Microsoft shows off HD-DVD drive for Xbox 360

http://www.tinyurl.com/mh2so

http://i.n.com.com/i/ne/p/2006/xbox0226_550x413.jpg
http://i.n.com.com/i/ne/p/2006/xbox231_550x413.jpg

By Greg Sandoval
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

Published: August 7, 2006, 6:50 PM PDT

LOS ANGELES--Microsoft on Monday offered the first glimpse of an
external HD DVD drive built for the Xbox 360 game console.

Kevin Collins, senior program manager at Microsoft, demonstrated the HD
DVD drive, which he said is scheduled to hit store shelves for the
upcoming holiday shopping season, to attendees of the DVD Forum here.


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.

"All the audio and video processing is done inside the Xbox," said
Collins, who noted that research has shown that a majority of Xbox
owners already own high-definition displays. An Xbox drive provides
them with all the other equipment they need to watch HD DVD movies, he
said.

"This gives consumers choice and keeps their cost down," Collins said

Microsoft has chosen to back the HD DVD format over Blu-ray. Both
technologies are vying to replace the DVD format and are represented by
consortiums that include electronics makers and Hollywood studios.

Video game machines may prove to be a crucial battleground for the two
formats, some observers predict.

In November, Sony's PlayStation 3 is expected to debut equipped with a
Blu-ray drive. In contrast to Microsoft's strategy to go with an
external drive, PlayStation's drive will be built in.

AirRaid

AirRaid wrote:

> "All the audio and video processing is done inside the Xbox," said
> Collins, who noted that research has shown that a majority of Xbox
> owners already own high-definition displays. An Xbox drive provides
> them with all the other equipment they need to watch HD DVD movies, he
> said.

well, if all the math is done in the console, then i don't see why this
add on should go for more than 200.

Pez D Spencer

"AirRaid" <> wrote in message
news: oups.com...
I'm glad to see that this drive is going to be external. It would really
suck of they did it internally and made an "HD Version" and screwed all of
us "first gen" 360 owners haha.

> http://www.tinyurl.com/mh2so
>
> http://i.n.com.com/i/ne/p/2006/xbox0226_550x413.jpg
> http://i.n.com.com/i/ne/p/2006/xbox231_550x413.jpg
>
> By Greg Sandoval
> Staff Writer, CNET News.com
>
> Published: August 7, 2006, 6:50 PM PDT
>
> LOS ANGELES--Microsoft on Monday offered the first glimpse of an
> external HD DVD drive built for the Xbox 360 game console.
>
> Kevin Collins, senior program manager at Microsoft, demonstrated the HD
> DVD drive, which he said is scheduled to hit store shelves for the
> upcoming holiday shopping season, to attendees of the DVD Forum here.
>
>
> 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.
>
> "All the audio and video processing is done inside the Xbox," said
> Collins, who noted that research has shown that a majority of Xbox
> owners already own high-definition displays. An Xbox drive provides
> them with all the other equipment they need to watch HD DVD movies, he
> said.
>
> "This gives consumers choice and keeps their cost down," Collins said
>
> Microsoft has chosen to back the HD DVD format over Blu-ray. Both
> technologies are vying to replace the DVD format and are represented by
> consortiums that include electronics makers and Hollywood studios.
>
> Video game machines may prove to be a crucial battleground for the two
> formats, some observers predict.
>
> In November, Sony's PlayStation 3 is expected to debut equipped with a
> Blu-ray drive. In contrast to Microsoft's strategy to go with an
> external drive, PlayStation's drive will be built in.
>

wong- wrote:
>
> "AirRaid" <> wrote in message
> news: oups.com...
> I'm glad to see that this drive is going to be external. It would really
> suck of they did it internally and made an "HD Version" and screwed all
> of us "first gen" 360 owners haha.
>

I'm confident that will happen some time and it would probably be a
smart move for microsoft to do it sooner rather than later. Not sure it
would bother me all that much as long as it didn't become a requirement
for games.

Unmutual

wong- wrote:
> I'm glad to see that this drive is going to be external. It would really
> suck of they did it internally and made an "HD Version" and screwed all of
> us "first gen" 360 owners haha.

Not sure why it would screw us. We have the option of buying the
external drive.

Tom

AirRaid wrote:

> "This gives consumers choice and keeps their cost down," Collins said

And if Blu-Ray does end up winning you just release a plug in Blu-Ray
drive.

- Jordan

Jordan

Tom wrote:
> wong- wrote:
> > I'm glad to see that this drive is going to be external. It would really
> > suck of they did it internally and made an "HD Version" and screwed all of
> > us "first gen" 360 owners haha.
>
> Not sure why it would screw us. We have the option of buying the
> external drive.

External drive is for movies only, not for games. If they came out with
an internal drive that was capable of playing games from HD-DVD we
would be screwed.

Of course, I guess, they could always do a dashboard or firmware update
that allowed for gameplay from the external HD-DVD drive.

- Jordan

Jordan

Jordan wrote:
> External drive is for movies only, not for games. If they came out with
> an internal drive that was capable of playing games from HD-DVD we
> would be screwed.
>
Screwed unless they decided to offer DVD and HD-DVD versions of games,
with the DVD version being on multiple discs.

I doubt this scenario though, both retailers and game companies
wouldn't want the hassle of two media types to deal with.

Tom

Jordan wrote:

> AirRaid wrote:
>
>
>>"This gives consumers choice and keeps their cost down," Collins said
>
>
> And if Blu-Ray does end up winning you just release a plug in Blu-Ray
> drive.
>
> - Jordan
>
so if the ps3 will cost around $500, why not buy a ps3 instead of a 360?

Ghost

Tom wrote:
> Jordan wrote:
>
>>External drive is for movies only, not for games. If they came out with
>>an internal drive that was capable of playing games from HD-DVD we
>>would be screwed.
>>
>
> Screwed unless they decided to offer DVD and HD-DVD versions of games,
> with the DVD version being on multiple discs.
>
> I doubt this scenario though, both retailers and game companies
> wouldn't want the hassle of two media types to deal with.

Yeah, well, neither do consumers, but that hasn't stopped the studios
and hardware manufacturers from sticking us right in the middle of their
stupid HD-DVD/Blu-Ray format war.


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