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Xbox Price Drops to $200

ProfBooty writes: "Just two days after rival Sony Corp. cut prices on the PlayStation 2, Microsoft has announced they are cutting Xbox pricing by 33% to $200. Nintendo still has no plans to cut pricing on the Gamecube. Now is definitely a good time to be a gamer with all 3 next-gen systems at $200. Too bad i just bought a Playstation 2 yesterday." I'd like to know if anyone has succeeded in porting a Free operating system to the Xbox.

13 of 586 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Cost Question by scott1853 · · Score: 3, Informative

    I can't remember what site I read it on, but it sounds like Sony can now make a profit on their boxes due to better manufacturing processes.

  2. Re:Cost Question by deft · · Score: 5, Informative

    at the initial retail price of $299, Microsoft has been losing anywhere between $76 and $105 on every Xbox sold.

    thus, they are now loosing from $176 to $205 bucks each box!

    --

    There's nothing Intelligent about Intelligent Design.
  3. Nintendo and Toys'R'Us by FortKnox · · Score: 5, Informative

    Quick FYI - Toys 'r' us is giving the consumer back their $100 if they bought an XBox (or PS2) within 30 days of the price drop.

    Also, when do you expect Nintendo to drop their prices? If the N-Cube was $100-$150, I'd pick one up in a heartbeat...

    --
    Good quote, too many chars. Seriously, the slashdot 120 char limit sucks!
  4. XBox Hacked (and Linux) by nherc · · Score: 5, Informative
    I submitted this info days ago... but there are at least 3 mod chip makers who have just released chips to open up the xbox. The mod chips allow unsigned code to run off of any media dvd-r,dvd-rw,cd-r,cd-rw.

    More xbox mod chip info.

    This will (very) soon lead to a xbox linux distro.

    --
    'He was a dreamer, a thinker, a speculative philosopher... or, as his wife would have it, an idiot.' - Douglas Adams
  5. Re:Xbox Linux by Bob9113 · · Score: 5, Informative

    I pulled the trigger on the submit too quick - here's some more good info:
    Quick overview of an ideal use for the machine.

    Only $199 a pop and every unit I buy costs Microsoft money? Most excellant! How long till they begin firing volleys of lawyers at The Xbox Linux Project? Any bets on which 4 letter law starting with "DM" and ending with "CA" they'll invoke?

  6. Re:Cost Question by nat5an · · Score: 4, Informative

    It was in Wired when the XBOX was the cover story I believe. I believe his quote was "I don't want to be in the razor business if I can't get in on the blades." Or something.

    The story is here http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.11/flex.html? pg=1. It also discusses how much Microsoft was initially losing on the boxes ($100 - $110 I believe).

    --
    Head down, go to sleep to the rhythm of the war drums...
  7. Re:Losing money never hurt Bill by IronTek · · Score: 5, Informative

    I think you're wrong. First, to keep my cred, I don't like Microsoft and I'm a Linux user. However, I hate ignorant people that spout of incorrect assumptions without thought of what they're speaking of even more than I hate Microsoft.

    Microsoft Bob: While it was a horrible failure as a product, it did teach Microsoft much about human computer interaction, what their customers want, and how to market products better. End the end, it was probably a pretty cheap "failure."

    Internet Explorer: Probably saved Microsoft's ass. Had they not given it away, and made the user not have a choice whether or not to have it, they could have lost ground on the desktop as well as on the internet. They would not be the company they are today if it weren't for a free IE. Further, IE is not under danger of an implosion. It's not that horrible of a browser...while I prefer Mozilla, IE does feature stability in key areas that I wish Mozillla would (and it will...eventually)

    Ultimate TV: This was a premature release and not well thought out, no doubt...but it will pave the way for their takeover of the home entertainment center when the XBox 2 (or whatever) combines the XBox with UltimateTV. The product itself may be a failure, but the next incarnation of the XBox would not have been/will not be possible without the work done on Ultimate TV

    Mac Support: Not only have they made money on the Mac (what have you been smoking), but they're the largest seller of applications to Mac users! Further, at least up until the last version of Office for the Mac, programs like Excel and Word used the same core as the PC version, so the development costs consisted of wraping up the engines that drive the programs to work with the Mac.

    Now shutup, go get a helmet, and hope that other companies out there can keep them in check.

  8. PS2 Linux Kit dut to ship on 5/22/02 by DeadBugs · · Score: 4, Informative
    The PS2 Linux Kit is coming out next week. For $199.00 you get:

    Linux for PlayStation 2 version 1.0 software

    Monitor Cable Adaptor

    Internal 40GB Hard Disc Drive Network Adaptor

    Ethernet 10/100 Base-T

    USB Keyboard & USB Mouse

    --
    http://www.kubuntu.org/
  9. XBox security is tough by Animats · · Score: 4, Informative
    The XBox's firmware is in a 1MB mask-programmed ROM. It can't be changed without replacing it physically.

    Physical replacement of the firmware chip is possible, but requires soldering 29 wires.

    See a summary of XBox vulnerabilities here.

    Join the Evil Empire here and make security even tighter.

    It's worth understanding how the XBox locks out non-Microsoft approved software. We might see a lockdown like that in mainstream PCs someday. The MPAA and the RIAA would like that.

  10. Re:Some Console Thoughts by TuxLuvr · · Score: 2, Informative
    This is pretty damn funny; too bad it's stolen from planet gamecube!

    Earth to perl god: some of us read game sites, too.

  11. Canadian Prices by ChronoZ · · Score: 2, Informative

    For those in Canada, Future Shop sells systems as follows:

    GameCube: $299
    Playstation2: $299
    XBox: $299

    Now's a good time for buying a system..

  12. Rebates by Sasquatch666 · · Score: 3, Informative

    My girlfriend just bought a PS2 about a week ago from Circuit City and was able to get a hefty rebate back. CC's policy is if you can find it cheaper 30 days after you buy it, they'll refund the difference + 10%. Since the price dropped by $100, she got $110 in cash back from the store. Not a bad deal :-)

  13. Re:Free OSes on the X Box - one more link.. by DeionXxX · · Score: 2, Informative

    I discovered this link on Xbox-Scene.com... They've got a roadmap and such. They're looking for Xbox programmers.. who are familiar with FATX right now.

    Anyway... here's the link.

    -- D3X