I hear ya on the online services, aside from Netflix. I know of people using these things only as Netflix players at this point. If it really lacks WiFi they will hopefully mention it very clearly on the box.
Wii Mini announced prematurely; set for dec. 7th release date.
- Thread starter Grall
- Start date
Yeah the regular Wii is like $130 now?
Dominik D
Regular
You can still find older Wiis in my part of the world.
Or so I hear from people who actually care about Wii to pay more than $100 for it.
Test market before full release? Though, product testing a console is certainly expensive me thinks.
upnorthsox
Veteran
A PS2?
Pretty draconian way of thinking about it.
The Xbox gives a multitude of options in "family settings" to limit internet access and usage of the console. Seems a much better way of trying to avoid the dangers of the internet to me.
I assume the PS3 has similar options?
That's super simple. You get an XBox 360 with a designated child account for your child/children. There's a multitude of privacy/security/restrictions you can set to keep your children safe when playing online.
Silent_Buddha
Legend
Unless they are discontinuing the old model or don't have a new model (Wii-U), then I fail to see what is so draconian about it.
Somehow more choice = draconian?
Regards,
SB
It's hardly great choice though. Internet blocking can be achieved in plenty of ways without just removing it. Include WiFi in the Wii Mini and you give consumers the choice to not use it or to use the online features - that's a much better proposition. Internet can easily be disabled on any device by not actually connecting it to the network.
Exactly.
Let's not kid ourselves that this in anything to do with being "family friendly". This is a cost-cutting measure - which is all fine and dandy - but let's not dress it up as something else.
Silent_Buddha
Legend
That's certainly true. But it's also quite true that kids/teens are quite good at getting around anything that potentially blocks them. Especially if their parents aren't very technically oriented.
Not including internet on a cheaper box meant primarily for kids means that there is nothing the kid can do to circumvent his parents wanting him to get on the internet. And nothing the parents have to do, and more importantly nothing the parents can screw up which then allows their kids to bypass their blocks. And as an added bonus, it's cheaper to boot. Which makes it far more attractive to get one "just for the kids."
Personally, I see it as a win/win for families. Those that wish to have internet can still get the regular Wii or a Wii-U.
Regards,
SB
We're getting to the point where most people with kids now grew up in the internet age. Luddite parents are rapidly ceasing to be a real concern. The Luddites are all grandparents now.