Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft Shows Off 360 HD-DVD Drive

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the christmas-toys dept.

C|Net is reporting on a demo Microsoft put on, showing off their HD-DVD drive for the Xbox 360. The unit, which is expected out for the Christmas season, is an external add-on for the company's next-gen console. From the article: "The device--about the size of a hardback book--played "The Phantom of the Opera" as Collins pulled up a menu bar to display a few of its navigation and interactive features that can be called up on screen while a movie is playing. Collins said Microsoft's HD DVD drive will be among the least expensive of the HD DVD players, but he declined to disclose the drive's retail price."

3 of 124 comments (clear)

  1. Price point by The_Pariah · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Retail price is said, from MS, to be that of the lowest priced HD-DVD players at that time.

    Being that all the movie processing is done thru the Xbox, the manufacturing has to be fairly cheap with a lot less hardware. And since HD-DVD players can be had at $500 today, I'm guessing a $200 price point. Take in mind MS would NOT want to sell their console and an aftermarket HD player that would cost MORE than a PS3 that has similar capabilities.

    Props to MS if they sell the player under $200. Otherwise they're inviting the HD addicts who haven't bought next gen to purcahse the PS3 to get a "better" deal.

    --
    Future ruler of a small Asian-Pacific island
  2. I Wonder by MBCook · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I've read that the drive only does the reading, all the processing takes place in the 360. That's kind of interesting. However, I read a comment some where that I'd like to reprint (paraphrased or so):

    I wonder if they will let you play games with it?

    Now they've said "no games on HD-DVD" (which frankly I expect them to change in a few years). But what about normal XBox games in there? Wouldn't it be nice to be able to put one game in the 360 (like Dead Rising) and another in the HD-DVD drive (like PGR3)? Then you could choose either one when the console starts up. I'd love to be able to do that with my PS2 and Guitar Hero. It would save me quite a bit of disc swapping.

    And there is no technical reason they couldn't.

    --
    Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
  3. I love options by The_Pariah · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Next gen games don't NEED higher capacity discs than DVD9 discs.

    Therefore, I LOVE the option of deciding if I _want_ the fancy movie player or _just_ the game console.

    Sony doesn't give me that option. I'm FORCED to purchase the integrated drive to play HD movies, although the games themselves don't require them.

    --
    Future ruler of a small Asian-Pacific island