$399 sku without an optical drive is an interesting rumor if true. Microsoft would undoubtedly lose money on this, but I think the idea is to "make it back" elsewhere. If the rumor is true that is, obviously could just be a false rumor or a real idea they may never pursue. According to that ifixit teardown, the drive takes up quite a bit of room. Perhaps they could make a smaller (and cheaper?) console without one? IIRC blu-ray license fee is (or was a few years ago) almost $10. MAYBE at best such a product could shave up to $30 off of what it cost to make (estimated $471 in components back in November)?
Buyers would be locked in to buying games digitally which is how the steam machines will probably work as well. They couldn't sell these games back to gamestop or even buy used games from gamestop or anywhere. Buyers would be locked into the MS ecosystem which is how they planned to launch the thing to begin with before the 180. Would their be a market for this though? I don't think the time is right for an all-digital machine, nor do I think the audience is willing to accept it even if they get a $100 cheaper XB1 out of it.
Yeah I've been thinking over a no optical SKU for a while. As the commenter above, I'm certain this would only be an optional SKU.
I think it would be nice and forward thinking if true.
$100 price difference is a lot. I've heard people say a disc drive likely costs costs $10, so this move would be ridiculous. Well it's Blu Ray so it likely costs more. Besides we all know pricing is based on market segmentation, not costs. Same reason why a 250GB HDD SKU may costs $100 more than a 100GB HDD SKU in consoles. Or why an Nvidia Titan cost $1000.
The thing is a no disc SKU could be made much smaller in form factor (which in turn can allow for packaging and shipping savings, etc), have more efficient/less expensive cooling, and so forth. I dont know that it'd be linked with a full casing or hardware redesign this early though, so you'd likely just have a blank where the Bu Ray goes.
Some time ago consoles began to have hard drives standard, and this added a major physical cost burden to console hardware that didn't used to exist. I see the eventual ditching of the optical disc as simply getting that back (trading one disc format for another) and putting things back into balance with only one disc drive per system, allowing again lower hardware pricing.
Now, I dont know how successful it would be, even at $100 off. I had assumed the price delta would be $50 (more in line with costs) which might be a tough sell.
Personally I dont think I'd be interested. If only because I have every Halo game (Wars, ODST, 1, 2, 3, 4, Reach) on disc (all playable on 360 due to BC), which I would like to continue. The disc would allow more flexibility.
Anyway with these types of things I think you put it out there and see how it goes. Even if it failed, no harm no foul imo, it would be a learning experience. I'd be interested to see the sales of such an SKU. The high price of One is definitely holding it back.