It's a great machine, they just got kicked in the balls on pricing. Like we all did. They didn't do anything wrong, and they still haven't. I hope the economics doesn't make it fail, but if it does, so be it. Economics is failing all of us.
this post was submitted on 24 Jun 2026
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I don't think it's polarizing. It's just sad.
The machine is a pretty decent deal at current prices. Not much to be done other than wait for the bubble to pop.
We're really not going to need this many data centers. AI is not going to replace most labor as they expect.
I’m curious to see whether companies will actually reduce prices back to the norm after the bubble pops tbh. Historically, inflation only goes one way.
Inflation only goes one way because deflation isn't really good. It creates a situation where not spending money nets a return. Inflation means you need to spend or you lose value. The ideal is wages keep up with inflation (which they aren't).
Now, I don't really buy into the Keynesian economics idea like I used to, that forcing spending is a good thing for the economy. Yeah, it boosts economic activity, but does that net really help the average person or only the elites? However, I still think deflation, especially to any significant degree, is almost certainly bad. It would cripple economic activity, which would cost jobs, because the best thing you could do is spend as little as possible.
However, computer hardware prices aren't really inflation. They effect the measure of inflation, but they aren't caused by it. They're caused by incredible demand, and a lack of supply. There's some inflationary effect to it, but their price has increased far faster than the price of their inputs.
Well whatever the reasons/terminology, it doesn’t change the fact that people simply can’t afford to spend ridiculous amounts on luxury/optional purchases. I know a lot of people across the U.S. who are choosing between food and rent. As for myself, I’m a disabled veteran and only get so much in disability per month. With my wife being laid off, I have exactly enough to pay rent and buy groceries every month and that’s about it. I understand what you’re saying, but unless people’s wages are actually adjusted for this new economy, these companies are going to lose money. It’s not a matter of want, it’s a matter of literally not having the money to spend.
Yeah, that's the key. (A small amount of) Inflation is potentially a net good thing, but only if incomes keep up. As it is, incomes are effectively being reduced, because they aren't increasing at the same rate as inflation. People are able to afford to spend less and less, while all the wealth is funneled to a select few.
Eventually this has to effectively freeze the economy, because people literally will not have money to spend. The economy only functions if most people are spending money. Having more billionaires (or trillionaires now) does not create much spending, and does not make a healthy economy.
Yeah, who’d have thought that the class of people famous for hoarding their wealth would not stimulate the economy much? Trickle down economics my ass. Lmao
This is all hanging on the word "inflation" in his comment, which wasn't really referring to general inflation like you are. It was clearly restrained to computer equipment, where the current bubble is.
Maybe. Generally when people use the phrase "inflation only goes one way" they're talking about general inflation. Inflation is rarely used to mean price increases. It's used for the overall decrease in buying power per unit of currency. Obviously prices do sometime come down.
The steam machines has been very unlucky, both the first and the second one.
They built the right machine. They showed how expensive the consoles will be, while having the advantage to play any game. In my opinion, the only thing that will save Playstation and Xbox are exclusive titles or maybe some novel type of input device (similar to Nintendo, which is why they are still successful).
I hope they will make it illegal to have platform exclusive games for longer than 2 weeks, because if this is the only way to get money, you didn’t deserve it in the first place.
In my opinion, the only thing that will save Playstation and Xbox are exclusive titles or maybe some novel type of input device (similar to Nintendo, which is why they are still successful)
the advantage of the console is that you can go to your local library. some of us don't like piracy. some of us (and i know this sounds ridiculous) can't risk it for professional reasons. like there's urban legend in grad schools about this one time this dude lost his licensure for hopping a turnstile in NYC and pleading guilty it's ridiculous.
can't risk it for professional reasons
I never thought about this, it is a good reminder to be cautious when speaking about it in real life. I’m pretty open about piracy in my environment. Even at work, no one really cares so far. Accounting job.
Oh, I didn’t think of this part, and you are right about the library.
The best part is it feels like blockbuster. And at least at mine you take the case up to the video game/librarians chair desk and get to gossip with the librarians about how the local cat colonies are doing and how your godchildren have been
People are already preordering gta 6 for 100€. I think they will also buy many steam machines.
Oh no don't buy it, it's shitty and definitely don't sign up it's too expensive and not worth it ahhh
oh right. i love towers.