Valve Looking To Enter Hardware

Hello Everyone,

It was recently rumored that Valve would be looking to enter the hardware business with a "Steam Box". The rumor was quickly shut down as Valve classified the leaked images as simple prototypes for the upcoming "Big Picture Mode".

A recent job posting by Valve seems to suggest otherwise. The listing for an 'Industrial Designer' read,

"Valve is traditionally a software company. Open platforms like the PC and Mac are important to us, as they enable us and our partners to have a robust and direct relationship with consumers. We're frustrated by the lack of innovation in the computer hardware space though, so we're jumping in. Even basic input, they keyboard and mouse, haven't really changed in any meaningful way over the years. There's a real void in the marketplace, and opportunities to create compelling user experiences are being overlooked."

[full listing after break]

If Valve is entering the hardware business, would you bite? Would you prefer an overhaul on the inputs/controls or the SteamBox?

I would personally prefer new input methods as a whole new piece of equipment isn't that appealing to me.


Cheers,
Jon