If Sony doesn't back the PSP like a mainstream machine, it will be one of the stupidest things they've ever done. They're looking for a counter to the iPods and future video players. The PSP is it for them. You also don't launch a portable device against Nintendo on the spur of the moment. So far, Sony is doing pretty good considering that the device has the coolness factor, a gorgeous screen, decent launch games, many multimedia capabilities, etc.
The PSP is also definitely the counter to the XBox 2/360. It buys Sony time because when Thanksgiving rolls around, the PSP should have great games and more importantly a price reduction. Really the only arguments against the PSP right now are centered around the price of the system, not on the device itself.
Sony could probably do a launch of a PS3 by Christmas if they really wanted to. MSFT launching the next Xbox this year has definitely got to be on Sony's minds. The PS consoles are a big part of Sony's profits and I doubt they would just let MSFT steal the thunder with their next generation console. IMO, instead of confronting MSFT head on, Sony gets everyone's minds on the PSP and makes it the console to own this year. Then after the PSP has had a Christmas to itself, Sony can launch the PS3.
Sony will back the PSP because they imagine it will be their next generation Walkman device. They want to take back the portable market. The PSP is not the end all device or anything remotely close, but Sony is taking a huge bet on it IMO because they envision it as being just as important as the Playstation itself.
"Maybe we'll see a day where new consoles are portable. (i.e. built in screen, battery, etc.)"
Huh? Isn't that what a PSP/Gameboy Advance/Nintendo DS is? Believe it or not, the portable market is just as big as the non-portable market. GBAs were outselling PS2s for a while. Although they may not have the most elite graphics in the world, they do have many fun and interesting games that are exclusive to them. Not every game is a port of an older home console version (not to say there's anything wrong with that either). Plus the portable market may be one of the last platforms that 2D games may survive in. Sony was pretty notorious for not allowing 2D games in the beginning for their console.
Comparing the two launches is somewhat unfair. Nintendo DS launched in the US first with fewer numbers than the Sony PSP (~500,000 DS units versus 1 million PSP units on the first week). You already had Japanese importers buying their PSPs for outageous prices ($400 or more in some cases on eBay). Nintendo launched near black Friday and led up to Christmas which helped it out a lot. Really it will be interesting to see whether the DS or the PSP has more lasting influence.
That $10 billion figure is for the entire video game industry. The majority of that figure is from console video game sales. They absolutely dwarf PC/Mac gaming sales. Computer gamers, while a very vocal group, are really just a minority. Apple has to overcome the one mouse button only, limited software, and other misconceptions about Macs before they start tackling games. They also need to conquer the business purchases as those deals are much more lucrative.
Re:Apart from the slashvertising...
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Apple Updates iPod
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· Score: 2, Insightful
Probably never considering that PDAs aren't a hot market any more. Even Sony is getting out of them. You should see more multi-function phones merge with iTunes/iPod features like the Motorola deals.
I could point out that the usual response is that Japanese homes and other urban enviornments are limited in space and it was one of the biggest turnoffs for Japanese buyers. Without Japan, game consoles have traditionally not done well, etc., etc.
But closer to home, the Xbox is probably the first console that many people did take outside of their homes because of the system link/network functions. If you've ever been to a college dorm or a place where there are lots of gamers, you should have seen at least a few multi-Xbox Halo parties or some other game. Compared to the Gamecube, moving the Xbox was a huge hassle. A Gamecube and controllers could fit in a backpack. The Xbox by itself would take up an entire backpack.
It may not be a huge problem that would change someone's mind about purchasing the console, but it's one of those industry design things where it would be a lot nicer and more appealing if they did design it right. The Playstation 2 was hyped up better because it did look sleek and cool.
Why have all the wires running out the back of the screen instead of the base (I know, I know, wireless keyboard and mouse -- but most people will be hooking a printer up to this thing)
I don't understand this question. There is no real base. The computer is the screen, and I'd rather have the ports running out of the back where they are less visible than on the bottom or some other thing. A printer is hooked up once so it's not like you're going to remove the USB cord often.
The computer is also wall mountable with it being VESA compliant so you can buy a compatible wall mount and just attach it. Also, if the wires were running out of the detachable base, how could you make it easily wall mountable and still have the expansion ports?
I think the biggest thing is that they missed the Fall school schedule, but there's not a whole lot they could do. They already knew they were behind over the summer and they posted a note on their website saying such (which is a strange move from Apple considering their history).
Smart Folders are dynamic from what I read and Labels are applied by incoming mail filters on Gmail only so far (or applied manually). So if you wanted to store a new "view" of your e-mail for all Apple e-mails, you'd just create a Smart Folder in the Mail app versus having to do a search in Gmail. A very minor detail but something that I wish Gmail could implement as an option since I usually would like a filter to apply to all the old e-mails as well as to the new ones.
Slashdot Mirror
If Sony doesn't back the PSP like a mainstream machine, it will be one of the stupidest things they've ever done. They're looking for a counter to the iPods and future video players. The PSP is it for them. You also don't launch a portable device against Nintendo on the spur of the moment. So far, Sony is doing pretty good considering that the device has the coolness factor, a gorgeous screen, decent launch games, many multimedia capabilities, etc.
The PSP is also definitely the counter to the XBox 2/360. It buys Sony time because when Thanksgiving rolls around, the PSP should have great games and more importantly a price reduction. Really the only arguments against the PSP right now are centered around the price of the system, not on the device itself.
Sony could probably do a launch of a PS3 by Christmas if they really wanted to. MSFT launching the next Xbox this year has definitely got to be on Sony's minds. The PS consoles are a big part of Sony's profits and I doubt they would just let MSFT steal the thunder with their next generation console. IMO, instead of confronting MSFT head on, Sony gets everyone's minds on the PSP and makes it the console to own this year. Then after the PSP has had a Christmas to itself, Sony can launch the PS3.
Sony will back the PSP because they imagine it will be their next generation Walkman device. They want to take back the portable market. The PSP is not the end all device or anything remotely close, but Sony is taking a huge bet on it IMO because they envision it as being just as important as the Playstation itself.
"Maybe we'll see a day where new consoles are portable. (i.e. built in screen, battery, etc.)"
Huh? Isn't that what a PSP/Gameboy Advance/Nintendo DS is? Believe it or not, the portable market is just as big as the non-portable market. GBAs were outselling PS2s for a while. Although they may not have the most elite graphics in the world, they do have many fun and interesting games that are exclusive to them. Not every game is a port of an older home console version (not to say there's anything wrong with that either). Plus the portable market may be one of the last platforms that 2D games may survive in. Sony was pretty notorious for not allowing 2D games in the beginning for their console.
Comparing the two launches is somewhat unfair. Nintendo DS launched in the US first with fewer numbers than the Sony PSP (~500,000 DS units versus 1 million PSP units on the first week). You already had Japanese importers buying their PSPs for outageous prices ($400 or more in some cases on eBay). Nintendo launched near black Friday and led up to Christmas which helped it out a lot. Really it will be interesting to see whether the DS or the PSP has more lasting influence.
That $10 billion figure is for the entire video game industry. The majority of that figure is from console video game sales. They absolutely dwarf PC/Mac gaming sales. Computer gamers, while a very vocal group, are really just a minority. Apple has to overcome the one mouse button only, limited software, and other misconceptions about Macs before they start tackling games. They also need to conquer the business purchases as those deals are much more lucrative.
Probably never considering that PDAs aren't a hot market any more. Even Sony is getting out of them. You should see more multi-function phones merge with iTunes/iPod features like the Motorola deals.
I could point out that the usual response is that Japanese homes and other urban enviornments are limited in space and it was one of the biggest turnoffs for Japanese buyers. Without Japan, game consoles have traditionally not done well, etc., etc.
But closer to home, the Xbox is probably the first console that many people did take outside of their homes because of the system link/network functions. If you've ever been to a college dorm or a place where there are lots of gamers, you should have seen at least a few multi-Xbox Halo parties or some other game. Compared to the Gamecube, moving the Xbox was a huge hassle. A Gamecube and controllers could fit in a backpack. The Xbox by itself would take up an entire backpack.
It may not be a huge problem that would change someone's mind about purchasing the console, but it's one of those industry design things where it would be a lot nicer and more appealing if they did design it right. The Playstation 2 was hyped up better because it did look sleek and cool.
I don't understand this question. There is no real base. The computer is the screen, and I'd rather have the ports running out of the back where they are less visible than on the bottom or some other thing. A printer is hooked up once so it's not like you're going to remove the USB cord often.
The computer is also wall mountable with it being VESA compliant so you can buy a compatible wall mount and just attach it. Also, if the wires were running out of the detachable base, how could you make it easily wall mountable and still have the expansion ports?
I think the biggest thing is that they missed the Fall school schedule, but there's not a whole lot they could do. They already knew they were behind over the summer and they posted a note on their website saying such (which is a strange move from Apple considering their history).
Smart Folders are dynamic from what I read and Labels are applied by incoming mail filters on Gmail only so far (or applied manually). So if you wanted to store a new "view" of your e-mail for all Apple e-mails, you'd just create a Smart Folder in the Mail app versus having to do a search in Gmail. A very minor detail but something that I wish Gmail could implement as an option since I usually would like a filter to apply to all the old e-mails as well as to the new ones.