AfterDawn: News

Valve exec: Windows 8 is a catastrophe

Valve boss Gabe Newell made some interesting comments at Seattle's Casual Connect conference last night in regards to the future of open platforms.

The exec went as far as to call the upcoming Windows 8 a 'catastrophe.'



"I think Windows 8 is a catastrophe for everyone in the PC space," Newell said. "I think we'll lose some of the top-tier PC/OEMs, who will exit the market. I think margins will be destroyed for a bunch of people. If that's true, then it will be good to have alternatives to hedge against that eventuality."

Newell says the best alternative is Linux, and he hopes to soon have all 2500 games on Steam running on Linux.

Into the future, Newell says the future of computing will be in wearable gear that can overlay info on physical objects.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 26 Jul 2012 13:41

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• 25 comments

• i1der

  Why is Linux taking so long to pick up on games?
  The only reason i can't go full Linux
  

  26.7.2012 14:00 #1

• LordRuss

  Everyone screams "oh woe is me" when a new OS comes out. All these kind of vendors want to maximize the minimum so as to do noting & get paid for it. Nothing new.
  
  Steam has yet to master XP why the hell would they even remotely speak favorably for 8? Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking forward to 8 either, but I'm not a Fortune 50 software owner either. Nor am I defeatist crybaby bitch either. Know your weaknesses & seek self improvement - NCO leadership principles. Something lacking in MOST of the youth & CEOs today.
  
  But then so is fortitude & self sacrifice. Linux is free & built off the backs of a lot of smart & giving individuals. Why wouldn't this smarmy bubbateen f*k not rob someone else & 'capitalize' on their work for his own gain? I'd even go so far as to bet he'd even say "It's American.."
  

  http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

  26.7.2012 14:10 #2

• xnonsuchx

  Not a fan of VALVE, but I will at least agree w/ the "catastrophe" bit.

  26.7.2012 17:12 #3

• imnomyth

  Windows 8 will be great...for windows tablets. Unfortunately for MS, Android and Apple will make sure it doesn't succeed in portable devices.
  No way am I installing that garbage on my PC though. I'm afraid that I may have to do the unthinkable in a few years; install Linux. I love the idea of Linux, but I've always been more comfortable with Windows.

  26.7.2012 19:52 #4

• xnonsuchx

  Originally posted by imnomyth: Windows 8 will be great...for windows tablets. Unfortunately for MS, Android and Apple will make sure it doesn't succeed in portable devices.
  No way am I installing that garbage on my PC though. I'm afraid that I may have to do the unthinkable in a few years; install Linux. I love the idea of Linux, but I've always been more comfortable with Windows.
  That's the problem w/ Linux...it's still not quite for everyone, but more for the geeky types.

  26.7.2012 20:50 #5

• SomeBozo

  Originally posted by xnonsuchx: Originally posted by imnomyth: Windows 8 will be great...for windows tablets. Unfortunately for MS, Android and Apple will make sure it doesn't succeed in portable devices.
  No way am I installing that garbage on my PC though. I'm afraid that I may have to do the unthinkable in a few years; install Linux. I love the idea of Linux, but I've always been more comfortable with Windows.
  That's the problem w/ Linux...it's still not quite for everyone, but more for the geeky types.
  And likewise the problem with win 8 is fit for only a different kind of user that isn't necessarily on the PC. What do i mean? The Win phone and related UI (user interface) got praises from people how nice the UI was, and MS is looking it need to be relevant in the mobile device space, phones, tablets and ect. So MS did the lazy thing and is trying to have one single source code base for all. I think this is why win 8's ui look more like a phone/tablet than older previous OS version. I might suggest the Win OS for most people is already over. People will text, e-mail and do 99% of what then need on phones and tablets, not the usual PC. But i feel MS knows that and will make the OS most closely resemble that for the standard desktop OS. Problem is the people i believe MS is marketing for won't be using a desktop OS for the most part....? Example over at a friend's house we wanted to see a movie... Instead of going to their computer we simply looked up the time on a phone, quick, convenient and done well before we got the room where the PC was and powered up. let alone looking up the theater times...
  
  And i'm not the only/first one to point out the odd OS version from MS tend to always suck. Win 8 is due to be a piece crap, i'm thinking it will do better then vist4 but not much only because win 8 will possibly be good for people on tablets, and other such mobile devices.
  

  27.7.2012 03:13 #6

• sternrulez

  Looks like I won't be upgrading any time soon... :S Don't get me wrong...I'm VERY happy with Win7 (far superior to Vista), but I'm going with imnomyth: I won't let it near my PC either! I've always wanted to try Linux and even though I'm proud to be called a "computer geek" I'm still on the fence about trying it...the chief reason is the same as i1der's: games. I have a spare laptop lying around somewhere that needs a HD...maybe I'll spring for one and try Linux on that before I jump in with both feet...

  27.7.2012 07:19 #7

• Semperfipal

  Originally posted by LordRuss: Everyone screams "oh woe is me" when a new OS comes out. All these kind of vendors want to maximize the minimum so as to do noting & get paid for it. Nothing new.
  
  Steam has yet to master XP why the hell would they even remotely speak favorably for 8? Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking forward to 8 either, but I'm not a Fortune 50 software owner either. Nor am I defeatist crybaby bitch either. Know your weaknesses & seek self improvement - NCO leadership principles. Something lacking in MOST of the youth & CEOs today.
  
  But then so is fortitude & self sacrifice. Linux is free & built off the backs of a lot of smart & giving individuals. Why wouldn't this smarmy bubbateen f*k not rob someone else & 'capitalize' on their work for his own gain? I'd even go so far as to bet he'd even say "It's American.." "Know your weaknesses & seek self improvement - NCO leadership principles. Something lacking in MOST of the youth & CEOs today"........Amen to that brother!
  

  "Do not underestimate the power of an enemy, no matter how great or small, to rise against you another day." - Atilla

  27.7.2012 07:51 #8

• squijello

  I have been testing out Windows 8 for a couple of months and have to say that I really like it. In fact, I think that they have a real winner here and their strategy to create a uniform experience across multiple platforms is not only smart, but necessary. Sure, it took some time getting used to a couple of new elements, but after that, I love it.

  27.7.2012 08:05 #9

• xtago

  Linux will go no where it's only done stuff for the server side and that's it as there;s no money it handing to OS away for free.
  
  Even now most times linux isn't free and hasn't been free for a good 10 or so years now.
  
  The other problem with linux is devices they don't have drivers and ones that do only work poorly, so people get few up that they can't hook up their brand new iphone 4s or ipad 3 or Samsung Galaxy s 3 etc and goto windows as it works has the drivers installed from the net and you don't have the problems that you'd have with linux.
  
  the 2500 games on Steam will never all work on linux as it doesn't support and will never support DirectX so all the windows games that are DirectX only can't be run on linux.
  
  Sure Win8 is pretty poxy and lame but linux has been like that for 10 or so years now.

  27.7.2012 09:36 #10

• Picazzo

  Yeah Right Newell...go eat another pizza porky.....He's personally turned Valve and Steam into giant turds....he's been resting on his laurels way to long....Ive been a bet tester on Win 8 since the beginning I have to also say that it is great...I even have a few of my Apple ding dong buddies drooling on it '-)

  27.7.2012 10:18 #11

• Clam_Up

  Admittedly I haven't seen much of Linux. But what I have seen gave me the impression it's trying to mimic much of the behavior of Windows while keeping it as free and open as possible.
  
  I suspect that if Windows 8 has any success whatsoever, future distros of Linux will try to emulate the newer elements as well.
  

  27.7.2012 11:36 #12

• keith1993

  Wow, I'm surprised by the amount of; I wouldn't say hate, more lack of faith in and understanding of Linux on AD.
  
  A lot of people are confused by Linux or cling to a dated view, I mean a few years ago I would of just laughed if you'd told me I'd be running Ubuntu as my primary OS, but here I am and it's fantastic, heck I'm even a bit of a PC gamer, but I boot into Windows exclusively to play games these days.
  
  A few Linux on the desktop rumours to dispell (using Ubuntu):
  Linux is complicated and hence exclusively for geeks
  I've swapped Windows for Ubuntu on a number of older relatives computers and they love it, below a certain point of tech-knowledge it's fantastic and above that it's still far easier then Windows on a day to day basis.
  To do anything on Linux you need to use the command-line
  You simply don't. And even then, if you do want to do something a bit funky, you need only 'gksduo natilus' (which runs what you'd call explorer on windows as an administrator) and the commands you're told instead of being given a download page for certain software (pretty much everything you'll ever need is on the Ubuntu Software Centre anyway)
  My phone/printer/scanner won't work with Linux
  Linux easily supports a good 80% of devices these days, and pretty much all of those are truly plug and play, as in you shove the USB into the socket and you're printing/syncing/dancing without installing anything at all.
  There isn't Chrome/Spotify/Bastion on Linux
  All of those have Linux versions and so does lots of other software these days, and even for stuff that doesn't, there's plenty of alternatives e.g. Rhythmbox or Banshee instead of iTunes or you can even use WINE to run certain Windows software if you really need to.
  
  If you're planning on installing Ubuntu but haven't gotten around to it yet, you need only run WUBI on the machine your on, and it installs like any software and can easily be removed via add/remove programs on Windows, while still giving you basically the same experience as if you did more complicated stuff.

  27.7.2012 13:11 #13

• dodger5

  Originally posted by keith1993: Wow, I'm surprised by the amount of; I wouldn't say hate, more lack of faith in and understanding of Linux on AD.
  
  A lot of people are confused by Linux or cling to a dated view, I mean a few years ago I would of just laughed if you'd told me I'd be running Ubuntu as my primary OS, but here I am and it's fantastic, heck I'm even a bit of a PC gamer, but I boot into Windows exclusively to play games these days.
  
  A few Linux on the desktop rumours to dispell (using Ubuntu):
  Linux is complicated and hence exclusively for geeks
  I've swapped Windows for Ubuntu on a number of older relatives computers and they love it, below a certain point of tech-knowledge it's fantastic and above that it's still far easier then Windows on a day to day basis.
  To do anything on Linux you need to use the command-line
  You simply don't. And even then, if you do want to do something a bit funky, you need only 'gksduo natilus' (which runs what you'd call explorer on windows as an administrator) and the commands you're told instead of being given a download page for certain software (pretty much everything you'll ever need is on the Ubuntu Software Centre anyway)
  My phone/printer/scanner won't work with Linux
  Linux easily supports a good 80% of devices these days, and pretty much all of those are truly plug and play, as in you shove the USB into the socket and you're printing/syncing/dancing without installing anything at all.
  There isn't Chrome/Spotify/Bastion on Linux
  All of those have Linux versions and so does lots of other software these days, and even for stuff that doesn't, there's plenty of alternatives e.g. Rhythmbox or Banshee instead of iTunes or you can even use WINE to run certain Windows software if you really need to.
  
  If you're planning on installing Ubuntu but haven't gotten around to it yet, you need only run WUBI on the machine your on, and it installs like any software and can easily be removed via add/remove programs on Windows, while still giving you basically the same experience as if you did more complicated stuff. I am in total agreement, I run Ubuntu on 2 desktops, a laptop, and a netbook, anything I have to absolutly have from windows I wine, one of the better decisions I have made.
  

  Keep your head up, keep alert, and don't let them take you by suprise.

  27.7.2012 16:25 #14

• Xian

  Windows 8 is a catastrophe...for Valve. Since it will have an app store built in, that will be a competitor to Steam.

  27.7.2012 18:47 #15

• pmshah

  Originally posted by xnonsuchx: Originally posted by imnomyth: Windows 8 will be great...for windows tablets. Unfortunately for MS, Android and Apple will make sure it doesn't succeed in portable devices.
  No way am I installing that garbage on my PC though. I'm afraid that I may have to do the unthinkable in a few years; install Linux. I love the idea of Linux, but I've always been more comfortable with Windows.
  That's the problem w/ Linux...it's still not quite for everyone, but more for the geeky types.
  What the Linux developers do not realize is that most people who try it out are conversant with Windows and a large percentage of that with Windows CLI. Unfortunately the CLI in Linux is definitely not intuitive nor are the command names. I am an old hand at Dos and batch files. I use them extensively along with very useful freeware mini utilities for automating a lot of tasks which would otherwise require umpteen clicks ! Even simple task like creating a 5-6 line script file is no easy task under Linux. One would have to learn VI or eMacs ! Why not a simple EDIT ?

  28.7.2012 01:11 #16

• Mr-Movies

  Linux is still a nightmare and I play with several distro's. Why would I care if 8 is trash when I can use 7 for the next 6 to 10 years? Look at how long XP went, over a decade and some still use it! Just because 8 may bomb doesn't mean doom and gloom for MS, ME & Vista bombed and here we are with most of us loving Windows 7, all is fine in the world.
  
  Basically Valve is full of it even if he is right that Windows 8 is worthless.
  

  28.7.2012 02:08 #17

• robertmro

  Originally posted by Mr-Movies: Linux is still a nightmare and I play with several distro's. Why would I care if 8 is trash when I can use 7 for the next 6 to 10 years? Look at how long XP went, over a decade and some still use it! Just because 8 may bomb doesn't mean doom and gloom for MS, ME & Vista bombed and here we are with most of us loving Windows 7, all is fine in the world.
  
  Basically Valve is full of it even if he is right that Windows 8 is worthless. The problem isn't only with Windows 8. MS missed the smart phone boat and then the tablet boat.
  

  28.7.2012 03:41 #18

• LordRuss

  Originally posted by Semperfipal: "Know your weaknesses & seek self improvement - NCO leadership principles. Something lacking in MOST of the youth & CEOs today"........Amen to that brother! Lead the way sergeant, lead the way!
  

  http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

  28.7.2012 15:44 #19

• xnonsuchx

  Originally posted by pmshah: Originally posted by xnonsuchx: Originally posted by imnomyth: Windows 8 will be great...for windows tablets. Unfortunately for MS, Android and Apple will make sure it doesn't succeed in portable devices.
  No way am I installing that garbage on my PC though. I'm afraid that I may have to do the unthinkable in a few years; install Linux. I love the idea of Linux, but I've always been more comfortable with Windows.
  That's the problem w/ Linux...it's still not quite for everyone, but more for the geeky types.
  What the Linux developers do not realize is that most people who try it out are conversant with Windows and a large percentage of that with Windows CLI. Unfortunately the CLI in Linux is definitely not intuitive nor are the command names. I am an old hand at Dos and batch files. I use them extensively along with very useful freeware mini utilities for automating a lot of tasks which would otherwise require umpteen clicks ! Even simple task like creating a 5-6 line script file is no easy task under Linux. One would have to learn VI or eMacs ! Why not a simple EDIT ?
  
  
  nano (terminal app) and gedit (GUI editor) are easier on Linux than the archaic (yet more powerful) vi and emacs. Numerous peripheral drivers are still an issue in Linux too, but the biggest issue is lack of standards across distros (including their repos). From multiple GUI frontends (and how each one is pre-configured) to some having more robust repos than others, etc. While they've made it much easier to install over the years, only the really geeky types will have the knowledge and willingness to spend the time to figure many things out in Linux. I understand why people like Ubuntu, but its repos seem rather limited to me compared to other discros (I sometimes had to find standalone RPMs and/or tarballs, as well as dependency RPMs/tarballs, to get some things installed that were readily available in Fedora).
  
  Gnome 3 sucks, by the way...like Microsoft redesigned it! ;-)

  28.7.2012 15:59 #20

• Mr-Movies

  I prefer SUSIE over most of the popular distros myself, I'm not impressed at all with Ubuntu. And yes Gnome 3 does suck!
  

  28.7.2012 18:45 #21

• nu2duo

  We have 2 pc's with Win8 and had Linux PinguyOS for months in our living room htpc. I removed Pinguy because my wife couldn't access netflix (no microsoft silverlight linux support...possible with virtualbox and installing windows).
  So I installed Win8 and all is good. I'm also a videographer and my main pc has Win8. Great OS and the UI is absolutely no big deal to me.
  

  Core 2 Dual E6600
  ASUS P5L-VM 1394 945G 775
  GeForce 6200 128MB
  2g ddr2 667
  Maxtor 320g SATA 16mb HD
  Ultra V Series 500w PS
  Ultra Wizard Black Mid Tower w/120m rear fan and 80m front fan
  32" Olevia Monitor aka HDTV

  29.7.2012 09:43 #22

• SomeBozo

  Originally posted by nu2duo: We have 2 pc's with Win8 and had Linux PinguyOS for months in our living room htpc. I removed Pinguy because my wife couldn't access netflix (no microsoft silverlight linux support...possible with virtualbox and installing windows).
  So I installed Win8 and all is good. I'm also a videographer and my main pc has Win8. Great OS and the UI is absolutely no big deal to me. So it seems safe to say you're using it more for rather simple things and don't work day after day needing to change and edit some in W1nd0ws itself? After WinXP think take a lot more effort to do that same things. Perhaps M1cr0s0ft is doing the right thing to make it easy to user for the masses, but honestly as and IT professional it is a real pain. Things which use to be run program and make a couple click now turns in to a series of 5 or 6 dialog boxes before I can do the same thing. It is these changes i complain about.
  
  

  21.8.2012 20:47 #23

• Mr-Movies

  Not really with Windows 7 if you know what you are doing you can still get there quickly, as quickly as XP. There are only a couple of things that have got worst in 7 like Networking being one otherwise it is better then XP, and I'm an IT profession as well as other things too. I haven't played with 8 but if you can't disable the tablet BS I'm not very interested in it as 7 is just fine for the next 5+ years easily. As a matter of fact XP sucked for the first year after it's release, it wasn't decent until the first SP.
  

  22.8.2012 01:30 #24

• SomeBozo

  Originally posted by Mr-Movies: Not really with Windows 7 if you know what you are doing you can still get there quickly, as quickly as XP. There are only a couple of things that have got worst in 7 like Networking being one otherwise it is better then XP, and I'm an IT profession as well as other things too. I haven't played with 8 but if you can't disable the tablet BS I'm not very interested in it as 7 is just fine for the next 5+ years easily. As a matter of fact XP sucked for the first year after it's release, it wasn't decent until the first SP. Actually, i found Windows Server 2000, or possibly NT 4 the best. There were things in NT4 you absolutely can't do any more. Hell there where something in WFW 3.11 i like, and when i talk to others about what and why i liked them everyone say "Oh i see that is handy..." I guess it would be easy enough to write my own utilities to get the functionality back, other thing not. One thing most annoying many of the hotkeys differ or have simply been removed after NT 4 for that matter.
  
  As for a matter of "knowing what i'm doing..." I'm the person at work that points out obscure features in windows to others, trust me, i know windows very very well, funny cuz i work in redmond land, just thought my co-workers would know their own company's software better then they do.
  
  
  
  

  22.8.2012 04:56 #25