Microsoft announces external HD-DVD drive for Xbox 360
- Thread starter BlueTsunami
- Start date
Really? And why is that? Because those owners of new TVs now and in the future supporting it don't matter?expletive said:
Or maybe it was too expensive?
Or maybe consumer choice is only cool when its what MS chooses for you?
Or maybe it was rushed (because the GPU can't support it).
Do you really think Vista won't ever get patched to support Blu-ray? Hell I wager the EU will force it upon MS. But even so, most new computers that ship with Blu-ray will have drivers installed before shipping.expletive said:
Yes, MS screwing the consumers. Hoorayexpletive said:
I feel this is one of those "Ring of Light" moments where MS execute in a haphazard manner without considering its users. I thought they also started this alternative DVD "standard" with Taiwanese manufacturers (can't remember the name).
The HD-DVD announcement sounds like an item:
(A) To give ammo to marketing in a shouting war. It's just a bullet point for them. They already have the "launch lead" and wants to maintain a leadership position in gamers' mind. As long as they have similar things that are good enough and cheap, then consumers won't look sourly elsewhere (which is quite true in a confusing market). They played the same game against Apple... plus also announcing vaporware when they don't have a matching solution yet.
(B) To resolve and finalize any internal arguments about whether and when to support HD-DVD.
This is in expense of consumers' hard earned money. Without content, I don't see HD-DVD as anything useful. Some will fall for it though (good luck to them). I'm wondering whether the mainstream media will poke holes in MS given this announcement.
The HD-DVD announcement sounds like an item:
(A) To give ammo to marketing in a shouting war. It's just a bullet point for them. They already have the "launch lead" and wants to maintain a leadership position in gamers' mind. As long as they have similar things that are good enough and cheap, then consumers won't look sourly elsewhere (which is quite true in a confusing market). They played the same game against Apple... plus also announcing vaporware when they don't have a matching solution yet.
(B) To resolve and finalize any internal arguments about whether and when to support HD-DVD.
This is in expense of consumers' hard earned money. Without content, I don't see HD-DVD as anything useful. Some will fall for it though (good luck to them). I'm wondering whether the mainstream media will poke holes in MS given this announcement.
ihamoitc2005
Veteran
Very nice.
UWB is best. Very nice link.
Ginko said:
UWB is best. Very nice link.
Nicked said:
1. I dont think theres a TV now that can accept a 1080p signal, Sony's sure cant. Theres some convergence for ya eh?
2. Maybe they felt it was too expensive, maybe they felt it would only be a very small portion of the market that could use it in the next 5 years and wanted the console to be more affordable for more people in 3 years. Youll have to ask them. I know the power is not there to run 1080p with the grfx we expect at a decent framerate. i ahve no problem with 720p.
3. Devs on this forum are already backing off 1080p. Remember the original xbox supported 720p too and all we got out of it was dragon's lair 3d.
Nicked said:
No i dont think Vista will offer its full media center functionality to BR drives. Theyre already offering incentives to PC makers to make sure PCs get HD-DVD drives in them, theyre not gonna give it all back by giving BR full support.
Nicked said:Yes, MS screwing the consumers. Hooray
While sony hands out money and candy to the masses! Huzzah!
Well not suprise really. Release now and patch later seems to work for their softwares. Anyway at least now they admit the importance of next gen format, and not sit on the fence like before.
Now I am just looking at X360 and thinking where the add on is going to sit. Maybe strap to the side ?
Now I am just looking at X360 and thinking where the add on is going to sit. Maybe strap to the side ?
1) Theres one and more a comin' and it will be the standard in the future. Oh future-proof indeed!expletive said:
2) What about HD video? Surely consumers could've used that. No framerate conflicts there. The fact they are now officially supporting HD-DVD with an add-on tells us it was rushed. I need no further proof that that. The proof is in the pudding, eh?
3) Nope. They already said, if Sony wants it, they'll get it.
They will when HD-DVD inevitably dies, not to mention the fact PC-makers generally support Blu-ray (HP isn't exclusive anymore, but Dell is).expletive said:
They aren't deliberately trying to sabotage a format with near-universal support because they're insecure about both the lead company behind it and their next-generation game console.expletive said:While sony hands out money and candy to the masses! Huzzah!
Edit; And that wasn't a pro-Sony sentiment, purely anti-MS practices. I know Sony does shit too, but who cares? This is about MS's anti-competitive practices.
Bad move in my opinion...
HD-DVD content is likely not to be there...
The unit most likely will not be used to play games because developers cannot depend on every X360 owner to have one...
You most likely will still be able to get a PS3 that plays Blue-Ray for less than an X360 + this external drive...
Sony developers can depend on PS3 owners to have Blue-Ray drives and thus can fully take advantage of the storage space that provides them...
It looks like a correction to a mistake about what should be in the X360 or at a mimimum is a nod that the 'other guy's' storage format is significant when MS has been trying to downplay it...
-------------------------
Personally if the games can't take advantage of the HD-DVD format's storage space it's a total waste of money. There's no way I'm buying it when I'll have a free Blue-Ray player in the PS3. (not free but way cheap considering what's attached to it.)
Just seems like a stupid move all around to me.
HD-DVD content is likely not to be there...
The unit most likely will not be used to play games because developers cannot depend on every X360 owner to have one...
You most likely will still be able to get a PS3 that plays Blue-Ray for less than an X360 + this external drive...
Sony developers can depend on PS3 owners to have Blue-Ray drives and thus can fully take advantage of the storage space that provides them...
It looks like a correction to a mistake about what should be in the X360 or at a mimimum is a nod that the 'other guy's' storage format is significant when MS has been trying to downplay it...
-------------------------
Personally if the games can't take advantage of the HD-DVD format's storage space it's a total waste of money. There's no way I'm buying it when I'll have a free Blue-Ray player in the PS3. (not free but way cheap considering what's attached to it.)
Just seems like a stupid move all around to me.
mckmas8808
Legend
And again. What happens when the Xbox 360 owners buy this add-on if HD-DVD fails? Will MS release a Blu-ray add-on? While Xbox 360 owners buy both.
Nicked said:
1. Again why dont you see what kind of graphics and framerate you get at 1080p before decding if the PS3 is 'future proof' for 1080p.
2. Everyone who buys a PS3 will pay for BR, yet not all of them will use it. Why should Sony care? Force everyone to pay for BR so they can chalk it up on their big "BR Installed Base" scorecard.
3. And? Theres no alien technology at work here. If sony demands 1080p theyll get wahtever eye-candy can be supported at that res, its a balanced equation. And wont it be grand for the 5% that own 1080p televisions who get to actually see what 1080p looks like while the rest live with an effect-starved product jsut so KK can tattoo 1080p across his chest.
Nicked said:
Well then i guess Dell wont be selling a full featured version of Vista then will they? Remember, HP was exclusive once too...
Nicked said:
No it IS about Sony too. MS does actually want HD-DVD to win, just so happens if it loses in 2-3 years from now, that works for them too. MS didnt force Sony to put a lot of their eggs in the BR basket, an unfinalized, un-commoditized (?),unlaunched, and uncertain (for either format that is) technology.
V3 said:Hehehe
No I mean it'll fill in one of the concave part of the X360.
Why don't they just replace the scratchy DVD drive with this one.
Is the current DVD drive hard to take out ? At least that's a user service. I mean... they should use the money to fix their stuff first before trying to confuse the market. With that kind of good enough/patchy attitude they play on Windows, I really doubt MS will be able to extend their footprint to the living room. I am actually very close to dropping XB360 altogether. Nintendo and Sony are starting to look very good.
Last edited by a moderator:
ihamoitc2005
Veteran
Not Extra, free
PS3 Blu-Ray is included in console price. No extra cost for consumer.
expletive said:
PS3 Blu-Ray is included in console price. No extra cost for consumer.
This is worse then DVD Dreamcast movie player Sega had planned for 2001.
Microsoft, has now just shown how important HD movie playback is, the console market.
Sony's price announcement on PS3, will be spell curtains for Xbox 360's longevity in this arena.
real, real bad move on MS part on this. This just smacks of desperarity on there part.
Microsoft, has now just shown how important HD movie playback is, the console market.
Sony's price announcement on PS3, will be spell curtains for Xbox 360's longevity in this arena.
real, real bad move on MS part on this. This just smacks of desperarity on there part.
mckmas8808
Legend
expletive said:
Well with most of the movie studios behind them and the last one about the come around I can't see Blu-ray failing.
