Where do you get the ideal that consoles are bought primarily for their limited capability and narrow focus.
Where did you get the idea that I said consoles are only bought
primarily for their limited capability and narrow focus?
In fact, if you read closely, I even made the distinction that there are some that are buying a console with gaming as their prime intended use with a secondary interest in anything beyond that -
and the market that sees the new Xbox as exactly the 'one device' Microsoft has been marketing the device to be. You know, the crowd that buys expensive gadgets on a regular basis but isn't a serious gamer, but happens to like to be entertained in front of their TV.
See the thing is; everybody has different levels of noise tolerance. It all depends what the intended device is supposed to do - and what alternatives there are on the market; did you buy it for the sole purpose of playing games? Did you buy it to play games with some media usage? Did you buy it as a hi-tech device to control your livingroom by using simple voice-commands? It all depends.
A stupid example is; I wouldn't buy an amplifer that emits any substantial noise. That would pretty defeat the purpose. Nor would I want a device that emits fan noise in standbye when not being in use. It's different to a device that I actively switch on to use (like a PC) and can switch off when I don't use it.
If the box is too noisy to be used as a mere passthrough device to watch Television feed with the occasional skype overlay, then it raises the question if [those] people want to pay $100 more for that kind of functionality (which they effectively are; usable, functioning or not).
And if the answer to that question is 'no' - at what point is the Xbox distinguishing itself from its closest competitor who has chosen to focus on a gaming device at a lower price point?
This might actually be more relevant to the business approach topic - because effectively, MS chose to make a tradeoff to chase after a potentially bigger audience. This tradeoff is foremost the higher price point, dedicated resources for Kinect and what seems to be an OS that is centered around voice-commands and livingroom integration. All I'm saying is that if you want your device to be this 'one device' - fan noise is more relevant than if you are solely judging a device on it being a gaming-device. This isn't about the 80million of PS3 and X360 gamers - it's about the audience that extends beyond this audience.
Anyway, as I already said - this talk is a bit redundant given some owners have expressed that the device is quiet enough for them. Heise seems to contradict that though, labeling both consoles too loud for media usage. I'm not sure it would be in my case, since the PS4 is quiet enough (though it's hard to judge since at this point, there's no way to actually watch anything besides a Bluray which I haven't tried yet). Accoarding to Heise though - the fan noise of power-brick, kinect and console add up - so I wouldn't know if in my livingroom, the One would be noiser. If it is, I can assure you, for me, it wouldn't be more than a toy to play around but certainly wouldn't qualify to be the center of my livingroom (nor did the PS3 by the way).
Doesn't mean it doesn't make a fine gaming machine - but if *I* can't use it beyond a gaming console, then it does raise the question why I as a potential customer should buy a One opposed to say a PS4 that's cheaper and doesn't try to be more than a gaming device. Not (or less) relevant of course for existing Xbox owners who already bought into Live and have a history with the brand, but perhaps more relevant to those that haven't.
As a side question; Could any owner confirm if the fans in the power-brick (and kinect) are constantly on? I would expect them to be variable, depending on heat, but I'd be still interested to know if they ever shut-off completely. I would assume not, though I'm not sure entirely, because even in stand-bye, the console would need to be ready at any time in case someone starts voicing a command.
