Microsoft To Release Three Versions Of Xbox 2

11 Nov, 2004 at 9:31pm ET Article published in Tech

A slide from a non disclosure agreement (NDA) presentation seen by the Inquirer points towards Microsoft launching three versions of the Xbox 2, one of which is a fully functioning PC.

The presentation, understood to have been given to analysts and market researchers in the UK earlier this year, plots a timeline for the introduction of the systems. Xbox Next and Xbox Next HD are planned for Autumn 2005, whereas the Xbox Next PC is pencilled in for Autumn 2006. The standard Xbox Next will not include a hard drive, which will allow Microsoft to cut costs on this basic unit. Xbox Next HD, as you might imagine, does include a hard drive and will offer increased functionality based on this. Xbox Next PC is, according to the presentation, an entry-level PC that runs Windows and all standard PC software. It also includes CD Burner, Wireless keyboard, mouse and controller and will work best connected to a high-definition TV or PC monitor. Media Center functionality – like movies, music and photos – is also included. The device will also play most available PC games.

Source: The Inquirer

Comments

11 Nov 2004 ~ 10:06pm RWB interesting... though I would never buy a PC version of XBOX unless it's dirt cheap.
11 Nov 2004 ~ 10:34pm Sputnik ditto
11 Nov 2004 ~ 10:37pm Cyclonite Looks like I'll have the HD version. Already going to have a nice PC.
11 Nov 2004 ~ 11:41pm drasnor Isn't it supposed to have an IBM PowerPC970 processor, like the same as a Power Macintosh G5?

-drasnor
12 Nov 2004 ~ 12:24am TheSmJ I wonder if anyone will figure out how the XBOX PC is playing XBOX games, and make a port of the software for regular PCs?

THAT would be something I'd buy.
12 Nov 2004 ~ 5:22am Micks 109 will the xbox 2 have memory cards then, as it does not have a hard drive.
All the xbox pc does is allow pc format games to run as well as xbox format games, all consols with hard drives could do it
12 Nov 2004 ~ 12:19pm TheBaron not necessarily micks, they use different architectures that the games are not compiled for
12 Nov 2004 ~ 12:32pm jared I think this is a pretty lame idea myself. If you want to buy a entry level Xbox PC you might as well go buy a p.o.s. emachines or something equivilant. The only reason I could see anyone wanting to buy a 'Xbox PC' would be if it was a fully functional PC and console.. aka played xbox games, however; this is not going to be the case. I don't have a problem with Microsoft trying to get into the entry PC market but they should not introduce this under the Xbox brand, the two (xbox and xbox pc) should not cross paths.

Just how i see it.
12 Nov 2004 ~ 12:36pm drasnor If Xbox2 is still going to be powered by a PowerPC970, then it really isn't comparable to any kind of x86 PC. Anyone care to name the only other desktop machine on the market powered by a PPC970 and it's starting price?

-drasnor
12 Nov 2004 ~ 12:46pm Shorty

jared wrote:

I think this is a pretty lame idea myself. If you want to buy a entry level Xbox PC you might as well go buy a p.o.s. emachines or something equivilant. The only reason I could see anyone wanting to buy a 'Xbox PC' would be if it was a fully functional PC and console.. aka played xbox games, however; this is not going to be the case. I don't have a problem with Microsoft trying to get into the entry PC market but they should not introduce this under the Xbox brand, the two (xbox and xbox pc) should not cross paths.

Just how i see it.

Exactly. Consoles & PCs should not mix. Ever.
12 Nov 2004 ~ 12:47pm jared Yeah the Xbox 2 console is going to be powered by the IBM chip (similar to the G5). But the Xbox 2 PC is going to be nothing more than a e-machine with a 'Xbox PC' brand on it. I just think MS shouldnt use the consoles success to try and launch a regular ole' entry level pc. I have a feeling they are going to end up shooting themselves in the foot on this one.
12 Nov 2004 ~ 10:44pm wanna be i think that the only way console and pc shopuld merge is isin the emulator arena.
pcgames on a console - already exists. But you can get emulators to run console games on your pc and most are freeware. the only problem is that there is no emulator for xbox. the codes just too good. (if they'd hire the same people to make some new version of windows that'd be great)
13 Nov 2004 ~ 11:14am CyrixInstead There's nothing wrong with combining a PC & games console. Sega & IBM sucessfully married a 286 and a Megadrive. The Sega Teradrive!!

http://nfg.2y.net/games/teradrive/
http://assembler.roarvgm.com/teradrive/teradrive.html

Oh, perhaps this didn't go down so well...

~Cyrix
13 Nov 2004 ~ 12:45pm Medlock Never heard of it; the 286 was before my time...

Why would they release versions of the xbox with and without a HD? Wouldn't that make certain games/content unavailable to some customers? Sounds pretty stupid to me...
13 Nov 2004 ~ 2:38pm CyrixInstead It would be more like a PS then. You have a memory card probably, but with a HDD could save more stuff.

~Cyrix