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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.

3 of 31 comments (clear)

  1. 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
  2. Heh, I did this a couple of years ago... by stimpy · · Score: 3, Funny

    (bought a dreamcast for my grandmother so she could get on the Internet), she didn't want a computer because they were too hard to use. Of course, she was basing this on the C-64 she had 10 years ago, but.... Within 6 months she got pissed off and bought a computer because the Dreamcast couldn't do...get this...Napster. Probably doesn't answer your question, but I had to share.

    Brian