So, Microsoft has chosen to use an external HD-DVD drive

[23]

http://www.oxm.co.uk/articles/news/h...revealed_at_e3!

HD-DVD drive revealed at E3!
21 Apr 2006 11:57am

Microsoft ready to get its next-gen DVD drive out in public

Microsoft has announced that it will be showing the Xbox 360’s external HD-DVD drive at E3 for the first time.

The drive, which will enable you to play next-gen DVDs with far higher sound and picture quality than current DVDs on your Xbox 360, was announced last year at X05. Since then Microsoft has kept tight-lipped.



But that’s all set to change at the videogame jamboree that is E3, as Microsoft’s Vice President for Home and Entertainment Chris Lewis explains. "We'll say a little bit more about it at E3,” Lewis told German news site Spiegel Online. “We will make sure that the HD-DVD-peripheral device will meet all the requirements for consumers to enjoy high-definition DVD playback.”

So far there are no details on the look, functionality or price for the HD-DVD drive, but we now expect at least some of these blanks to be filled in at E3. As far as release goes, we expect Microsoft to make the drive available sometime late this year.

Sony’s PS3, due to launch worldwide in November, will come with a Blu-Ray DVD drive as standard. Blu-Ray is a competing format with HD-DVD, but Lewis reckons Microsoft have the advantage over Sony’s chosen technology. "Blu-ray right now reminds us of another technology from Sony: Betamax,” he said cheekily, referring to the ill-fated video format that was destroyed by VHS back in the eighties.

“A bit like VHS, we think that HD DVD is the format that consumers, film studios and publishers will embrace,” Lewis concluded.

We’ll be on the showfloor at E3 bringing you the best Xbox 360 coverage of the show anywhere – and we’ll make sure we get up close and personal with the HD-DVD drive.



How do you fellas feel about this one?

[forensicd]

Re: So, Microsoft has chosen to use an external HD-DVD drive

Its great, what more could you want? You now have the option to buy it if you want, instead of microsoft bundling it with every sytem and selling it for 700 bucks, like sony.

[Kashanova]

Re: So, Microsoft has chosen to use an external HD-DVD drive

i heard it was only gonna be 100 bucks

[nyyanksfan20]

Re: So, Microsoft has chosen to use an external HD-DVD drive

i heard it was only gonna be 100 bucks

Then it might actually be somewhat of a sucess.

[poster]

Re: So, Microsoft has chosen to use an external HD-DVD drive

If it isn't an arm and a leg I will pick one up.

[23]

Re: So, Microsoft has chosen to use an external HD-DVD drive

Im not sure of that price, especially when the regular HDD is alreay 100 bucks.

Are they even sure this format will excel enough to be useful in the future?

[mgoblue]

Re: So, Microsoft has chosen to use an external HD-DVD drive

Im not sure of that price, especially when the regular HDD is alreay 100 bucks.

Are they even sure this format will excel enough to be useful in the future?

no one knows whether Blu-Ray or HD-DVD's gonna win...it's VHS vs. Beta all over again.

[23]

Re: So, Microsoft has chosen to use an external HD-DVD drive

Thats my point Mgo, thats what sort of surprises me about this decision.

Im curious as to what data led them to jumping on the HD-DVD ship

[JRod]

Re: So, Microsoft has chosen to use an external HD-DVD drive

Im not sure of that price, especially when the regular HDD is alreay 100 bucks.

Are they even sure this format will excel enough to be useful in the future?

Well MS is taking the smart road on this. If it's not successful they eat up the losses of an add-on. If it is that eat up the profits of an add-on. Unlike Sony where if Blu-Ray fails, they will just have Blu-Ray for the PS3 disks and not for music, movie and data media.

MS has not invested all of its eggs in the proverbial basket like Sony has. I'm continually impressed by MS and the 360. Other than the shortage, they have really done a lot of things right.

[aholbert32]

Re: So, Microsoft has chosen to use an external HD-DVD drive

Thats my point Mgo, thats what sort of surprises me about this decision.

Im curious as to what data led them to jumping on the HD-DVD ship

They jumped because Sony owns the other technology and damn sure wasnt going to license Blu Ray to a competitor.

[23]

Re: So, Microsoft has chosen to use an external HD-DVD drive

I dont think they ever had thoughts of tinkering with blu ray

I dont buy all the blu ray hype anyhow. All of extra space on discs for what?

Extra content for movies? I dont watch that stuff anyhow.

I can understand games, but i dont think those developers will fully utilize that either.

[luv_mist]

Re: So, Microsoft has chosen to use an external HD-DVD drive

I dont think they ever had thoughts of tinkering with blu ray

I dont buy all the blu ray hype anyhow. All of extra space on discs for what?

Extra content for movies? I dont watch that stuff anyhow.

I can understand games, but i dont think those developers will fully utilize that either.

That was my thought. What is there that possibly would be sensible enough to fit on a disc of that much space? Video games make sense. We could have so much in all those games. Honestly, I'd love to see 30 different player introductions in all the basketball games. I'd also love to see all that other stuff. However, the games will be made for the least common denominator. If the games on the PS3 are more thant he XBOX 360, then what? I am so eager to see how this all turns out. I'd definitely be down for getting the drive too if they used it for video games later on in the future. Would be fantastic on the real. Maybe they could make two types of games where one uses the regular drive and the other has the "extra" content in it. Would be sweet.......

[Erv]

Re: So, Microsoft has chosen to use an external HD-DVD drive

This is just silly damage control. MS failed to upgrade their media and releasing an ADD-ON(we know how well those do) is just going to further confuse customers. You got a core pack, premium pack and this DVD drive that can only play certain types of movies on certain types of TV's. The funniest thing is the console doesn't even have a HDMI output. Simply put: DOA.

[Rodster]

Re: So, Microsoft has chosen to use an external HD-DVD drive

This is just silly damage control. MS failed to upgrade their media and releasing an ADD-ON(we know how well those do)

In Microsoft's defense it's CYA just in case HD-DVD takes off and not BR. As far as failed addon upgrades not doing well, your right on that point. Keep in mind the external HD-DVD is for MOVIES ONLY. So developers will never factor that peripheral into any game.

HD-DVD addon won't confuse gamers because it's not for games it just gives 360 owners a future proof system as best as MS can make it. I'm with MS on this move.

[Klocker]

Re: So, Microsoft has chosen to use an external HD-DVD drive

In Microsoft's defense it's CYA just in case HD-DVD takes off and not BR. As far as failed addon upgrades not doing well, your right on that point. Keep in mind the external HD-DVD is for MOVIES ONLY. So developers will never factor that peripheral into any game.

HD-DVD addon won't confuse gamers because it's not for games it just gives 360 owners a future proof system as best as MS can make it. I'm with MS on this move.

that is exactly right

this is not an add-on in the sense of previous "add ons" (like 32x). this is just a peripheral device, a way for users who WANT HDDVD movies to buy (a cheaper) player. It was never for games.

Those who don't want to play HDTV movies wil not have to subsidize those that do (by having it in every system)

not to mention that they can (and will) add a blu Ray peripheral if that becomes the media of choice.

the DVD was a concious choice to get the system out a year before PS3 (since the media for that is not even ready evidently)