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Word on the street is that it will retail for around $200

Microsoft has again showed off its standalone HD DVD player for the XBOX 360. Whereas Sony decided to include its Blu-ray drive as standard equipment on the PlayStation 3, Microsoft decided not to force HD DVD on customers and instead provides it as an option. For those that choose to pursue that option, word on the street is that it will come in at around $200.

While some consumers may scoff at a $200 add-on for the XBOX 360, one must consider that set top HD DVD players are retailing for $430 to $500 while Blu-ray players cost anywhere from $840 to $1,000. For those that have an XBOX 360 and want to add high-definition movies to their library, it's a relatively cheap (all things considered) and simple upgrade. "Here's what I can tell you for sure; it's going to be the cheapest HD-DVD player you can buy without a doubt, when it comes out. I think it's going to be a great value... Everybody is very enthusiastic with the direction we're going. There are still a few surprises left. And I don't want to spill the beans yet, but I think people are going to think it's a great value," said Microsoft Larry Hyrb (aka Major Nelson). The low price tag can be attributed to the heavy lifting being performed by the XBOX 360 rather than the HD DVD drive. "All the audio and video processing is done inside the XBOX," said Microsoft senior program manager Kevin Collins.

As for the hardback book-sized drive itself, Microsoft showcased the device running "The Phantom of the Opera." The design of the drive, which has the internal codename of Sapphire, was all done in-house by Microsoft while Toshiba was selected to manufacture the drive. It will feature two USB 2.0 ports on the back to make up for the one USB port that the device itself uses. It also features the same cut-out on the back as the XBOX 360 to hold Microsoft’s XBOX 360 Wireless Networking Adapter if you chose to mount it there. The HD DVD interface, while not yet finished, was also on display. Gamerscore Blog has images posted of how it will look including an animated gif of it in action. The new interface basically replaces the "old" Open Tray button on the dashboard with a hybrid button that can toggle between DVD and HD DVD options with the up/down arrow keys. The drive will also be software updatable via XBOX Live so as new features are introduced, they can be automatically downloaded and applied.

Microsoft has revealed that it has some surprises in store for gamers during the fourth quarter. We know that one of them is the aforementioned HD DVD player and Gears of War. Hopefully, this isn’t all that Microsoft is planning and we’ll have even more to look forward to as the holiday season fast approaches.

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MS Wins!
By L33tMasta on 8/9/2006 1:43:45 AM , Rating: 2
MS wins. This will surly give the 360 another boost to it's already large userbase.




RE: MS Wins!
By tuteja1986 on 8/9/2006 2:24:08 AM , Rating: 2
Most of scratch were caused by stupid owner moving the xbox 360 while a disk was inside it to see if XBOX 360 looked better standing up or on sitting down.

Anyways it should have very good playback as Microsoft got the ATI's AVIVO team to devlop the H264, Mepg 2 & VC1 playback.


RE: MS Wins!
By tuteja1986 on 8/9/2006 5:20:28 AM , Rating: 2
Alot of you forget that HD-DVD will work on PC with a simple hack or Maybe Microsoft will just release a driver for it.


RE: MS Wins!
By Epyon on 8/9/2006 3:07:50 AM , Rating: 4
I find this add-on a little useless.

Its funny how you don't have 37 people whining that this combined with the xbox 360 comes to around $600(500 if you shop around). I know there's a difference being that you can choose to buy it or not, but with that choice comes the fact that there will be no development using the extra capacity that these new discs carry. You can say today, what do we need 25 GB of space for? You have to remember that there will be no upgrading of these machines for the next 5 years and alot of things can happen in that time. There's alot of sony bashing going around, but really they just approached this generation in a different way. Only time will tell which company chose the best path.

I dont really think the average guy is gonna want a xbox 360 as a part of his home theater setup. People who already have one(360) and are interested in hdvd may pick it up, but how many people is this? Shoot, I think most readers here overestimate the knowlege(tech-wise) of the average joe. There's gonna be alot of disappointed people that drop $500 on hdvd/blue ray tech and use a standard tv(non hd crt, older projection, etc).

I know im all over the place, but I think its a little funny to read someone say that ms wins and that this will boost their userbase. You have to be naive to think this would have been released at all if ps3 didnt have a blue ray drive.


RE: MS Wins!
By Fenixgoon on 8/9/2006 9:50:33 AM , Rating: 2
you don't HAVE to buy this though. that's the nice part.


RE: MS Wins!
By creathir on 8/9/06, Rating: -1
RE: MS Wins!
By christovski on 8/9/2006 5:20:00 PM , Rating: 5
Why do people follow up with their names when we can clearly see who posted the comment even before actually reading it. Looks like blowing your own horn to me.

MS has their console strategy straight right now, console first (no HD, no supercapacity optical, splurging on devkits and if necessary, developers), entertainment second (WMCE broadcast point, HDDVD addon), and no possibility of being a PC pivot.

Sony seems like they want a convergence, they're not pushing anything really more than the other right now. It might have it's own flavour of Linux for general computing with a decent HD, it has what might seem like a midrange BRDVD player for entertainment, and you can always count on Sony for some of that good old Nipponese support as a gaming console.

The 'retard' PS3's will sell hot for that two reasons: Sony would never enforce HDMI, not for another generation until it's absolutely standard, and you are getting a set top box media centre that will play your existing collection along with the new stuff. Developers only need at the most 1gig for swap space, and that's guaranteed w/ a 20gig HD, so the retard version doesn't hurt you like it did w/ the x360.

Regardless if you want or you can handle the HD offered by both, it's being forced onto you with both systems, just MS prefers to do this as needed instead of in one lump sum. The difference in power between the systems is a wash, the gaming capability of either systems is pretty much the same, now the future purchases depend on what else you might want to do with it.

Not that I expect Sony to follow through on their So'nix and P-Station Live...


RE: MS Wins!
By creathir on 8/10/06, Rating: 0
RE: MS Wins!
By christovski on 8/10/2006 8:46:22 PM , Rating: 1
You sign your letter when Dailytech forces you to post your username. A second showing of your name, identical to your username, is just shoving it down our throats much like another company.

Maybe English class can teach you the proper use of commas, too.


By hstewarth on 8/9/2006 9:57:47 AM , Rating: 2
For the Record I personally own a 360 system and also planning to get a PS3 system.

This doesn't mean that MS Wins the consoles.. One disadvantage of the Microsoft approach is that ever thing is seperate and it is pain to deal. It is already a problem with a big seperate power supply, not we have yet another device hook up to the monster.

If it is truely $200, then it will have a good use if movies are not on Blu-Ray that are on HDDVD - its not much money.

I predict nobody is going to win these wars - boths consoles and Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD. That is why I am purchasing both the XBox 360 and the Sony PS3.



RE: MS Wins!
By otispunkmeyer on 8/9/2006 2:43:48 PM , Rating: 2
well you probably really cant go wrong with either console really, despite all the bad press the PS3 has been getting (ie the backwards compat thingy, delays, hardware not being able to fit in the boxes, games being dropped/cancelled)

PS3 is still going to be an impressive, quality machine. its just that this time MS have gotten there first with a similar quality product.

MS has definately got its head on straight, and certainly they will be getting £270 odd of my hard earned british pounds for a 360 at the end of this month. if you just want a console then you cant look any further than the 360.

if you want an all-round entertainment machine... PS3 will definately float your boat.


RE: MS Wins!
By mushi799 on 9/5/2006 4:19:39 PM , Rating: 2
lol@large userbase


IMHO - This is stupid.
By rushfan2006 on 8/9/2006 12:33:14 PM , Rating: 2
HD-DVD for Xbox 360....only watch movies no use for games.

Stupid. 'nuff said.




RE: IMHO - This is stupid.
By clairvoyant129 on 8/9/2006 12:58:21 PM , Rating: 3
That's what HD-DVDs are for... to play movies. What did you expect?

You're the "stupid" one.


RE: IMHO - This is stupid.
By robber98 on 8/9/2006 2:31:45 PM , Rating: 2
Orly? HD-DVD is designed for play movie only? WOW


RE: IMHO - This is stupid.
By rushfan2006 on 8/10/2006 9:43:06 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
Orly? HD-DVD is designed for play movie only? WOW


LOL...know the real WOW here is the consistency with which everything has to be spelled out on this boards or people just don't get it.....

In relation to the HD-DVD player for Xbox 360 and in relation to Xbox 360 games, yes the players only purpose is for movies. Microsoft has stated this time and again, have they not?

HD-DVD is general, of course they are for more than movies...pay attention to the topic of the article though...its talking about Xbox 360.

And before you go yammering about how the drive can work with a PC....that's fine...where are the HD-DVD games for the PC...and don't tell me about anything unless you can prove there is MASS quanity from MANY game publishers who are producing such titles at LEAST within the next year.

1-6 games won't make me go ga-ga over HD-DVD for PC.

Finally its a READER not a writer....if it was a WRITER than you'd have a MAJOR point over me.

But that's not the case, now is it?



RE: IMHO - This is stupid.
By epsilonparadox on 8/10/2006 10:43:28 AM , Rating: 2
Why are you harping about PC games w/ HDDVD. By the time the game publishers adopt HDDVD/BRDVD for games we'll have moved to digital distribution. If you could connect the drive to the pc, you can attach it to a TV and watch HD movies.


RE: IMHO - This is stupid.
By rushfan2006 on 8/10/2006 2:50:23 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Why are you harping about PC games w/ HDDVD. By the time the game publishers adopt HDDVD/BRDVD for games we'll have moved to digital distribution. If you could connect the drive to the pc, you can attach it to a TV and watch HD movies.


You didn't understand my post apparently. I wasn't "harping about PC games w/HDDVD". I was only bringing it up because someone else made the comment the HD-DVD drive (XBox one) can be used with a PC...so I was being pro-active in defending myself from folks bringing up a rant about how you can use it for games that's all. I happen to agree with you -- as bandwidth increases I tend to thing digital distribution will gain more and more popularlity with the publishers than any other single form of media - HD, Bluray or otherwise. From the publishers standpoint it just makes too much sense for it NOT to go that way.

As far as the connect it to a TV to watch Movies -- you are more wrong than you obviously know.

How exactly is JUST the Xbox360's HD-DVD drive, as a stand alone unit, suppose to play movies when directly attached to a tv (ie. no xbox360 at all in the equation). That is afterall, exactly what you just implied. You do realize that the all the decoding and processing is handled by the Xbox 360 unit, the drive is media the input device to get the HD-DVD information to the xbox 360 for processing. In other words...the Xbox 360 HD-DVD is a "dumb" unit. Its not meant as stand-alone. Why do you think if you can hook it up to a pc you can hook up to a tv.....um....don't think the PC think just might work because the idea is the PC is doing the video processing work/decoding (with the appropriate software of course).



RE: IMHO - This is stupid.
By rushfan2006 on 8/10/2006 2:52:41 PM , Rating: 2
EDIT: Unless you mean connect the drive to the pc and then the pc to a TV....;)



RE: IMHO - This is stupid.
By rushfan2006 on 8/10/2006 9:38:26 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
That's what HD-DVDs are for... to play movies. What did you expect?


Wait....HD-DVDs are for playing movies? Holy crap...thank you for shining down on me with your radiant wisdom! Whew! I was growing a tumor thinking about that one on my own. ;)

No kidding captain obvious, that HD-DVDs are for movies. Its still STUPID IMHO and here is why I come to this conclusion....

1) Hasn't Microsoft Announced time and again that NO games will be made to take advantage of the HD-DVD unit for Xbox?

2) If you can use it with a PC that's pretty good. However still no games? They are BARELY producing "regular version" games in DVD format...so don't tell me that HD-DVD games for PC are being turned out in large numbers....now or anything soon...certainly not within at least the next couple of years.

2a) Since I know how much analness this forum crowd can bring....."large numbers" doesn't mean just a few titles here and there....large numbers mean approaching the availability and quantity of current game versions (ie. the "regular, non-HD DVD" titles)....Anyone who invests money in a format to play a few titles and that's it...is silly if you ask me.

3) Its stupid because anyone who is really looking forward to HD-DVD technology for movies...including the majority of the population will invest in a premium dedicated HT quality HD-DVD (or Blu-ray..whatever your flavor) system for their high end HDTV and surround sound components. I honestly don't see the logic therefore in paying for HD-DVD twice. Ooooh let's pay $200 now, because I'm impatient and I want to brag to my friends that I have HD-DVD.....and then after I want to experience it big time...I'll pay for another HD-DVD player that is higher quality for my HT system....I just don't see the logic in that...Do you think any serious HT junkie is going to have a Microsoft Xbox 360 HD-DVD player as the center piece to their $3000 HDTV and $2000 DTS (or better) surround sound system. Not to mention that would just "look" childish and silly.

So yes. It is stupid. 'nuff said.


RE: IMHO - This is stupid.
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 8/9/2006 1:43:25 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
HD-DVD for Xbox 360....only watch movies no use for games.

Stupid. 'nuff said.


HD DVD games would mean that game manufacturers would have to produce TWO different types of games: one DVD and one HD DVD. That would also mean higher prices for consumers.

Remember, not everyone will go for the HD DVD add on and you still have to support your existing user base. What you suggest makes no sense.


RE: IMHO - This is stupid.
By willndowed on 8/9/2006 4:33:40 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
HD DVD games would mean that game manufacturers would have to produce TWO different types of games: one DVD and one HD DVD.


Not really. They have already released two different versions of several games: FEAR, Oblivion, COD. They charge more for the 'Game of the Year Edition', or whatever they want to call it.

I see it a lot like the way many developers release games for the Xbox and Xbox360 at the same time. They can release much 'larger' games on HD-DVD (and charge a premium) and a standard game on DVD.

Those of us who own a 360, and plan on buying the HD drive, will probably fork over the extra cash for a more intensive game.

BTW... The 360 and PS3, both claim to be more than a game console. They both aim at being more like media centers. I personally use mine to access my MP3's on my PC, as well as playing standard DVD's. The HD-DVD add on is probably the only way I'd buy any HD player for a long while... and Microsoft is probably going to win my HD business... for the near term at least.


RE: IMHO - This is stupid.
By MrSmurf on 8/13/2006 11:04:37 PM , Rating: 2
I don't think his post was meant to "suggest" anything other than it's silly, in his opinion, to spend $200 extra to allow an Xbox 360 to play movies.


Good move by MS
By XtremeM3 on 8/9/2006 9:23:38 AM , Rating: 5
I think some people like to bitch for the sake of bitching.

For the record:
I have an XBox360.
I have an HD compatible TV(actually projector but whatever).
I am interested in HD-DVD.
I do not yet own an HD-DVD player.

There are plenty of people that don't meet that criteria. The people that DO meet that criteria is who this device is for. If you don't have atleast an HD compatible TV or a 360, why are you even discussing this. It doesn't even apply to you right? Microsoft is not going door to door throwing HD-DVD player add ons at you.

If you don't have a 360 already well of course you can buy an HD-DVD player cheaper. If you think that MS is wanting people to buy a 360+HD-DVD player for sole use as an HD-DVD player you're mistaken. However, can that slightly cheaper HD-DVD player play games? Communicate with other people that have HD-DVD in voice or video chats? If you want something like that then pay the extra 100 bucks and get a 360+HD-DVD player(not anticipating price cuts that will be coming), if you want an HD-DVD player buy the Toshiba.

If you don't have an HD TV yet then obviously this is not a product that MS put out for you. You can't take advantage of it anyway.

Since I meet the above criteria I can spend another 200 bucks and have the ability to play HD-DVDs. Yay! I'm down for that. It beats me spending another 500 bucks to accomplish the same feat.

I can't believe that people are so narrow minded now that they think everyone should have the same views as them and everyone else that thinks different is retarded. If you don't want it...awesome. Good for you - you made your own decision. As far as the Vs. Sony discussion (that MUST come up with any 360 article) I personally like the way that MS did it. I like the fact that a 360 can be purchase for 399 right now for the premium and the HD-DVD player can be purchased later. For more of MS's more budget minded customers this is a great advantage. They understand that not everyone can dish out 6 or 700 bucks at a single time, but by splitting up the 400 and 200 will appeal to more people(not everyone but more). Those that can afford the 6 or 700 as well as the ones that can afford up to 400, so they are still selling Xboxes. Splendid move, and good business sense. Not to mention, you only have to spend the 200 later if you want to.

I'll probably buy this. I'll get to play HD-DVD movies for cheaper than buying the Toshiba now(which while having great reviews for picture quality lacks a bit in interface and load times that i believe will be fixed later) and I can wait for better/cheaper models later on. I don't feel like swapping out a 500 dollar piece of equipment once a year just because a better one comes out.

I'm not an Xbox fanboy, and I'm far from a MS fanboy. I'm a technology fanboy. I think HD-DVD is a pretty cool new technology and this will open up more affordable avenues for some people to enjoy such a technology using what they have available(in the case of someone already owning a 360 paying only 200 for HD-DVD playback).

As far as it being alot of money...money is relative. If you don't completely understand or believe that statement then you have never switched from being dead broke to having money or vice versa. I done both switches twice. I think right now I live pretty comfortably with a salary that's higher than quite a few. (a combined household salary that I know is higher than alot) - but I've been broke to the point i almost had a car reposessed. Money is relative and 200 bucks to you may seem like alot or nothing, while to another guy it may be the opposite. I like to weigh it like this:

I have a 360 so that means with this it would be 200 bucks for HD-DVD playback capability. The next cheapest option is the Toshiba which would be 500...so unless the Xbox option suffers from quality issues or other plagues, i'm going with the $200 option. I'm sure quite a few people have the same view. but hey, what do i know :)

Jeff




RE: Good move by MS
By rrsurfer1 on 8/9/2006 9:31:50 AM , Rating: 2
I agree that the add-on nature of the HDDVD player is a better business model because customers don't have to pay all at once.

I don't see Sony being able to do much with the added space of BluRay for gaming, which is the only advantage to their business model. Its possible they might end up using more than a DVD but it'll either be in-game video footage, or towards the end of the PS3 life cycle.


RE: Good move by MS
By therealnickdanger on 8/9/2006 10:59:43 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
I don't see Sony being able to do much with the added space of BluRay for gaming

If I could find the link, I remember Sony specifically stating that the Blu-Ray discs would not be used for games at all. They are "stuck" with DVD just like Microsoft... which obviously isn't stopping Microsoft from making games with stunning visuals and audio. There's plenty of space, plus there's a part of the Xbox360 patent that describes special compression algorithms to compress data at up to 1/1000th the size... what, specifically, that compresses, I don't know.

While I would prefer an all-in-one package like the PS3, I don't want to be forced into paying out the arse for it... like the PS3... When Microsoft stuffs the HD-DVD drive into the Xbox360 and both consoles sell for under $300, then we'll have something to talk about.


RE: Good move by MS
By OrSin on 8/9/2006 10:18:40 AM , Rating: 2
Thank you. I was to lazy to write it out. People have different wants for everything ans peopl need to stop tring to put everyone in the same mold.


RE: Good move by MS
By othercents on 8/9/06, Rating: 0
RE: Good move by MS
By MrDiSante on 8/9/2006 12:49:06 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
360 is expensive compared to all the other consoles that are available.


Wow. Just wow. All the other consoles that are available are 6th generation consoles. Obviously they're going to be less expensive. It's like complaining about a Core 2 Duo being more expensive than a Pentium 4. And guess what?
I (as well as many/most others) buy consoles for the purpose of playing games. I have an Xbox and I've never, ever played a DVD on it. I will follow the same policy here, I will wait until either one format wins or at least the players end up less than 200$ and then I will buy a stand-alone player. I honestly appreciate the option of being able to make my own choice as to whether I want a next-gen player or not.


RE: Good move by MS
By epsilonparadox on 8/9/2006 6:30:41 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
Sony is taking their time and not rushing their consoles like MS did. They are allowing their customers to get what they want in an all in one package instead of having to pay for add ons later on.


There's two things wrong with that statement. One, Sony isn't taking time because it wants to. Otherwise they wouldn't have said the PS3 initially would launch spring '06. Both formats' delay was caused for the same reason. The drm protection wasn't finalized. Two, Sony "customers" aka gamers don't all want a all-in-one media hub. The majority want a game console.


RE: Good move by MS
By XtremeM3 on 8/10/2006 7:09:31 AM , Rating: 2
Other,

I already stated that I highly doubted that MS is marketing this as an HD-DVD player alternative. They are not putting this out to sell more 360s. They are putting it out to sell exactly what it is- HD-DVD player add-ons for the 360. If I had an option to have "merely" (using this term loosely) the 360 owner consumer base to market a product to I would be doing cartwheels. A customer base which is already large and growing every day. If you allow me to play psychic for a second i'll make a prediction for you...ooohhmmmm...price cuts on Xbox360 at the time of PS3 release....ooohhmmm...ok i'm back. BAM! More customers.

As far as the 360 created for budget minded people. No, I don't believe that. You mentioned in your quote what I actually said "For more of MS's more budget minded customers" That's a much narrower field than "budget minded people" I guess it was too much for me to assume that to mean "MS's more budget minded customers who own a 360 or were thinking about purchasing one" My bad for not being specific enough, but it is a great move by MS to give current and future owners of Xbox360s the option to have HD-DVD capability for 200 bucks. MS is not trying to steal customers away from the Toshiba as a stand alone HD-DVD device. (however one could argue that even without my psychic predicted price cuts the core system+HD-DVD player match up pretty evenly to the Toshiba base model in price.)

As far as narrow minded people. I'm not referring to those who don't want to buy this. I'm referring to those who says it is a bad deal. Which is a narrow minded statement. Such as saying it's a good deal. Follow me along for this.

Guy - "The xbox HD-DVD player is a bad deal all around. With the cost of the console I would pay more than i would for the Toshiba HD-DVD player"
Salesman - "Wow, that's genius. You should buy a toshiba to play your HD-DVD player and save 100 bucks. You are right it's a bad deal."
Guy - "Yes, my knowledge amazes even me sometimes"

Guy#2 - "Hi, i'd like to buy the XBox360 HD-DVD player add-on"
Salesman - "Oh man, no...it's a bad deal"
Guy#2 - "Really? Cuz i have a 360 and just want to be able to watch HD-DVDs, 200 bucks seemed like the cheapest route to go"
Salesman - "No someone pointed out earlier that it's a bad idea, showed me the logic and everything. The cost of it and the console is more than a standalone HD-DVD player."
Guy#2 - "But I already HAVE a 360. It's only 200 bucks to me now"
Salesman - <head explodes>

See...save a salesman. (ok i'll admit that wasn't the best example, but it was fun and I'm bored at work right now.)
But I was basically saying that you can't say it's a bad deal or a good deal. I can say that's it's a good deal for me. You can say it's a good/bad deal for you. One could even go as far as to make a statement such as "it's a good deal for xbox360 owners" But to make a blanket statement of "it's bad/good" would be wrong. And one would probably be sent to hell for such an offense.

I agree on the format decision and feel your pain on deciding. I think that if I didn't have a 360 I'd be facing a tough decision. With HD-DVD getting better reviews on picture quality, but the deciding of what will actually win as well as movies only being on one or the other. Too many factors - I save that for another novel..er post. I don't think it can be argued though, the PS3 will put alot of Blu-Ray players in homes...and I thought it was a genius move by sony to incorporate it, but when it was announced the price wasnt. So while it will put a Blu-Ray player in every home with a PS3, how many will that actually be? Only time will tell.

Sony waited until the Blu-Ray player was more cost efficient to include in a console(obviously not the only hold-up, but it is more cost efficient now than a year ago). No doubt a great move. MS did not include the HD-DVD player because of price. Price to manufacture at the time. MS could have done it but it would have costed them a fortune with HD-DVD in it's infancy, the console would have had an outrageous price tag had it released with an HD-DVD player last year. However releasing a year early gave them a huge headstart vs. Sony. Basically a full year with no competition and then the option to drop prices to fight Sony's release. I'd rather be MS in this war. Starting out ahead. I bet MS marketing will be sitting in stores just to hear parents say "No I will not buy you a PS3 I got you that 360 thing last year" and smile smugly to themselves.

Jeff


No salesman were actually harmed in the making of this post(not that anyone would probably object anyway).


RE: Good move by MS
By bldckstark on 8/9/2006 12:35:31 PM , Rating: 2
EXACTLY XtremeM3. I own a 360, I won't pay PC prices for the PS3, I have a HDTV, I need a HD-DVD player and this is the cheapest one. I'm going to buy it, watch my HD movies (which are currently mostly analog filmed movies upsampled so they don't look so great anyway) and save myself $300 over buying the Toshiba. By the way, the noise doesn't bother me. With the 7.1 hooked up, I can hear anything but my movies.

By the way Gamepro (yes it's lame) magazine lists that 10 years ago Nintendo released the Nintendo 64 at $199 USD. They thought about $249, but decided that was too high. It sold more in one day than the Playstation did in three months. This was attributed to price. There were only two games available upon release, Mario 64 and Pilotwings 64. That makes the Wii cheaper than a 64 given inflation. The 360 is about the same as the 64 was 10 years ago, and the PS3 is significantly more. The 64 games were priced at $70. That means that, except for the Sony, gaming is cheaper now than it was 10 years ago.

I want Sony to succeed so there remain three players in the market, but I am concerned about their pricing. The Wii is going to fly off of shelves because of comparative pricing disadvantages to the other two.

I am buying a Wii (that name is horrible) for my kids. Anybody out there have young twin boys? I do, and the thought of them having virtual sword fights instead of real ones with sticks makes me think I will probably save $250 in emergency room bills.


not much too say
By Sharky974 on 8/9/2006 2:53:18 AM , Rating: 2
The reason people think it'll be $199 is because when MS first put the product page on Xbox.com during E3, it said it was going to be $199. They quickly removed the price, but I'd say that's a pretty solid indicator.

It's too bad they couldn't have used it for games. Still it makes sense for a guy like me. I own a 360 and now I will be able to get HDDVD for just $199.

Still Sony is right, if you add up all the crap in the non-retard Sony pack you get:

60 GB HDD, Wireless, perhaps slightly more powerful console, Blu Ray.

Xbox premium+HDDVD for same price you get 20 GB HDD, no wireless ($99 extra).

I have a feeling MS is planning a 360 with built in HDDVD for $499 or something like that. Which I hope they dont do do because it'll be stupid. But they have repeatedly hinted that they will come in cheaper with HDDVD than PS3 will. As it stands that wouldn't be the case.

Over the long haul though MS is playing it a lot smarter. We're looking at wow, Sony is a better value at $600 right now. Yeah, right NOW. What happens 3 years from now when these machines are dirt cheap. Then nobody cares about Blu-Ray in PS3 because you'll be able to buy one for $29 or something, just like DVD. Sooner or later both optical drives come up dirt cheap. Then MS can just integrate a dual DVD/HDDVD drive in the standard 360. But they can wait for the price to fall to dirt cheap, whereas Sony is making YOU pay a crapload NOW.

It's basically like DVD in PS2. Is DVD a big selling point in pS2 today? No. Why? Because everybody already has a seperate DVD player, and because DVD players cost $29.

That's the same thing that's going to happen inevitably with Blu-Ray. Blu Ray will not be a big selling point in PS3 in five years. But in the meantime, they jacked the price up in those all-important early years of PS3, which will retard sales just when they can least afford to fall behind 360.




RE: not much too say
By Epyon on 8/9/2006 3:16:25 AM , Rating: 2
Yes but 3 years from now when both the xbox 360/ps3 hd players are useless, the ps3 will have 25+ GB of storage space available to it for development. Most games wont need it, but I think there are some new things that can be done with all this extra capacity. Its somewhat of a chicken/egg scenario. You'll never know what that extra space could have been used for if it was not available to the developers to begin with.


RE: not much too say
By ChronoReverse on 8/9/2006 2:08:23 PM , Rating: 1
Yeah, I'm just going to love streaming 25GB's worth of data at 2x read speed -_-.

Basically the extra space will be used for cutscenes and frankly, if a game consists of 20GB of cutscenes, there's something seriously wrong.


RE: not much too say
By epsilonparadox on 8/9/2006 6:19:23 PM , Rating: 2
Why would you streaming 25GBs straight from the drive? The HD is there to cache everything.


RE: not much too say
By ChronoReverse on 8/9/2006 7:01:07 PM , Rating: 2
So now I have to install stuff as well on a console? It's a 60GB drive on the high-end and 20GB on the lowend.

The proposed solution is better but not that much.


RE: not much too say
By Loc13 on 8/9/2006 9:21:22 AM , Rating: 1
You're right that DVD wasn't the selling point for PS2. It was the GAMES. The reason Xbox lost to PS2 is because its games are crappy and focuses on mostly the AMerican audience, while PS2 games had a much broader audience, wider selection, and better quality.

So if the selling points for Xbox360 and PS3 aren't HDDVD or blu-ray, it'll come down to games again. And when it comes to game development, sony will always have an upper hand. Just look at how many games were released for PS2 and how many for Xbox, you'll get the idea. Oh and look the genres too.


RE: not much too say
By MrDiSante on 8/9/2006 12:21:21 PM , Rating: 1
And now look at all of the third party support that the Xbox 360 is getting compared to the Xbox and look at the third party support dropping from PS3 because it's hard as hell to program for.
Another major reason that the PS2 won out by such a margine was an established user-base and having had a year's head start. This time at least people have heard of the Xbox brand and it's got a 25% market share which isn't bad AND it's released a year ahead, so they will have had time to sell over 10 million units by the time the PS3 comes out.


RE: not much too say
By jconan on 8/10/2006 4:42:10 AM , Rating: 2
Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast had a headstart but didn't win the console race...


RE: not much too say
By ChronoReverse on 8/10/2006 7:49:37 PM , Rating: 2
The N64 had a headstart? Didn't it come out after the PSX?


RE: not much too say
By MrDiSante on 8/9/2006 12:27:20 PM , Rating: 2
We'll have to see about the more powerful console, but a large number of the non-Sony sources say that the Cell's less powerful for anything but floats and the real killer thing is that it's got a 16MBps local memory read speed. If that's true, I don't know what they're thinking.
Furthermore, the video card is not going to be capable of handling 1080p, perhaps it might be capable if there were two 7800's in sli, but as things stand now, I doubt that the games are going to be playable in 1080p.
Lastly, there's a problem with the read speeds of the drive. I doubt they'll include a 4X Blu-ray drive (and if they do I shudder to think of the loss Sony must take on each unit), which is what is necessary to equal a 12X DVD drive. It's going to have ungodly load times and if it has to read off the disc, ouch.


RE: not much too say
By fumar on 8/10/2006 3:43:57 AM , Rating: 2
@sharky974
Part of the reason that the PS3 is $600 (tard pack not counting) Is because the Cell Processor is rediculsly expensive to make (compaired to any other CPU) thanks to it having 1 main core and 7 secondary cores (1 disabled). Blu-Ray is a big part of the problem but just remember that while PS2 had a DVD drive, that tech had been in the market for more than 4 years, while Blu-Ray came out in July. So in 5 years the price for Blu-Ray players will probably be around $100 at the low end (just a guess).


Why would anyone buy an addon HD DVD player???
By spinn3rs on 8/13/2006 5:30:19 AM , Rating: 2
It makes no sense unless i am absolutely crazy for HD movies which havent yet hit the market in a large scale. IMO someone could wait for another 2-3 years when the technology will be cheap enough and eligible to the general crowds. Spending $200 to a drive that is useless without an XBox is kinda stupid. Conventional DVD market is still on the lead and i dont see the reason, why not watching a movie on my DVD player and "suffer" from the poorer DVD quality in order to save myself some money.
Even if the device is hacked down and can be used as a HDDVD device attached to a PC, still, i wouldnt waste $200 just to watch HDDVD movies on my 20" LCD monitor unless my PC is hooked with a big a** 50" LCD TV (which in that case if i have the money to buy such a TV i wouldnt mind spending some more money to get the Drive)
Still that wouldnt be convinient as i should fireup my XBox (or PC as stated above) each time i wanted to watch a movie (and serious film fans prefer buying systems dedicated to their purpose - definately not game consoles with an add-on HD player)
It follows the same strategy as mobile phones with camera. Sure its nice having a multipixel camera on my phone but if i wanted to go around and take pictures i would buy a digital camera.
(btw i do NOT own either an XBOX or a PS)




RE: Why would anyone buy an addon HD DVD player???
By XtremeM3 on 8/13/2006 7:39:34 AM , Rating: 2
I really wish people would just read some of the above posts. I find it humorous for people to post asking the same questions answered above.

Take exhibit 1 here..."spinn3rs" - aside from the clever usage of a 3 to represent the e in the word "spinners" has contributed what to the discussino here? He has posed the question "Why would anyone buy an addon HD DVD player???" Then before waiting for the answer...comments in that "it makes no sense", "it's kind of stupid", etc. You can see where this is going...apparently "spinn3rs" isn't concerned about the answer...and no matter what the answer would be he's not going to care because he's already made up his mind. So I'm probably wasting the life on my keyboard for nothing, but it's provied by the company, so who cares right?

"spinn3rs"

Why would someone have to be crazy for HD movies to buy one? I'm not crazy about HD movies and I'm thinking about buying one. Cuz 200 bucks just isn't that much to me. I already have a 360 and HD compatible projector so I don't think 200 bucks for HD-DVD playback ability isn't that much (deja vu here...i've heard this arguement before...holy hell it's a few posts up!) Granted, that's my opinion. But hey your name is "spinn3rs" you probably have cash...or just wish you did.

I don't know how else i can explain this. I tried with paragraph after paragraph above...not a person seems to understand...

THIS IS MARKETED TOWARDS XBOX 360 OWNERS WITH HD COMPATIBLE TV'S. THAT'S IT.

Incase you didn't know...that's still a pretty big market. I wouldn't mind having it. As well as a market that seems to like new things and can afford them. It's a great market to sell things too.

Maybe you find it stupid because you don't have a 360...that's cool. I agree that it would be a bad purchase for you. I doubt you'd get much use out of it. But you left out the "for me" statement. You just said it's stupid. just like someone else above. It's stupid...to you. I could say it's stupid to pay 500 bucks for the toshiba hd-dvd player when someone already has an xbox360 and could pay 200 to do the same things right? Play HD-DVD movies is what we're talking about right? Sooo someone has a 360 and an HDTV...goes into best buy and says...give me an HD-DVD player they ask, do you want the $200 one or the $500. You would say the $500 one right? Sweet. I got a house I wanna sell you...

This is avoiding the quality issue as it's unknown the quality of playback of the 360 vs. the toshiba (unless i've missed that on the web somewhere)- obviously if there is a huge (for some people any) difference in picture or sound quality, it would benifit those that care about that to just cough up the extra 300 bucks and go for the higher quality.

side note-i bet my 360 powers up faster than the toshiba HD-DVD players :)

off topic - camera phones are actually usefull. Yeah a dedicated camera is better but how many times does the "omg i wish i had a camera" statement come out. Not a whole lot, but when it does, i have a camera :) (i thought they were stupid too but suprised how many times i've actually used it - concerts, clubs, after hours parties, etc..again it's opinion and based on personal experience.)

To the guy asking about HDMI

I dunno. I'd like to see it available. Although it's not needed right now, it would be nice for it to be an option, and will more than likely be needed in the future (atleast some sort of digital interface)

*I have got to find something better to do than post on daily tech when i'm bored at work.....but there are so many narrow minded people running around the internet screaming "that's stupid" - "who in their right mind would do that" etc regarding so many things (no my life's quest is not to justify the 360's add on HD-DVD player) that it just bothers me. People can't see past their own lives and realize that other people's lives, opinions, needs, wants, etc are different. I've lived all over the world and my needs/wants have changed, My salary has been up and down like a rollercoaster. There were times that 10 bucks was a lot to me, and times that i could impulse buy something that was thousands of dollars without blinking an eye (not on credit, that doesn't count). It's one thing to say "I wouldn't use it", or "I don't like it because it's external" but the arguement of "stand alone hd-dvd players already exist" is not a good one in my opinion. This is meant to be a cheaper alternative to those who already have a 360. It's not there to get people to buy 360's to use a HD-DVD players. Again, it's a market I wouldn't mind having.


RE: Why would anyone buy an addon HD DVD player???
By spinn3rs on 8/14/2006 6:14:36 AM , Rating: 2
Exactly my point XtremeM3
Yes, i am not expecting an answer and
Yes you are wasting your keyboards life.

By the way next time reply to people referring to you. I didnt mention you nor i quoted something from your post.

Since you are referring to my name, i have an average budget as most of the people in here. Its your name xtremeM3 (the only M3 logotype that comes to my mind is the BMW's sportscar) that implies you have money.
So what do you know about me?...NOTHING. So stop judging me. All my statements were general so my opinions.

HD DVD Is a marketing move as you already stated by Microsoft which will probably sink as so many consoles expansion devices in the past. No i wouldnt go around buying any HD DVD players because:
1) Its too early and the technology is not mature enough
2) Its cost inefficient as prices are still sky high
3) The price doesnt YET worth the gains for the picture quality

About the mobile phones:
Sure its convinient having a camera on the phone but thats NOT its main purpose as its not XBOX's purpose playing HD movies. Imagine instead of cameras being integrated to phones, having to carry them separately. Would you buy one?

About your last statement about narrow minded people:
i am not narrow minded. I love technology but i also keep my feet on the ground. Hell, i wouldnt mind having the technology either but i think i can wait a bit longer for my benefit.
I could easily say you are the one who is narrow minded. I posted my opinion freely. Its my right to do so. As it is your right to doubt me. But dont judge nor insult me.

And if your job bores you so much... QUIT IT


RE: Why would anyone buy an addon HD DVD player???
By XtremeM3 on 8/15/2006 1:42:32 AM , Rating: 2
I actually did just quit. I got a new offer and accepted last night (sorry i had to mention that because I found it funny that you said that and all of this just occured, I really did just accept the offer yesterday)

I have no problems with people stating opinions. But they should be stated such. Although there was a survey recently that something like 70 or 80% (maybe more??)of what was written on the internet is misinterpreted when being read. Largely due to lack of tones used in verbal converstation that could not be effectively expressed in written word. Anyway, i'm getting off topic. Back to opinions and the debacle that is the add-on HD-DVD player for the 360.

Also, what is the average budget of a daily tech reader? I missed that when I signed up. I'm sure there are people here that make more than me, as well as people that make less.

As far as general statements...

quote:

Spending $200 to a drive that is useless without an XBox is kinda stupid.


That seems pretty specific. Maybe it's a comment that's part of that large percentage of misinterpreted statements. I dunno.

quote:

1) Its too early and the technology is not mature enough
2) Its cost inefficient as prices are still sky high
3) The price doesnt YET worth the gains for the picture quality


These are neither right nor wrong. All your opinion. I could have totally different views on those (I partially agree with #1, don't with #2, don't with #3) but that's my opinion on the technology and how much it's worth to me.

The narrowminded people that I am referring to are those that think their situation applies to others as well. Most people don't realize it, but statements to the effect of "It costs way to much no one would buy it" or "It would be stupid to spend so much on that" are narrowminded. Statements of "It costs way to much I wouldn't buy it" state opinion. For me the addon sets me back a couple hours of work, not a big purchase to me. For a person who it sets back a few days or a paycheck - It's different. For me it's worth spending the money to get the picture quality increase. You wouldn't spend a couple hours of works pay to increase the image quality of movies? That's what people are not thinking about. They see the cost affecting everyone the same, but it doesn't. I've been on both sides of the coin and I know not everyone can afford it, and it's just not worth it to some. But don't blast those that do buy it(or in this case, intend to), you don't know their reasons or situation.

I will apoligize if I offended you in the earlier post, I should not have just called you out but it was the last post in the comments and I was frustrated and still working on my first cup of coffee yesterday. My bad.

Jeff


RE: Why would anyone buy an addon HD DVD player???
By spinn3rs on 8/15/2006 4:08:58 AM , Rating: 2
I am sorry to hear about your job.
I didnt mean to blast anyone and im really sorry if that came out this way. I only wanted to emphasize my opinions and i might have used the wrong words to do so and i apologise for that.
Also, i wasnt expecting a direct reply when posting my comment with such a tough criticism about it. But i can defenatelly understand why is so, after being frustrated on the first cup of coffee at work :o)
Have a nice day

???st?f????


By spinn3rs on 8/15/2006 4:10:42 AM , Rating: 2
Hmmmm no unicode character encoding in the forum

???st?f???? = Christophoros


By rushfan2006 on 8/15/2006 3:20:44 PM , Rating: 2
I said it was stupid above because the only thing the HD-DVD allows you to do, is just that , play movies. If MS announced they'd produced HD-DVD games well then my whole point is shattered in a million pieces because THEN it would be worth a purchase more (I'd still wait for price drops though).

My point is why spend the money twice to watch HD-DVD movies (A) Of which aren't and won't be out in the mainstream kind of numbers that reg dvd movies are for quite some time and B) God knows when a format will be delcared the official victor Bluray or HD-DVD), merely because of the cool factor of it being the "new thing"? Merely because you have no patience?

You rant that you essentially think its stupid and pointless for people to be opposed to the player add on idea, yet I find it the opposite. In other words, you mean its SMART to waste money on something just because you have an impluse to buy it since you have no patience? You mean its the more SMART decision to invest $200 to watch movies on a game box in a format that you have no idea is going to stick around or not?

Then the meat of my personal argument of this things stupidity...if you are that into HD-DVD movies in the first place, that leads me to conclude A) You have invested in a quality HD-TV right? and B) You really like the surround sound experience that HD offers as well, right?

Well, I happen to be the same way. I enjoy the HD movie experience at home a lot. Because I do - I want a QUALITY component system that is a dedicated player and has all the features in it that a mere little "toy" HD-DVD addon player won't have. There is more to a player, for a high end system anyway, than just the ABILITY TO PLAY THE MOVIE AND SHOW IT ON YOUR TV! Why do you think folks with high end equipment drop a ton on high end component DVD players and receivers? DVD players can be had for $80 now....you can get receivers for $200 that even suppoint DTS nowadays....go into a speciality HT store and talk to a sales person that "you don't need a HD-DVD player...because you have the x360 addon one" --- they'll try not to laugh in your face.

So yeah, an addon player that CAN NOT play games on a GAME CONSOLE but just Movies...is a stupid idea in my opinion.

Sorry I don't throw my money around in the trash or something on any novelty idea of the moment.


If history repeat itself....
By robber98 on 8/9/06, Rating: 0
RE: If history repeat itself....
By Lonyo on 8/9/2006 7:46:15 AM , Rating: 2
It doesn't matter much though, because it doesn't change the console really.
It's just an optional extra for those who want a cheap upgrade.
If you have an XBox 360, why spend $500 for an HD-DVD player when you can spend $200 on an add-on for your XBox 360 and get an HD-DVD player...?


RE: If history repeat itself....
By bewster on 8/9/2006 10:47:34 AM , Rating: 2
Maybe you wanna spend $500 on a standalone player if it would allow you to hear what they are saying, since that would be impossible with the current noise level of the xbox 360.


By epsilonparadox on 8/9/2006 6:15:48 PM , Rating: 2
What current noise level??? I have a launch 360 and a surround sound system. If you purchase the addon or even a standalone, w/out a surround sound system, you're wasting your money. I don't hear my 360 above my games even if im going through the tv speakers.


RE: If history repeat itself....
By robber98 on 8/9/2006 11:48:16 AM , Rating: 3
Why spend $500 for a HD-DVD player? The answer is very simple: To eliminate background noise. XBox 360 doesn't has HDMI, which means it has to use DAC to convert signal to analog from digital. With so many electronic components packed within a small box, I doubt there is no picture quality degradation (Same problem happened on 1st gen PS2). Yes, it's not a bad price IF people already own XBox 360, but what's the point if the picture quality can't deliver what it supposes to? Currently, HD-DVD/Blue-ray are selling to enthusiastic and high-end market, which put video quality over the price, I don't think people who fall into these 2 categories will complaining about $500 price tag as long as they deliver the picture quality.


$200 is still too much.
By Pugnate on 8/9/2006 5:12:54 AM , Rating: 1
[URL=http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=3722]Linky[/URL]

Why the heck does every article sound like it is coming from a salesmen these days? I was reading PCG and a lot of the stuff on Vista sounded like they were trying to sell it to me.

And some of this is just classic:

[QUOTE]Microsoft decided not to force HD DVD on customers [/QUOTE]

So good of them not to [I]force[/I] anything on us. ;)

[QUOTE]one must consider that set top HD DVD players are retailing for $430 to $500 while Blu-ray players cost anywhere from $840 to $1,000[/QUOTE]

Thanks smart ass. So initially you make it a kind MS vs evil Sony, by saying how Sony is 'forcing' us to take a HD-DVD player, while MS is giving us the option of not taking it up the rear end, right?

But then you go on to admit, that a HD DVD player costs half the price of a Blu Ray. It is a difference of $500.

So let's do some math.

Xbox 360 = $400
PS3 = $500-$600 (probably)

Xbox 360 + HD DVD player = $600
PS3 (already includes the superior Blu-ray) = $500-$600

For a $500 PS3 you get a $1000 valued Blu-ray player, while for $600 with the Xbox 360 you get a $500 valued HD DVD player, that the 360 won't even be able to take advantage of in games. PS3 not only is going to be cheaper overall, but will actually make use of its next gen disc player.

For the record, I'd never spend more than $200 on a console. Why not get a PC by spending a wee bit more?




RE: $200 is still too much.
By tuteja1986 on 8/9/2006 5:32:34 AM , Rating: 2
You forget that Sony has to shove the blu-ray down people through because :
* Blu-ray wins = Sony remains same and becomes more arrogant
* blu-ray/HD-DVD both get equal market share = Sony is pretty much screwed and would be the Sony you know
* HD-DVD wins = Sony will not be able to handle the $300million - $400million on every 1 million PS3 sold
HD-DVD and Blu-ray both loose - people are happy with DVD and don't care about HD format and Sony is screwed with its financial looses :(

So Sony Blu-ray has to win or Sony is going the way of self-destruction.

Anyways if people remember that Console have really bad Video playback so i don't know why people would bother buying a PS3 for $600 when by early 2007 you could just buy decent $500 Blu-ray player.


RE: $200 is still too much.
By Loc13 on 8/9/2006 9:23:41 AM , Rating: 2
hmmm... has anyone seen a blu-ray playback on a PS3? where do all these claims come from? I'm not saying that it would be great to watch blu-ray disks on the ps3, but i think it's too early to judge at this point.


RE: $200 is still too much.
By dice1111 on 8/9/2006 9:56:31 AM , Rating: 2
Well if it's anything like the playback on the early released players, (although some blame is being put on Samsung's HDMI being faulty on their Blu-Ray drive) then HD-DVD is going to continue to win reviewers over.

http://www.highdefdigest.com/feature_blurayvshddvd...


RE: $200 is still too much.
By Teletran1 on 8/14/2006 6:04:13 PM , Rating: 2
AMEN to that. Its just a bunch of loudmouths that want to compare DVD playback on a PS2 to Blu-Ray playback on the PS3. Who says it will be bad? Isnt the Cell designed to handle media much better than the P4s or whatever they are that they cram in those set top boxes.

I can bet that the PS3 handles Blu-Ray better than the XBOX360 can handle HD-DVD since it was designed to play it from the start as opposed to some addon.


This is nice and all, but..
By Marlowe on 8/9/2006 10:51:04 AM , Rating: 2
One things for sure: I wouldn't watch movies with a xbox360 turned on anywhere nearby where I'm sitting! My mate has one, and it's simply too frickin loud! I'm surprised noone has mentioned this.

I'm not buying a 360 before they convert to 65nm and more silent fans.




RE: This is nice and all, but..
By blckgrffn on 8/9/2006 11:10:53 AM , Rating: 2
Ditto.

I totally agree. Hopefully the premium will then feature the HD-DVD drive built in...


RE: This is nice and all, but..
By One43637 on 8/9/2006 2:24:58 PM , Rating: 2
quote:

by Marlowe on August 9, 2006 at 10:51 AM

One things for sure: I wouldn't watch movies with a xbox360 turned on anywhere nearby where I'm sitting! My mate has one, and it's simply too frickin loud! I'm surprised noone has mentioned this.

I'm not buying a 360 before they convert to 65nm and more silent fans.


i have a 360 and i agree with your statement. the disc drive, when in use, is too freaking loud.

if you look at the picture however, it looks like the add-on HD-DVD drive has it's own tray which i'm assuming is where the HD-DVD disc goes. i hope, for the sake of those buying the add-on, that it's quieter then the disc drive used on the 360. the noise would ruin my movie experience if i had to listen to that.


RE: This is nice and all, but..
By PrinceGaz on 8/9/2006 4:42:42 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
if you look at the picture however, it looks like the add-on HD-DVD drive has it's own tray which i'm assuming is where the HD-DVD disc goes.

Well of course the HD-DVD drive has its own tray and that is where the HD-DVD disc goes. You can hardly expect the standard DVD drive in the XB360 console to be suddenly able to read HD-DVD discs because you've plugged something else into the console :p


Good basis for ~ $200 price
By SouthPaw42 on 8/9/2006 2:54:21 AM , Rating: 2
At the NYC event they said an XBOX360 + HD-DVD Add-on combo would be cheaper than PS3.

I am going to consider cheaper means $10 less.

PS3 $600 ~ XBOX360 $400 = HD-DVD Add-on $190
PS3 $600 ~ XBOX360 $300 = HD-DVD Add-on $290
PS3 $500 ~ XBOX360 $300 = HD-DVD Add-on $190
PS3 $500 ~ XBOX360 $400 = HD-DVD Add-on $90

So based that list $190 has a much higher probablity.




RE: Good basis for ~ $200 price
By Sharky974 on 8/9/2006 3:04:08 AM , Rating: 2
Nah..coming in ten dollars cheaper is stupid I think.

Maybe the HDDVD will be $149, though.

I bet another "surprise" might be a bigger HDD made available..maybe not packed with the premium (although maybe so) but at least as an available add on. Like 100GB or so.


HD DVD in the XBox 360
By PitbulI on 8/9/2006 4:28:06 PM , Rating: 2
I have that feeling that in late 2007 or early 2008, Microsoft will have dropped the price of the XBox 360 down to a lower price point that they can simply add another $100 or a bit less and include a HD-DVD drive inside the machine.

So, 299 will get you a XBox 360 Plat
But 379-399 will get you the XBox 360 HDDVD or Ultimate or something.

That is not something my extended warranty with Futureshop/BestBuy will allow me to exchange for. LOL.




By Master Kenobi (blog) on 8/10/2006 11:32:53 AM , Rating: 2
So do I. But as a PC Gamer, I have to endorse the X360 because Microsoft is the only developer willing, and possibly capable of bridging the gap between console and PC, cant wait to blow moron Halo3 players away on their X360's because we all know FPS on the PC gives you much better control than a console could ever hope for :D


SHUT THE HELL UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By SoneeOO7 on 8/9/2006 2:59:16 AM , Rating: 2
You Guys Need To Drink A Tall Glass Of..........
SHUT THE HELL UP.
And buy a damn PC.




OK then
By RandomFool on 8/9/2006 10:34:29 AM , Rating: 2
I'm not a fan of add on devices myself, they cause too much clutter. Of course the chances of me ever owning a xbox 360 are pretty slim anyway. I'm guessing a year or so from now they'll come out with rev 2 with HD-DVD built in. Assuming Blu-ray doesn't take off.





Should be $100
By Trisped on 8/9/2006 11:32:33 AM , Rating: 2
Should b $100, not 200. All it is only a HD DVD reader attached to a small USB adapter/hub with a fire wire connection. Of course with Sony selling for $200 more and the market presence of the 360 I can see why they didn't feel the need to price it better. They have no competition. Of course, if they had priced it lower they would have pulled a PS2, with a cheep 360 and HD DVD drive costing less then most HD DVD players.

I think I will continue to reserve final judgment till I know if it will work connected to a PC instead of a 360.




Internal use?
By Fox5 on 8/9/2006 12:00:56 PM , Rating: 2
Think it uses an IDE to USB interface internally? Or perhaps a modified SATA connector like the drive inside the Xbox 360? Maybe it could be taken out of that case and replace the drive in the 360, or even put into a PC case.




By splines on 8/10/2006 1:31:47 AM , Rating: 2
I don't understand Sony's obsession with trying to corner the home video market like this (again). They've given themselves an immediate cost disadvantage for no real gains (because, yeah, games that only now run to 4-odd GB are going to suddenly hit 25 in the next few years, despite the fact that compression is getting better , not worse) and they've had to delay the release because they can't even get the damned drives <b.or the media working properly yet. Sounds like they've really learned from their previous adventures.

And for the record: lots of people don't care about the latest incomprehensible japanese RPG that are mostly just FMV anyway (oh wait, that's how you can fill 25GB!). The PS2 had an enormous library of games and most of them sucked. Quantity precludes quality in this case, and I don't expect the PS3 to be any better.

Just to cut you off at the pass, I play PC games pretty much exclusively.




By peternelson on 8/10/2006 2:29:35 PM , Rating: 2

Well I think Sony approach is better having HD and high def drive built in. That way developers can assume its there and make use on all titles.

And maybe in future MS will offer HD-DVD built into console.

Maybe the MS surprise news will be an EXTERNAL BLUERAY drive for x360!!!!! ????

Anyway given that this HD-DVD is external (on USB2?) I have a question...... CAN THIS DRIVE be hooked up to a PC with a MS operating system (eg Vista) and be used to either read HD-DVD media and/or display HD movie content to the user?

Oh, and here's a bonus idea for Sony, maybe they could make the PS3 act as a slave to a PC over USB2 or LAN so that the PC can access the disk in the PS3 drive?




on the PC
By Visual on 8/14/2006 9:36:07 AM , Rating: 2
I just can't wait till they haxor this to work with a PC instead of xbox. with readonly hddvd pc drives still out of sight, i might buy this instead.
but im not in a hurry really, will see sometime next year if the price still makes sense.




HDCP support
By googamu on 8/15/2006 11:45:45 AM , Rating: 2
ok the one question that I have is all of the New HD-DVD and Blu-Ray discs are being HDCP encoded, the only way to play anything with HDCP is to have HDMI connection. Xbox 360 does not have a HDMI connection with HDCP support.




I have one question...
By sxr7171 on 8/12/2006 4:14:32 PM , Rating: 1
Where's the HDMI?




Crap
By Serifan on 8/9/06, Rating: -1
RE: Crap
By Sharky974 on 8/9/2006 2:39:42 AM , Rating: 1
Hopefully. So you wont buy one.


RE: Crap
By Anh Huynh on 8/9/2006 2:40:21 AM , Rating: 2
If you move any optical drive while its spinning the disk will scratch if its spinning at its fastest....


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