Microsoft to release three versions of Xbox 2

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A slide from a non disclosure agreement (NDA) presentation seen by the INQ 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 penciled 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.

News source: The Inquirer

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#1 SkaterAustin on 13 Nov 2004 - 00:01

This is interesting, mainly the fact that the basic xbox next has no hard drive, and the xbox next hd does? Wonder if the hd one is like a tv tuner in it and records tv

#2 Mx² on 13 Nov 2004 - 00:16

Quite interesting

(4 replies) #3 lbking on 13 Nov 2004 - 00:34

PowerPC based xbox next PC?

#3.1 Dr.Jones on 13 Nov 2004 - 03:01

yeah, what's up with that? a rewrite of windows, or emulation ???

#3.2 weenur on 13 Nov 2004 - 22:44

NT used to run on PowerPC up to version 4.

#3.3 phire_nuk3r on 13 Nov 2004 - 23:51

PowerPC is fast enough to emulate 68k Macs on the fly, (in fact the very first PowerPC Macs ran a 100% emulated operating system, programs and games) I don't see why they can't do the same thing with Intel games.

#3.4 tapo on 15 Nov 2004 - 08:34

I doubt it. VirtualPC is an absolutely great x86 emulator, and it's very, very slow. Who knows? Maybe it will run some simpler PC games (Half-Life)

#4 BigBoy on 13 Nov 2004 - 00:40

This could be very cool... it just makes sense that the PC-one would do the Media Center duties too.

(2 replies) #5 Aaryn Kasra on 13 Nov 2004 - 00:51

This could be bad news with regards to how developers use the hard drive in games. Maybe it will become a feature that isn't used to its full potential so that things are kept compatible? Or will we see two versions of each game coming out, one with HD support and one without??

#5.1 nX07 on 13 Nov 2004 - 04:03

I would see this the same as the PS2 Sort of, how games that are developed for the PS2 HDD are developed, but those who do not have those HDD extensions simply wont be able to use that function.

#5.2 Aaryn Kasra on 13 Nov 2004 - 11:04

Yeah it just sucks to not have it *standard* on the console so every game uses it. For example, how many games on PS2 use the hard drive since it came out...

Hopefully most of the developers continue to use it to its full advantage in Xbox Next HD, instead of having the majority of games use lowest common denominator and cater to the HD-less Xbox

(3 replies) #6 paulhaskew on 13 Nov 2004 - 01:00

won't this be a first for releasing different models of a console? pretty cool if you ask me...

#6.1 kitchenutensils on 14 Nov 2004 - 11:28

PSX/PSTwo?

Last edited by 44971 on 14 Nov 2004 - 11:34

#6.2 insurektion on 15 Nov 2004 - 01:06

thats more formfactor over actual difference

#6.3 tapo on 15 Nov 2004 - 08:37

No, the PSTwo is a form factor difference, but the PSX (not to be confused with the Playstation, which also used that acronym) is a hybrid PS2/PVR that Sony released in Japan.

(1 reply) #7 denzilla on 13 Nov 2004 - 01:40

I find the xbox/PC hybrid version interesting only for the potential to play xbox 1 games via emulator of some sort. The idea as a whole is too ambitious and will only cause competition amonst the ranks leading to a big failure.

#7.1 SkaterAustin on 13 Nov 2004 - 03:42

Also understand that a few months ago Microsoft released a statement saying longhorn would have levles of performance not the topic "entry level". There saying there going to have it so the pc can run all xbox 2 things such as games, controllers, etc via ur home built or store boughten pc depending on what level computer you have. never the less very interesting could go bad or good time will tell, but i seriously think sony got something up there sleeves

#8 Lanky on 13 Nov 2004 - 02:43

Bah, we dont want console only gamers thinking theyve got an awesome pc.
Theyll all be complaining when they cant play the latest pc games on there xbox 2 cause it aint fast enough for them.

(2 replies) #9 AngelicRaver on 13 Nov 2004 - 03:36

I think that is a really good idea. Imagine playing Half Life two on a big screen HD LCD/Plasma. Or ES4. Things that its hard to do with a normal PC. Hooking it up to your dolby 5.1 surround.. Just.. A really great idea if they go though with it.

#9.1 SkaterAustin on 13 Nov 2004 - 03:46

hey, did you not read the statement from microsoft a few months ago? There sayin that longhorn is able to play any form of xbox 2 stuff. so that would be xbox live, video games, controllers, etc ... its gonna be totally awesom

note: I will be buying a xbox 2 controller

(hl 2 will be awesom with it)

umm right, I got hl2 on pre-order right now, the collectors edition... umm and far as it getting boring never because the graphics are just beautiful, counterstrike source is really awesom, best physics in perty much any game out sooo nope. Far as the controller goes I already got the parts to build my dongle for the xbox s-controller to work on my pc.

Last edited by 14531 on 13 Nov 2004 - 16:48

#9.2 Krankerz on 13 Nov 2004 - 14:45

Do you really want to wait untill 2006 to play Half Life 2? I think it "uniqueness" will wear off by then. Plus, you can already play it on the Xbox 1 next year.

(1 reply) #10 FightingChance on 13 Nov 2004 - 04:17

I hope that MS will offer a certification program/piece of hardware that will allow a proper PC that is configured with a certain performance threshold of parts to play Xbox Next games - remember, they said Xbox Next accessories will work on PCs but never admitted that a vanilla box or self made PC would be able to play Xbox Next games themselves.

p.s. Xbox Next is an awful name. Say it real fast over and over.

#10.1 Krankerz on 13 Nov 2004 - 14:47

So in your book, what constitutes a good name vs. a bad one, is if you can say it really fast in succession? How odd...

(5 replies) #11 Liquid on 13 Nov 2004 - 05:03

I think this is false. I can see 3 versions but one not a PC. Considering XBOX 2 will run of of a PowerPC. Microsoft would have to rewrite Windows to run on PowerPC arcitecture. It would be rediculously expensive and would just cause problems.

#11.1 SkaterAustin on 13 Nov 2004 - 05:45

ya so, they had to do it with windows x64 re-write the entire windows code to work on the amd 64 and intel prcoessor... sept longhorn isn't due to beta till feb. 05 and final in may of 2006 i believe...

#11.2 Cmdr. Grunt on 13 Nov 2004 - 17:33

It's not that difficult, all they have to do is compile the source code in PowerPC Format. The source code is a base, and you can compile it for many different outcomes or platforms.

#11.3 Liquid on 13 Nov 2004 - 20:13

Yup ok, thats all you have to do... Look at XP 64-Bit, how long that is taking... They dont have the time to get XP PPC out before december next year. Beta OS's take at least a year, it just won't happen.

#11.4 KenLin on 14 Nov 2004 - 00:37

they are going to use a modified Windows NT

#11.5 wog boy on 15 Nov 2004 - 00:53

ha. you haven't done much software development if you think that porting to power pc is as easy as recompiling it in a different format. Microsoft recently said they wont support the itanium 2, in the up coming version of 64bit XP, do you think they wouldn't support it if all it would take is a recompile. I honest don't think there is going to be a pc version of the xbox, and if there one, the xbox wont be based on a power pc. People do some research before you post silly comments.

#12 SeMz... on 13 Nov 2004 - 05:25

i don't like the idea of a console being like a pc

(1 reply) #13 DeltaLima on 13 Nov 2004 - 05:47

Next and Next HD automn 2005 and Next PC 1 year later? Weird because at that time all hardware will be already old compared to next generation and we will begin to hear about Xbox 3 for automn 2009

#13.1 Krankerz on 13 Nov 2004 - 14:49

They're releasing an Xbox 3?!?!?! OMG!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!

#14 SkaterAustin on 13 Nov 2004 - 05:48

Personal opinion this is good and bad:

Good: Now you can run xbox stuff on ur pc which is aweosm because id luv a xbox controller on my pc (its possible right now if u make a dongle for it)

Bad: There rushing the xbox next if you think about it. 1 being longhorn isn't even finished and thats the back bone for xbox next. 2 longhorn dont come out or rtm(release to manufactors) till may of 2006 and could be delayed even more. 3 being there using a powerpc processor and ive never seen a perfect emulation of anything so im sure if they even try to emulate xbox games its gonna bee slow and not to performance...

(4 replies) #15 Dirtie on 13 Nov 2004 - 06:36

Err... we don't want a frickin PC, we want a gaming console... Leave the PCs to the PC manufacturers.

#15.1 Aaryn Kasra on 13 Nov 2004 - 11:06

People should really stop saying that. If you are against the converging of these technologies you are probably just uninformed on it. Either way, it's going to happen and it's going to make things easier for a lot of people, whether you like it or not.

#15.2 Dirtie on 14 Nov 2004 - 02:49

And then we get the same problems we get with today's PCs. Compatibility issues, always having to upgrade, etc. The best thing about consoles is that you buy a game, you put a game in, and you know it is going to play just fine just like it will on anyone elses. Even just with the current XBOX and all the upgrades you can get with that (although I must admit it is pretty nifty with all the emulators, etc.) is almost too much.

#15.3 kitchenutensils on 14 Nov 2004 - 11:32

^ yeah, we'll have to see how they run the PC though; because if the xbox runs from dos then it will be fine.

#15.4 tapo on 15 Nov 2004 - 08:44

The most disturbing thing to me is how Microsoft kept saying over and over that the original Xbox was not a PC. It wouldn't include a web browser, not even a keyboard. The controllers, while USB, are modified simply to not look like a computer. They wanted to be distant from the bad name they made for themselves when it came to operating systems.

Now that the Xbox caught on and gamers have finally forgiven them, it is, after all, a PC that you have options to choose from? Ugh, I hate this. Hopefully, the Xbox Next will go the way of 3DO.

(3 replies) #16 Galley on 13 Nov 2004 - 13:23

And I still won't buy one...

#16.1 SecretAgentMan on 13 Nov 2004 - 16:13

Your loss.

#16.2 tapo on 15 Nov 2004 - 08:46

He has a point. Basically the only reason the Xbox survived is because Microsoft bought Bungie in hopes for a decent launch title. The Halo series will be old by the time the Xbox 2 comes out. What will be it's savior?

#16.3 SecretAgentMan on 16 Nov 2004 - 08:16

There are many great Xbox games. Halo is not the only reason that the Xbox survived.

#17 DaNIsH on 13 Nov 2004 - 13:42

While the idea of Xbox 2 games and accessories being supported by PC is awesome, I don't like that there may be a hard drive-less release.
As some people above mentioned, it will screw with the standards. Eg. If Halo 3 comes out with Xbox Live support and they want to add a new map, well basically they couldn't without screwing over the people with no hard drive.
It would destroy the great features of the current Xbox.

#18 Buzzmountain on 13 Nov 2004 - 15:51

It's all about the benjamins. mo bases covered in gaming market = more money for microsoft.Adding full functioning PC power to the mix makes things better if it actually runs programs and you can install new ones,not just games to the Xbox-PC.They should make the graphics upgradable also,so later on you can pop in a newer,faster vid card and bam you got an xbox 3 or 4 and so on.

I would suspect the PC version is going to cost more than the other 2 xbox's thus cheaper xbox for the people that only want gaming. No HD in the other 2 xBox's would get people to buy their more expensive PC version IF they end up not having HD's in the other 2 box's.

#19 DodgeViper on 13 Nov 2004 - 16:37

This is by far the best thing I've ever heard, I'll definately be getting the Xbox 2 PC version, just think about it, this will also be targetted at the PC gamers market.

Another good thing about this is that exclusive games made for the PS2 such as GTA can be played on a Xbox since the GTA games are released on PC after the PS2, well technically Xbox PC only.

#20 Cyranthus on 13 Nov 2004 - 18:31

theres no point in this... just release the damn X-Box with a harddrive and stick to selling computers as computers...

DodgeViper: That would only apply to PC games... not XBox games. and its kind of a "duh" anyways... computers play computer games...

#21 mcwilliams132 on 14 Nov 2004 - 01:43

this has got to be bogus!

Why would MS loose money trying to sell 3 different systems let alone 1 system?

come on...think about it!

#22 thebuggerguy on 14 Nov 2004 - 08:29

Great. Give PS2'ers anothe reason to call Xbox "a console big enough to be a computer"...

My suggestion would be to have the basic Xbox Next to at least have a simple hard drive, like 5 gig or something...

(3 replies) #23 Zenith on 14 Nov 2004 - 09:05

i heard a rumor a while ago that the XBOX 2 will use an Apple G5 processor at 3GHz. can anyone confirm these rumors?

#23.1 nw_raptor on 14 Nov 2004 - 15:54

dunno, but i would doubt it

#23.2 mcwilliams132 on 14 Nov 2004 - 19:42

Current development boxes are based off a G5...but the final versions will be based on IBM PowerPC chips...if I remember correctly as well as ATI graphics.

#23.3 wog boy on 15 Nov 2004 - 00:57

until you see a offical statement from microsoft, there is no way anyone can confirm, that the next abox will use a powerPC chip. Have you got proof that the current development boxes have a G5 in them and what do you tihnk a G5 is, its a bloody IBM PowerPC chip.

#24 indiehead on 15 Nov 2004 - 17:04

i don't get this, why go this route?

you'll either have a glut of un-wanted units in the market as customers are waiting for the full unit or just stall your sales with customers waiting for the new unit.

and the pc thing is just strange, i mean most people who have an xbox have a computer of some description and usually far more powerful than an xbox (regardless of version 2's spec) so wouldn't this just mean more boxes in the household doing relatively the same thing, and then raises the problem of it becoming a pc?

i mean, will we be faced with the situation of people buying norton for their xbox 2?

sorry but in my mind it's a messy way to go about things, hope this is just an idea as it could get dirty in real life.

i'd be happy with an xbox 2 addon card for my computer, that'd be extremely cool

also i don't know that many people who use the console's online, pc's yes but consoles no, as the services usually cost money to access.

i have an xbox, gamecube and ps2 and have no intention of bringing those online as i just use them for quick bursts of entertainment, anything net-wise i use my pc for, that's why i built it.

all i can say is i won't be buying it, i have better things to do with my money, like buy that big-ass 4x4 i've always dreamed of.

#25 kawasabi on 15 Nov 2004 - 17:06

omfg! damn micro$oft is afraid of losing people that he has to do this pc in a small box to fool them.
hope this thing blows!

#26 DjmUK on 15 Nov 2004 - 21:13

Already posted on the 11th:
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?show...2906&hl=release

4 pages of replies and a lot of nice info

#27 cesardrgn on 16 Nov 2004 - 21:46

So you can make the simple x-box into the computer, or just upgrade the HD...

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