Xbox360: Next iPod killer - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

crossova · 05-05-2005, 05:01 AM

http://backstage.ipodlounge.com/inde...comments/4048/

Article from ipodlounge.com
Once in a rare while, we use Backstage to talk about interesting rumors that are circulating in the industry, and today’s going to be one of those occasions. For the news purists out there, we’ll say up front: none of this is confirmed, and it may all just be idle gossip, so we’ll have to see for ourselves.

We’ve been hearing for months that Microsoft’s new game console (once known as Xenon, now dubbed Xbox 360) was going to come in two or more flavors, and that at least one of them is going to include a hard disk for storage. Last we heard, Microsoft was planning to manufacture around 80% of their machines with the hard disk, and 20% without. The 20% will be sold for the plausible price of $299, while the other 80% will sell for the “uh oh, that reminds me of Sega’s Saturn” price of $399. If your local store just happens to be sold out of the $299 model you saw in the newspaper, you can always buy the $399 one. In our book, that would be bait-and-switch, only taken to a new height.

But... what if the $399 model came with something you might actually not mind having? Like, a portable hard disk (or flash drive) that’s also a portable digital music player? Made by a company that’s increasingly desperate to get people interested in its mostly ignored MSN Music store. And the drive would also be sold separately, for say, $100-150, quite possibly in various capacities and at different price points.

And what if you sidestepped the media by debuting the whole digital music player thing on a worldwide MTV presentation on May 12 and 13? And convinced MTV to “provide ongoing in-depth coverage of the next-generation Xbox highlighting the latest news, product details and previews of hot next-generation games”? That would be pretty sneaky, and a good way to manuever your way around jaded video game journalists who aren’t as excited about the Xbox 360 as Microsoft is.

Again, this is a rumor. But it makes a lot of sense - unlike that picture above, which is supposed to be the Xbox 360’s new logo, and amply demonstrates the fallacy of using focus groups to make important decisions

Wingless · 05-05-2005, 06:41 AM

The more rumors I hear about the X360 the more annoyed I get. JUST BUY A FUCKING PC!

/gotta stop reading these rumor threads...

japhyryder · 05-05-2005, 01:44 PM

I am sorry but that whole idea is kinda lame. Microsoft has to realize that things that do lots of thing don't always do anyone thing well.

Charlatan · 05-05-2005, 01:57 PM

Swiss army knives and leathermans are good... a consol that is also an "ipod" is not.

What happens when my portable music playing harddrive with all my saved profiles on it gets stolen? I don't want to risk that in the slightest...

I do like the idea that the consol might also contain a PVR but honsetly would rather just get a media centre.

Raptor20561 · 05-05-2005, 03:36 PM

I can't wait for the next console by microsoft, you know its going to have SOME kind of new technology or idea in it.

btw i love my ipod <3

hrandani · 05-05-2005, 05:42 PM

The fact is the success of the macintosh (and by extension of the same line of thought, the store-bought PC) has shown that the masses will buy shit that's dumbed down to their level.

Seriously, I'm not joking. The fact that you can spend an hour learning how to build, then building your own computer / installing the overpriced, bloated software and halve the cost (PC) or skip out on learning anything and pay 2-4X as much (mac) leads me to believe that if they did this, it stands a reasonable chance of being wildly successful.

As far as it getting stolen - I think that's a problem with everything you buy, and I don't see how this applies more than anything else like a laptop, or an ipod, or even something inside of your "safe" house.

crossova · 05-06-2005, 08:34 AM

i wouldnt want the portable media device. i already got a PSP. I dont need to carry any more gadgets in my pockets

Redlemon · 05-06-2005, 08:39 AM

I love the title "next iPod killer". It kind of points out that every previous iPod killer hasn't done the job, since Apple still has all the marketshare and mindspaceshare.

Anibal5 · 05-08-2005, 07:52 PM

I cant imagine why the next XboX wont be a combination of the soon to be discontinued lines of;
a] Media Center PCs'
b] Current XboX
The 360 containing the better parts of both or in other words an offical "Bill's World" chipped, HDD upgraded and cottage softwared media centre. Just like many of us have right now.

05-05-2005, 05:01 AM	#1 (permalink)
crossova Psycho Location: new york	Xbox360: Next iPod killer http://backstage.ipodlounge.com/inde...comments/4048/ Article from ipodlounge.com Once in a rare while, we use Backstage to talk about interesting rumors that are circulating in the industry, and today’s going to be one of those occasions. For the news purists out there, we’ll say up front: none of this is confirmed, and it may all just be idle gossip, so we’ll have to see for ourselves. We’ve been hearing for months that Microsoft’s new game console (once known as Xenon, now dubbed Xbox 360) was going to come in two or more flavors, and that at least one of them is going to include a hard disk for storage. Last we heard, Microsoft was planning to manufacture around 80% of their machines with the hard disk, and 20% without. The 20% will be sold for the plausible price of $299, while the other 80% will sell for the “uh oh, that reminds me of Sega’s Saturn” price of $399. If your local store just happens to be sold out of the $299 model you saw in the newspaper, you can always buy the $399 one. In our book, that would be bait-and-switch, only taken to a new height. But... what if the $399 model came with something you might actually not mind having? Like, a portable hard disk (or flash drive) that’s also a portable digital music player? Made by a company that’s increasingly desperate to get people interested in its mostly ignored MSN Music store. And the drive would also be sold separately, for say, $100-150, quite possibly in various capacities and at different price points. And what if you sidestepped the media by debuting the whole digital music player thing on a worldwide MTV presentation on May 12 and 13? And convinced MTV to “provide ongoing in-depth coverage of the next-generation Xbox highlighting the latest news, product details and previews of hot next-generation games”? That would be pretty sneaky, and a good way to manuever your way around jaded video game journalists who aren’t as excited about the Xbox 360 as Microsoft is. Again, this is a rumor. But it makes a lot of sense - unlike that picture above, which is supposed to be the Xbox 360’s new logo, and amply demonstrates the fallacy of using focus groups to make important decisions

05-05-2005, 06:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
Wingless Psycho Location: Metro Detroit, Mich, USA	The more rumors I hear about the X360 the more annoyed I get. JUST BUY A FUCKING PC! /gotta stop reading these rumor threads... __________________ Tommy Nibs is a funny word. So here I am, above palm trees, so straight and tall... You are, smaller getting smaller, but I still see... you. Jimmy Eat World - Goodbye Sky Harbor

05-05-2005, 01:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
japhyryder no one special Location: Charlotte, NC	I am sorry but that whole idea is kinda lame. Microsoft has to realize that things that do lots of thing don't always do anyone thing well. __________________ It's only entertainment, someone's sick idea of a joke.

05-05-2005, 01:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	Swiss army knives and leathermans are good... a consol that is also an "ipod" is not. What happens when my portable music playing harddrive with all my saved profiles on it gets stolen? I don't want to risk that in the slightest... I do like the idea that the consol might also contain a PVR but honsetly would rather just get a media centre. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

05-05-2005, 03:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
Raptor20561 Tilted Location: so cal	I can't wait for the next console by microsoft, you know its going to have SOME kind of new technology or idea in it. btw i love my ipod <3 __________________ Things have never been so swell I have never failed to fail

05-05-2005, 05:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
hrandani Insane	The fact is the success of the macintosh (and by extension of the same line of thought, the store-bought PC) has shown that the masses will buy shit that's dumbed down to their level. Seriously, I'm not joking. The fact that you can spend an hour learning how to build, then building your own computer / installing the overpriced, bloated software and halve the cost (PC) or skip out on learning anything and pay 2-4X as much (mac) leads me to believe that if they did this, it stands a reasonable chance of being wildly successful. As far as it getting stolen - I think that's a problem with everything you buy, and I don't see how this applies more than anything else like a laptop, or an ipod, or even something inside of your "safe" house.

05-06-2005, 08:34 AM	#7 (permalink)
crossova Psycho Location: new york	i wouldnt want the portable media device. i already got a PSP. I dont need to carry any more gadgets in my pockets

05-06-2005, 08:39 AM	#8 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	I love the title "next iPod killer". It kind of points out that every previous iPod killer hasn't done the job, since Apple still has all the marketshare and mindspaceshare. __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

05-08-2005, 07:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
Anibal5 Tilted Location: Brisbane Australia	I cant imagine why the next XboX wont be a combination of the soon to be discontinued lines of; a] Media Center PCs' b] Current XboX The 360 containing the better parts of both or in other words an offical "Bill's World" chipped, HDD upgraded and cottage softwared media centre. Just like many of us have right now. __________________ Forgiveness is like the fragrance a flower gives after it's been stepped on.