Ballmer Teases New Xboxes at University Q&A
A new Xbox in time for Natal, perhaps?
Last week, Steve Ballmer spoke at the University of Washington. He shared some interesting thoughts on cloud computing and detailed that 70 percent of Microsoft employees are currently working on cloud-related projects. However, some of Steve's other comments have people talking too -- specifically something he said about the Xbox line.
The transcript of Steve's talk at the Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science & Engineering at University of Washington is available online (via CrunchGear) and it reveals that Microsoft is considering offering Xbox fans more options when it comes to price and form factor.
"… for that big screen device here's a piece of hardware that we build, there's no diversity. You get exactly the Xboxes that we build for you. We may have more form factors in the future that are designed for various price points and options, but we think it's going to important."
With Sony's PS3 Slim already on the market six months, it seems like a smaller, more compact Xbox 360 is long overdue. However, Ballmer's comments make it seem like much more than that. What kind of configurations or form factors would you like to see? Let us know in the comments below!
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Oh yes, let's eliminate everyone having exactly the same hardware. Oh wait! That's a PC!
First, Blu-Ray player.
Second, integrated wireless.
Third, Eyefinity or similar technology with 3 1080p HDTVs.
Fourth, 3D.
I'd place my money on a Slim model. Bout time. And how about that Valhalla chipset that was supposed to come out?
I just bought one of their new releases... the price was FREE and the form factor is INVISIBLE! It fits perfectly wherever I want to put it.
My wish list:
-eSATA
-brennon7's list
First silent running, it couldn't be that difficult.
Second Blu-Ray
Third provide proper HTPC software or unlock to enable 3rd party solutions.
How about one that doesn't break!!!
How about a PS3 option?
Blu-Ray first.
Then make the drive quieter. Why was the DVD the loudest piece anyway.
Then begin offering the 250gig drive from the MW2 edition as part of the Elites and as an off the shelf component.
As far as form factor, I don't see a reason why we couldn't use a slim-slot loading DVD or BD drive, and stick the drive over where the CPU heatsinks are, then slim down all that space on the left of the Xbox.
Cloud computing is not interesting.
"Finish your vegetables before dessert." Microsoft ought to develop a full-size 360 with a less-than-50% failure rate before snazzing things up.
tv tuner DVB-C-S-T
Esata/usb3
Wireless
Passive
Faster
Smaller
cheaper
Firefox
And thats about it
1st- Make an entirely new chipset, not a mod of the current and failed chipset, so that the RRoD isnt such a usual problem(that or hire new engineers).
2nd- Big HDD and bluray on only 1 Xbox(It wont be necesary to overprice ur hardware with #1, ur warranty budget will dramatically drop, and it wont be necesary to have 2 Xboxes since #1 and #2 will make ur Xbox cheap and this time u wont lose $)
3rd- Optional Avatars( nobody likes them)
4th- It WILL cost even less if u make it smaller and quieter
Thats all I would want in an Xbox and then I will buy it. I dont even care about the 8800 chipset( even though all the swarming trolls in this article will care with the bias and all that). I think Im WAY overdo to play GoW2 and Halo.
One that doesn't RROD
Well darn... I just got a new one at Xmas... the CoD2 edition one with the 250Gb HDD. I don't think it needs to get smaller, but I think a nice brushed aluminum one with a silent dvd/blu-ray drive would be nice. (Of course I just don't see MS jumping on the blu-ray wagon just yet) There are a few other things I'd like to see but they would all kick the price up well beyond what I'd pay for a console. But here they are anyway...
1. Large SSD (250Gb minimum)
2. Silent ODD
3. Silent cooling
4 Better Graphics (maybe... not sure how it would affect the performance of games that are already optimized for the current GPU... also the current graphics aren't bad for a console)
5. Ability to mod the console in certain ways without voiding the warranty (ie: HDD/SSD/ODD upgrades)
6. integrated wi-fi would be nice (although I already have adapters for both my xboxes)
That should do it for now I guess.
I don't see why they can't offer a new X360 with a faster CPU and graphics. A little speed bump will be much appreciated.
Because they cant make games to play better on one version of a console than another. Thats affecting all of the other millions of Xbox users. well just have to wait for the other generation.
The PSPgo is a recent example of how Sony failed because they changed everything about the original PSP users had.
"Ballmer Teases New Xboxes at University Q&A"
What does this even mean...
Wanna know why they call it the xbox 360?
When you see it you turn a 360 and go the other way!
Well darn... I just got a new one at Xmas... the CoD2 edition one with the 250Gb HDD. I don't think it needs to get smaller, but I think a nice brushed aluminum one with a silent dvd/blu-ray drive would be nice. (Of course I just don't see MS jumping on the blu-ray wagon just yet) There are a few other things I'd like to see but they would all kick the price up well beyond what I'd pay for a console. But here they are anyway...1. Large SSD (250Gb minimum)2. Silent ODD3. Silent cooling4 Better Graphics (maybe... not sure how it would affect the performance of games that are already optimized for the current GPU... also the current graphics aren't bad for a console)5. Ability to mod the console in certain ways without voiding the warranty (ie: HDD/SSD/ODD upgrades)6. integrated wi-fi would be nice (although I already have adapters for both my xboxes)That should do it for now I guess.
Seriously? A 250Gb SSD? What planet made of gold are you living on?
Also, way to describe everything that PC gaming can easily deliver...
I'm guessing they're going to release an intergrated Natal model of the Xbox 360.
As far as hardware is concerned the 360 is doing well keeping up with current titles. I was surprised how good Battlefield Bad Company 2 runs on the 5 year old console. I doubt any computer I built at that time could run that game now.
Wanna know why they call it the xbox 360?When you see it you turn a 360 and go the other way!
You failed geometry at school didn't you
Or did you mean the old xbox 180?
Wanna know why they call it the xbox 360?When you see it you turn a 360 and go the other way!
Do u know what a 360 is?
U make a full turn and face what u were already staring at.
A console with different form factors, price points and configurations?
Sounds suspiciously like a PC to me.... without full-blown OS.
Hey maybe they could just create an option for windows that makes it boot up in "Gamer" mode (slimmed down version that only games will work on - i.e. game performance prioritized) ?
the ONLY point of a console is that they are massed produced in single configuration so they can be produced cheaply (cheaper than a PC).
A keyboard and a mouse. Oh wait ...that's a PC.
Wanna know why they call it the xbox 360?When you see it you turn a 360 and go the other way!
lol.. 'epic fail' ;P
if you turn 360 degrees, you'll and up facing the xbox again..
[citation]the ONLY point of a console is that they are massed produced in single configuration so they can be produced cheaply (cheaper than a PC).[/citation]
Single config makes debugging an order of magnitude easier. You never have to tell a 360 user to install a codec pack or VC++ redistributable.
http://i.imgur.com/l60q9.gif
First, Blu-Ray player.Second, integrated wireless.Third, Eyefinity or similar technology with 3 1080p HDTVs.Fourth, 3D.
It's called a PC and they are already available....
The Xbox360 is going on 5 years-old already. I would hope they are already developing a new console. If they are smart, they would start making the consoles modular so that the GPU and memory can be upgraded, in addition to the hard drive. That would help extend the product lifecycle.
there probably just going to change the color of the fail ring it will now be the cool blue ring of death LOL. doing this xbox owners will go "oh man my 5th xbox died!!!" but hey that is a cool light LOL
Well.. I think it's pretty pointless to change it too much. Save the big changes for the next Xbox. Blu-Ray would be nice but an integrated player would mess up EVERY existing Xbox game because the loading times are so slow.
1. Quiet slot loading DVD drive.
2. Integrated Natal
3. Mouse Support for Games
4. Integrated Wireless
5. Bigger HD
6. 50% reduction in ALL downloadable content