It seems that there is a massive revival of pushing for a closed systems in the computer world. Google is pushing for their own independent os that is controlled. Apple is trying to make their pcs more like their iPhone. And Microsoft is pushing to mimic Apple. I seriously fear that we are approaching a stagnation of creativity that is placed behind a wall of “quality assurance” that eliminates compatition (see Apple vs Google maps). As things shift from the PC to the tv more and more seems to be at stake. I just want to know if you think it is possible to salvage creativity, and if an open source solution (cough… cough… Linux… cough…) can pull together a solution without becoming another beast.
Where?
He’s just a bit behind the times. I think he’s living 5 years ago. It’s clearly shifting back now.
Fixed that for everyone. 
I don’t think anything is “shifting” to mobile devices. Yes, the mobile market is growing, but its certainly not reducing the market in other areas. Both PC and consoles are doing just fine, although I’m not impressed with this new “market” thing that MS has with Windows 8, but we’ll see.
Also, Not_Sure, you may want to check out Ouya. It may be exactly what you’re looking for.
Khanstruct, it seems as if the mobile market and desktop market are getting closer together, what with Lion and Mountain Lion starting to mimic iOS and Windows 8 being both a mobile and desktop operating system.
I’ll like to see you programming on a tablet/phone, or making 3D graphics, or making 2D graphics, or responding to 1k+ emails from your customers, or writing long documents for a prospective client, or doing any other productive activity which involves long hours of typing and mousing. Devices like these have a long way ahead to turn in a productive tool if they will ever make that trip.
I don’t really think “creativity” has anything to do with whether your target platform is an open source OS or not. You already can target Linux with Unity, so if that’s what makes you feel creative, then go for it.
I do see the mobile market making some ground in this area, or at least supplementing it. Though clearly development will stay on pro laptops and desktops, work-a-day usage is moving to mobile. In the last year, I have watched laptops virtually disappear from meetings and general communication usage. Most folks (in my world) use their iPads. And the new Surfaces are now making some ground.
The whole idea of “my computer” is becoming less specific and static. For example my work machine is a MBP. But it may as well be desktop most of the day. By the time is connected to everything (cintiq, monitor, drives, secure networks, etc)… it never leaves my desk. For presentations I either toss them on the network or sync them to iPad.
At home I use all Macs so my generic surfing/communicating is synced across my phone/pad/laptop/desktop. I can grab whatever is handy and have all the same info/prefs. And because of that I have much less of personal investment in my “computer” than I used to. 10 years a hard drive failure on my main machine was a nightmare. Today it is a minor inconvenience at best.
I see it as becoming more of a usage experience than tied to a particular device.
Just because a company is shifting their OS design to mimic the mobile OS doesn’t mean they are bringing it together.
Windows 8 is a joke and hopefully it blows by without people upgrading and Windows 9 comes out as an actual OS designed for a computer.
As far as PC/Console dying I agree with khanstruct. Mobile is growing but only because people are finding time to play apps on their phones. I don’t think I’ve actually sat down and “Watched tv” for months now without playing a game on my phone while the tv is on.
There are quite a few journalists that do everything you say nearly exclusively on their iPads (with a Bluetooth keyboard) right now. Andy Inatko is one that has stated publicly (at least on his podcast) that he no longer takes his laptop on travel trips, and exclusively takes his iPad instead. This actually means he does email, twitter (journalist after all), article writing AND photo taking with a combo of his iPad and iPhone/Android Phone (he swaps a lot for review purposes and is very neutral on his Android or iOS opinions.) He is not the only example, it’s easy to do a google search on “writing on the ipad” and find loads of articles from people that do so for a living. Example one here: http://technologizer.com/2011/12/05/how-the-ipad-2-became-my-favorite-computer/
Most people that say you can’t work on an iPad have simply never given it a serious try. Since the day I got my own iPad, I stopped using my laptop. I only use a PC when I sit on the desk. And yes: I have edited code in my iPad AND iPhone for games before (syncing everything via Dropbox.) There are quite a few code editors out there for iOS with keyword coloring and even auto-complete functionality. Sure, I’m not programming FOR the iPad on the iPad, but you know what? My first programming class in 1995 had me programming from a client connecting remotely to another server and doing, that in turn would feed me (once net admin approved the software as safe to run.) And Web developers program for remote machines on a nearly daily basis.
Anyways, I can go on and on about the amount of work you can actually get done on a tablet (and not just an iPad, btw, the more time passes the more viable Android alternatives are.)
Gaming on the PC may not be suffering [yet] but the PC market overall is. Growth is shrinking drastically, most computer manufacturers were selling huge percentage of their PCs in the form of laptops, and that segment has seen diminishing returns since the launch of the iPad. Last year, the netbook market got nearly destroyed by tablets (and not just the iPad)
Have doubts? Look at this:
Sure, PCs still selling, but once you look at that, you realize it won’t be long before that “stabilizing ling pc line” starts a down spiral. Mind you, things look better if you sum together Mac and Windows.
I’m not saying the PC is dying, though, but the market is definitively shrinking. Not only are tablets viable for lots of work, but truth is PCs are overkill for way too many people. In 10 years, expecting everyone to have a PC is like expecting everyone today to drive a pickup truck “in case they have to move something around.” Most people just need a sedan or SUV tops. Same way, most people will eventually just own a tablet, one with a keyboard tops.
So, I give it 10 years tops, PCs will be a rare sight in the common man’s house. You can cling to the PC market, or you can be proactive and establish yourself in the tablet/mobile space early enough. Companies like EA exist today precisely because they established themselves early.
It’s not for everyone, that is true. But nor are small cars or SUVs. Some of us do love to play with overpowered tools 
As for the thread topic: consoles: I do think consoles will actually evolve. Biggest issue with them right now is how slow their cycles are. A new XBox may come out next year and be slightly faster than the average pc, slower than the high end pcs, but within 2 years it will be considered too slow, and by the life end in 5 or 6 years its considered nearly obsolete.
I think Apple has proven you can have more regular cycles on single-configuration specialty devices. Sooner or later we may start seeing consoles that can be upgraded every year or two. I think we are headed towards a closed appliance world over the “open” pc though. Does not mean closed like the XBox, just “closed” like the iPhone.
But that’s the best thing about consoles,you buy one in the release date and you are sure that will be able to play all of the modern games for at least 5 years without paying nothing more on hardware,if companies start to make their cycles faster there’s no reason to buy a console.
You are making the assumption that just because there will be new stronger consoles the developers will be allowed to abandon the oldest stuff. Even Apple today still forces developers to support the iPhone 3Gs, a device that is 4 generations old. (Only way they allow you to exclude it is if you actually make use of the flash or front facing camera.)
In that same way, all game makers may be forced to make sure their games are playable (even if it requires special FX turned off, lesser LOS, whatever) in the 4-5 year old console.
IMO the best thing about consoles is not their life-span, but their compatibility. You know that my XBox has the same hardware as your XBox and the publisher does not have to worry about creating special hacks to make things work on mine. They MAY need to do so for previous gens, but the list will be 5 devices tops, counter to dozens of video card/Drivers/cpu/motherboard combinations in the PC world.
Edit to add:
I notice you are in Brazil. I have to say I never been there, but I have heard it’s a… strange market. Consoles tend to have supernatural lifespans over there. Heck, the last licensed Sega Genesis (Mega Drive) game released there was released in 2002! So I would not be shocked if you assure me that long-life-spans is the primary concern of the Brazilian market when buying a console.
Reading my OP, I’m starting to think that making posts while at the bar isn’t the keenest idea.