The "NextGen" consoles like PS4 are ethically more flawed than, for instance,
good old snes, but I still consider many of them as acceptable.
Why?
The main point is that most of them are pcs from a technical point of view,
but you don't use them like that. You don't do any work with them; insert the
dvd, play the game, nothing more.
Just like a microwave oven;
Of course allowing the users to change the code and using free software on
the machines would be more user-respecting but I don't think that "free video
consoles" are a requierement for a good digital society.
An important question is: can the ps4 contain malicious feature?
Perhaps if it comes with a camera and a microphone. I wouldn't use this.
Or if it is requiered to identify myself in order to use the console. I
wouldn't do it either. Those are _real_ problems.
Now, I think if you use a whole pc just for running steam os, the only
difference between this and the ps4 is the requiered online connectivity and
DRM.
I doubt if *this* is acceptable for a digital society. Everyone has to decide
for himself; for me, I would not accept it.
Though it is much better creating a kind of "steam console" with his pc than
running steam on your workstation; you deserve control over this one.
