HD-DVD for Xbox 360 (really this time!)

If Xbox 360 is using an external drive for the HD-DVD, theoretically... can't it also develop an external Blu-Ray player as well. With 360 being about to output in HD.. would they not only need to add a drive to read the media?

I know Microsoft is supporting Blu-Ray.. but with the flexibility of an external drive, it seems like Microsoft may have covered themselves just incase HD-DVD fails... Any tech savy people who know more about hardware agree
with this assessment? It's just my thought..

Q

by LakersQC (See profile) - September 28, 2006 6:04 PM PDT

If the 360 utilizes the hardware already in the box the add on will only need to be able to read the disk. we already know the hardware can play hd content. The production costs shouldn't make it terribly expensive. I suspect it will use the SATA port from the hard drive to get around the bandwidth issues and switch back to the hard drive when not playing movies. As for using the drive for games, I don’t see the point until games actually have a use for the extra space, and should that day come then a software update could take care of it. Finally this is an option; if you don’t want or need it don’t buy it. Personally I like the idea of having a choice for a change.

by Soulwolf (See profile) - April 22, 2006 1:19 AM PDT

With rumors stating that you will only be able to watch HD-DVD movies(Not HD-DVD games) I just don't see the point.I'll stick with my $30 DVD player thank you very much!

by DarthViking (See profile) - January 27, 2006 12:12 PM PST

halfway through the life of the ps3 xbox360 they might release a bluray/hddvd version
(sort of how sony makes the slim psx,ps2 after the original has already been on the market for a while)
after the drive prices come down

by mike0t4 (See profile) - January 12, 2006 9:05 AM PST

You would think, since DVD technology has been around for ten years, that we would have good enough technology to slightly enhance the picture for a reasonable price. I wouldn't be willing to pay any more than $60.

by SprAggO (See profile) - January 11, 2006 8:20 PM PST

Unfortunately, the majority of those people that own DVDs will
not be comfortable with spending $1500 for a player that could
potentially become obsolete within two years. I did say "could"
because obviously the war is just beginning. Toshiba, NEC and
MS are the supporters of HD-DVD because of the simple costs.
HD-DVD costs 1/3 that of Blu-Ray. I am a proponent of neither
technology because I think there needs to be some sort of
common ground agreed upon before consumers are drained of
their hard earned money. Should be interesting to see how it
turns out in 3 or 4 years.

by sulo28 (See profile) - January 8, 2006 12:12 PM PST

So if Microsoft is offering the HD-DVD as a peripheral, it stand to reason that the technology exists to do the same with a blu-ray drive. Therefore since Microsoft actually has a product that is not vaporware, I think I might step out on limb here and go with something that actually exist outside of a plastic case. I am no lover of Bill Gates, but I have owned an X-box and PS2 and from my experience I saw no advantage to the PS2. Of course I am not into Japansese fantasy games, so it might come down to what you play.
Everything that I have read on the programming side says that the Cell will be an nightmare to program for, but no doubt that a triple core PowerPC cpu isn't a picnic either. As I stated earlier, it looks like that if you want a new toy in the next year, it will be the 360. At the very least you could buy one now and sell it later for half and consider it a lesson in patience.

by codeblue1961 (See profile) - January 7, 2006 7:35 AM PST

As Sony undoubtedly knows, price is the most important element in this mess. The Xbox360 cost over $300 without any new drives. Every element of the PS3 costs more, PLUS a new, super-expensive media drive. So in that sense, Microsoft's decision to split the drive and system apart to allow those who don't care to save money, is a good one. It also allowed them to release the system as early as they did... if only the chips had been ready as well.

I think the war will be primarily fought with price, at least early on. Without the need for any decoding hardware, the Xbox360's HD-DVD drive can be cheaper than traditional players. Microsoft has to make sure it's cheap enough to ensure widespread early adoption, combined with the double-whammy of games only available on HD-DVD. If they don't, the drive will be relegated to the dust-bin of history along with the SegaCD.

by Jive01 (See profile) - January 6, 2006 10:07 AM PST

Right now there is a major support going in the direction of Blu-ray. Check out Blu-ray.com for yourself. Sony learned a hard lesson back in the 80's and won't be quick to make the same mistake again, as a matter of fact they aren't. Every production company has selected Blu ray as their disc of choice. However some are going with both. But it seems like every day I see some one else switching to support the Blu ray disc. I can see myself buying one.

Also the few and far between Hardware supporters of Blu ray are NEC and Toshiba, Microsoft Intel.

Check out Wikipedia on the matter as well. Bundles of informationover there.

by yogibm1 (See profile) - January 5, 2006 7:29 PM PST

We all (mostly techies) knew that DVD's were superbly clear over the antiquated VHS technology out of the 1980s, but they were never HD-quality.

Speaking of the 1980s, here's some background information. Beta tapes were developed using a high-quality design far superior to VHS tapes, but VHS had the corporate support and marketing strategies that make products soar to new heights. VHS, the unsuperior tape technology, became the consumer standard for video media and Beta went to the wayside (until Beta SP for handheld cameras came out).

HD-DVD (which Microsoft is promoting) and Blue-Ray are two very similar technologies for HD video. Blue-Ray offers 25GB/layer, while HD-DVD only offers 15GB/layer. This means that Blue-Ray can provide higher-quality media, longer videos, and a richer menu system than HD-DVD can. Blue-Ray can stuff an entire HD movie onto a disc and also provide hours of extras and gaming experiences, but HD-DVD has Microsoft to back them up. Can we see a relationship between VHS and HD-DVD now?

I think it would be a back choice for Microsoft to offer HD-DVD support when Blue-Ray is the better technology. Microsoft should hold back and provide Blue-Ray support because it is the better choice. Or should Blue-Ray just get kicked to the side like Beta?

by Buckwheat469 (See profile) - January 5, 2006 4:10 PM PST