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09 May 2006
Microsoft has confirmed that the Xbox 360 will eventually support the HD-DVD next generation video format. Full support will be given via an external USB-powered disc drive.
Albert Penello, director of global marketing for the Xbox 360, said at the E3 gaming conference in the US this week that the add on "carries with it an extension of the HD era that Xbox 360 offers, and provides the most visually stunning movie watching experience available".
"This new accessory will connect to the Xbox 360 console with a USB cable, enabling it to harness the power of the Xbox 360 for the HD video outputs and digital surround sound," he added.
"As an accessory, it becomes another shining example of the flexibility designed into the Xbox 360 console in order to grow and add new features."
Microsoft threw its support behind the HD-DVD camp with the announcement that the forthcoming Vista operating system will support the new high-resolution format.
A wide-reaching system for digital rights management when playing videos or audio files is also under development, but this technology is not likely to be popular with many users.
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Do you agree?
Here's the truth.
Well first, the lowest version of the PS3 will be $500, 20GB hard drive and Blu-ray drive included. The 360 costs around $300 for the core system, which does not come with a hard drive. If you add the cost of having to buy a 20GB hard drive and this new HD-DVD attachment to that, it becomes a grand total of $500. You end up paying the same price. And about your speculation as to not being able to afford the games: the PS3 Blu-ray discs can hold 25GB per layer, whereas the 360 only holds about 4.7GB per layer. That means that when a large game emerges, you will have to fork over more cash to buy the 360 games, due to the developers having to use more than one disc.
Posted by: Stolen_Kuniva 11 May 2006
PS3 may well be the better deal
If you want wifi on your xbox 360 it will cost you an extra $90. So the difference between the top end PS3 and Xbox 360 with wifi is $110. For that extra $110 you get 40gb bigger hard drive and Blu ray, 1080p...just a better console. Now how much do you think the HD DVD drive for Xbox 360 will cost? Over $110...then the PS3 is a better deal. I still think they're both too damn expensive but I will take the PS3 any day of the week.
Posted by: Mark Colin 11 May 2006
Xbox 360 is the better Product
Hands down the 360 is the better product, I truly believe that the 360 is going to be the market leader at the end of this generation. Sony has solidified itself as the market ripoff, and at $599, it's going to lose a lot of it's install base which is younger, and has less disposable income, then microsofts'. It's all about the games, guess what? It's all about playing the games and at $599 you can't play very many if you can't afford them.
Posted by: Steven 09 May 2006