Valve's Steam Box: console? Or customized OEM PC?

http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/6/3958162/valve-steam-box-cake/in/3514777

"Based on what Valve has told us, its Steam box will — like a console — be something small and quiet that you can fit near your television while you kick back on the couch with a wireless controller. Like a PC, it will let you buy and download your games as many times as you want without needing any discs, and choose from a vast library of free game customizations. The Steam Box will also include a few unique twists, like controllers that can passively sense your feelings (biometrics), and wireless technology that can connect the console to several rooms and screens in your house at the same time."

Does the world really need ANOTHER gaming console? Much less a three-tiered one?

Interesting concept, but I don't see the demand.

its not really a console, its just a computer with the seam OS loaded on it. you can really just load steam os onto your own pc and be ready to rock n roll.

As wagex said, it is a pre-built PC that just runs the linux-based Steam-OS. If you have your own little PC you can install/run the steam OS on it as well. I think it is pretty cool, and should supposedly allow you to stream a game from your gaming PC through the box onto your PC as well.

Knowing Valve, I bet they'd go with the Gigabyte BRIX Iris style for their console.

It sounds to me like it is a SFF (assume proprietary) PC with Steam OS instead... After reading about the PS4 limitations, I am even MORE curious about the Steam Box.