
Posted 24-12-2013, 17:56
Well, I've been using Ubuntu 64bit now for a week on my laptop. While I there doesn't seem to be any drivers for the Intel integrated GPU I have, it seems everything else is running fine.
While I do have issues with blurry font sometimes (not on all programs though), the speed of the laptop has increased a lot. While on Win 7 it would crash just from opening Skype and Chrome at the same time, on Ubuntu I can open as much as I want, the OS takes care of the rest. Better yet, if something does freeze due to lack of resources, the OS has a good code it seems for pausing programs that are frozen while it finishes up with other programs before returning to unfreeze the frozen program. This means that never yet have I had a full system freeze. Which I experienced often on Win 7 on the laptop.
Overall I am happy. Though I won't be switching my main desktop anytime soon to linux or even SteamOS just yet. I am looking forward to the day that I can (meaning when the OS is fully supported by all drivers and companies like Windows currently is) (simple example, my Kodak printer is not supported in Ubuntu)
Posted 16-12-2013, 08:46
This is sounding more and more like I will be leaving Windows behind permanently
Posted 15-12-2013, 22:25
I decided to go ahead and try installing Ubuntu on my laptop, will get back to let you guys know how to goes and if it makes my laptop run any better than on Win 7. Am curious :D
Posted 15-12-2013, 15:59
SteamOS outside Steam is almost a standard Debian Linux with GNOME graphical interface. You can switch to Linux desktop and install anything you want. There is no text editor in the default install, but Iceweasel (Firefox) web browser is present.
Posted 15-12-2013, 14:23
Here's the only real question I have. Is this going to be a fully functioning, web browser and chat programs and word processing and all that jazz operating system. Or literally Steam without the pesky Windows interface?
Posted 15-12-2013, 13:59
I have no Linux knowledge at all :P
So yeah... but sadly my laptop is Intel GPU and I don't think it has enough memory and such anyway. Nor even the 500GB HDD. So won't be able to run it on it anyway :(
Posted 15-12-2013, 01:31
It also depends a lot on your Linux knowledge. It is possible to install SteamOS on PCs without UEFI and Nvidia GPU, but it requires some modification of installation files.
Posted 14-12-2013, 22:11
I am going to wait until a stable version is released before installing it.
I need to check though if my laptop has enough specs to support SteamOS, I am going to fully format and sell it anyway so might as well try SteamOS on the laptop (heck if it runs better than Win7 does on my laptop I might end up keeping the laptop lol) Well then, time to go check my specs and compare to SteamOS minimum specs :D