Brian,
Thanks for the WebTV Plus post.
Although the article does not emphasize the details, techies like myself want to see an inherently "good" system. This one passes the test:
- It has a 1GB hard disk, giving it the local storage capacity to overcome the [interactive] bandwidth limitations of its environment. This will allow for substantial local caching of both data and programs.
- It has a TV tuner, providing pass-thru/windowing of local broadcasts, but more importantly a means for delivery of data/programs each night to be cached. I saw this estimated at over 3GB broadcast per night. The "channels" concept and other user-customized selection capabilities will tell the system which data to cache each night. The "data" can include up to several hours of compressed video [in a wide range, depending on the resolution and activity]. The "data" can also include additional information for the next day's shows, to be "simul-viewed".
- It retains the phone link, for interactions which require data not pre-loaded into the disk cache, as well as for e-mail, saving data, etc. It is not inherently dependent on the phone link being constantly active, so a second phone line is desirable but not a practical necessity as was the case formerly.
- Via Windows/CE, It will support the Win32 API, giving programmers relative ease of porting of the huge number of existing Windows applications. Windows programming languages (including Java) will be supported via a Universal Virtual Machine. [This was covered in earlier posts on this thread.] The Windows Everywhere initiative is continued.
- It has a 64-bit processor, courtesy of IDTI. Although low-cost, this is not an underpowered box.
- New peripherals [notably printers] were announced at the same time.
- As with the prior WebTV box, it provides output to TV. Although low-resolution, it is fine for video, which the local disk cache now makes possible. It is also fine for modest textual viewing, in particular TV program playbills/guides, which also will be more accessible via local caching.
Thus, Microsoft is introducing a new computer standard, which it hopes will give it entry to the some 58% of U.S. households which do not have a computer (not to mention those of the rest of the world).
The price of $300 for the box, and $20/month for the phone service from WebTV, is competitive with the RCA home NC offering, but has the advantages of Windows compatibility and very good responsiveness for the cached items (including video and other data, programs, etc.). By contrast, the diskless NC box is bandwidth-starved [in part due to the original Ellison emphasis on a "hollow computer" which did not include a hard disk.] The TV is a not a high resolution display, but then again low-end high-resolution displays are coming down in price, as are higher capacity hard disks, wiriteable DVDs, etc.
By such continued initiatives to spread the Windows interface, Microsoft also safeguards its existing base from possible incursion, regardless of significance. Windows/CE is the primary vehicle for these initiatives, including WebTV, handhelds, cable set-top boxes, and other embedded systems (even in your car). As they say, the best defense is a good offense. And the Microsoft WebTV razor (and monthly communications blades) are certainly a good offense.
Of course, low-end PCs are also dropping in price, and Microsoft benefits either way - and should eventually provide local links between the two platforms to further cement its control.
Best regards,
Arno
[Just another worry-free day in the life of Microsoft competition.] |
