I don’t believe in closed architectures. Not because it’s not a good business plan -it can be worth it- but because it’s a consumer lock-in. Software lock-in is preferable over hardware one. You can always change it.
This is why Asus is in a good path. Hardware innovation, software freedom. Just think about games around these hardware near to be shipped.
Like this keyboard filled with a complete computer and a multitouch screen. It seems crazy at first but it’s not that crazy: it’s the home laptop. No need of a screen.
Of course there’s those eee sticks, ready to be used in a gazillion games. I think this product needs really good apps, not that kind.
Ok that’s just a NAS. But it’s a really well done one with a 1To and 1Gb full wireless connection and of course, a decent price. I have some reticences at the all idea of cloud computing BUT digital home cloud system is really interesting; big assets on the NAS, running games on devices (laptops keyboards etc) with sticks. Full auto updating game and experience.
And all of that with the software technology’s heaven that game developers are trying to reach whenever they can: using the tools of their choice, with a preference for open source solutions.
This is a big deal I think.
And the best of all of this hardware pr0n in which I have a lot of expectations:
Below the 400$ mark, multitouch screen you can use with a stylet (now that I have an iphone to dev for I know why the stylet on my DS is really interesting and in a lot of case, better than my finger), the portable tablet I’m dreaming about for some time now. It’s real, it’s gonna be available soon and I want to see multiplayer crazy stuffs on it!
Consoles are fine blabla but it’s a consumer and a gamedev hard lock-in. Consumers and creators are simply fucked (waiting for console makers approvals for months is just an example) and nothing is going to change that except when creators can switch to sexy open hardware. Now they can.
Asus is playing a good game.