Console as an OS

This article gave me an idea
[url]http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/12/11/playstation-4-might-live-inside-your-pc-and-other-wisdom-pcga039s-randy-stude#comment-183700[/url]

Ok so let’s moves consoles to from a hardware based operation to one that’s software based as in an operation system.

Now looking at the cost of hardware and the needs to create a unique system would it not be more cost effective in the long run to switch over to a OS based model, you partner or align with hardware makers to build basic PCs that can run the OS at a minimum you deem worthy. The PCs will be like mini rigs micro ATX/BTX or other mini builds this covers the clueless part of the market the total cost would be 300-600 depending on what’s in the unit, then you offer the OS by itself for 200$ to people that know how to dual boot and install hardware.
Without the costs associated with hardware there are only 2 sticking points 1 is Oss are easy to copy but with a closed OS and modern DRM it will be easy to manage as newer games will need the proper updates to work and those updates will be linked to DRM , you would have to change so much of it would take awhile to crack and then you merely update it and its uncracked if you run a crack you get banned and that OS/key cannot receive updates and might be locked out from any game playing all together. This makes it even more unpopular as the “community” will have to wait on groups to patch the OS, updates for the OS and games since these files are copy righted distribution will be slowed and that’s all one can reasonably do is slow illicit copies.

The next thing is disc protection using a mix of protections to stream data and its protections off a retail disc should not be too hard although looking at the 360 a proper firmware hack and the player is blind to the protection status, the next thought is a disc player with enhanced protections but I think you can sue current players the DRM update system the closed and protected OS to create a minimal hack free environment.

Peripherals would be easy to brandize and over charge for as so there’s no loss there the main trouble would be the change over dropping the independent hardware and getting to know current computer hardware…although frankly I think they might be relived as computer hardware is less messy that developing new hardware every 5ish years, sure you have to upkeep on the PC hardware perhaps even try and have vendors pay you for a logo to stick on their hardware making it seem more worthy of purchase …a lot of neat lil things and a few bad things that come to mind, what do you all think?? (besides zippy you’re a crazy :P)