ACK!!'s Journal: Convergence not just for PCs anymore

Everyone use to talk about convergence. You see that Sony has even come up with a PC/tv device. But it seems that in a society built around mass consumerism the idea of one device for your stereo/dvd/computer needs has not gotten much traction.

No one has asked the simple question of what market does mass convergence make sense?

Well, I have this friend who is obsessed with modd'ing his XBox and this weekend my son got an old PS2 for his birthday and yes I know the new ones are coming out in a year so there.

Still, I thought to myself between hard drives hooked into a sub-$200 device and the fact it is built for a network connection and the fact that some of the linux mods for the Xbox are so damned slick and the old PS2 linux kit that maybe the folks who are talking about convergence are all converging on the wrong device.

I mean the game console with a network connection, hard drive, slick modd'ed interface and bad ass games are the answer for those looking for a silver bullet in the quest for a convergence device.

Imagine the young male set who need a PC for writing papers, exchanging email, surfing the net, chatting and playing media.

Rarely do these guys use a PC for much else right?

Now, think about a device for around $250 dollars that can play any known form of media, plays the hottest games, its networked and has a hard drive right?

All it needs is the slick interface already provided in a number of great mods and 4 apps. There are OSS browsers, word processors, email client and IM chat programs already available right?

Could we achienve the holy grail of convergence and the noble goal of a computer at the sweet spot of about $200 in one shot?

If mass-produced by Sony and marketed mainly as a slick console/PC alternative for the young male set, then that answer is yes.