Console Web Browsers, Yes or No

Submitted by Richard Windsor on October 16, 2006 – 11:16 am9 Comments

Does having an Internet browser on your console mean anything to you? Personally I think browsing the Internet on a console is a complete waste of time. It might be a nifty feature, but these days everyone who owns a gaming console most likely owns a PC as well, which is now and always will be superior to console browsing. This whole issue made me decide to do a quick poll to see what Aeropausians think about the future of console browsing. Please vote and then let your feelings be known in our commenst section.

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robby1051

I don’t see how having a browser can be bad, like cruising the news sites during downtime right from my couch or checking email quickly, or even the state of my bank account before i purchase that downloadable content.
As long as they fix the text problem that i get from using my pc attached to the tv, bah blurry and harder on the eyes then the monitor.
I think the ease and convinience would be welcomed
(like reading about what dls are available on xblwithout having to open my laptop)
John H.

While I still know a few people who don’t have computers, really, if they don’t have one they’re unlikely to have broadband and a wireless router to use it with Wii.

But it still makes sense to use a browser on a console, because it provides an easy way to transfer files to the system. It’s also useful for those times when one just doesn’t want to fire up a computer, involving a several-minute startup sequence, just to check a page or two.
Subnet6

Can you say Youtube?

I will definitely be using my console based browser.
There is tons of video content out there now and more coming every day. IPTV isn’t far off and if they start making web access via TV a common practice, it will motivate content providers to improve the experience. Sure web surfing on the TV may seem impractical now but once 40 million people have web aware consoles in their homes someone out there may see fit to take advantage of it. Its a classic chicken and the egg problem. If noone has web TV, why would people make it better? If its not better then why would anyone get it? If you build it, they will come.
http://www.consolecolors.com Kat

The *only* reason I want a browser on my console is for looking up walkthroughs without having to go to my computer, and then, if I can’t do it while my game is paused (which is most likely), I don’t want it.
Xaq

I would use it only because I don’t have an online-enabled computer in my room. I live upstairs, so I dont like going up and down stairs all the time to switch from browsing to gaming.
corvax

i have to admit, having a console browser would be cool for doing stuff like watching tv shows off youtube but typing in URL’s will be a pain
http://nick.onetwenty.org Nick

I agree with Kat, but I’ll also add flash games.

I think the *only* console that should bother with a standard browser is Wii. Websites are generally build for mouse interaction and the Wii is the only console with a mouse-like pointer device. In particular, there are heaps of flash games that use the mouse.

I’m looking forward to browsing YouTube and HomeStarRunner, and playing flash games from NewGrounds and Orisinal.
Shane

Absolutely it should be there as an option.

Personally I don’t have my own computer (we have one in the house with a router for other wifi devices) so it’d be great.
I find myself using the PSP web browser on trips all the time.

IMO, yes a web browser should be part of a console, but as a complete option. For those that don’t want it, simply don’t use it. But for those of us who do want it, it’s there as a nice added option.
Both camps win in the long run, and the only new console that doesn’t have one is the 360. (Though maybe if the PS3 and Wii’s browsers pick up MS will take note of it and do something of their own for Live. We are after all, paying $50 a year for Live. Why not an optional web browser?)
dd

ms wont put one in because it will threaten windows! surfing the web and typing papers are the only thing that most people use there computers for and with a webrowser on your console there is just one less reason to own a pc and because the ps3 actually has linux for free as well as a webrowser and mp4/mp3 player and photo veiwer and memory card reader and wifi and blutooth their is realy not much reason to own a windows based virus infested computer.