> You can get the game without steam installed (though you do need to sign up for an account on-line and you may need to give your CC info), so you may as well "purchase" it now.
How does this work? I don't see anything but a big red button that downloads Steam.
At what point in the process does this happen to you? You should be able to add Portal to your cart, at which point it'll ask you to create an account. After you've registered you can then checkout. It shouldn't ever force you download steam.
And just so there's no misunderstanding, I didn't mean you can play the game without the steam, I meant you can purchase games without steam.
Originally, I got the Big Red Button upon clicking on the provided link; but, right now, the linked page is blank for me.
Anyway, I went ahead and downloaded the Steam client, so it's not a big deal. I remember the original web-based preview (or rip-off?) of Portal quite fondly; Lore Sjöberg linked to it somewhere from his vast empire.
How does this work? I don't see anything but a big red button that downloads Steam.