TinyGrasshopper

Anything to maintain the perception that games don't come out on Android

I think it should be noted that the SteamOS is mostly regular Ubuntu. When you look at the valve repo, there are very few packages in the repo.

I anticipate that it would be something along the lines of Lubuntu or Xubuntu where it's mostly the same OS as Ubuntu but configured to be lean and only ship with the packages that are needed to accomplish its goal, which is to get you to Big Picture as soon as possible after pressing the power button. I figure the ISO when it is released will be very small.

Also since it would be mostly the same as Ubuntu, I think you would be able to turn the default SteamOS into regular Ubuntu relatively easily and Steam Desktop can be treated like another desktop environment that sits alongside Ubuntu's Unity or LXDE.

To educate the non-Linux users: Desktop Linux supports multiple desktop environments. A desktop environment is a different user interface. So when you get to the login screen you normally login to Ubuntu's default Unity which is the one that looks like MacOSX with the dock on the left hand side. But it is really easy to install a lighter one like LXDE and then you can just choose it at login.

I imagine that since it's a Linux distro and will be relatively open, Big Picture will be the default desktop environment on a standard Ubuntu but with no Ubuntu or Canonical branding anywhere, and it would be trivial to add the Ubuntu Unity or any other desktop environment to it and just switch back and forth.

I think that's what people are confused about. The interface is going to look console-y, but it will still be a PC OS. I think you'll be able to do all the stuff that you can on any other PC operating system, like install packages, install desktop environments, run a browser, install VMs, run a server, all that nerdy stuff.

And as for the people who think that there aren't PC gamers that want a console-like experience, I can't speak for other people, but for me, the older I've gotten the lazier and wearier I've gotten. I want to have the option of upgradeability and maintainability that comes with PC gaming, but I don't want the hassle of actually having to take care of the PC. I want something in-between console and PC. I think there's a space for this.

And the valve approach makes sense, take the most tinkerable OS in Linux and like Ubuntu, make up the difference in the ease of use department, but take it to another level for gaming than Ubuntu would.

Who portrait orients their TV to play games on it?

I doubt the graphics drivers are going to be a problem, from looking at their package repo, they'll be maintaining their own set of nvidia drivers apart from ubuntu's, probably harnessing all that work with hardware manufacturers that they've been touting since this push started. I haven't had problems with the ubuntu repo's nvidia drivers anyways. http://repo.steampowered.com/hometest/pool/steam/n/

SteamDB folks found Spotify and local/network share/itunes playlist playback support in Steam so we know that will be one of the media services http://steamdb.info/blog/25/

or whose tv is too far from their pc

What's not to get? A computer hooked up to your TV which is usually in your living room. Imagine a PC OS that just boots straight into Big Picture, except it has two more options in the main menu. One for 'stream from desktop' and one for 'video services'.

Because you don't want to move your computer to your tv, to play on the couch. Hence the low powered streaming only steam box.

To be honest though, I doubt this is going to be ideal. I think the results will vary as wildly as your wifi reception will. At least if its anything like Chromecast, which never works right for me streaming video over a webpage. The only redeeming thing about it is that since its an open OS you can hook it up over a cable on a regular crappy PC like an old pc or a netbook. I think this will be good enough for most indie games.

Or because you're well off, and you don't want to buy two copies of a game for desk and couch and you want cloud saves, steam friends list, badges, etc etc. synced in between a game played at your desk PC and at your living room PC. Hence the real steam box, which would be clearly the best option.

I might buy a 2DS. I don't care about 3D and $129 is not a lot.

According to The Verge

http://www.theverge.com/2013/8/2/4583304/john-carmack-armadillo-aerospace-in-hibernation-after-progress-stalled

It looks like his space aspirations are a little bit on hold now.