Multiple Xbox next versions

[don_milz]

The next-generation Xbox console may come in three different versions, according to a report today which claims that the firm plans to launch versions with and without a hard drive in 2005, and a fully functional PC / Xbox 2 combination in 2006.

SOURCE

It looks like MS will be releasing 3 versions of the Xbox 2.

1) Standard model w/o HDD
2) Standard model with HDD
3) Fullfledged media PC functionality

The third configuration is very interesting and obviously raises a lot of possibilities and questions.

1) How will MS get standard x86 code running on the PowerPC CPU?
2) Will they increase the memory of the X2 and in what way will this effect the (presumably) unified architecture. The main RAM in the X2 should be extremely fast since its also being used as graphics memory, so throwing a Gig in their would be extremely expensive.
3) Its supposed to be able to play PC games too so how will the standard Xbox 2 hardware fare vs a PC?
4) How will the xbox and PC version of the game fare against each other on the unit?

One possibility is that the PC version will just be a normal PC, with the xbox 2 hardware built in along side the PC hardware. Perhaps the PC hardware would use the X2 GPU and the unified memory as a discrete GPU??

That would make for some excellent power comparisons to the PC with the same CPU/memory etc.. but a PC GPU.

Also by releasing a HD and a non-HD version it will unfortunatly mean than many games don't take advantage - or at least, full advantage of the HDD. ...this could also be said for the PS3's 2 versions, of which 1 is rumoured not to have a HD and the other will.

On another note....
In essense I got this feeling they are imitating the market leader (SONY) by doing multiple versions of their next gen console....there were a few M$ fanboys (none on this forum) who where going on and on and on about how having 2 versions of the PS3 will be a bad idea and its not going to do well, this that and the other. and that they will be going with M$ becasue it only has the one version.

Now those fanboys got a piece of their own medicine....not 2 but 3, yes THREE versions....i gues those people really feel stupid now.

But anyway, what are your views on this breaking news?
And siren, is there a chance you could confirm this?

[siren]

Can't confirm or deny. But consider the following.

While the inquirer is a pretty accurate news site, they tend to blow things up too big. They also (while not as bad as Spong) will embellish the truth a bit.

Other points.

Getting x86 code to run on PowerPC is not really that hard. The hard part is getting it to run well. You basically have to run it completely in emulation. Now a lot of people are already pointing at VirtualPC for Mac that lets you run Windows on a Mac within OSX. Works great overall. Doesn't work for games at all. Why? Because you can emulate the video, but you aren't going to be able to easly map the Direct3d or DirectSound calls through.

One last thing to consider? Would Microsoft really want to make a PC? Do they really want to compete with Dell, HP, ect...? Consider that they even dropped out of making Networking Hardware due to too low of profitablity potential. PC's have such a low potential in this area that most major OEM's are pushing sales of other tied products that they make real profit off of (IE - Plasma/LCD TV's w/ Media Center PC's)

[don_milz]

Essentially, if Microsoft do come out with the PC version of Xbox 2, they will also be competing with SONY's VAIO pc's, as well as the ones you mentioned siren.

Man SONY and Microsoft really know how to compete.

First consoles now PC's, next you'll probably see M$ and SONY, beds.

My guess is that M$ will offer the more comfortable bed...while Sony will have the larger bed that offers more capacity....lmao

[Blake]

DDS I dont believe Sony has actually confirmed they'll release 2 versions of the PS3, right now it's a possibility up in the air if Im not mistaken. Either way, it's a cheap move by MS but a bold one also. Im really hoping the next Xbox is released in 2005 because Im ready for the next generation.

[don_milz]

Yes of course, you're most certainly right. there is no confirmation yet. They are only strong rumours from so called reliable sources.

I also hope to see the Xbox next arrive at 2005, becasue i...like you also am eager to witness next-gen consoles first hand.

I'm, planning on purchasing all 3 next-gen consoles and giving them all a fair chance. just as i have done this genration and the past genrations of gaming.

This generation, I seemed to favour the PS2 more....the previous generation, it was again Sony's console..the PS1 which caught my eye. Before that, the SNES managed to gain most of my attention.

Any way, I personally think Microsoft have taken it a touch too far with the XB next PC, I like to think of consoles as the easy solution to gaming, and the quick plug 'n' play option.

I honestly don't like the idea of a console-PC hybrid..... Having said that, getting online connectivity and gaming between the 2 is a really fabulous trick. Nonetheless the other two ideas seem reasonable, and plausible in my view.

[siren]

Just remember that Microsoft have not "Taken it too far with Xbox Next and PC". They haven't done anything yet.

Remember, Inquirer is stating that this is per a slide they saw. I can say definatively from experience that there are lot of things that Microsoft puts in Slides of presentations. This slide could simply of been what they "could do" and it could have easily been followed up with 10 more slides explaining pro's and con's of each. Then a final slide that said what they are doing. Then again, this could have been the final slide. I can't comment either way.

All I can say is don't trust everything you read on the internet, even from reliable sites.

Remember when CNN announced that MS was attempting to buy Nintendo again. Then it turned out that Bill Gates made a random joke saying that if Miyamoto called him he would be happy to talk.