I posted about this before the Xbox came out - when the console was just a rumor really. So I thought I'd revisit this topic.

When it comes to the internet and electronics M$ has its fingers in every pie. From MSN to smart cars and appliances to the Xbox.

Before too long your xbox will replace your windows based PC as the hub of your home electronics. And I'm not just talking audio and video I'm talking about communicating with your other windows enabled devices.

There's a scary though - having your home and vehicle run by windows??

What happens when you get a virus thru your Xbox? I would expect it would propogate throughout the system much like viruses can attack a corporate network now. But what would the outcome be? Your refrigerator and coffee maker quit working? Perhaps your car won't start.

Scary thoughts.

But this seems to be where M$ is pushing too. The Xbox 360 will be the next step in this evolution, at least until console gaming loses its appeal to M$. And they are much further ahead than other gaming consoles in the home automation arena. Mostly because they already have the PC, and you can get M$ media extenders which allow you to extend the media player to other TV's (I wonder if the media extender will work with Xbox??)

Until people realize there are alternatives to Windows (namely Linux and Mac) they will continue to dominate. I know from personal experience that since I switched to Linux a while back my computer hasn't crashed, I haven't gotten a virus or even a hack attempt past my firewall.

I don't get spam emails and I can freely download and install almost as many apps as there are for windows. I have yet to find a commercial app that isn't freely available in some similar fashion through open source.

The only drawback to Linux really is the gaming. Becuase more people use windows, game makers write their games (suprisingly enough on linux and mac) for windows. Even Microsoft's own team use Macs to emulate the Xbox and test games.

But I digress...While it is true that M$ is seeing their share of the home and corporate desktop slipping (albeit slightly - they still own something like 90% of the desktop market and their share of the server market continues to grow year over year). Therefore they have little to be afraid of, short term, in terms of the home computer.

It is interesting though that they are building just enough into the new Xbox that you still need your home PC - while your Xbox will handle your media needs, you still need your PC for the business side of life. Of course the 2 will communicate with each other, but you still need both.

I guess it's just another way for M$ to weasel their way into our homes.