PopSci's 100 "Best Innovations" of the Year

[ShadowMarth]

Yep, I'm being as picky as possible about these things these days, but I'm not unjustified, especially with statements as erroneous as the ones found here. In advance, I'd like to say that I normally love Popular Science, but this is kind of rediculous.

Let's start off with the Gadgets award. PSP. Yeah, right. Never mind the fact that it didn't actually release this year, never mind the fact that it's been getting a spanking in sales from the DS (much less even mention it), and never mind that they've been purposefully crippling homebrew, one of the main points of the article. They still gave it to them.

For best Home Entertainment they gave it to the 360. Ok, people, stop giving a system that's not out yet "Of the year" awards. It's pointless. That's not all though, the real kicker is the absolutely ignorant "facts" cited in the article:

As the first of the next-gen gaming consoles (Sony's PlayStation 3 and a system from Nintendo are expected next year), the Xbox 360 easily maintains the cred the original Xbox earned in 2001 when it crushed rival playstation with superior graphics and performance. This time though, it's not just about the games -- the 360 is poised to take over the living room as well.

The rest is just about the media options, specs, and HDTV capability.

Let's start with a more minor transgression, the statement "and a system from Nintendo" seriously minimalizes it. Second, and absolute worse transgression, "... the original Xbox earned in 2001 when it crushed rival plastation with superior graphics and performance." Let me think about this... NO! The playstation readily spanked both the GC and the Xbox without much effort. Oh, and I just love this part.

"This time though, it's not just about the games."

Wait, wait, wait. The Xbox had much less impressive games than the PS2 in general opinion. Also, I didn't see them mention a single game, just say that it crushed it with it's graphics, which is far from the truth. Perhaps they should have gotten someone with actual gaming experience to write this little segment?

[theONE]

*votes for shadowmarth as ninty's boy*

[Pilot_51]

I like parts of Popular Science (usually the "What's New", "How2.0", and "FAQ" sections), and other parts I don't because it's either boring or goes against what I believe (like what you just mentioned). I think they were better a couple years back when they still had reader questions in the FAQ and a less biased view, although How2.0 eases the pain a little bit. I'm not sure how much longer I'll keep the subscription...

[fischju]

Write them. I love PopSci

[Epyon]

lol this is for innovations? what did the PSP change exactly? nothing is different, from, say the ps2, except that its portable with way crappier controls.