Scruff7 said:
Why's this Microsoft's decision to make? that surfing the internet on a TV is a poor experience? the more the capability is there, the more likely that internet websites will redesign their pages to work on TV.
Just look at Youtube, they've redesigned the the website so that there is greater functionality when using it on a TV, it's pretty good for PS3. same with things like BBC iplayer.
I actually quite like the PS3 browser. it's not as user friendly as a PC browser, but its great for simple surfing while sitting in your couch, in your living room. Especially when using a USB/Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. |
They say its a poor experience surfing on the TV and noone wants any PC functionality on consoles because they don't make any money on consoles and make tons of money selling overpriced copies of Windows.
Lets say you buy a 199 360. There's almost no chance they make any money on the sale, they probably actually lose money. You might load it up with accessories, but if you just were to use it as a DVD player and media extender or to browse the internet on your TV the whole sale would have been a loss for them.
This is doubly true because instead of paying 199 for the 360 and not needing a PC with an open device, by closing the device they can get you to buy a PC with a license of Windows thats between 70-150 bucks if you buy a HP with it preinstalled and 100-300 dollars if you have to buy a legit copy of windows for a box you make yourself. Unlike the 360 with its manufacturing costs that software buy is almost pure profit with maybe a few bucks here and there for future updates.
Microsoft makes billions in profits from Windows and Microsoft Office. Alternately they lost money for years on the Xbox. They may or may not lose money now, they lumped it with a ton of other products (like Mac versions of Office, Windows Mobile, Microsoft Mice and Keyboards etc) but if they do make money its a sliver of profit vs a big fat pie of PC OS profits.
They also don't make TVs, they don't make recievers, they don't make speakers and they don't make movies or TV shows so they really have no interest in you using your 360 for media purposes outside their closed system, in fact they'd rather you don't use it for anything outside the narrow sliver of products they make (games and limited online integrated services) so they can get that PC cut.
Sony on the other hand is fine with you using the PS3 for whatever. Use it for blu ray and media, they make movies and music! Use it for internet browsing all you like, they make money when you watch their TV shows with ads on Hulu! They get a nice halo effect from the PS3 which might make you want a Sony Reciever, TV, speakers, 3D glasses, PSP or a million other sony products, most of which can hook up directly to the PS3!
Even though I understand Microsoft's motivation for trying to force you to buy a god awful media center PC to do a lot of the things the PS3 can do without any PC assistance, I still say no browser and limited functionality is a dick move.
