"The key to "beating" Microsoft is the OS. Something that's easy to use, runs on cheap/common hardware, and compatible with current software."...You're making it more complicated than need be; Microsoft is finished when/if someone else writes an OS that will run all the games =)
This article seems to be nothing more than a summary of what we already know of the Plasma vs LCD debate, cleverly topped off with an analogy that would get people's attention. However, getting people's attention by bringing back memories of the VHS/Beta battle is about as far as it goes. Generally, comparing most competing technologies to competing media formats is not a good idea. Let me explain; in most cases competing technologies will fight and eventually be phased out of existence or find their niche in the market (i.e. more than one technology is OK). Media formats, however, take the Highlander approach: "There can be only one" (imagine how much of a pain it would be if we had more than one dominant video format). That being said, let us examine the analogy further and recall that Beta failed mostly because of how Sony dealt with it, but it was still the better technology. Now, the future of Plasma is in question because of problems with the technology itself. Chances are both LCD and plasma will be replaced with a superior technology within the near future anyway; again, unlike a media format, introducing a new type of display does not require a massive change in the market (no upgrading your entire video library).
That being said, I thought it was already determined that BluRay was the next BetaMax...
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"The key to "beating" Microsoft is the OS. Something that's easy to use, runs on cheap/common hardware, and compatible with current software." ...You're making it more complicated than need be; Microsoft is finished when/if someone else writes an OS that will run all the games =)
This article seems to be nothing more than a summary of what we already know of the Plasma vs LCD debate, cleverly topped off with an analogy that would get people's attention. However, getting people's attention by bringing back memories of the VHS/Beta battle is about as far as it goes. Generally, comparing most competing technologies to competing media formats is not a good idea. Let me explain; in most cases competing technologies will fight and eventually be phased out of existence or find their niche in the market (i.e. more than one technology is OK). Media formats, however, take the Highlander approach: "There can be only one" (imagine how much of a pain it would be if we had more than one dominant video format). That being said, let us examine the analogy further and recall that Beta failed mostly because of how Sony dealt with it, but it was still the better technology. Now, the future of Plasma is in question because of problems with the technology itself. Chances are both LCD and plasma will be replaced with a superior technology within the near future anyway; again, unlike a media format, introducing a new type of display does not require a massive change in the market (no upgrading your entire video library). That being said, I thought it was already determined that BluRay was the next BetaMax...