No Hard Drive in Xbox 2 Confirmed

[Evil_Cloud]

HDD out, Fast Flash Cards in, what's the problem?

From what I've heard, there might be cards with a 20GB - 50GB capacity.

If this means we'll get the console cheaper, I have no problems with this new approach (Sony has figured out long ago, that built-in HDD's are too expensive at the moment)

 

[Qroach]

As long as they are faster than the read/write speed of a hardrive, then that would be perfectly fine with me.

 

[cthellis42]

I didn't say that it will be internal. I think itt will be external like Sony's or Nintendo's memorycards.

Offhand, I'd say it will have SOME internal--the question is how much? I'm not thinking 2GB; we don't have a lot of solid info on M-System relative price points at whatever capacity, but they have all of a year left for development (if Microsoft wants to launch well in 2005), which doesn't point to astounding improvements.

HDD out, Fast Flash Cards in, what's the problem?

From what I've heard, there might be cards with a 20GB - 50GB capacity.

Well, currently they have 47GB "military grade" capacities, but it's questionable just what they'll be able to offer "consumer grade" by 2005. There'll be an external drive, though, so they should be able to take advantage of cost reductions and increased capacities over the lifespan of the console.

 

[Florin]

Florin,

Yeah, it also helps if you want to install Linux. Or copy your games to the harddrive and keep the DVDs nice and free from scratches. Or play movies. It'd be a shame if the next Xbox wouldn't have one.

Umm, isn't that everything you can do when you "mod" an X-box? I'd say that's not a valid reson for keeping the hardrive. Anyone pirating games shouldn't get a vote imo

True, but modding != pirating

 

[V3]

HDD out, Fast Flash Cards in, what's the problem?

From what I've heard, there might be cards with a 20GB - 50GB capacity.

If this means we'll get the console cheaper, I have no problems with this new approach (Sony has figured out long ago, that built-in HDD's are too expensive at the moment)

Yeah consoles, unlike PC, 8GB is plenty. So if they aren't planning to include more than that, this technology is suitable. However, as size increases, normal HDD will becomes more attractive as far as cost are concern.

 

[passerby]

As long as they are faster than the read/write speed of a hardrive, then that would be perfectly fine with me.

I predict that "it" will not be fine with you.

 

[hey69]

i don't know anybody that bought an xbox because there was a harddrive inside...

So everyone you know who owns an XBox couldn't care less that it has a HDD in it? I find that very hard to believe. Yes nobody buys an XBox only because it has a HDD in it, but nobody has said that is the case. The HDD in XBox is a feature that helps XBox sell, nobody can deny that.

no , they just buy it to MOD it and to PIRATE ! clear and simple .. you could say it also like this

 

[Evil_Cloud]

i don't know anybody that bought an xbox because there was a harddrive inside...

So everyone you know who owns an XBox couldn't care less that it has a HDD in it? I find that very hard to believe. Yes nobody buys an XBox only because it has a HDD in it, but nobody has said that is the case. The HDD in XBox is a feature that helps XBox sell, nobody can deny that.

no , they just buy it to MOD it and to PIRATE ! clear and simple .. you could say it also like this

So you're saying every Xbox owner mods his Xbox and plays copied games? Oh boy... :?

 

[linthat22]

I was about to post the same thing. Just read it myself and still reading user comments. My first thoughts are that I think it's better than having a hard drive. Will be interesting to hear if it will big enough to replace the current drive or if it's used just for caching. Can't wait till GDC.

Tommy McClain

Yeah, will be interesting to see. I suppose it's expected with the gravity of the rumors recently, but I'm kind of unimpressed. Can't wait to see the XBox become a slave to the Microsoft PC though

Agreed

 

[notAFanB]

i don't know anybody that bought an xbox because there was a harddrive inside...

So everyone you know who owns an XBox couldn't care less that it has a HDD in it? I find that very hard to believe. Yes nobody buys an XBox only because it has a HDD in it, but nobody has said that is the case. The HDD in XBox is a feature that helps XBox sell, nobody can deny that.

no , they just buy it to MOD it and to PIRATE ! clear and simple .. you could say it also like this

 

[Clashman]

Well, currently they have 47GB "military grade" capacities, but it's questionable just what they'll be able to offer "consumer grade" by 2005. There'll be an external drive, though, so they should be able to take advantage of cost reductions and increased capacities over the lifespan of the console.

Actually, on that page I listed awhile ago they said that they made flash-based drives that fit into 2.5" and 3.5" HD slots with 90 GB capacities. Although it does look as if it was intended for more expensive customers, they're also designed for far more strenuous conditions than a consumer model would need to handle:

No moving parts
Operating temperature: -40°C to +85°C
Storage temperature: -55°C to +95°C
Operating altitude: +80,000 feet
Operating shock: 1,500G per MIL-STD-810F
Operating vibration: 16.3G RMS per MIL-STD-810F,
(Random, 20-2000Hz, 3 vibrations axes)
Humidity: 5% to 95% relative, non-condensing

...and I'm guessing that's where much of the added cost of these things would come in at. But anyways, we don't really know what they plan on doing, so we'll probably have to just wait and see. I personally wouldn't mind having the HD for home as well as memory cards to transfer files when I went over to a friend's house or something like that.

 

[Clashman]

Ok, found some prices on these flash-based HD things. I think it's safe to say we won't be seeing them anytime soon:

http://emjembedded.com/cgi-bin/america/order/items.cgi?spec,14+MSY+220,20+

Damn....

 

[Qroach]

hold on a second... apprently MS paid these guys quite a big sum of money to develop somehting specifically for thier needs. That certainly doesn't mean some subset of this technology should be ruled out just yet.

 

[Geeforcer]

hold on a second... apprently MS paid these guys quite a big sum of money to develop somehting specifically for thier needs. That certainly doesn't mean some subset of this technology should be ruled out just yet.

It would take a 100x price drop for $/MB ratio to become competitive with magnetic storage. I don't think it will happen in two years.

 

[Qroach]

that doesn't necessarily mean newer/cheaper technology can't or hasn't been developed.

 

[cthellis42]

I'm not saying they didn't have more, Clashman... I'm just saying that I fear anything labelled "military grade" from a price perspective. Hence it's up in the air as to what they'll be able to offer for what price and when. Military and large-corporation offerings won't quite fit the bill. Hehe...

 

[Dural]

According to the press release M-Systems is going to supply removable memory units, not any flash tech for inside the box.

 

[MfA]

HDD out, Fast Flash Cards in, what's the problem?

From what I've heard, there might be cards with a 20GB - 50GB capacity

Sure, for component costs in the 1K price range. Flash follows Moore's law, look at prices for flash memory and do the math ... they cant even equal the xbox's capacity, let alone provide that kind of storage. Not with flash.

There are some flash alternatives on the horizon, but they most likely wont arrive in time ... and even if the tech could be ready in time they would have had to partner with the actual companies doing research in that area, rather than M-Systems (with this short a notice they cant wait for the market to commercialize it ... it is the same as Sony and Rambus's tech, if Sony wasnt pushing it it would never be available for them in time).

AFAICS it is either a HD, or cutting storage down to 2 GB tops (and Im being insanely optimistic with that number).

If this is true then that is just another bid for failure IMO. Sony will have them beat in processor power, throwing away the advantage in storage and the advantage for online gaming seems to me not to be a terribly smart idea. Hell, if Sony includes a HD and m$ doesnt the shit will really hit the fan.

 

[Florin]

If this is true then that is just another bid for failure IMO. Sony will have them beat in processor power, throwing away the advantage in storage and the advantage for online gaming seems to me not to be a terribly smart idea. Hell, if Sony includes a HD and m$ doesnt the shit will really hit the fan.

Agreed. The Xbox' spot in the market was about being the best and having the most. All the expensive goodies in the box was what made it stand out and what people liked, particularly after the price came down. Fans are not going to be satisfied by being cheap.

 

[Evil_Cloud]

I don't believe Microsoft will dump Xbox Live content download... It's one of the key selling elements of the service.