Microsoft to Enter Handheld Market?

eldavojohn wrote to mention that, via Joystiq, he read an article over at BusinessWeek that indicates Microsoft may be working on a portable media device. The article states that, if they are, they're not just going after the iPod. The plan would include a way to leverage a powerful part of the Microsoft empire: games. From the article: "Microsoft would probably use the Xbox brand to market the gadget. 'I think the brand is an opportunity,' Moore says. True, perhaps, but also risky. If the new device comes with the Xbox brand, most consumers will view it as a game player, like Sony's PlayStation Portable. That might limit its appeal, since the portable gaming market is much smaller than the one for digital media." A funny comment, considering the success of the DS.

Comments

I can see it now.

[Musteval]

XBox Portable. Only two cubic feet. Weighs less than twenty pounds. A whopping megabyte of RAM.

Re:I can see it now.

[AKAImBatman]

Damn. You beat me to it. I was going to joke that it will weigh in at 10 pounds (it's an uber-convenient luggable!), take full size DVDs, have a 17" screen, and will be marketed by Microsoft as the next step in "Portable" (*cough*) entertainment. Millions of fan-boys will line up outside Best Buy for days for a fleeting chance to grab one. Instead, they'll be laughed at by the counter-person because there weren't enough units in stock to supply more than the first three people in line. Yet Microsoft will continue to hype it as more important than Windows 95, and the future of entertainment. Sound pretty close? :-P

Re:I can see it now.

[Anonymous Coward]

You've got it all wrong, the portable will be regular size, it's just going to take three lantern batteries.

Re:I can see it now.

[lylum]

>A whopping megabyte of RAM.

You mean 640kb.... after all that is enough.

They are having lots of porting problems...

[Anonymous Coward]

...with the WinCE TBSOD (Tiny Blue Screen of Death).

Go for it

[minginqunt]

I mean, it worked out so well for Sony. They'd be mad not to go for it.

1. Release desirable, powerful handheld games console.
2. Subsidize it up the bottom.
3. Fail to release any games other than pointless ports of console games I already own.
4. ???
5. FAIL TO PROFIT!!!

By the way, the '???' there was caused by my playing a spot of Mario Kart DS. I really should focus more when bleating at Slashdot.

Alternate Uses

[vjmurphy]

Not only will it be able to play games, music and movies, but like its larger sibling, it will also be a portable heater.

XBOX Handheld

[th1ckasabr1ck]

I'm pretty sure it's just going to be a laptop.

It's not enough that they burn down a customer's h

[MikeRT]

It's not enough that they burned down a customer's house... now they are going to set a customer on fire directly! I guess this is just part of their secret strategy to scare people away from game consoles and back into PC gaming...

I come... FROM THE FUTURE!

[RyoShin]

November 2nd, 2006
Microsoft Unveils New Portable Gaming Station
via Reuters

In the wake of the success of both Sony's PS3 and Nintendo's Revolution and dwindling XBox 360 numbers, Microsoft has stepped up to the plate to challenge both companies in another gaming market: handhelds.

In an MTV2 event held yesterday, Micrsoft revealed their "XBox Z", the tentatively named portable gaming station. "We aim to do it all," a spokesman commented. "The XBox Z, known internally as the ZBox, will be a one-size-fits all handheld device, capable of playing anything, from video to music to games."

The unit, which is a bit smaller than a regular computer keyboard, weighs in at about two pounds. Controls are made up of four analog control sticks and six buttons, as well as three buttons on each shoulder. When asked about how gamers are supposed to use four analog sticks with only two thumbs, the spokesman replied "They'll think of something."

A 5" LCD screen sits in the middle and slightly up, amidst the controls. The unit takes regular sized CDs and will also support the new HD-DVD format, playing anything from XBox games to CDs to DVDs. Mentioned briefly was an attachment to play turntable-style records, to pull in the music enthusiast crowd.

Initial accessories were also announced at the unveiling. A small packpack, used to hold the system and its three required power sources, will be offered in various colors, as well as a clear mesh form. A utility-like belt will be used to hold various media to play in the device.

When asked about battery life and size, the Microsoft spokesman replied "I'll admit, right now it's a bit of a drainer, with a large size. We're working on the battery life, and expect to have it last two hours on 16 AA batteries. As for the large size, we're looking into shrinking it, but complete hard drives are hard to replace. Besides, gamers will be able to show their handheld with pride, belittling the other so called 'gaming handhelds'."

No release date was announced, though Microsoft plans to use "Bringing gaming to a new dimension" as their slogan.

More information is expected by the end of the month, as long as the Korean-Canadian war does not interfere with ongoing plans.

Imagine the horror...

[CaptSnuffy]

...of Xbox Live players being released into the wild.

Oh, the humanity!

Re:Slashdot investigate Microsoft game strategy

[databyss]

I think in this case its:

1) Profit!
2) ????
3) Make Game Console!

Re:It's not enough that they burn down a customer'

[dykmoby]

Remember, build a man a fire and he is warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he is warm for the rest of his life!