Sony has certainly done some heinous things in the past, but so has Microsoft. So, pick your poison.

What has Microsoft done to compete with the Sony rootkit? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_BMG_copy_protection_rootki...

Blatantly lying about the Skype backdoor?

Does it matter than much though? They are both awful in the context we are discussing. I'll likely not buy either, although that Tom Clancy 3rd person shooter MMO looks like a lot of fun and is console only.

The Steambox is an interesting alternative, it's scheduled for this year (insert valve release date joke here).

At least this is the first Steambox (will be released very late) and not the Steambox 3 (will never be released).

I'm not sure if you've heard about this, but I heard that Microsoft created a near-ubiquitous OS that was so insecure that it allowed rootkits to be installed via music CD!

There was this antitrust case where Microsoft tried to illegally take ownership of the entire desktop computing ecosystem. It would have probably done more harm than any one rootkit. You may have heard of it.

Also, Sony-BMG is not the same company as Sony Computer Entertainment, and indeed no longer exists.

I guess the question requires further qualification, "What has Microsoft done, in the last 12 years, to compete with the Sony rootkit?"

With some other company's rootkit that was also a child company of the same parent conglomerate.

to echo another sibling response: yes, the steam box just keeps looking better. They might be enabling game sharing soon too[1]

[1] www.theverge.com/2013/6/19/4445844/valve-steam-game-sharing

I agree. Sony's actions have just been more insidious from my admittedly anecdotal perspective.

I pick neither, and the Nintendo 64 will continue to be the most recent console I have purchased.

I know that sounds crazy, but I'm seriously considering drinking no poison at all.

Has Microsoft ever done anything like the removal of Linux from the PS3? That is what will stop me personally from buying another Sony console.

Not entirely on the same page, but the RRoD bricked two of my 360s. One was in warranty, they sent me a new one. It RRoRed a little while later, but I was out of warranty now, so no replacement for me. I bought a new one, then that one RRoRed after about 3.5 years. I'll never purchase another Microsoft product just because I don't have faith in their ability to create a hardware product after that debacle. Such a waste.

My NES, Playstation, PS2, N64, etc. all still work. 360s die within three years of purchase.

With that logic Sony never should have allowed (like the Xbox) a second OS on the PS3, so people wouldn't bitch about the removal.

Indeed, never offer features that you don't intend to fully support. People hate change, but they hate you more if you take away something they use, especially if they feel they paid for it.

Has Microsoft ever given the possibility to install Linux on the XBox 360?

No, but Sony gave that possibility then took it away.

I think Sony is doing a good job of redeeming themselves again.

Yes, there were the rootkit issues, PSN hack, propietary memory card requirements, ...

However, I feel like they have finally noticed that the consumer just doesn't take it anymore being treated this way and that they need to rethink their approach to earn back the trust of the consumer.

PS+ is an excellent example. You pay a minimal fee for the service every month and receive free games, which you can use as long as you are subscribed to their service.

You don't need to do anything and your game collection keeps on growing anyway! This is a genius offering, which allows any adopter to quickly build up a collection of games, without having to shell out an additional $20-50 for each individual title.

Add their recent announcements in regards to PS4 & PS Vita and it really sounds like they are trying their hardest to convince the consumer on buying their products based on the actual features instead of trying to lock them in with proprietary hardware and devious protection schemes.

It's the first time where I feel Sony is showing off a product again saying "look how awesome this is" without adding a page full of * trying to explain how & why certain features will or will not work.

Why wouldn't it be online?