Re: World-wide 8-bit computer sales (all-time)?

[vairxpert@hotmail.com (vairxpert)]

On Sun, 29 Jun 2003 09:20:51 GMT, bill@newbreedsoftware.com (William
Kendrick) wrote:

>In comp.sys.atari.8bit Exegete <millers@noneofyourbusiness.com> wrote:
>> I've wondered it that's why neither Sony nor Nintendo ever released 
>> add-ons that would make their game systems into full computers.
>> 
>
>Uhhh...
>
>  http://www.playstation2-linux.com/
>
>Official sony product, fyi ;)

Apples and Oranges.  The early 80's were about convincing parents that
brand X game console had educational properties and could later on be
converted into an inexpensive full fledged computer.  These were huge
selling points on TV commercials, magazines, Sunday sales flyers and
even product boxes.  Mattel was actually sued over it resulting in the
ECS.

For some reason I don't think we'll ever see that unknown PS2 dev kit
advertised on TV or be able to purchase it at Best Buy, Walmart or
Target.

Education and game consoles just don't go together and probably never
will.  Even the browsing abilities of the DC was nothing more than a
novelty and everything was included except a $15 keyboard.
At least in the early 80's the hype had a chance to work since
computers were rare items that few people owned and there was no
standard OS on the market.  Today it would be a huge joke since PC's
are just as common as color TV's.

George