Sis said:
I'm confused about the point of this thread. Media Center extenders have been around for a while and it sounds like your debating their usefulness.
Are you saying that MS should add media center capabilities to the Xbox 360? And is this as opposed to or in addtion to the MC extender functionality? And surely you see the pros and cons--especially in terms of software and hardware development costs, marketing, and COGS--for both scenarios?
.Sis
I disagree with MS's approach
with the Xbox 360
Trung said:
Of course, if you're referring to making the x360 with an app like "Xbox Media Center" (XBMC)...hehehehehe, then I totally agree with you. But you know it's not going to happen...because of licensing issues with all the codecs. But if they designed a media player to allow plug-ins, then it would open the system to hacking. In the end, it's not going to happen...We'll have to wait until someone hack the x360 and port XBMC. Which IMHO, one of the best reason to get XB1.
I think the "Media Center" software for the Xbox is the direction the 360 should go.
Game SKU
Media Center SKU
Obviously MS is using the Xbox 360 to LEVERAGE the WMC PCs/OS. I think that is a dangerous route.
Sure, a WMC PC has more features and functions. But by going this route they basically neuter the Media Functionality of the 360. So unless you have a PC, or more accurately a WMC PC, you are screwed.
Why is this a bad strategy?
1. Not everyone has the money for a $1,500 WMC PC.
2. Sony. Sony seems poised to make the PS3 a real media center. HD Optical movies, connectivity, etc... the difference is they are planning to offer a HUGE HDD with an OPERATING SYSTEM
They have already talked about movie editing and so forth. Toss in browsing, email, etc... on a HD screen and basically what you got is a Multi-Media device that A. plays games B. plays well with high quality media and content like BR, digital cameras, etc. and C. offers basic PC tasks like browsing, email, etc.
Obviously it is NOT in MS's best interests to undercut the PC market. They are making good money on OS sales. But I think that is where they are weak. They have given the Xbox 360 very marginal functionality.
And this is where I think Sony can really divide the MS camps. I think MS is missing the long-term boat. MS has an oppurtunity to get in on the next big market, but it seems to me they are pulling an I.E.
Netscape did not have the money or stanima to keep up. But Sony has money, brand name recongition, strong developer support, and a product that is "better" in many people's purchasing opinion.
If people are able to play PLAYSTATION games & do basic PC tasks & watch movies... I see that as a crunch for MS.
Why pay $1000 for a PC when you can get a PS3 that can do all the major PC stuff (email, browsing, photos, video editing, maybe basic word processing, etc) and works better with games? (PCs are a pain in the game department... and expensive).
I am not proclaiming the Doom or End of the PC (not many businesses want a PS3 at work! Nor does it have the software support needed) BUT from a casual consumer perspective at
SOME POINT these game console units will be powerful enough to do the basic stuff PCs can do.
That means at some point $1000 Home PC sales are gonna get undercut by $500 Console sales.
Sony has already got the hype engine going by calling it a "Computer". We have all seen the GREAT media functions the Xbox has when hackers get ahold of it. the Boxes are capable of a LOT... but they are being held back.
But since Sony has nothing to lose (=MS OS sales) they will attack this aggressively. In the pass memory and resolution have been the major hurdles. Now with HD tvs and 512MB memory what is holding it back from casual consumers using the consoles as jack of all trade media devices?
So yeah, a 360 will never have the functionality of a MC PC. I don't disagree with that.
What I am saying is NOT allowing the Xbox 360 to record TV stuff (TiVo like functions) is dumb. The machine CAN DO IT. Why are they not doing it? Because it would undercut their $1,500 PC sales which have a $150 OS!
And in the end I think it would be better for MS strategically. Go ahead, sell a $300 "Media Center Package" that has a 300GB HDD and a "Xbox 360 Media Center OS". Make a killing on it... $600 ($300 HDD/OS + $300 console) is still cheaper than a $1,500 MC PC...
And will be better at gaming
