Unfortunately you and alot of others are getting 'glossed over' by the SALES PITCH, because the truth of the STEAM / SHIELD devices is alot of FALSE wishful thinking. So let's nip this in the bud and hopefully make this a permanent post.
1) THERE IS NO 'CONSOLE' for PCs.
2) These devices (STEAMBOX and NVIDIA SHIELD) are NOT WINDOWS devices. Steambox runs Linux, Nvidia Shield runs Android (YES YOUR CELLPHONE / TABLET software!!)
3) THESE devices ALWAYS need you to ALREADY HAVE A GAMING PC to 'STREAM' a game FROM. When they mean 'game anywhere'
http://shield.nvidia.com/portable-game-player/ http://shield.nvidia.com/gaming-tablet/ they mean around your HOME streaming from your gaming PC over your wifi to the device (Steambox or Nvidia Shield).
4) There are only a HANDFUL of games available for either device that run 'natively' (aka take the SteamBox/Shield in the car, on a plane, etc. with NO WIFI and 'play' a game). Basically the games will be the SAME ONES as your Android Phone / Tablet.
>>> As seen on the link it is a SEPARATE PURCHASE item you would pay for ONLY works on the Shield, unless you had a TABLET / PHONE with the same hardware as the Shield (* NVIDIA Tegra® 4 mobile processor), then it may play on that too.
5) Your WASTING money in honesty. Calculate it this way:
A) Average PC Gaming system that can support that Steambox/Shield $1200 est. (entire system including OS)
((To 'make it look like the video' PC Gaming system would be no less then $1500 more $2000 to get the FPS correct))
B) Buy the Steambox / Shield + $ 200 - 799 depending on model
C) Buying BOTH HL2 and Portal (NOT Portal 2) for PC to 'stream' + $ 20 est. per Steam
D) Natively run HL2 and Portal (for when NOT at home) + $ 20+? pricing only accessible through Shield Device
E) Hardware changes
Verses: PS4 $400 + Vita $300 and use
http://www.playstation.com/en-us/explore/psnow/ PS Now streaming to play ANY game you have on your PSN account regardless of it being a PS4 or Vita (aka pay one time for a game) as long as you have " a steady internet connection between 5-12Mbps". Otherwise simply run the LARGE library of games available for Vita you purchase seperately.
To me this seems like a no brainer, as Sony obviously made it more cost effective and easier (no techie things) for Joe / Jane Consumer. Steambox/Nvidia Shield is a dead end because they have (natively) NO GAMES 'out there' as compared to Windows, Xbox, Playstation.