Globalizer

   Our home is an invisible battle field for electronics companies, internet service providers, telecom service providers etc. for sure, TV is one of the most important position. regardless of display screen competition, new entrants and old players are trying to give people 2 different choices. one is keeping people in front of TV using set-top box like Cisco, Apple; the other is permitting people to watch TV program on PC like joost, zatto. 

   from technology side, all of them are called IPTV. set-top box' internet function is traditional web 1.0 services. but new IPTV startups like joost uses P2P technology and addes more web 2.0 functions to strengthen interactive features. 

   from emotion side, set-top box is bringing internet advantages into the sitting room. sitting room is still an entertainment center; but IPTV websites teach people to relax in the study room. they want to combine sitting room with study room. I think they represent 2 different life style. 

   which one is better? I think we need to imagine our future home before answering this question. In my opinion, future TV is not TV any more, it's just a large display screen. the screen will be very large, flexible and high definition. we will use this screen as the main interface for other hardwares in our home like game controller, set-top box etc. our PC especially laptop will not be a rectangle box any more. it will be very small and only equipped with flexible touch screen and booting hardware. it will be a network PC! so if things go like my description, PC will never take place of TV. most people will still watch program on TV. 

   it seems a bad future for joost-like companies. but joost has good chances if joost can innovate a new business model. I can give joost a free idea: set-top box with joost inside! just like intel's core position in PC industry, joost should plant its advanced and unique P2P technology into set-top box. 

   of course, currently the biggest advantage of IPTV websites is free! but set-top box model needs paid subscription. free is always a good selling point for consumers.