| Domicinator said: 1. I will say again for the thousandth time: Microsoft is not a monopoly. They are in a fierce struggle right now with not only Apple, but all the open source companies out there that are offering alternatives to Microsoft's software. 2. People who say Microsoft has contributed nothing to gaming are idiots. Did Microsoft invent video games? No. But without their various PC platforms and innovations, gaming in general would be a VERY different situation right now. Yeah, it's considered cool these days to hate Microsoft, but I actually feel fortunate that they have been a player in the industry all these years. 3. Referring more to the OP--When I think about bringing computing into not only your living room but into all aspects of your life in general, Sony is NOT the company I think of. ESPECIALLY now that I am running Windows 7 Release Candidate on my entire network here at home, I feel like I finally have access to everything I need, whenever I need it, from wherever I am. Assuming that I have an internet connection, I can truly access whatever I need in my own personal little "cloud", be it from my entertainment center, my laptop, my tower, my Xbox 360, or my cell phone. Vista made some neat strides toward this, but Windows 7 is going to perfect it. I'm unclear as to how Sony is really trying to replicate that kind of setup. I know they're working on something to tie things all together, but I don't think they have the software chops to do it quite as well. I truly think Microsoft is on the right path with Windows 7 as far as using software to tie your whole technological life together. If people actually bother to use the new media sharing features that it will offer (features that I am LOVING now that I am seeing how well they work first hand), Microsoft is going to have themselves a force to be reckoned with. The Xbox 360 fits really well into that concept. The PS3 actually does too, just not nearly as well. |
Just a few points:
1. In the OS market I believe MS has >50% market share. In Britain when Tesco's market share went above 40% people started complaining they had passed the threshold and were a monopoly. So in the OS market, I'd say MS has a monopoly.
2. Out of the 3 console manufacturers, MS has been the least innovative with there console business. Recently, there game division has been downright annoying for PC gamers (R.I.P Ensemble studios, need Vista for DX10?).
3. From what I hear Windows7 is a big improvement and I'll probably be upgrading my XP system, especially with the media sharing you just mentioned. I'd just like to point out though that with free software 3rd party (e.g. Vuze) you can also integrate a PS3 into a home network really simply. I just drag and drop a file onto an icon and its immediately accessible on the PS3, and if its not compatible, it'll convert the file.
