Can't play a game and watch TV at the same time, yet they sell a few game players. For that matter you can't watch two different TV shows at the same time, thats why most folks have more than one TV.
And the kids get kicked off the game (with much complaining) when an adult wants to use the TV. The game player is an add on to the TV. You're wanting to replace two independent high-usage devices with one device, making their use mutually exclusive. My wife's already upset that I tie up the phone line so much and now I have to tell here she can't watch TV, VHS, or DVD either? Either that or I have to pay for a complete second unit with either the tuner I don't need or the extra resolution and computer guts I don't need.
At their essence, a TV and a PC are the same thing, a screen that displays information and entertainment. The guts and interface are presently different, it will be more cost and use efficient if they can be made the same. And capitalism loves efficiency.
No, they're not the same. A computer monitor is a much higher resolution device than a TV screen and costs much more per screen inch. If I watch a DVD on my computer I have to reduce the resolution to 800 x 600 so that the player doesn't duplicate lines to fill the screen resulting in a crappy picture. Having a device with the resolution capability of a computer monitor is an expensive overkill for a TV/VHS/DVD signal. Only HDTV's highest resolutions approach that of a computer monitor.
Eventually the products will converge, so that you can choose your poison from any device within the home. I imagine at some point there will be a server in a closet somewhere, offering all functions to monitors located wherever throughout the home.
I agree with the concept, but it won't happen soon. Some problems:
The server would then have to have multiple tuners or you still wouldn't be able to watch two TV shows at once. Does this mean you'll need one tuner per screen in your house? Probably not, but you would end up paying for some that are rarely used.
The expense problem I assert above. You'd have to have a display with the highe$t re$olution needed for the most demanding task even if you're only going to watch an only VHS tape.
Your choices:
1) Expensive consoles all around. $$$. No cost savings there.
2) Dumb down the PC resolution. This is a step backwards and I doubt it would be acceptable to many people.
3) Stations usable by all devices but really suitable for one intended purpose. This would mean that you could access your Microsoft Word file through your big screen entertainment monitor but you probably wouldn't want to, or you could watch the DVD or HDTV on your computer interface station but you wouldn't if the big screen was available. This isn't much of an improvement over what we have today. |
