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Prepping For The 360
An anonymous reader writes "The Xbox 360 launches on Tuesday, and ZDNet talks to some of the folks who are already prepping for it. John Dvorak also has commentary on the new console, and he seems to like it." From the Dvorak article: "Luckily Microsoft's Xbox 360 crew, and other game developers, are working on cool stuff that will cross over to PCs. When game developers retake their rightful place on top of the hill of progress, we'll all be better off. Needless to say, I am impressed by the Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 explores new menu structures with a unique and pleasant GUI. One often-overlooked element that the Microsoft games group brings to the party is its unique GUIs that are unlike the folder/desktop metaphor that Xerox and Apple developed."
The XBox 360 is going to be launched Tuesday. New poll: When will the first 360 hacks appear? - 0-1 week. - 2-4 weeks. - 6-8 weeks. - CowboyNeal can hack my 360 all he wants.
Whatever happened to the Xbox 2?
Let alone 3-359...
Or is this Xbox 2?
No way the Xbox2 could compete with the PS3... *rolls eyes*
"Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
360 A.D. is the year they expected to be released.
Quote Dvorak, circa 1995: "The noisiest buzz in the industry lately has been over the emerging use of cable TV systems to provide fast network data transmissions using a device called a cable modem. But the likelihood of this technology succeeding is zilch. It's one of those interesting-sounding ideas that will attract what venture capitalists call dumb money. Unfortunately, it's a big distraction in a market that should be concentrating on ISDN and broadband. HP, U.S. Robotics, ZDS, and others have been toying with the idea for a few years, and Motorola Multimedia Group's recently announced CyberSurfer 10-Mbps cable modem has completely muddied the waters. There's also LANCity's announced $595 model. Until recently, these things cost a ridiculous $5,000. Cable modems are, of course, targeted at Net surfers. According to the press announcement, the CyberSurfer will be the fastest, receiving data at 10 Mbps and sending it at 768 Kbps. Exactly how the modem will work on the largely one-way cable systems in the U.S. is a mystery. And since there's no governing standards organization for cable modems, these devices won't be able to talk to modems made by anyone else. But hey, they sure are fast. Even so, users with access to a T1 phone connection will soon discover that the fastest provider can send data at only around 56 Kbps--slower than a single B-channel over ISDN. This isn't likely to change as providers try to serve as many users as possible, rather than pump 128 Kbps or more to a few people. So the ideal connection for Net surfing is a single B-channel on an ISDN line. So even if you had a 10-Mbps cable connection, it would be useless except for point-to-point transfer at Motorola's upstream speed of 768 Kbps. And that assumes upstream capability, which the cable companies will have available in only a few test areas. If users don't flock to this technology in those areas, the cable companies will drop the idea like a hot potato. We have to remember that, collectively, the cable TV folks are as dumb as fireplugs. There is no incentive to be otherwise. They have monopolies and do little more than string wire and milk the cash cow. Why would they want to get mixed up in something that requires real work? If you doubt this, visit your local cable company and ask "When will you have cable modem capability?" Just see what they say. My guess: "Huh? What's a modem?" Then there is the issue of security. The cable TV system is a broadcast medium, not a secure network. All transmissions over cable are highly susceptible to hacking. Much more so than anything else except cellular phones. HP is one company that harps on the security issues regarding cable modems. So why spin our wheels over a dead-end technology when ISDN is here now? Is speed really the issue? There may be another element at play. When you consider digital phone networks and the equipment that is needed to hook up ISDN, you see an interesting phenomenon. The modem companies aren't in the game. Networking companies run the show: Ascend, Cisco, and Combinet. Modem companies like Hayes--and recently Zyxel--miss the mark with ISDN. Others have ignored it completely. In a digital world, you won't need to MOdulate/ DEModulate (the root meaning of modem). Many users just can't make the transition to a future where the modem is moot. For these sentimentalists, the cable modem is the last gasp. But there are no cable modem standards whatsoever, and very little cable modem promotion within the brain-dead cable TV industry. While this fiasco unfolds, we hear cheering from people who should know better and examine the simple illogic of the whole thing. Hey, but it sure is fast." Why do we spin our wheels over a dead-end technology when ISDN is here now? Is speed really the issue?
A game, perhaps FRP, in which one of the "spells" were "alter the other guy's GUI" ... would be amusing.
--- Attorneys Assisting Citizen-Soldiers & Families -
This whole discussion and fuss over the 360 reminds me of giddy teenage girls quizzing an 'experienced' girl about what sex is like. It's a console, not a life-changing event, get over it.
Yes, it's big. Yes, it'll hurt a little, at least in your wallet. But it's not that big a deal, it doesn't make you a woman or anything.
Trust me.
I was tempted to believe that XP was simply referencing the respective smiley.
"I rather like to launch a game from a simple MSDOS prompt"
whoa, thats some S&M crap, do u enjoy being whipped too?
Chris Anderson also got one early and is interested in the Xboox 360 from a Long Tail perspective as a media center.
So he's interest in it as a media extender....what in the world does that have to do with the "long tail" (sorry - Long Tail)? I realize that it's one of the overused and oversold catch phrases of the day, but really it just makes it sound dumb.
Now I'm going to eat the Long Tail of dinners - pizza. Maybe I'll have a Long Tail drink - a glass of water. Then I'll watch some Long Tail television, and eat a Long Tail snack.
I know, it's tragic when people steal others ideas... what about that thief Einstein, just riding Newton's coat-tails with his theories about gravity. Someone really needs to set the record straight, that Einstein guy is just a fraud.
...and all I've done is enter my name: 'Thrillhouse'!
Read Pynchon.
Actually, I think he's on the verge on becomming a valuable resource. You just have to invert his value judgements.
For instance: if Dvorak likes the 360 then it must be awful.
It's all very spatilomantic, I suppose, but it works for me...
Don't let THEM immanentize the Eschaton!
It stands for Windows eXtra Pain for the Home and Professional user.
Remember folks, slashdot doesn't have a -1 "disagree" moderation!
Hopefully at least someone in the xbox hacking community there is already a geek who's built a powerpc-targeted gcc, gdb, and binutils. His soldering iron is already preheated and the oscillascope, eeprom reader and logic probe are powered up. Before him lies a sea of modified hex/torque screwdrivers capable of turning any kind of proprietary screw.
/Can't wait for "Linux 360"
What can I say, Microsoft? Let the hacking games begin again!
You do not prep for the XBox360. And this is from someone who might buy one if anything more interesting than Kameo appears. Oblivion was pushed back to when?!
Yeah, yeah... there's the story this weekend about the gamer earning six figues. Chump change and a rarity.
...and allows those of us with large digital music collections an easy way to get from PC->Stereo without any special hardware.
Funny, I'd consider needing an Xbox 360 and a Windows Media Center equipped PC "special hardware."
Be a real patriot: Question authority. Think for yourself. Formulate your own conclusions.
I had to start prepping for the 360 almost 40 years ago. I learned about punch card machines, and which cards to put at the front of the deck to make certain that the compiler ran, or the program ran. And, of course, I prepped by sleeping a lot during the day, so I could submit jobs in the evening and get them back late at night.
So, what's new?
It's doomed.
I am Spartacus
Nope. He's got every possible game machine, a computer that is just short of cutting edge, a stereo, Walkman, TV, VCR, DVD, etc.
So the ex-wife and I got together and decided to
ACs don't bother. You're filtered. I don't even know you're there.
So who are you replying to?
"I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
DON't BUY ANYTHING COMING FROM THAT EVIL COMPANY, WHO'S INTERESTS ARE ONLY SELF-CENTERED...
A corporation that is focused on profit? That can not stand! I can't believe those theives at Microsoft have the audacity to act in the interest of their company! Boycott the free market!!
Are the Xbox 360 stories being duped because of normal slashdot editorial laziness or is someone being paid to shill for Microsoft?
"You'll get nothing, and you'll like it!"