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1 year ago
What's so great about GoogleTV?
“What’s so great about GoogleTV?”, TechCrunch asked readers today. Or more generally - what’s so great about a settop box (be it GoogleTV, Apple TV, Roku, Boxee, etc) that brings the Internet and associated services to your television? Is it much ado about nothing or will these consumer products take off?
It’s no secret the functionality of these devices provide already exists on your computer today. You want to watch Hulu, browser the web, or engage in any other function these devices enable, your PC can do it. Additionally, anyone with a bit of technological knowhow could setup a media PC in their living room and bring the functionality to their television screen. Despite this, there are a few strong reasons why I think these devices will succeed:
- The television is the best display in the house. Not only is it the largest screen in the house, it sits in the family room, the communal gathering place where everyone can enjoy content together. People don’t huddle around laptops or PCs, they huddle around the television. Additionally, the television is home to the premium sound system which makes content all the more enjoyable. I’d rather watch Hulu on the television in my family room than the monitor in my bedroom.
- These devices provide a frictionless means of bringing Internet services to the best screen in your house. The average American wants a turn key solution to meet their product needs, they aren’t interested in complex solutions that add to the numerous headaches they already have. Simple products win and these devices provide an uncomplicated means of getting Internet services on a television screen.
- We’ve seen it before in the gaming industry. People buy an Xbox/Playstation/Nintendo even though they already have the hardware (their PC) to play games on.
- Lastly, some people don’t even know it’s possible to bring the Internet to their television. Many people weren’t aware of mobile MP3 players until Apple unleashed the iPod. Similarly, many people aren’t aware they can bring the Internet to their television until someone puts a prepackaged device in front of their face.
What are your thoughts?
