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For $2000, there are pre-built mini PCs with AMD iGPUs that will run circles around the Steam Machine. Just buy one of those and install Bazzite.
Or install Steam OS if you want the closest approximation of a steam machine.
(Like them or not) LTT already showed how to do that last week.
Hot take: You don't have to buy an overpriced cube, just get a used laptop that's 5 years old atmost, it can handle most of the games and you can play them on the go
Hmm maybe I should start selling SteamOS usb sticks with auto install script.
Why would anyone spend 3x the already too much for a steam machine?
Its not like they locked the os or even think the price is good. Who needs one of these this bad?
Rich FOMO gamers
But there is nothing you are missing out on? It's not like this is a switch, or even a steam deck. It's a small form factor PC with SteamOS preinstalled.
The only reason I could think of for buying from a scalper is if you are a journalist (or similar) and need one or multiple to review/test.
They lack the technical skill to install an OS.
If you buy a $3000 PC from your typical boutique PC builder they will probably do that for you. If not for free, then for a lot less than $2000 you're overpaying.
Linux FOMO is finally here?
Ain't nobody buying it for the official price, let alone twice that lol
It will be sold out in hours.
Why? They can only have one unit, just don't buy it off of them. End of problem.
Scalping only worth it if people will pay it. Are people actually going to pay that price?
Apparently you can get those listings easily removed by reporting them that the seller sells an "intangible item". Which is true, since a reservation is indeed not a tangible item.
I have to say, some of these may be scam too.
Scalpers are some of the worst scum to humanity has produced.
if you seen the pokemon scalpers, pretty much. people who dont even play it try to cash in on it.
My g/f is more or less just a collector. She has binders and binders of cards she collected over 30 years before the scalpers turned the TCG into a commodity. She got so fed up with the scalpers and inflated prices that she started an LLC so she can get wholesale product. She has to compete with big box stores for product, which means she gets way less wholesale than big established stores. She probably sells 75% of the wholesale product/unopened packs and keeps 25% for herself. She charges reasonable prices. She's making like $2 an hour profit running her LLC after accounting for packaging, shipping, and purchasing new inventory. Even though she can't get as much product as she wants, she's always sold out because she isn't charging scalper prices. She gets cards/packs for herself at reasonable prices, and her small customer base doesn't have to pay scalper prices.
My FLGS (which is a weirdly massive deal) has the same limits on pokemon pack purchases that everyone else has had to implement, but they recently went one further and now have a rule that children get to cut to the front of the line on restock days. Not a perfect system sure, but the salt from the scalper base has been absolutely legendary.
i heard on another forum, that some stores require the packs to be opened in store, before leaving.
That's actually really wholesome.
This is a problem with every kind of hobby. Anytime something is throttling production or there's a limited edition, scalper bullshit comes around. It's one of the big reasons I hate limited editions so goddamn much.
tcp japan is definitely making bank on scalpers, not only limited edition but the pull rate of rares, or the price=usage in irl tournament. they also dont reprint the same card often too. magic had issues with scalping, but i heard its mostly negated by them releasing too many SETS in one year.
Yeah they're like corporations and big investors.
You can build or buy a lot more computer than the Steam Machine for $3000, even at today's absurd component prices. I'm not quite sure which is more moronic, trying to scalp a Steam Machine for that price or somebody actually paying it.
Scalpers are low lifes who don't necessarily know much about the products they scalp. They must have thought it was going to be the same as the last few generations of gaming console releases.
I also believe that the typical potential customer for a Steam Machine will know better.
I’ll always remember going to a rise against concert and scalpers outside were saying “tickets for rise against the machine”, they have no idea what they are selling
Scalpers are the proof that a lot of humans are dumb af. Scalpers wouldn't exist if the vast majority humans were capable of using their brain.
Especially considering that is makes zero sense to pay extra, since you can literally go out and buy any other computer instead.
Just need to install Steam OS after
If you spend US$3,000 on the Steam Machine your brain must be made of tofu.
Valve should make a false initial sale then "run out" causing scalpers to stock up then all of a sudden "find" a bunch of extra stock to start selling immediately after the first batch runs out.
That would require having enough inventory to meet total demand at the set price.
IMO the best they can do is cut the scalpers out by starting the price off high themselves and lowering it as supply increases. Low supply and high demand will always lead to increased prices and trying to avoid that by keeping prices low will result in others taking advantage of that market inefficiency.
And the best we can do is just not buy the higher priced options and wait for supply to come up.
Why? It’s not even that compelling at the normal price. If it were 3x the price, who would possibly want to buy it?
Pro tip: don't buy obviously overpriced scalper shit.
