Assuming i didn't get the memo late. Alienware announces it's STEAM machine is now available.

http://www.alienware.com/Landings/steammachine/

Considering that most new consoles look like PC's never seen the point of steam machines.

It defeats he biggest shortcomings of consoles:
-it has the variety offered by pc gaming.
-MP tends to last longer on pc games as well, whereas with consoles games fall out of favor more quickly.
-Most games can survive a new OS, whereas backward compatibility on a console is an afterthought.

$500 for a gaming pc with the ease of use of a console (well, close I suppose) is a pretty attractive idea.
Many people don't want the hassle that can come with traditional pc gaming, much less the cost.

Well the need of a separate TV room is imminent , and that cost a lot more than a PC

I've got an Alienware Alpha, which is a Steam Machine running Windows. It's great...when it's working. I'm about to send mine back again for the CMOS battery problem.