Are consoles evolving into PCs?

I would agree to some extent. Using a console to watch movies, browse the web and play online makes them look like PCs. But without the keyboard and mouse, they can never match PCs. I like my laptop for gaming even though it is low-end :)

I would agree to some extenet. Using a console to watch movies, brose the web and play online makes them look like PCs. But without the keyboard and mouse, they can never match PCs. I like my laptop for gaming even though it is low-end :)

PandaBear86

I whole-heartedly agree: no controller could ever beat the raw power of a keyboard and mouse! :)

The Wii isn't.Udsen

True, and I was going to get into a sidebar about Nintendo, but then I was already building a great wall of china of text :)

But as Nintendo has shown no interest in expanding beyond the confines of a gaming console (no HDD, no movie or music playback), they may be the only console left when Sony and Microsoft migrate into other territory, along the lines of Alienware. Well IF they do that is, which is the question being asked here :)

[QUOTE="Udsen"]The Wii isn't.AdobeArtist

True, and I was going to get into a sidebar about Nintendo, but then I was already building a great wall of china of text :)

But as Nintendo has shown no interest in expanding beyond the confines of a gaming console (no HDD, no movie or music playback), they may be the only console left when Sony and Microsoft migrate into other territory, along the lines of Alienware. Well IF they do that is, which is the question being asked here :)

Since I PC game, I can see why a lot of PC gamers go for Wii over PS3/360.

PS. Congratulations on Iron Shop :D

ps3 is made as a computer . so yes i would say so. just not windows based linux ftwdeadmeat59

I have to disagree here, Sony's most current model is not a true computer. Sure it may share most of the same hardware, but as I illustrated in my OP, hardware alone does not define a computer. It's about the functionality and currently, I don't have the complete unrestricted choice to install any app of my choosing on PS3. While it's does have features beyond just games, still not nearly close to what a PC is capable of. In short, a PS3 could not be a complete replacement for my desktop PC on which I use Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver (among others).

But the direction Sony and MS is taking, it almost seems likely in the next 2 generations we will see that same full range functionality.

[QUOTE="deadmeat59"]ps3 is made as a computer . so yes i would say so. just not windows based linux ftwAdobeArtist

I have to disagree here, Sony's most current model is not a true computer. Sure it may share most of the same hardware, but as I illustrated in my OP, hardware alone does not define a computer. It's about the functionality and currently, I don't have the complete unrestricted choice to install any app of my choosing on PS3. While it's does have features beyond just games, still not nearly close to what a PC is capable of. In short, a PS3 could not be a complete replacement for my desktop PC on which I use Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver (among others).

But the direction Sony and MS is taking, it almost seems likely in the next 2 generations we will see that same full range functionality.

I would agree to some extent. Using a console to watch movies, browse the web and play online makes them look like PCs. But without the keyboard and mouse, they can never match PCs. I like my laptop for gaming even though it is low-end :)

PandaBear86

The PS3 is compatible with both Keyboard and Mouse.

[QUOTE="AdobeArtist"]

[QUOTE="deadmeat59"]ps3 is made as a computer . so yes i would say so. just not windows based linux ftwdeadmeat59

I have to disagree here, Sony's most current model is not a true computer. Sure it may share most of the same hardware, but as I illustrated in my OP, hardware alone does not define a computer. It's about the functionality and currently, I don't have the complete unrestricted choice to install any app of my choosing on PS3. While it's does have features beyond just games, still not nearly close to what a PC is capable of. In short, a PS3 could not be a complete replacement for my desktop PC on which I use Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver (among others).

But the direction Sony and MS is taking, it almost seems likely in the next 2 generations we will see that same full range functionality.

Is there somewhere in the XMB, which is the primary interface, an "install program" button? Much like what you find in Windows Control Panel? Again, can you literally install ANY application of your choosing, from any of the brands out there?

This could very well be a case of converging technologies as 2/3 of the consoles are allready marketed as "media centres."

However I don't think Nintendo will ever move in that direction as their focus has always just been on games, heck the Wii can't even play DVD's (not that I give a damn.)

They're certainly much more affordable PC's, but if only they can start getting better at BC.Re5ident_Evil

Which also has me wondering - if the Xbox and Playstation line of consoles grow into these gaming PCs, with all the full flexibility and functionality of a PC, will they end up in the same price range as Alienware or competitively with high end Dell's? That would make Nintendo's product the only casual priced console.

Consoles aren't evolving to PC's, consoles are evovling into second rate medium spec PC's and second rate home entertainment systems that contain expensive games that can be beaten in a matter of 2 days.

[QUOTE="deadmeat59"]ps3 is made as a computer . so yes i would say so. just not windows based linux ftwAdobeArtist

I have to disagree here, Sony's most current model is not a true computer. Sure it may share most of the same hardware, but as I illustrated in my OP, hardware alone does not define a computer. It's about the functionality and currently, I don't have the complete unrestricted choice to install any app of my choosing on PS3. While it's does have features beyond just games, still not nearly close to what a PC is capable of. In short, a PS3 could not be a complete replacement for my desktop PC on which I use Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver (among others).

But the direction Sony and MS is taking, it almost seems likely in the next 2 generations we will see that same full range functionality.

A PC and a computer are two different things. A calculator can be classified as a computer. a PC however you can do a lot of different things on it.

Also I don't think consoles are becoming PCs. I think they are just going from Video Game consoles to Entertainment consoles/systems.

this supercomputer of a PS3 can only dream when it cant even play 70% of the codecs out there. i have to compress and re-rencode everything that I want to have played on my PS3 so no, its not even close to being a PC in its default configuration.

the day consoles start playing mkv's (which is never), i'll call them PCs.

Yes, every console seems to adopt PC features with each passing generation (Within the past couple generations: online play, voice chat, internal hard drives, basic media playback features, and downloadable add-on content for games... just to name a few.) I feel consoles will eventually evolve in to proprietary PCs, probably within the next couple generations.

Resistance is futile. Console gamers will be assimilated.

Are consoles DEVOLVING into PC's? Yes and the PS3 is the worst culprit.JiveT

PCs>consoles, always has been this way, always will be.

Are consoles DEVOLVING into PC's? Yes and the PS3 is the worst culprit.JiveT

Jealousy strikes again...

[QUOTE="AdobeArtist"]

[QUOTE="deadmeat59"]ps3 is made as a computer . so yes i would say so. just not windows based linux ftwShadow2k6

I have to disagree here, Sony's most current model is not a true computer. Sure it may share most of the same hardware, but as I illustrated in my OP, hardware alone does not define a computer. It's about the functionality and currently, I don't have the complete unrestricted choice to install any app of my choosing on PS3. While it's does have features beyond just games, still not nearly close to what a PC is capable of. In short, a PS3 could not be a complete replacement for my desktop PC on which I use Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver (among others).

But the direction Sony and MS is taking, it almost seems likely in the next 2 generations we will see that same full range functionality.

A PC and a computer are two different things. A calculator can be classified as a computer. a PC however you can do a lot of different things on it.

Also I don't think consoles are becoming PCs. I think they are just going from Video Game consoles to Entertainment consoles/systems.

That's just the thing. Consoles are ALREADY Media Entertainment Systems. This isn't about how consoles compare to PCs today, but how they will compare down the road, say in 2 generations. If the trend continues - in adding more PC like features in hardware and functionality - will they evolve into specialty brand gaming PCs, much like Alienware?

Of course they are becomming more and more like PCs.

difference will be that they are much more limited, and never evolving as technology progresses - software and hardware - only in generation gaps

[QUOTE="PandaBear86"]

I would agree to some extenet. Using a console to watch movies, brose the web and play online makes them look like PCs. But without the keyboard and mouse, they can never match PCs. I like my laptop for gaming even though it is low-end :)

The_Foxcono

I whole-heartedly agree: no controller could ever beat the raw power of a keyboard and mouse! :)

kb/m is great for FPS and RTS. But I can't see it being usable for platformers, action games (namely specialized combat action like Ninja Gaiden, GoW, DMC, where arial maneuvers is integral to the swordplay), and most especially fighters.

[QUOTE="The_Foxcono"][QUOTE="PandaBear86"]

I would agree to some extenet. Using a console to watch movies, brose the web and play online makes them look like PCs. But without the keyboard and mouse, they can never match PCs. I like my laptop for gaming even though it is low-end :)

AdobeArtist

I whole-heartedly agree: no controller could ever beat the raw power of a keyboard and mouse! :)

kb/m is great for FPS and RTS. But I can't see it being usable for platformers, action games (namely specialized combat action like Ninja Gaiden, GoW, DMC, where arial maneuvers is integral to the swordplay), and most especially fighters.

Keyboard and mouse is useless to me as I play from my sofa so I need consoles to continue to only support the current controllers purely for comfortable playing reasons.

If, for some crazy reason, I feel like an evening sitting up at a desk then I can play on my PC. Doesn't tend to happen though as I spend all my working day at a desk so I just love my sofa :D

I'm going to buy a PS3 and run Ubuntu on it, just like on my PC. So yes.SmashBrosLegend

Yeah, I actually have YellowDog linux installed on my PS3, works great beyond a few hitches here and there. I was using it to play videos on my big screen before the 360/PS3 were given the ok to play DIVX/XVID. I played a game of Mahjong on it not to long ago...hehe

Consoles and PCs are not really all that different. They both have a single purpse. Run software.

It all really starts w/ the Apple II. This was the first mainstream computer that allowed users to write and share software easly. This was a huge step forward. Before this, computers where considered a hobby. The big computer coprs (IBM) had no interest in software, designing everything to be hardware specific. Sharing was not a concern since these computers where designed to do only the specific tasks. Anyhow, after the Apple II, this all changed. IBM released it's "PC"... albeit making to mistakes that still plague us today. They used intel's 8088 processor, and made it an open standard. Everyone else went with Motorolla's 68000 processer. A vastily supperior processor to the 8088 (go look it up on wikipedia).

After the US video game crash in the early 1980s, Nintendo released it's first console. The Famicom, short for family computer. It was basically a computer that Japanese ppl could easily afford. PCs were rare in Japan. So this was there alternative. It was simple to use, yet very flexable. Unlike PCs though, it was designed to play games. And yadda yadda I don't know the specs. But I know this started the diversion between console and PC games.

THis post is getting long. I find it ironic that all three consoles are based on PowerPC arcitecture. These were used in Macs after the switch to PPC arctiecture up until the move to intel processors. Why the switch? Well, IBM really had lost interest in competeing with Intel. And uh... look this stuff up in wikipedia. Please. Cuz I really can't explain it all.

Is there somewhere in the XMB, which is the primary interface, an "install program" button? Much like what you find in Windows Control Panel? Again, can you literally install ANY application of your choosing, from any of the brands out there?AdobeArtist

You know... I use a Mac... wanna know we install software? We drag the application to the Hard Drive. Uninstall it by dragging it to the trash.

The PSP is capible of running "homebrew" software, also.

[QUOTE="AdobeArtist"]Is there somewhere in the XMB, which is the primary interface, an "install program" button? Much like what you find in Windows Control Panel? Again, can you literally install ANY application of your choosing, from any of the brands out there?MeStinkBAD

You know... I use a Mac... wanna know we install software? We drag the application to the Hard Drive. Uninstall it by dragging it to the trash.

The PSP is capible of running "homebrew" software, also.

So you can drag any Linux app (Open Office, Firefox, etc...) to the PS3 HDD? Is there a way to switch from the XMB view on screen to a more traditional folders view, that you have one window for the external drive (where a PC app is stored) and another for the PS3 HDD, that you then just drag?

mass of wires? no, i think not theres only 7

[QUOTE="MeStinkBAD"]

[QUOTE="AdobeArtist"]Is there somewhere in the XMB, which is the primary interface, an "install program" button? Much like what you find in Windows Control Panel? Again, can you literally install ANY application of your choosing, from any of the brands out there?AdobeArtist

You know... I use a Mac... wanna know we install software? We drag the application to the Hard Drive. Uninstall it by dragging it to the trash.

The PSP is capible of running "homebrew" software, also.

So you can drag any Linux app (Open Office, Firefox, etc...) to the PS3 HDD? Is there a way to switch from the XMB view on screen to a more traditional folders view, that you have one window for the external drive (where a PC app is stored) and another for the PS3 HDD, that you then just drag?

The PS3 can run Linux and yes you can install things just like you would normally do, the only downside is no Linux Distro has access to the RSX chip because IBM imposed a "hypervisor" which stops programs getting accessing the GPU. Like I always say once Linux is installed then the system is opened up to the masses which means piracy and homebrew will evolve on the system.