SteamOS and Steam Machines

I'd like to start a new thread but I'm not quite sure of the direction of it as of yet... I have too many unknown questions circling my brain.

Has anyone been reading about the Steam Machines? Thinking about building your own? How about peoples thoughts on the SteamOS operating system?

I'm on the verge of buying something. Either a PS4 or rebuilding one of the old computers in my house. If I were to rebuild a computer it would be less than the cost of the PS4 ($400) and I'd probably go for Ubuntu or maybe the SteamOS.

Is anyone else thinking about these things? I'm turned off by the bigger price tag of the XBone and the gold subscription costs.

With what ever I decide, I'd probably be playing it on the big tv in the living room, so I'd probably end up with a controller if at all possible. I understand that PC games usually don't do controllers very well (or at all) and you are usually tethered to a mouse/keyboard.

Open for discussion...

Thanks, Ross.

I hope Steam OS changes this, but there aren't a lot of big-name Linux games :(

I read that Unreal engine 4.1 has a big compatibility upgrade for Linux systems and a cheaper license fee in hopes for more big and small game devs to bring games to Linux side.