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THREE versions of Xbox2 planned
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| http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=5435
Microsoft planning three versions of Xbox 2, claim reports
Rob Fahey 15:55 11/11/2004
Could Xbox Next and Windows Media Edition have a joyful union in Autumn
2006?
The next-generation Xbox console may come in three different versions,
according to a report today which claims that the firm plans to launch
versions with and without a hard drive in 2005, and a fully functional PC /
Xbox 2 combination in 2006.
Technology website The Inquirer reports that an NDA'd presentation given by
Microsoft to analysts and market researchers in the UK pointed to the
existence of three hardware versions, with two of them launching next
autumn.
Xbox Next and Xbox Next HD would largely be functionally identical, but the
latter of the pair features a hard drive and offers increased functionality
as a result - which could be anything from Xbox backward compatibility
(which the basic model could not offer due to the lack of a hard drive) to
media jukebox functions or TIVO-style video recording.
In itself, that's not an entirely unlikely scenario, and indeed, Sony is
expected to offer two different models of PlayStation 3 as well - one a
basic "games only" device, and another with a hard drive and extended media
centre functionality.
Indeed, Microsoft has already told developers not to rely on the presence of
a hard drive for their games, but has curiously failed to rule out the
possibility that a drive could be present. Theories for this range from an
internal debate at Microsoft about the cost to benefit ratio of the hard
drive, through to the remote possibility of the hard drive being sold as an
optional extra - on balance, the idea of two versions of Xbox 2, with and
without hard drive, seems eminently more reasonable.
The third version of the Xbox being touted by today's reports, however, is a
rather more unexpected beast - titled Xbox Next PC, it combines the Xbox 2
with an entry-level PC which would run a media-focused verison of Windows,
run standard PC software and games, and include a CD burner, wireless
keyboard and mouse.
This system would not launch until Autumn 2006, and aside from the question
about whether it really exists at all or not (a similar system which
integrated PC functionality into the Xbox was widely reported on about three
years ago, but never saw the light of day and may have simply been an
elaborate hoax), there's also a major question mark over how such a system
would work - since the Xbox 2 is based on PowerPC G5 processors, which won't
run the Windows operating system, let alone PC games.
It's possible that a version of Microsoft's VirtualPC software, which allows
Apple Macintosh users to run Windows operating systems under emulation on
their PowerPC based systems, could be used to provide at least basic
functionality - or PC hardware could be built into the console alongside the
existing Xbox hardware, driving costs up but providing much better
performance and reliability.
Either way, the possibility of multiple versions of Xbox Next will certainly
make Bill Gates' keynote speech at CES in early January, where he's expected
to publicly unveil the console, even more interesting.
____________________________________________________________________________
_______
http://theinquirer.net/?article=19615
Microsoft to release three versions of Xbox 2
One of them will be like a PC, shock
By Wil Harris: Thursday 11 November 2004, 10:23
A SLIDE from a non disclosure agreement (NDA) presentation seen by the INQ
points towards Microsoft launching three versions of the Xbox 2, one of
which is a fully functioning PC.
The presentation, understood to have been given to analysts and market
researchers in the UK earlier this year, plots a timeline for the
introduction of the systems. Xbox Next and Xbox Next HD are planned for
Autumn 2005, whereas the Xbox Next PC is pencilled in for Autumn 2006.
The standard Xbox Next will not include a hard drive, which will allow
Microsoft to cut costs on this basic unit. Xbox Next HD, as you might
imagine, does include a hard drive and will offer increased functionality
based on this. Xbox Next PC is, according to the presentation, an
entry-level PC that runs Windows and all standard PC software. It also
includes CD Burner, Wireless keyboard, mouse and controller and will work
best connected to a high-definition TV or PC monitor. Media Center
functionality - like movies, music and photos - is also included. The device
will also play most available PC games.
System outline specifications note that internet browsing and instant
messaging would be key applications, and that the entire unit will be
smaller than the current Xbox, although it will not be possible to upgrade
the shipping memory or processor.
The year-long gap between the mooted introductions of the two standard
Xboxes before the Xbox Next PC is an interesting decision, which suggests
that Microsoft realises the time that the market needs to acclimatise to TV
media functionality. Since the Vole expects to ship Xbox Next before the
Sony PlayStation 3, two versions of the console allow it to get the first
wave out before PS3, but to also spoil the launch of Sony's flagship by
concurrently announcing the PC version. µ
| |
| Doug Jacobs 2004-11-11, 5:48 pm |
| In alt.games.video.sony-playstation2 Xenon <xenonxbox2@xboxnext.com> wrote:
quote:
> The next-generation Xbox console may come in three different versions,
> according to a report today which claims that the firm plans to launch
> versions with and without a hard drive in 2005, and a fully functional PC /
> Xbox 2 combination in 2006.
Oh boy. Nothing says "consumer confusion" like multiple models.
So, are they going to release games that are only for XBox HD then? Or
are all games just going to include additional features if you have the
HD? At this point, they might as well just have 1 XBox model with an
empty HD port and sell the HD separately. We all know how popular
something like that will be.
quote:
> Xbox Next and Xbox Next HD would largely be functionally identical, but the
> latter of the pair features a hard drive and offers increased functionality
> as a result - which could be anything from Xbox backward compatibility
> (which the basic model could not offer due to the lack of a hard drive) to
> media jukebox functions or TIVO-style video recording.
Um, the XBox1 and XBox2 will have radically different hardware
architectures... Is XBox2 going to emulate Xbox1, or are they doing a
"Xbox1 on a chip" thing for XBox2 - which means they might as well just
release XBox2 with HD. A non-HD unit makes no sense.
quote:
> The third version of the Xbox being touted by today's reports, however, is a
> rather more unexpected beast - titled Xbox Next PC, it combines the Xbox 2
> with an entry-level PC which would run a media-focused verison of Windows,
> run standard PC software and games, and include a CD burner, wireless
> keyboard and mouse.
Neat! Microsoft is porting Windows to the PowerPC and then providing an
emulation layer to run x86 applications on it?
But wait a minute, I thought Microsoft was adamant about how the XBox is
NOT a PC?
quote:
> It's possible that a version of Microsoft's VirtualPC software, which allows
> Apple Macintosh users to run Windows operating systems under emulation on
> their PowerPC based systems, could be used to provide at least basic
> functionality - or PC hardware could be built into the console alongside the
> existing Xbox hardware, driving costs up but providing much better
> performance and reliability.
Either way, it sounds like it'll be cheaper to buy an XBox2(HD or no) and
a media center PC separately, rather than a single box with these squished
together inside.
| |
| Senor Banana 2004-11-11, 5:48 pm |
| Doug Jacobs wrote:
quote:
> In alt.games.video.sony-playstation2 Xenon <xenonxbox2@xboxnext.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Oh boy. Nothing says "consumer confusion" like multiple models.
>
Thank you for your fascinating analysis.
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| Bales1983 (Lee Bales) 2004-11-11, 5:48 pm |
| Senor Banana wrote:
quote:
> Doug Jacobs wrote:
>
>
> Thank you for your fascinating analysis.
Hi all,
I personally can't see the point in the pc like version i mean its like
Games Console >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Home PC
Moving along that line to far and you may as well just get a high spec
pc, I just cant see the point in turning a games console into a pc, am I
alone on this opinion? I mean its ok to go so far, voice
chat/networking/ maybe even an email client and basic browser but a full
blown pc seems to be a waste of money.
Lee
--
www.leebales.co.uk - Under Construction
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| Tashfeen Bhimdi 2004-11-12, 12:47 am |
| >> Xbox Next and Xbox Next HD would largely be functionally identical, but the
quote:
>
>Um, the XBox1 and XBox2 will have radically different hardware
>architectures... Is XBox2 going to emulate Xbox1, or are they doing a
>"Xbox1 on a chip" thing for XBox2 - which means they might as well just
>release XBox2 with HD. A non-HD unit makes no sense.
I believe Microsoft (or Connectix, the makers of Virtual PC bought out
by Microsoft) are working on emulating XBox1, so that XBox2 can play
XBox1 games. I read that on TheRegister a while ago.
--
Tashfeen Bhimdi
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| Gooserider 2004-11-12, 12:47 am |
|
"Doug Jacobs" <djacobs@shell.rawbw.com> wrote in message
news:10p7l31mc1d3a6@corp.supernews.com...
quote:
> In alt.games.video.sony-playstation2 Xenon <xenonxbox2@xboxnext.com>
wrote:
quote:
>
PC /[vbcol=seagreen]
>
> Oh boy. Nothing says "consumer confusion" like multiple models.
>
This sounds like disinformation to me. MS is trying to keep the competition
guessing.
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| Bill Cable 2004-11-12, 12:47 am |
| LOL... an xbox2, based on Mac G5 architecture, running Windows XP emulated
through VirtualPC. Talk about a circle-jerk.
--
Bill Cable
Steeler Fan and Star Wars Collector
http://CreatureCantina.com <----- funny
Cable is incapable of contributing anything positive to this world - cstoj
| |
| Perfect 2004-11-12, 12:47 am |
|
"Tashfeen Bhimdi" <tbhimdi@SPAMmyrealbox.com> wrote in message
news:btr7p01isn51m5vou2os34a067u0fsjnjo@4ax.com...
quote:
> I read that on TheRegister a while ago.
>
"I read it on the Internet so it has to be true."
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| Rengaw 2004-11-12, 6:46 am |
| "Xenon" <xenonxbox2@xboxnext.com> wrote in message
news:IcGdnZHRWeSwTA7cRVn-uA@comcast.com...
quote:
> http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=5435
> Microsoft planning three versions of Xbox 2, claim reports
>
I'll buy the Next Box PC version but frankly I don't care what they release
as long that it's sooner rather than later cause I want something new to
play with that rivials the power of my P4-3Ghz PC and not my five year old
paper weight P3-450.
| |
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| if nothing else, it would probably be one of the coolest looking PCs out there
"Bales1983 (Lee Bales)" <"lee"@bales2003." wrote:
quote:
> Senor Banana wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> I personally can't see the point in the pc like version i mean its like
>
> Games Console >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Home PC
>
> Moving along that line to far and you may as well just get a high spec
> pc, I just cant see the point in turning a games console into a pc, am I
> alone on this opinion? I mean its ok to go so far, voice
> chat/networking/ maybe even an email client and basic browser but a full
> blown pc seems to be a waste of money.
>
> Lee
>
> --
> www.leebales.co.uk - Under Construction
>
| |
| RichGK 2004-11-12, 6:46 am |
|
"Perfect" <Perfect@l0nGh0rN> wrote in message
news:ndidnVzFWvIwmwncRVn-iQ@giganews.com...
quote:
>
> "Tashfeen Bhimdi" <tbhimdi@SPAMmyrealbox.com> wrote in message
> news:btr7p01isn51m5vou2os34a067u0fsjnjo@4ax.com...
>
>
> "I read it on the Internet so it has to be true."
>
>
The Register generally report news as opposed to wild speculations.
Besides, it has to be true that the XBOX will at some point be emulated
fully, if you say otherwise then you are completely stupid.
| |
| Jimmery 2004-11-12, 6:04 pm |
|
i thought microsoft wanted to remove the connection between the xbox and
PCs... and then they announce the Xbox PC.
besides models with or without HDDs are stupid - a HDD inside the
console is a good idea. to buy a cut down version of the xbox 2 would be
ridiculous.
would the xbox 2 be upgradable? and wouldnt that also bring the console
one step closer to pcs?
whatever happened to just slapping the game in and playing. now we have
to worry about the HDD compatability, multimedia functions and windows
support of the hardware itself.
| |
| Doug Jacobs 2004-11-12, 6:04 pm |
| In alt.games.video.sony-playstation2 Jimmery <not@chance> wrote:
quote:
> i thought microsoft wanted to remove the connection between the xbox and
> PCs... and then they announce the Xbox PC.
Yup. I don't get it.
quote:
> besides models with or without HDDs are stupid - a HDD inside the
> console is a good idea. to buy a cut down version of the xbox 2 would be
> ridiculous.
Not to mention the confusion it's going to cause among consumers...
Especially if Microsoft follows up by saying they're going to release HD
and non-HD versions of games.
quote:
> would the xbox 2 be upgradable? and wouldnt that also bring the console
> one step closer to pcs?
I don't think Microsoft is going to do something like this... Allowing
for a HD, mouse or keyboard to be plugged in is one thing. Allowing users to
swap in a new CPU, GPU or more memory would just cause havoc amongst the
developers as first gen games would have to be guaranteed compatible with
hardware that hasn't been released yet.
quote:
> whatever happened to just slapping the game in and playing. now we have
> to worry about the HDD compatability, multimedia functions and windows
> support of the hardware itself.
I think the XBox/Media PC is Microsoft's answer to Sony's PSX, which is a
DVR with a DVD burner that also plays PS2 games.
| |
|
| Rengaw wrote:
quote:
> "Xenon" <xenonxbox2@xboxnext.com> wrote in message
> news:IcGdnZHRWeSwTA7cRVn-uA@comcast.com...
>
>
>
> I'll buy the Next Box PC version but frankly I don't care what they release
> as long that it's sooner rather than later cause I want something new to
> play with that rivials the power of my P4-3Ghz PC and not my five year old
> paper weight P3-450.
I'll take that "paperweight" off your hands. How much do you want for it?
-- CE
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"Doug Jacobs" <djacobs@shell.rawbw.com> wrote in message
news:10pa0v3ehkh9664@corp.supernews.com...
quote:
> ...
> I think the XBox/Media PC is Microsoft's answer to Sony's PSX, which is a
> DVR with a DVD burner that also plays PS2 games.
PSX... Which tanked royally...
| |
| Andrew Ryan Chang 2004-11-12, 6:04 pm |
| RichGK <rich@rich.rich> wrote:
quote:
>"Perfect" <Perfect@l0nGh0rN> wrote in message
>
>The Register generally report news as opposed to wild speculations.
My very limited experience with the Register is that they are
either often over their head or just willing to report wild rumours...
--
You are what you do. If you do boring, stupid, monotonous work, chances
are you'll end up boring, stupid, and monotonous.
-- "THE ABOLITION OF WORK" by Bob Black
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| Vortex 2004-11-13, 12:47 am |
| c&vg has it also!
TRIPLE X: THREE VERSIONS OF XBOX 2 RUMOURED
Next-gen Microsoft console to come in three tasty flavours for the
picky console gamer?
14:52 Good old Microsoft. If rumours riding the internet waves are to
be believed, the Washington, Redmond giant isn't interested in giving
you one Xbox 2: it wants to give you three.
Technology website The Inquirer has reported that Microsoft is
planning a trio of Xbox 2 models, two of which will go on sale in the
Autumn of 2005 with the third following a year later.
The first two models are allegedly named Xbox Next (a name already
widely used by news websites when discussing Xbox 2) - which doesn't
come with an internal hard drive and is thus smaller, lighter and
cheaper - and Xbox Next HD, which does come with an internal hard
drive.
According the the report on The Inquirer, the final model is the
all-singing, all-dancing Xbox Next PC. A monstrous beast of gaming
power, it's purported to run Windows, PC applications and PC games as
well as Xbox games. For your money (which would presumably be a fair
bit more than you'd pay for the other two versions mentioned) you'd
also apparently get a wireless keyboard and mouse and a CD burner.
It's also said that Xbox Next PC will be able to surf the interweb and
play movies and music through a centralised media centre. All of that
and the whole thing is supposedly stuffed into a shell smaller than
the current Xbox.
The entrance to this goldmine of Xbox Next information is apparently a
slide from a Microsoft presentation made recently to high-level
analysts here in the UK.
So is it true? Representatives from Microsoft were unavailable for
comment. We've heard conflicting reports about the reliability of the
slide itself, and many commentators have been quick to point out that
multiple models of the same hardware often only serve to confuse
consumers.
The news comes two months ahead of Xbox 2's purported unveiling at the
Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago, which starts on January 5, 2005.
Bill Gates is giving the keynote speech at the event just as he did in
2001 - when he unveiled the first Xbox.
As soon as we hear from Microsoft, so will you.
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| Christopher Fowler 2004-11-13, 5:45 pm |
| On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 14:53:03 -0600, Xenon wrote:
quote:
> The next-generation Xbox console may come in three different versions,
> according to a report today which claims that the firm plans to launch
> versions with and without a hard drive in 2005, and a fully functional PC /
> Xbox 2 combination in 2006.
>
With an abstraction layer this would be a non-issue. I assume now
there is no such thing in the XBOX API to abstract the hard disk
from the game in terms of saves. Even the extra content could
be abstracted so that levels could be loaded from large memory
sticks instead of disk.
| |
| Company Man 2004-11-13, 5:45 pm |
|
"Vortex" <vortex_combaticon@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c039aeb1.0411121611.1d2f147b@posting.google.com...
quote:
> will be able to surf the interweb
LOL! Where do they get these people?
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| Rengaw 2004-11-14, 6:45 am |
|
"CE" <hpalace@hpalace.com> wrote in message
news:2vkgjbF2m8f4bU1@uni-berlin.de...
quote:
> Rengaw wrote:
release[vbcol=seagreen]
old[vbcol=seagreen]
>
> I'll take that "paperweight" off your hands. How much do you want for it?
>
> -- CE
I'll trade for the latest copy of a Green Lantern comic.
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| Tuomas Salo 2004-11-15, 5:46 pm |
| Doug Jacobs wrote:
quote:
> I don't think Microsoft is going to do something like this... Allowing
> for a HD, mouse or keyboard to be plugged in is one thing. Allowing users to
> swap in a new CPU, GPU or more memory would just cause havoc amongst the
> developers as first gen games would have to be guaranteed compatible with
> hardware that hasn't been released yet.
That has already happened. The first Xboxes (with the Thomson DVD drive)
are not compatible with some new Xbox games that stream content from the
DVD. So Xbox games are not necessarily compatible with Xbox consoles
(even of the same region).
Tuomas
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| Jeremy Williamson 2004-11-17, 12:48 am |
|
"RichGK" <rich@rich.rich> wrote in message
news:_E0ld.12734$up1.5409@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
quote:
>
> "Perfect" <Perfect@l0nGh0rN> wrote in message
> news:ndidnVzFWvIwmwncRVn-iQ@giganews.com...
>
> The Register generally report news as opposed to wild speculations.
Which "The Register" do you read? The one I know does generally report news
but is often found presenting wild speculation.
quote:
> Besides, it has to be true that the XBOX will at some point be emulated
> fully, if you say otherwise then you are completely stupid.
>
It is *likely* that the XBOX will be emulated "at some point". That's all
that's true.
Also note: emulation != 100% functionality.
Jeremy
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