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Dreamcast as a Web Browser?

Posted by Cliff on from the innovative-uses-for-obsolete-consoles dept.

Chris asks: "Last Christmas I gave my grandmother a cheap Windows PC with the hope that she would begin conversing with the rest of the family (some on the other side of the country) via e-mail. I don't believe she has turned it on since I was last over there, several months ago. So, this Christmas, I'm giving her a Dreamcast (only $50!) so she can use the Internet from the comfort of her television. I'm wondering if it will be easier for her to use the PlanetWeb browser that comes with the system (version 2) or should I install Linux or netBSD on it and give her a real browser? Ease of use is the single most important thing here. Hardware-wise, she'll be getting the unit, 1 VMU, 1 controller, and the keyboard. Thanks." It's good to see the Dreamcast hardware finding other uses with Sega out of the business; however do you think the Dreamcast would make a decent browser? Update: 12/25 02:50 GMT by C :Perhaps talk of the Demise of the Dreamcast comes a bit prematurely, at least according to this article from Gameswire.

7 of 31 comments (clear)

  1. ease of use and linux in the same sentence? by Toraz+Chryx · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Put linux on it and it'll be fine until she manages to break it?

    maybe.. (how tolerant of being powered off unexpectedly etc is Linux on Dreamcast ?)

  2. An idea... by cyborg_monkey · · Score: 0, Insightful

    Put an ATI All-In-Wonder card in the computer, and use the NTSC composite video out with her TV. ATI AIW cards can be had on eBay for $40 or less.

    Stick with AOL and install VNC or pcAnywhere on the box to remote administrate.

  3. Or you could just pick up the phone... by marcsherman · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Some people just aren't all that interested in e-mail. She'd probably tell you that it's a great present because she doesn't want to hurt your feelings, but she probably wouldn't use the dreamcast any more frequently than she does the computer she's already got.

    1. Re:Or you could just pick up the phone... by gmhowell · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I agree, 100%. If you spend one hour per month keeping the box running, my grandmothers would be MUCH happier if I would just go talk to them for an hour or so. Take them shopping.

      Little side note: my grandfather had five daughters. Never spoke about his experiences in the So. Pacific (enlisted when he was 15 or 16. They didn't ask a lot of questions in those days) I went to university about ten miles from his house, so would frequently stop by for Sunday dinner. Over the year or so, he spoke to me more about his experiences than he had to any other human in 50+ years.

      So the moral of the story: fuck the browser. Go visit the old lady.

      --
      Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
  4. Paradaigm Shift for Grandma by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Does she:
    drive an automatic?
    use the microwave?
    use a hair dryer?
    go to the stylist when she needs her hair done?
    use an electric can opener?
    turn up the thermostat, or put on another sweater?

    Beginning to see a pattern here? Computers aren't for everyone.

    Plus not everyone wants to send emails to other people. To email grandma, create a font of your handwriting, print out an email to her, mail it to her instead. Rinse and repeat.

  5. spare us the tedious rants by markj02 · · Score: 1, Insightful
    UNIX and Linux power the most usable devices in the world: ATM machines, embedded systems, public terminals, etc. Unlike Windows, Linux has a choice of real transacted file systems and can be completely robust to being powered off suddenly.

    In order to achieve real usability and robustness, you need to customize systems. UNIX and Linux are up to it. With Windows, you get a one-size-fits-all user interface that works really well for nobody.

    The real question should be: why are people justified with something as primitive and limited as Windows?

    1. Re:spare us the tedious rants by Graymalkin · · Score: 2, Insightful

      What planet are you living on? Unix runs on virtually no embeded systems or ATM machines or public terminals. You need to lay off the purple twinkies man. Suggesting sticking any Unix varient on these sorts of systems is ridiculous. Why in the holiest of holy fucks would you use a time sharing OS on an ATM machine or embedded computer? That is just ridiculous. Most embedded systems don't even run an OS, just some firmware that is definitely not related to Unix in any way. As for the comment about customized systems you're just tilting at windmills. Have you ever seen WinNT embedded? No you probably haven't because it doesn't look like Windows. Where do you come up with this stuff?

      --
      I'm a loner Dottie, a Rebel.