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Microsoft to Release Three Versions of Xbox 2

Posted by Zonk on from the curiouser-and-curiouser dept.

BlueMoon writes "TheInquirer is reporting that Microsoft plans to release 3 version of the next generation Xbox console: one of which appears to be a fully functioning PC device, the other 2 are closer to a home console - one with a HDD, the other without. Xbox Next and Xbox Next HD are planned for autumn 2005, the Xbox Next PC is not excepted to show up before autumn 2006."

5 of 73 comments (clear)

  1. Microsoft and a G5 PC? by RobTerrell · · Score: 3, Interesting

    That's really strange. Are they recompiling XP and key Office apps for the G5, or running everything under an embedded VirtualPC, or doing something entirely new? Because I can't imagine they'll be letting it boot Mac OS X, let alone Yellowdog Linux.

    1. Re:Microsoft and a G5 PC? by b0r0din · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Well, keep in mind this is from ONE SLIDE that THE ENQUIRER found.

      I wouldn't exactly report this as news, it didn't come out of the mouth of God or anything.

  2. They really have missed the point, haven't they? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The reason I have a PS2 rather than a PC for gaming is that when I buy a game I don't want to worry about whether my PC, graphics card, version of DirectX, drivers, etc. will run the game. I don't want to upgrade every six months and spend more time tweaking than playing. I just want to play the damn thing.

    Any PS2 game I buy will work on my PS2. Simple as that.

    As soon as there's a game that requires a certain specification of PS3 or XBox Next or whatever, it gets messy again. This is a slippery slope.

    I get enough stress dealing with compatibilities between L2TP -v- OpenBSD and PDFLib -v- PHP during my day job. I don't want to IT troubleshoot when I get home too.

  3. Re:WTF? by Quarters · · Score: 3, Interesting
    This is just going to confuse people. Why not release one box and sell upgrades/enhancements for it down the line.

    Peripherals for consoles never achieve any decent amount of sell-through. This is because developers will never support it. They can either develop a game that works on 100% of the installed base of consoles or develop a game that woks on n% of the installed base, where n is a sufficiently small number. The XBoxHD will offer increased functionality but probably not things that are of any dramatic benefit to gamers. Yeah, it might alleviate the need for a memory card or allow for some limited downloadable content. More than likely, though, it will offer TiVO like functionality and a way to store and playback media files.

  4. Might I address the jury? by superultra · · Score: 4, Funny

    Naw I'm no fancy shmancy programmer from tha Valley like my colleague here -BAKCKAAAK- but it seems a trite odd that this Xbax 2 won't play Xbax 1 games because has something called a PahwaPC chip. Yet, -BAKCAAK- it can play PC games fahne as the day is braght? Now being the simple country chicken that I am, I may not know what an Xbax even is. But I humbly submit that something smells in the kitchen and it ain't momma's cooking. The Inquiahah is not exactly a shahnin example of what they call in the big city "journalistic intagratah."

    My case -BACAKAAA- rests your honah.