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What Happens To The X-Box If Microsoft Is Split?
Lerc asks: "If Microsoft is to be split up into OS and a non-OS Companies, what happens to the XBox? The XBox is not an operating system, so does that mean the non-OS company gets it? What operating system will it run? Currently the XBox is described as running a version of windows specifically designed for the XBox, but isn't preventing this type of tight binding the entire point of the split. Michael Abrash says "the DX 8 specification is an excellent reference for the chip, especially the new components". An interesting question. I would think that since the X-Box is a platform in and of itself, that it would go with the OS Group. What do you think?
"There are plenty of rumors and speculation about the demise of OpenGL because of the XBox. This at least shows peoples' concerns about Microsoft getting back into the anti-competitive ball game. Will they do it? Should they be given the opportunity?
If the Xbox were to be deemed OS like enough to be bundled into the OS company, you get into a whole mess regarding the games. It is traditional in the console industry to sell the console cheaply and make the money off of the games. Surely the OS business couldn't get into selling other software immediately. It would be ridiculous to allow one company to sell the XBox at a loss and for the other to make money off of the games."
I would expect the X-box to be put into the non-OS group because while it is a platform when you go to the store in a year and buy an X-box you are buying a piece of hardware not a piece of software. As an example... I expect Windows CE will go into the OS Group because it is an OS for handhelds and such, however if Microsoft made and sold the actual handhelds that ran Windows CE those handhelds would be put with the non-OS Group.
If the DOJ did put the X-box into the OS Group then instead of the OS Group eating the monetary loss they could just spin off the X-box group and the non-OS Group could buy it or let it sink or swim on its own.
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Below are my thoughts on the OpenGL part the question. I and not very knowledgable about it so these thoughts are just kindof meandering ideas.
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As far as the concern of OpenGL being killed by the X-box, I dont really understand those concerns. I think it would be nice if OpenGL could be used on the XBox because then it would make it easier to port from computer to the X-box but if companies did what I thought was best the world would be a lot better place. If the X-box does not use OpenGL then that just means that if a game is written for the computer w/ OpenGL then it is a game that won't be ported quickly to the X-box which would just hurt the X-box and Microsoft's income.
Rich
Since the "operating system" for the XBox (an extremely pared-down version of the NT kernel) has no purpose or capabilities other than to run on the XBox hardware, I think it should go with the Non-OS part of Microsoft. It's not as if the XBox OS is going to be in competition with any other OS; it only competes with other consoles. Therefore I think it ought to be treated for this purpose as part of the hardware system and not as an OS.
Yo dawg, I heard you like the Ackermann function, so OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD
What's scary is that MS-Apps will probably also own Direct X, which they'll somehow tie in with Internet Explorer and MSN and Office and Microsoft.NET and everything else but Windows.
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I never got the two-part split up. If apps gets everything but the OS then there's still a big company that will integrate Office, IE, DirectX, MS-Java^H^H^H^H^H^H^HC#, IIS, ASP, services, MSN and paperclips. I believe Apps will be a lot stronger than OS.
On the other hand - bare OS might have to deliver some good stuff to stay alive. And finally include a zip/unzip utility by default for example.
Seems like this MS break-up debate will probably be endless, but so will the procedure be. Don't expect any change the next few years.