(Article) Consoles to replace PC's as dominant home computing systems
- Thread starter sonycowboy
- Start date
Not much is really required to add the other computer-like capabilities to present day consoles. All of them are basically just proprietary PCs. With as much as it costs to make a good PC that also plays modern games well, I say bring on the mass-produced inexpensive console/PC...
The problem with those TV based internet surfing machines was that standard TV resolution is just too low to display webpages (640 x 480). Sony have stated this themselves as to why ps2 doesnt surf the net. But with HDTV's and PS3 /Xenon on the horizon, why shouldnt they surf the web?.
There is only so much you can do with those stations, so why not use the PC you got in the bedroom or wherever instead? It's not like those TV surfing machines only failed, they bombed like there's no tomorrow! HDTV is also still very far from being in everyones household.
It will happen eventually in some distant feature. What those people say basically sounds like a regular PC, in some nice small form factor, and a controller attached to it, put in your living room. Why they are still calling that a console, i don't know.
It will happen eventually in some distant feature. What those people say basically sounds like a regular PC, in some nice small form factor, and a controller attached to it, put in your living room. Why they are still calling that a console, i don't know.
mumu said:
They failed because they were attempting to do everything a PC does, only poorly. An "entertainment" server - think Tivo, but more versatile - is a completely different animal, and something that can start hurting Microsoft as people turn to those for certain tasks instead of PCs.
Oh please. Because it's Windows, I need more than 256 MB of RAM to have several iterations of Firefox, Matlab with 10 figure windows open, MS Visual C++, a few secure Shell clients and transfer windows, Azureus, AIM, Norton 2005, and a real OS running at the same time?
If you can fit that in 256 MB without sacrificing performance? Good luck with that.
If you can fit that in 256 MB without sacrificing performance? Good luck with that.
teh_pwn said:
I think the point of the thread - and Goomba's point specifically - is that boxes running as entertainment servers don't need too much in the way of raw horsepower because they most likely won't be running Windows. Take a look at the innards of a Tivo. (Or a ReplayTV, whatever.) They're, at the end of the day, giant, boxed MPEG encoders/decoders running Linux.
The article isn't suggesting that consoles are going to replace standard PCs, those will always have their place. But as far as entertainment goes, they may fall off completely. And given the dearth of major PC games in recent years (remember when it took more than one hand to count the big, big games?), it seems like an accurate estimate. The concept of the "entertainment server" will eventually materialize, and its Sony and Tivo who are most likely to lead the way.
sonycowboy
Member
xsarien said:
IAWTP.
PC's will less and less be the platform of choice for games, movies, music, web, & email.
If a home system can do those, that will cover 95% of what your average joe uses their computer for. General purpose PC's will still be needed for standard application software.
The Xbox variant willxsarien said:
This is all part of Microsoft's greater plan, however i doubt it's gonna happen. Those multimedia centers will get in the living room eventually, but i think they are nearly a decade away from being mainstream. And they are not gonna replace PCs or hurt them significantly. Videogames is another story.CrimsonSkies
Member
I've never believed it before in the past. But these new systems could offer everything to people who want both entertainment and home computer. Microsofts conflict with wanting both PC and Xbox 2 in your home could be their downfall.
sonycowboy
Member
Docwiz said:
No. The argument was always that consoles would kill PC gaming, which while not killing it, has certainly stopped it's growth, caused a decline, stolen it's developers, and generally, beat the crap out of it.
CrimsonSkies
Member
This is not about killing PC gaming. This is about killing the need for the PC. That's a fundamentally different angle.
CrimsonSkies
Member
"No, it's about killing the need for the PC as an entertainment hub."
An entertainment hub is how the PC is marketed now by Dell, Gateway, etc.
An entertainment hub is how the PC is marketed now by Dell, Gateway, etc.
Kuro Madoushi
Unconfirmed Member
So....
No more dating sims?
No more dating sims?
Here is some of the text of the report:
Highlights:
The delivery vehicle for leading-edge technology has migrated over time from the
mainframe to minicomputer to PC. We believe that game machines will be the next
advanced platform, which could have important strategic implications. The future of
microprocessors, storage devices, and development environments could be driven by the
booming video game industry.
Sony and Microsoft are building their next-generation consoles using 65-nanometer
chips, extensive parallel processing, and state-of-the-art software development
environments. IBM is working with both though on different processors, which might
be too sophisticated for PCs.
Sony, in concert with IBM and Toshiba, could be using a cell computer architecture.
The PlayStation 3 should come out in 2006 with up to 1,000X the processing power of a
PS2. Microsofts Xbox 2 could be unveiled earlier in mid-2005. Microsoft is shooting
for a system-on-a-chip approach and might incorporate a next-generation fast flash
product from M-Systems of Israel.
Its premature to know which (if any) device will become the centerpiece of the digital
family room of the future. Still, we doubt that PCs (even Media Center PCs) will win
because they are too complex and unstable. It strikes us as more likely that either (1)
the game console will move up market to become the leading entertainment device
or (2) a new system we dub the entertainment server will be created.
We see a window of opportunity for Microsoft if it can introduce Xbox 2 mid-next
year and have the holiday season to itself before Sonys PS3 hits the market.
Microsoft could overcome its current installed base disadvantage with early, highperformance
hardware but must have games available at introduction.
Apple seems a likely candidate to build the entertainment server. It would be based
on Apples iPod, iTunes, iPhoto, iDVD, and AirPort Express products. A 200GB server
at a reasonable price and possibly with PVR technology could be Apples next category
killer. Sony is likely to leverage its Cell processor in its own entertainment server.
If the PC loses out to the game console or entertainment server, there will be winners
and losers. We believe IBM will be a net beneficiary because of its Microelectronics
business and platform shift away from consumer PCs where it is weak. We dont expect
Intel will be in any of the upcoming game machines and, therefore, believe it is at risk.
Even if successful with Xbox, Microsoft may have more to lose given its PC
dominance; as leading PC vendors, HP and Dell would prefer that game machines
remain a niche. Sony could gain new life since it largely missed the PC revolution. And
Apple has a chance to take center stage in a potentially large market.
Some interesting speculation.
Link to full report
Highlights:
The delivery vehicle for leading-edge technology has migrated over time from the
mainframe to minicomputer to PC. We believe that game machines will be the next
advanced platform, which could have important strategic implications. The future of
microprocessors, storage devices, and development environments could be driven by the
booming video game industry.
Sony and Microsoft are building their next-generation consoles using 65-nanometer
chips, extensive parallel processing, and state-of-the-art software development
environments. IBM is working with both though on different processors, which might
be too sophisticated for PCs.
Sony, in concert with IBM and Toshiba, could be using a cell computer architecture.
The PlayStation 3 should come out in 2006 with up to 1,000X the processing power of a
PS2. Microsofts Xbox 2 could be unveiled earlier in mid-2005. Microsoft is shooting
for a system-on-a-chip approach and might incorporate a next-generation fast flash
product from M-Systems of Israel.
Its premature to know which (if any) device will become the centerpiece of the digital
family room of the future. Still, we doubt that PCs (even Media Center PCs) will win
because they are too complex and unstable. It strikes us as more likely that either (1)
the game console will move up market to become the leading entertainment device
or (2) a new system we dub the entertainment server will be created.
We see a window of opportunity for Microsoft if it can introduce Xbox 2 mid-next
year and have the holiday season to itself before Sonys PS3 hits the market.
Microsoft could overcome its current installed base disadvantage with early, highperformance
hardware but must have games available at introduction.
Apple seems a likely candidate to build the entertainment server. It would be based
on Apples iPod, iTunes, iPhoto, iDVD, and AirPort Express products. A 200GB server
at a reasonable price and possibly with PVR technology could be Apples next category
killer. Sony is likely to leverage its Cell processor in its own entertainment server.
If the PC loses out to the game console or entertainment server, there will be winners
and losers. We believe IBM will be a net beneficiary because of its Microelectronics
business and platform shift away from consumer PCs where it is weak. We dont expect
Intel will be in any of the upcoming game machines and, therefore, believe it is at risk.
Even if successful with Xbox, Microsoft may have more to lose given its PC
dominance; as leading PC vendors, HP and Dell would prefer that game machines
remain a niche. Sony could gain new life since it largely missed the PC revolution. And
Apple has a chance to take center stage in a potentially large market.
Some interesting speculation.
Link to full report
Yup, and it's been said before, particularly about the PS2. Sony (or at least people reporting on the PS hardware) have said this since 2000, if not sooner. It's really not gonna happen for a while, but it's inevitable. That or PCs will become like consoles first. PEACE.CrimsonSkies said:
gollumsluvslave
Member
I find it quite ironic/amusing that no commercially available product even comes close to a modded Xbox with XBMC as an entertainment hub.
:lol :lol :lol
Especially seeing as XBMC uses the open source Linux Mplayer core.
:lol :lol :lol
Especially seeing as XBMC uses the open source Linux Mplayer core.
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