article: the Xbox 360 and the next generation

[krinkle]

The Microsoft Rep is commenting on whether an HD-DVD drive will ever be inside the XBOX 360 and look what he says:

Originally Posted by MICROSOFT

We don't want to charge customers $200 extra for something that may be the next Betamax.

Oops! Looks like even at Microsoft they are not confident about HD-DVD.

Full article is here:


http://arstechnica.com/articles/headstart.ars/1

[BuGsArEtAsTy]

It was a very poorly worded dig at Sony, but one that potentially exposes some insecurity about their chosen format. A public relations faux pas, as it were.

[bboisvert]

1. Your thread title is misleading. He very clearly says it "may" be the next Betamax.

2. He's right. It might. In fact, the same can be said for BD. That's actually the distinction he's making here -- that PS3 is charging upfront for a format that may or may not stick around. XBox is giving a choice.

They seem committed to the optional aspect of the HD DVD drive as it keeps the price down for consumers who don't care about HD DVD. It's a much different strategy than Sony's bundling a Blu-ray drive with every PS3. I don't know if it's the right one—HD DVD would certainly catch on faster if they found a way to incorporate it into the 360's design—but the question of a higher price for the hardware is a tough one. Is it really worth raising the price for a feature people don't seem to be asking for? They tell me developers by and large aren't asking for more space or complaining about a lack of space with a regular DVD, outside of a few comments here and there.

3. Would you prefer the fanboy attitude that you usually get from company execs and people on these forums? He's being honest -- HD DVD "may" not take off. I don't think anyone can disagree with that. You could also say the same thing about BD with the same conclusion.

[rlsmith]

This thread treats HD DVD as carelessly as I am accustomed to seeing for Blu-ray.


Bob

[Massimo N]

As bboisvert already commented, he said "may"

The article is about a gaming machine and Microsoft backing up their decision not to include a next generation drive. Their stance still hasn't changed, no necessary for gaming and to charge an extra $200 on something that may no gain steam or valued by everyone should not be standard.

[Anamorphiac]

Thread should be retitled...or closed...or put this in the format war discussion as it clearly is trying to incite. At least the other Blu-ray thread about Blu-ray had the word "speculation" in the title...but this thing is clearly misleading and a flame.

[Matt-05]

This thread title is so misleading...he clearly dosen't call HD DVD the next Betamax....he said it may be, same goes for BD. Poor attempt at stirri ng the pot.

[markrubin]

thread title edited

[g5555sim]

Originally Posted by krinkle

The Microsoft Rep is commenting on whether an HD-DVD drive will ever be inside the XBOX 360 and look what he says:



Oops! Looks like even at Microsoft they are not confident about HD-DVD.

Full article is here:


http://arstechnica.com/articles/headstart.ars/1

oops look at this .. the High End XBox 360 (codenamed) Zephyr with HDMI .. and most probably with built in HD DVD too ..

This is to "complement" the MS executives called HD DVD BetaMax and the Sony ditching BD is PS3 threads.

and ofcourse, the games will still be in DVD ..

So if this is true, will it include a built in HD DVD drive? are we seeing the trend here. Sony ditching BD in PS3 to save its video game business and MS incorporating HD DVD into high end XBox 360 consoles ...

Microsoft Prepares Improved Version of Xbox 360.
Microsoft Readies Third Xbox 360 Flavour


full article? http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multime...105101955.html

Microsoft Corp. is working on a yet another version of the Xbox 360 game console that will have digital audio and video output and more storage, according to a media report. It is unclear whether the console will feature a built-in HD DVD drive, but it is still remarkable that the world’s largest software maker updates its existing console lineup.

The new improved version of the Microsoft Xbox 360 game console code-named Zephyr will feature 120GB hard disk drive, HDMI connector and will be based on the 65nm version of the three-core PowerPC-architecture custom processor by IBM, according to Engadget web-site. It remains to be seen whether the console will include a built-in HD DVD drive, but that would be a likely scenario, as HDMI connector provides 1920x1080 (progressive scan) resolution, which benefits high definition videos on the first place.

[WickyWoo]

Still highly unlikely built-in HD drive. Especially because of the cost, and the fact that the 360 drive is DEcIDEDLY non-standard. They had to do a ton of messing and tweaking (for example it reads discs in reverser, outside to in).

This new 360 isn't even confirmed not to be a photoshop job anyway, i personally find the light highlight right on the HDMI port to be quite suspicious, plus the fact that it's way too close to the A/V multiout.

Is it possilbe? Sure. Is this even approaching what I'd call evidence? Nope

[MidnightWatcher]

Originally Posted by krinkle

The Microsoft Rep is commenting on whether an HD-DVD drive will ever be inside the XBOX 360 and look what he says:



Oops! Looks like even at Microsoft they are not confident about HD-DVD.

Full article is here:


http://arstechnica.com/articles/headstart.ars/1

Krinkle, you obviously misunderstood what he was referring to. When he said he did not want to charge an extra $200 for something that may become the next Betamax, he was alluding to the PS3, and more specifically, Blu-Ray's inclusion in the PS3, even though the statement was in the context of a built-in HD DVD drive. In other words, he thinks it was a bad idea for Sony to include Blu-Ray in their console and require all games to be on BD media, something which may become the next Betamax.

[Neo1965]

The HDMI output is such a no brainer for the 360 to add in that I'm surprised some people express shock at all. Be realistic here, many TVs that take 1080i don't handle that via the vga input --- often VGA input is limited to 1024x768, not even the 1280x768 or the 1366x768 native mode of 90% of all HDTV selling today.

I got my 360 in august. Can Amir or someone in MSFT comment if they are willing to provide a coupon to upgrade to the new version. Anyone who buys a laptop gets a coupon for free vista upgrade. Shouldn't MSFT do the same?

The vista upgrade policy is what keeps the smooth flow of PC sales. August was only barely 5 months ago, providing an upgrade path for those of us who bought in the last 6months would be fair. Anyone?

In any event, for existing boxes on the shelves to be sold, Microsoft should say something - free movies, rebates for next 10 movies/games, or something on top of discounts to clear them out.

[MidnightWatcher]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Still highly unlikely built-in HD drive. Especially because of the cost, and the fact that the 360 drive is DEcIDEDLY non-standard. They had to do a ton of messing and tweaking (for example it reads discs in reverser, outside to in).

This new 360 isn't even confirmed not to be a photoshop job anyway, i personally find the light highlight right on the HDMI port to be quite suspicious, plus the fact that it's way too close to the A/V multiout.

Is it possilbe? Sure. Is this even approaching what I'd call evidence? Nope

I think it could be included in a new "ultimate premium" configuration, but would not be necessary for gaming. They could call this the XBox 360 Premium HT or or XBox 360 HTMC (Home Theater Media Center). So what they could have is a line-up as follows:

$249 -- XBox 360 Core (DVD, 20GB)
$349 -- XBox 360 Premium (DVD, 60GB, HDMI)
$449 -- XBox 360 Premium HTMC (HD DVD, 120GB, HDMI)

All conjecture of course, but a logical step forward. HD DVD drives do not cost nearly as much as Blu-Ray, so the price increase would be minimal.

[WickyWoo]

HD DVD drives do not cost nearly as much as Blu-Ray, so the price increase would be minimal.

It's about $120 to manufacture an HD-ROM, about $180 for BD-ROM, and about $15 each for the drive they're currently using.


So yeah, you're talking an extra $100

[MidnightWatcher]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

It's about $120 to manufacture an HD-ROM, about $180 for BD-ROM, and about $15 each for the drive they're currently using.


So yeah, you're talking an extra $100

I doubt it costs $120 to manufacture an HD DVD ROM, especially when HP offers it as an optional upgrade for only $99 on some systems.

[WickyWoo]

I doubt it costs $120 to manufacture an HD DVD ROM, especially when HP offers it as an optional upgrade for only $99 on some systems.

That was some kind of special, then it shot back up to $200

[MidnightWatcher]

Correct, it was $99. Likely a holidays special. You can be sure however that you'll never see a $99 Blu-Ray option any time soon, that's for sure, if ever.

[stevenmh]

Originally Posted by krinkle

The Microsoft Rep is commenting on whether an HD-DVD drive will ever be inside the XBOX 360 and look what he says:

Oops! Looks like even at Microsoft they are not confident about HD-DVD.

Let's be reasonable. Companies do not like to leak plans until they are ready to make the announcement. These guys were prepped prior to the interview to make sure they didn't spill any beans they weren't authorized to spill.

So, it could very well be that the response could be taken at face value... they aren't confident that HD DVD will win, and the 360 will never have integrated HD DVD drive.

Or, it could be that the question was anticipated, and a response prepared that would keep plans under wrap without having to flat-out lie. If they had responded with "no comment," everybody would take that to mean "yes," because if the answer was "no," they'd just say "no."

So instead, you say that the XBOX360 will not integrate HD DVD, because you don't want the consumer spending $200 on something that may be the next Betamax. This sounds like "no", but could actually mean one or more of the following:

(1) The next hardware revision with HD DVD will be XBOX 365, so it was not inaccurate to say the XBOX360 won't have integrated HD DVD.

(2) The next hardware revision with HD DVD will not cost more than the current premium version. Or at least not $200 more. So, it was not inaccurate to say that they are preventing the consumer from spending $200 for the feature.

(3) The KNOW that HD DVD won't be the next Betamax, so even if you spent $200 extra for it, you wouldn't be spending it on the next Betamax. Again, no inaccuracy in their response. And they get to throw in a Betamax dig.

I think it's bad etiquette for a reporter to put a company representative on the spot by asking questions about future product plans which everybody already knows they cannot answer. They should be sticking to questions about the products being presented and reviewed. But reporters do it anyway, and inevitably, the answer is meaningless. It's intended to be.

[shore]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

...and the fact that the 360 drive is DEcIDEDLY non-standard. They had to do a ton of messing and tweaking (for example it reads discs in reverser, outside to in).

Uh... ALL HD DVD, DVD, and Blu-ray drives read video discs layer 1 outside to in. And ALL HD DVD, DVD, and Blu-ray drives (including the Xbox Add-on) read every layer 0 inside to out.

Its called Opposite Track Path (OTP).

[nataraj]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

It's about $120 to manufacture an HD-ROM, about $180 for BD-ROM, and about $15 each for the drive they're currently using.

How do you know or rather why do you write as if you know ? Are you an insider or just trying to act like one ?

You should realize that at AVS you need to declare if you are an insider and put it in your signature.

[Slaine]

It's looking like MS is making a big play with IPTV functionality for the new version of the Xbox 360. Seems to be another expansion of their network based content delivery strategy.

http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/12523/...ements-Leaked/