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What is the difference between an iPad and a Wii/Xbox/Playstation? Locked down? Check. Can't use with programs that haven't been blessed by the device manufa

by mooism2 17y ago

What is the difference between an iPad and a Wii/Xbox/Playstation? Locked down? Check. Can't use with programs that haven't been blessed by the device manufacturer? Check. Can't develop your own programs for it unless you pay again? Check.

cageface 17y ago
The difference is very simple. Nobody replaces a laptop with an Xbox. The iPad, on the other hand, is a first-class citizen of the net and could easily become somebody's primary interface. Consequently, it matters a lot more exactly what kind of limitations the iPad imposes. The iPad has implications for film, literature, music and communication that consoles just don't, which is exactly why people find it both inspiring and troubling.
- dschobel 17y ago
  I don't how long that will be true though. Xbox Live is integral to the Xbox experience and now has a fb application and all sorts of social games (1 vs 100, etc). Between that and the internet TVs which are accruing hype by the day, I think the distinction is largely going to be moot. Basically everything is just going to be a content portal with some ancillary proprietary benefits (it has an app store, it plays xbox games, etc). The only distinction will be the form-factor and screen size.
- lmkg 17y ago
  Currently, there's not that much difference. But, that is the direction that console makers are pushing in, building out web integration and media libraries. They're trying to become less peripherals and more primary, universal devices. I'd say that ipads and consoles are moving towards approximately the same target, from different directions. Although, it's fair to say that consoles haven't made much headway in getting people to take advantage of these new features the way the ipad has.
jrockway 17y ago
What is the difference between an iPad and a Wii/Xbox/Playstation? There is no difference. Those all suck too, for the exact same reason. There is a reason why most good games come out for the PC first, followed by consoles "later".
- whatusername 17y ago
  Care to give some examples that don't involve Valve or Blizzard? Most stuff these days is simultaneous or console first.

by mooism2 17y ago

cageface 17y ago

The difference is very simple. Nobody replaces a laptop with an Xbox. The iPad, on the other hand, is a first-class citizen of the net and could easily become somebody's primary interface. Consequently, it matters a lot more exactly what kind of limitations the iPad imposes. The iPad has implications for film, literature, music and communication that consoles just don't, which is exactly why people find it both inspiring and troubling.

dschobel 17y ago
I don't how long that will be true though. Xbox Live is integral to the Xbox experience and now has a fb application and all sorts of social games (1 vs 100, etc). Between that and the internet TVs which are accruing hype by the day, I think the distinction is largely going to be moot. Basically everything is just going to be a content portal with some ancillary proprietary benefits (it has an app store, it plays xbox games, etc). The only distinction will be the form-factor and screen size.
lmkg 17y ago
Currently, there's not that much difference. But, that is the direction that console makers are pushing in, building out web integration and media libraries. They're trying to become less peripherals and more primary, universal devices. I'd say that ipads and consoles are moving towards approximately the same target, from different directions. Although, it's fair to say that consoles haven't made much headway in getting people to take advantage of these new features the way the ipad has.

jrockway 17y ago

What is the difference between an iPad and a Wii/Xbox/Playstation? There is no difference. Those all suck too, for the exact same reason. There is a reason why most good games come out for the PC first, followed by consoles "later".

whatusername 17y ago
Care to give some examples that don't involve Valve or Blizzard? Most stuff these days is simultaneous or console first.