> If Valve did the same thing with their own version of Ubuntu running Steam, they could lower machine prices and also really reshape the PC gaming landscape over the next 10 years, esp. for indie developers who are already porting to Linux.
At that point, why not just release their own console?
Nowadays, what's the difference between a standardized PC running a custom/customized OS and your hypothetical console?
Now, if Valve actually moved backwards to a day when consoles were simple devices that didn't require OS updates, installation of the games, game updates, and a whole slew of other crap from the PC industry that makes it easier for vendors and harder for users, then they'd have a real 'console' that wasn't a PC.
I'd be very surprised if they released something that didn't do updates of some description. Even consoles these days do frequent updates, in fact I'd guess the only reason that earlier consoles didn't do this was because fast internet access was not ubiquitous at that point.
The main difference between a console & PC is largely marketing and also the default UI which is presented to users "out of the box".
What would be nice is a standardised box with a simple UI, good graphics hardware (and solid driver support) and a lowish price tag. That standard experience could be basically the "Steam box" but with an option for advanced users to unlock the underlying Linux System and install regular Linux software.
This would allow games to be developed directly on the console itself, if this was combined with providing tools such as model editors , game engines etc for free or at low cost it could really lower the bar for Indie devs to produce some fairly high end games.
Also if the console proved popular you would have "stealth installed" a Linux desktop in millions of homes worldwide.
At that point, why not just release their own console?