A while back, we heard talk of a new portable Steam Machine coming out called the "Steam Boy". Not much info on what it was, how it'd look, when it'd release...until now. Resurfacing as "Smach Zero", the company behind it, Smach Zero (what a great name), has officially announced a price and a general ship date, along with a few basic specs.

Here's what we know now:

• The Smach Zero is expected to ship in Q4 2016, with preorders supposedly opening November 10 for $299/€299.
• The Smach Zero has 4GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, a 720p touch screen and HDMI output. EDIT: Other sources now confirm there is an SD Card slot for expandable storage, along with USB OTG.
• The Smach Zero carries an embedded G-Series SoC "Steppe Eagle" from AMD, with a Jaguar-based CPU and GCN-based Radeon Graphics.
• And, of course, the Smach Zero is going to launch with SteamOS and "1000's of Steam Games ready to play". EDIT: Sources claim the portable will be able to handle games like Cities Skyline, Civ 5, BioShock Infinite, Half Life 2, and Dota 2 no problem.

The video below is what the company released while at Gamescom on Saturday.



Source
EDIT: Additional Source

I'm quite interested in this project myself, I've always been fascinated by the idea of a portable game system that is essentially a PC, and this project so far looks to be exactly what I've been looking for! If this portable truly boasts a full x86 version of SteamOS, and specs enough to play a good amount of the Steam library, then I'd definitely be interested in giving one a purchase.

 

[HtheB]

Technical Specs:

• Texas Instruments OMAP 5 SoC
  • 2x ARM Cortex-A15 @ 1.7Ghz with NEON SIMD
  • 2x ARM Cortex-M4
  • PowerVR™ SGX544-MP2
  • Vivante GC320 2D Accelerator
• 2GB RAM*
• 720p 5" LCD with 20ms response time*
• High-Quality speakers, analog volume wheel
• Headset-Port, Built-in-Mic, HDMI Video Out

• Ultra-portable: approx. 140 x 84 x 29 mm*
• Huge battery for a long battery life (4200mAh - maybe even 6000mAh)*
• Gaming controls (DPad, 4 shoulder buttons, 6 face buttons*)
• Two accurate analog controls with push-button
• QWERTY keyboard with backlight
• Integrated Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0*
• Dual SDXC card slots
• 2x Full-size USB Host (one is a combi-eSATA-Port), 1x Micro USB 3.0, 1x Micro USB (Debug and Charging)*
• Fully configurable RGB-LEDs for notifications
• Optional 3G/UMTS and GPS module*

are those specs beter than the smach zero?

It's fully open source!
And it's also made by just a few guys! My support will rather go to them

 

[RevPokemon]

It's fully open source!
And it's also made by just a few guys! My support will rather go to them

Well this is to if you put Debian on it then take advantage of the superior emulators

 

[Foxi4]

if it is indeed near the power of a ps4/xbone, then that pricepoint is looking to be quite appealing. I wonder if emulators will be possible as well. but yeah, the inputs displayed there honestly look pretty meh

It won't be anywhere near that - the PS4 and XBO use 8-core Jaguars made custom for the systems, this will probably use one of the off-the-shelf models, and those go up to quad core. Still a nice portable though, all things considered - beats the quadrillion Androids out there just due to the sheer amount of actual games it'll run. Praise be x86.

 

[HtheB]

Well this is to if you put Debian on it then take advantage of the superior emulators

It will already run on Debian.

 

[RevPokemon]

It will already run on Debian.

Debian X86 is much better for gaming then Debian ARM

 

[Foxi4]

I rather wait for the Pyra-Handheld
(the successor of the Open Pandora)

Enjoy yet another ARM handheld, I prefer a proper "pocket PC".

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

It will already run on Debian.

Yeah, on the gimped ARM version, whereas this will be running x86. It's hardly the "better" choice, when you're stuck with ARM only.

EDIT: Damn, 'd by 2 people

 

[RevPokemon]

It won't be anywhere near that - the PS4 and XBO use 8-core Jaguars made custom for the systems, this will probably use one of the off-the-shelf models, and those go up to quad core. Still a nice portable though, all things considered - beats the quadrillion Androids out there just due to the sheer amount of actual games it'll run. Praise be x86.

Absolutely unless it makes a major mistake like a half hour battery life or something like that

 

[Foxi4]

Absolutely unless it makes a major mistake like a half hour battery life or something like that

Judging by the specs I expect 3 hours under stress - that's acceptable.

 

[RevPokemon]

Judging by the specs I expect 3 hours under stress - that's acceptable.

Oh I agree and maybe 5 light use but that's pretty good in my books plus think about it the pyra is nowhere near as good and will cost 600 bucks when it isn't as good as a nvidia shield portable

 

[HtheB]

Debian X86 is much better for gaming then Debian ARM

That might be true, but what about battery usage?
The open pandora has already tons of emulators

Enjoy yet another ARM handheld, I prefer a proper "pocket PC".

So, where is this proper pocket pc for you then? Show it to me.

 

[RevPokemon]

That might be true, but what about battery usage?
The open pandora has already tons of emulators


So, where is this proper pocket pc for you then? Show it to me.

I'm just saying this is better specs, better emulators, cheaper, better support and more original games.

If that doesn't matter then your right it sux and prya rules

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

So, where is this proper pocket pc for you then? Show it to me.

I mean...this...this thread is for one? The Smach Zero is going to run SteamOS on an x86 CPU, it'd be a proper "pocket PC" as Foxi put it? Did you like...not read the thread or?

 

[RevPokemon]

I mean...this...this thread is for one? The Smach Zero is going to run SteamOS on an x86 CPU, it'd be a proper "pocket PC" as Foxi put it? Did you like...not read the thread or?

He is a prya fanboy.
We got into it over Android vs pyra a while back

 

[HtheB]

I mean...this...this thread is for one? The Smach Zero is going to run SteamOS on an x86 CPU, it'd be a proper "pocket PC" as Foxi put it? Did you like...not read the thread or?

I wont call it proper pocket pc as it doesn't even have a qwerty keyboard. Dont tell me that I should use some external keyboard....

 

[RevPokemon]

I wont call it proper pocket pc as it doesn't even have a qwerty keyboard. Dont tell me that I should use some external keyboard....

The qwerty keyboard on the Pandora is a pain in the ass of you have larger fingers like i do.

 

[HtheB]

The qwerty keyboard on the Pandora is a pain in the ass of you have larger fingers like i do.

I also used the Nokia N900 and the Nokia N950, those buttons are even smaller, works pretty good for me though

Keys look a bit bigger now on the Pyra though:

 

[RevPokemon]

I also used the Nokia N900 and the Nokia N950, those buttons are even smaller, works pretty good for me though

Keys look a bit bigger now on the Pyra though:

I know but i still have to say the steam handheld is a better pocket pc. Plus its being ran by a by far superior company.

 

[HtheB]

I know but i still have to say the steam handheld is a better pocket pc. Plus its being ran by a by far superior company.

Both have their own unique things though...

Edit:

Have a look at the protoype:

 

[RevPokemon]

Both have their own unique things though...

That might be true but for virtually 100% the steam will better meet thier needs