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Xbox Sequel Rumors

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the not-all-that-surprising dept.

no1here writes "PC Format has an article about a supersecret device from Microsoft code-named HomeStation. Supposedly it will be the home entertainment system that Microsoft has always wanted. It will tie into Microsoft's .NET strategy, delivering video-on-demand, high speed internet connection, and communicate wirelessly with portable devices. It might even be able to play Xbox games, along with PC games."

7 of 219 comments (clear)

  1. its been done. this is old news by Cromulent · · Score: 2, Interesting

    this is old news. this info has been around since before the xbox release

    --
    drug law enforcement is modern day witch hunting.
  2. Xbox is cool by !Xabbu · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I rented one over new years.. I liked it.. of course, the last console I played on was an Atari, but I thought the graphics where cool.. the menuing system was kinda neat too within just the xbox itself. The controlers where nice although kinda big.

    I should say that it kills me to admit I like anything MS, but.. well.. it just shows that I am open minded I guess.. :)

    --

    - Jimbob
    1. Re:Xbox is cool by FigBug · · Score: 1, Interesting

      if it was so good, why did it fail? my logitech trackball has been going strong for many many years.

      I think microsoft hardware is pretty crumy when it comes to durability. I've gone through two microsoft joysticks, a couple mice and a keyboard.

      i've never had any logitech stuff break... i love logitech.

  3. Was this so non-obvious? by IIOIOOIOO · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Step 1) Microsoft develops a technology infrastructure to support a full range of set-top-box applications.

    Step 2) Microsoft deploys a subset of those technologies in the form of a game console.

    Step 3) Microsoft releases a packaged version of their set-top-box mislabeled as "Windows XP Embedded" to see how applications running under it work in the marketplace.

    Step 4) Microsoft takes the lessons learned from both deployments to deploy a super-box.

    Step 4 is the only one to not have happened yet, but it's a pretty obvious step in the progression. I mean, look at what's in XP Embedded and you can see that you could almost drag-n-drop to create the box under discussion. The real shame is that they're selling companies the tools to create cookie-cutter STBs all the while planning to squash them with M$s real deal.

  4. MS won't make PCs! by Spooge+Demon · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Games-wise, it's anticipated HomeStation will play both PC and Xbox titles.

    MS is entering some interesting territory, they are COMPETING with their own customers. Compaq, Dell, IBM *also* sell PCs for this purpose... I wonder how they will feel when the XBox v2.0 starts to serve the same functions, in the home setting, as their product.

    One of the cardinal rules of business: Never take a product 'direct' to market, and compete with your customers with the product that they BUY FROM YOU. It will leave a bad taste in the mouths of the people who *used* to be your customers.. there will be desire, on their part, to collectively THUMP you.

    The Xbox is the single-handedly most astonishingly brash thing MS is doing right now - they are really looking at taking over the Home-PC market. Will XBox v4.0 be a Proprietary Computer? Will MS start selling full featured PC work-a-likes, sure they might call them appliances... but if it smells like a monopoly, and acts like a monopoly....

  5. Re:This is really, really old news...and a hoax by Ehrine · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Actually, it wasn't a Hoax, just a project that got shelved after the issue of PCFormat it was announced in went to the printers... PCFormat was a little annoyed about it at the time as their scoop rapidly turned into "non-news". I'm not sure if the story about the homestation getting cancelled was posted on PCFormats website or not (and I can't check as the site has been slashdotted), but it was definately in the magazine itself.

  6. The glimmer of hope by evilpenguin · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This gives me my first glimmer of hope since the Bush the Younger administration emasculated the anti-trust suit against Microsoft.

    Microsoft is now moving into and p---ing off entire new markets. Either they will compete legitimately one-on-one with the game console makers, and with the consumer electronics companies, in which case they will find themsevles back under proper market control (the ideal Laisser Faire solution), or they will leverage their monopoly into new monopolies and no administration will be able to ignore their blatant abuse of the law.

    In other words, the thinner they spread themselves, the greater the chance they will lose their dominance.