If it's 99 bucks I'll take it. Otherwise I'll either buy a bluray drive, or purchase a multifunction router w/ Bluray playback capabilities when the price is right. #steveballmer
DD is the way of the future, less plastic being created means less fossil fuels being used. Discs are also a parents worse nightmare because kids do not put them back in the case, stack them in a not so good way, and tend to stick them inside of all sorts of thingsbesides the cases and tray.
@Billkwando: I gotta agree with this. This is why I don't understand all the love for DD. I can't wait until the day I'm stuck with trying to sell my DD instead of the physical media.:( #steveballmer
Before I comment you should know I have a PS3.
So, I highly doubt the next format will be blu-ray. Yes, the discs are HUGE and will only get bigger, but that also makes them take much longer to read (and by much I mean seconds) and in an age where speed is so important and people constantly complain about 30 second load times I can't imagine a format taking off that increases the amount of time it takes to do something. It's doing ok so far, and the quality is impeccable, but I think blu-ray is more of a stepping stone towards a newer format. In my opinion blu-ray is going to be forgotten like 8 tracks generally are now. And no, the next step is not digital distribution, it's too risky for people right now. #steveballmer
@Mox FcCloud: Totally agree, Blur-Ray is a quick fix to compliment our television sets capabilities, and in the long run will fizzle out. And as for the digital distribution.. I like having DVD cases on my book shelves I have probably 400 or so and I love it, I dont want to have 2-3 hard drives in place of the cases and cover art. #steveballmer
It's strange how the PS3 originally marketed itself as a "home entertainment, multimedia system" where as the XBOX used this to it's advantage, labelling itself as a truely game dedicated console. Even to the point of criticising Sony of not being fully committed to their gaming community.
With Sony's recent rebranding they are now focused at targeting the hardcore gamers going all out letting people know its a games machine, while Microsoft are now suddenly taking the "360 can do anything, gaming, multimedia, video streaming all in one" approach type marketing Sony took originally. It's like they just suddenly decided to switch places! #steveballmer
Let's not forget that Microsoft's seat on the Blu-Ray Association is even smaller than Apple's, and seeing as Sony pioneered and developed the technology, this is an awkward spot at best for the 360... #steveballmer
@bkld18:
Microsoft and Sony's game departments are very seperate from the rest of the company, I doubt the guys in either really give a crap, it would be absolutely daft for either of them to stop buisiness over something so small, considering they have full laptop lines developed together. #steveballmer
@Billkwando: but if you're tricking the xbox into thinking it's the harddrive. If it has the files that a normal xbox would have then they could not technically find out if you have an unlicensed harddrive. #steveballmer
Shrug. I'll take it. It would be nice to be able to have an all-in one system, even if I have to have multiple USB cables running here and there. I still have plenty of HD DVDs that - get ready, because this will shock you - look and sound just as good as their Blu-Ray counterparts. #steveballmer
@doubtful: What do you mean investment in the infrastructure isn't being done? Sony's really trying to push PSN with the introduction of the PSPGo, and Live is geting serious new additions every year. Microsoft wouldn't be able to stream Movies in 1080p as planned unless they put in serious investment to their network. Likewise, Sony will start getting very serious with their network now that they have a platform which uses digital distribution exclusively for content.
Granted, both console networks still lag far behind iTunes as an all digital marketplace, but they're certainly not just sitting around and watching Apple take all the money for digitally distributed content. #steveballmer
@polezo: It is irrelevant how advanced the PSN and Live! are if the delivery service isn't up to the task. When I say infrastructure, I'm talking about internet speeds and penetration. #steveballmer
@doubtful: penetration sounds scandalous... but agreed. There are people who either have or don't have the internet. People have priority and at the moment, faster internet connection is not a priority for many. #steveballmer
@doubtful: Just as a personal example, I have lower than the average speed internet connection for the US--verizon DSL about 3mbps downstream--and I've still found I prefer Streaming Netflix to renting actual DVDs for convenience.
The average in most other countries is higher, too, as can be seen by this chart.
In short, I think the infrastructure is there, it's just the marketplaces which need to evolve, and they are at a quickening pace. #steveballmer
For the people who are saying that Network (Digital) Distribution is the future, I need you guys to read this article by Stephen Totilo and then think about what he mentioned in the UPDATE section.
@kNZA: You can't change consumer behavior just by stating it. If anything, a digital delivery service will exacerbate consumers' desire for instant gratification. #steveballmer
@Vecha: Tired of America's Solution to Health Care.: which ended up being the format's downfall. few people had a HDDVD drive, so companies saw no reason to produce movies for it #steveballmer
@Vecha: Tired of America's Solution to Health Care.: It would've helped. At that time, so many more people had 360's than PS3's. If the 360 had had an HDDVD reader the sales for the HDDVD's would've been MUCH higher. Yes, Blu-ray is better, but if the 360 had an HDDVD drive the sales would be directly proportional to those consoles sales. 360 sold more consoles than the ps3 at that time, so HDDVD would sell more than blu-ray.
and I'm tired of american health care too.
:) #steveballmer
@Vecha: Tired of America's Solution to Health Care.: That's very true, I didn't think of that. plus an HDDVD drive could've brought the price of the console up, which was a pretty big selling point to the 360 in the first place. Actually, an HDDVD 360 would probably be at about the same spot the PS3 was in when it released. wow, that's cause and effect for you. #steveballmer
The article doesn't mention that Ballmer is the CEO of Microsoft, rather than just some random bloke on the street that Gizmodo though they'd ask about the future of the 360. Although they might have got just as reliable an answer if they'd chosen the latter route instead. #steveballmer
@dd528: yeh but Ballmer has been wrong before when talking about Xbox stuff... he announced that there would be a new Xbox, in the end Aaron Greenberg had to come out and correct him
so yeh Ballmer is CEO but its not impossible that he doesn't know the complete direction of Xbox... maybe he lets others handle it for the most part while he concentrates on bar graphs #steveballmer
@Dangsterr: We're talking Xbox, it'll be more like $300. Think about it. A Blu-ray drive for just about 1.5 times the price of a regular, 120GB hard drive? The cost would have to be much, much higher for something like a Blu-ray drive. Ridiculous. #steveballmer
@brass2themax: It won't cost more than a PS3, since part of the goal would be to prevent Xbox 36o owners from buying a Ps3 "just for the Blu-Ray." #steveballmer
@Balkatron: You cannot get a BR player as good as PS3 for less than a PS3. The entry level players are plagued with problems, not the least of which is the inability to play random BRs.
I do agree with you about the price, though. $100 - $125 seems like a sound starting point. #steveballmer
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Not being able to sell your possessions.....it's the way of the future!!!! #steveballmer
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So, I highly doubt the next format will be blu-ray. Yes, the discs are HUGE and will only get bigger, but that also makes them take much longer to read (and by much I mean seconds) and in an age where speed is so important and people constantly complain about 30 second load times I can't imagine a format taking off that increases the amount of time it takes to do something. It's doing ok so far, and the quality is impeccable, but I think blu-ray is more of a stepping stone towards a newer format. In my opinion blu-ray is going to be forgotten like 8 tracks generally are now. And no, the next step is not digital distribution, it's too risky for people right now. #steveballmer
10/22/09
10/22/09
10/22/09
10/22/09
With Sony's recent rebranding they are now focused at targeting the hardcore gamers going all out letting people know its a games machine, while Microsoft are now suddenly taking the "360 can do anything, gaming, multimedia, video streaming all in one" approach type marketing Sony took originally. It's like they just suddenly decided to switch places! #steveballmer
10/22/09
10/22/09
10/22/09
Microsoft and Sony's game departments are very seperate from the rest of the company, I doubt the guys in either really give a crap, it would be absolutely daft for either of them to stop buisiness over something so small, considering they have full laptop lines developed together. #steveballmer
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Granted, both console networks still lag far behind iTunes as an all digital marketplace, but they're certainly not just sitting around and watching Apple take all the money for digitally distributed content. #steveballmer
10/22/09
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10/22/09
@doubtful: Just as a personal example, I have lower than the average speed internet connection for the US--verizon DSL about 3mbps downstream--and I've still found I prefer Streaming Netflix to renting actual DVDs for convenience.
The average in most other countries is higher, too, as can be seen by this chart.
In short, I think the infrastructure is there, it's just the marketplaces which need to evolve, and they are at a quickening pace. #steveballmer
10/22/09
10/22/09
[kotaku.com] #steveballmer
10/22/09
You don't need instant-on to watch the movie... #steveballmer
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And guys, does the 360 still have the HD DVD drive in it? #steveballmer
10/22/09
The 360 never had the HDDVD dive in it...it was an accessory. #steveballmer
10/22/09
10/22/09
So...if the HDDVD was in the console? It would have succeeded? Maybe... #steveballmer
10/22/09
and I'm tired of american health care too.
:) #steveballmer
10/22/09
Yea...perhaps...I'm not that knowledgeable about the HDDVD vs. Blu-ray war format...thing...
I'd have to see how many people were buying blu-ray discs on the PS3 vs. standalone players...
But I suppose that would have been possible...
However...microsoft might have lost their chance at releasing early...and risk losing the lead in sales as well. #steveballmer
10/22/09
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so yeh Ballmer is CEO but its not impossible that he doesn't know the complete direction of Xbox... maybe he lets others handle it for the most part while he concentrates on bar graphs #steveballmer
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That'd be pretty stupid. You can get Blu-Ray players for less than $200. For example the LG BD370 is available for €149. Nobody would buy it then.
It'd make more sense if the add-on is less than €100 or dollar. #steveballmer
10/22/09
I do agree with you about the price, though. $100 - $125 seems like a sound starting point. #steveballmer
10/22/09