This is trying to push the PS3 into an all singing and all dancing, multi-function device that is all things to all people. In many respects, this will be successful in a limited way only – with a limited number of technical early adopters and not the mass market of ordinary people.
The reason for this is apparent from looking back at the really most successful devices of the modern world and the fact that the path from technical early adopter niche to general acceptance and mass market has been accompanied by higher and higher levels of specialisation to single functions and not a drive to being able to do more and more things.
A multipurpose device tends to be ok at all of the uses it is designed for, but a single purpose devices tends to be very good at the single use it is designed for. Something that most people appreciate and value most highly. In other words, a camel is a great mover of people, goods and even a bit of racing but it cannot beat a racehorse on the track.
What is even more interesting is the fact that games machines themselves grew out of personal computers, with computers being the general multi-purpose system for gaming and the console being the specialised single function unit. This of course happened during the computer crash of 1984 to 1987 with original Nintendo and Sega devices, after the personal computer boom of 1979 to 1983.
So, it is my belief that people want a really good PVR under their TV – not a games machine cum Blueray DVD player cum PVR cum room heater. The PS3 should concentrate on becoming a good games machine but then again it may be too late for it – the Wii has focused on being a good games console and it seems to be beating its more expensive and complex rival hands down.]]>
