Gaming fandom wars of the past are child's play compared with the real eternal struggle between consoles and gaming PCs. Console acolytes boast of the convenience and ubiquity of their chosen platforms. PC zealots claim that the knowledge needed to squeeze extra horsepower out of a gaming rig makes the reward all the sweeter. But now, Valve, the makers of acclaimed PC games and the all-powerful PC gaming digital marketplace Steam, has put forth a vision for peace between these two tribes. The company is partnering with manufacturers to create Steam Machines, desktop gaming PCs that offer the best of PC gaming in an approachable, console-like form. The Alienware Steam Machine ($749 as tested) is among the first of these boxes to hit the market, but while Valve's dream for PC gaming on your television is an exciting one, the choice of OS has made the reality much more limited. 

Design and Features
The Alienware Steam Machine is essentially last year's Alienware Alpha, except instead of running Windows, it's running Valve's new Linux-based operating system, SteamOS. It's roughly the same size as the Alpha, at 3 by 8 by 8 inches (HWD), and the small form factor is closer to a last-gen system like the Nintendo Wii instead of more technically comparable consoles like the Microsoft Xbox One and the Sony PlayStation 4. You can adjust the color of the glowing logos on the desktop. It certainly looks compact and distinctive when compared with traditional gaming towers like the Lenovo Erazer X315.

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