The end of computers

[gfurner]

Since the dolphin, playstation 2, and the X-box all have high enough specs to compete with computers, and with internet capabilities (therefore keyboards will be accessories) and with the x-box having a harddrive and the PSX 2 having an optional 50 G harddrive, all with DVD at a very low price, is this the end of computers or are consols just turning into cheap computer which run on TVs and have comfortable controller instead of keyboards?

[Pentax]

No, I don't think so.
Rather, everything is turning into small computers, designed for one or two purposes, like TV, games och keeping track of food (for refridgerators).
But I think there'll be PC:s, designed for multipurposes, like we know them for quite some time.
Pentax

[kedaman]

I hate that vision

[Fox]

Try to buy a new graphic card for your console... you just can't. The computer is still the only high performance machine for graphics, sound and so on, even if the x-box is better than any computer (for the moment). My opinion ;)

[kedaman]

You have one computer doing the dishes, one anwering phonecalls, one watching your kids, one that drives you car, one that wake you up at morning, one that turns off the light when you leave the room, one that turns it on when you enter it, one that plays mp3's, one that makes you breakfast... I hate that vision.

[SteveCRM]

I still think PCs will live. They are very upgradable and customizable. Game consoles can't print or scan or do anything but graphics, while PCs can do a lot more. PCs can also be hooked up to lighting, and other household items (I know you hate that thought kedamen) I don't see any game consoles doing that yet.

[kedaman]

I know I know, but what if this actually happens, i want pc to rule trough the next century, not any stupid microchips here microchips there, and microchips in every corner.

While Sega et al can claim their little boxes will lead the industry in new directions, l am yet to see one in the work environment...Try running a 3 Meg spreadsheet on a console whilest having the an internet connection, vb, unix, and application windows open.

Have noticed an increase in laptops however.

Games consoles still sell on being games machines, my nephrew has one of the horrid things, and yes it has internet capability. He uses his desktop PC for surfing the net and his games console for playing games.......

[gfurner]

But (some) consoles will have keyboards and harddisk space, so couldn't this mean programming and installing games possible? They can play music, DVD, and the internet, not just games. And they are much more realiable.

Some of you were defending computer saying they are upgradable, but it is this reason why i don't use my computer for games, i'd have to shell out 100 quid for decent graphics card, and buy a new PC every few years, at over 10 times the price of an N64 or PSX.

Oh and Fox ever heard of an expansion pak?
Kedamen, could you please elabourate about your point on having a computer for each task.

[kedaman]

I thought everyone knew this, or hmm, ok. They are planning to use cheap hardware probably in p-500 class and overload the world market with millions of easy to use ai simulated electronic garbage to plugin everywhere in your life, and when you make one small movement in your house it's probably been notified in all electronic gadgets including the pencil-sharpener, which suddenly starts to empty it's container all over the floor, due to a single bug in it, that a programmer overlooked.

[Fox]

Yes gfurner, but what I mean is changing everything like graphics card, sound card, CPU, RAM (ok, that's the expansion pack)...

[gfurner]

I agree with you there Fox, but that is why consols are doing so well, because they are simple to use and you don't have to worry about whether you've got the right specs (except for the expansion pak, and memory paks), and upgrading (which i hate).

[gfurner]

When are they planning to sell these things, surely technology isn't that advanced to sell the hardware for a cheap enough price for people to buy, one each piece of furniture?
I've seen one of these devices on tommorrow's world (a medicine cabinet i think it was, which can automatically order toothpaste etc over the internet, i bit expensive, over-the-top and pointless if you ask me.)

[HaxSoft]

I think you all forget, that there are 3 great machines. The term; Great Machines, refers to inventions that necessarily change the way man thinks. I am talking from day 0 to present:

1) The Wheel
2) The Clock
3) The Computer
4) ? -- Microsoft WomanExplorer???

PC will NEVER vanish, but it is true that what you know as a PC today will continue to develop. Computerization will apply to all fields; even a refrigerator will be able to tell you how cold it is right now.

The computer is the third great machine. Think about that. Also think this: "As a progammer, you can control what controls eveyrthing." --- Is that power?

[gfurner]

Um, HaxSoft refigerators can tell you how cold it is, using a usefull invention called a thermometer.
Seems to me you don't know that much about inventions / machines.

We have a client who wanted to replace laptops with PDAs for the Sales guys going to the bush. Unfortunetly if you bang the little suckers the batteries disconnect resulting in losing all data. Therefore back to the laptops.


However IBMs mini hard disk technology is going to end up in PDAs within the next year or so which will resolve the above issue. This client will then replace laptops with PDAs...but....the PDAs are still computers, and are still windows computers...(WinCe).

Bring it on!!!!!!!!! There's gold in them there PDAs.....if mircosoft can only improve their strategy!!!!!

[HaxSoft]

Well, you are talking about a puny thermometer. That is not a great machine that changes our entire philosophy. It is merely a little sensor.

I mean, you can measure pressure, temperature, etc. But when I say "Great Machines", I refer to inventions that revolutionize every aspect of our lives. Thermometers don't really do that; although they are very useful.

Maybe, I should have mentioned TV in my previous post, but as I see it, TV has been polluted by commerce already, so it was not worth mentioning.

I may not know "that much" about inventions, but with all respect, gfurner, I don't think you know too much about philosophy.

There is a difference between "useful machines" and "great machines". The term "Great Machines" was not chosen by me, and maybe it is a dumb term. Maybe it should be "Tech Revolutions".

Yack yack yack, we can go on forever, but a little thermometer is not a great machine.

[SteveCRM]

I don't think we are going to see MSOffice for Sega Dreamcast anytime soon :)