Blu-ray Xbox 360s may sell at a loss, say Taiwan makers Options

[Antdog24]

You will have 2 different systems out there with MILLIONS of these that already play only dual layer dvds.. then you want to release a 360 that ONLY plays blue-ray discs...

Uhhh.. Lite-on already makes BD-rom players that also are DVD burners, so what makes you think they are going to make a BD-rom only player? It's conceivable that the player will be able to play both formats as you can go to Newegg.com and buy one that does that now.

[eduardor2k]

I agree they should do it. I also think they should do it both ways (add on and integral). I have 2 360s but would trade one for a BR enabled machine. I would not however buy the add on.

Note: Your new signature image is too big . Could you edit it please.

With my latest posts, i mean that Blu-ray is getting momentum and is becoming a must have for consumers and gamers (not all of them *stay away*), adding blu-ray support to the Xbox, is something MS needs to do in order to compete against the PS3.

At least if someone wants to buy a Blu-Ray player, they will have other options besides de PS3, the Xbox 360 (for less money) and oem players.

PS: Better?

This post has been edited by eduardor2k: Apr 2 2008, 03:42 PM

[sha]

I think Microsoft made the right decision to use DVD drives. Let’s just face it. Blue Ray is just not ready and why put guess work into some new technology that a competitor owns? I am happy with DVD quality and downloadable content via live. I just wish Microsoft would buy Netflix and let them create a distribution model that serves the consumers. I know we would all be willing to pay for a service that stands up to H.264 and an all you can eat (download) 3day grace watch period service that you pay for by the month. I am not talking about IPTV for streaming content. I am talking about digital rights this is the future and Microsoft knows this. Look at Live marketplace that alone pays for development cost for Microsoft. And the live fees at $50 is just icing on the cake. People like paying for a monthly service look at Costco why are they in business because consumers like to know they pay 9.99 a month and get XYZ.

I would like to see Blue Ray make it don’t get me wrong. I really don’t see consumers making the move from the DVD players. At least until Netflix and Blockbusters of the rental world stop carrying DVDs we will see changes.

This post has been edited by sha: Apr 2 2008, 03:52 PM

[Havok]

One of the main reasons PS3 has done so well is because the price of the system is the same as the cheapest Blu-ray players on the market (for a long while it was actually cheaper).

If you have gone into any Circuit city or Best Buy (major electronics retailers in the U.S.) the associates almost always recomended a PS3 when a customer wanted Blu-Ray because they were essentially getting the "gaming" part free.

This put a PS3 in a lot of non-hardcore gamers hands.

I think once the Blu-Ray players from competitors drop, the PS3 will not be as attractive.

[Chancer]

You will have 2 different systems out there with MILLIONS of these that already play only dual layer dvds.. then you want to release a 360 that ONLY plays blue-ray discs...

A 360 with BR would still play everything else. It would still play DVD 9 etc.

Let’s just face it. Blue Ray is just not ready and why put guess work into some new technology that a competitor owns?

I don't understand what you mean by that. Not ready for what? Of course Blu-Ray is ready. Are syou suggesting the technology doesn't work yet?

I am happy with DVD quality and downloadable content via live.

Many people are not. I don't want mere DVD quality when I can have Blu-Ray. As for downloading being the future. That is a long way off. File size for 1080P quality content, Poor BB connections and ISP download caps will see to that. I also like to collect the discs, booklets etc.

I think once the Blu-Ray players from competitors drop, the PS3 will not be as attractive

By the time that happens the PS3 will be established as a gaming machine as well as Hi Def movie machine. the fact it will do both and have a large catalogue of games and Movies will keep sales going. The fact it had no games at the beginning is not still the case and by the end of it's second year in Europe it will have a massive games catalogue.

[Digitaloutcast]

I would be down, I not much for blu ray, i enjoy my hd dvd player but if they could get games like GOW and have more levels and what not that would be nice, but as it stands right now, i would buy an add on blue ray for 200$, and not a new system for 500-600$...

[Vicmasterinc]

Just wondering from reading the articles it doesn't sound like an addon sounds more like they'll put it into the machine, right? and if they did that wouldn't that mess up it's modding capabitlity? or am i reading this wrong?

[fiya]

MS doesnt need blu ray as much as ppl say. A move like this would set MS back in profits considerably and if you notice the current market of the ps3, there seem to be a slight boost sales since HD-DVD died but its back to normal. Its not that big a selling point, blu ray is really not that big that a console MUST have it to survive.
MS should worry about their holiday lineup (although it already seems very impressive) and product image rather than hardware upgrades.

[mercury187]

sorry microshaft, your already too late for me, I have both consoles now. I dont think its possible to go without one console or the other, ps3 has a superb UI with some great exclusives coming this fall summer (mgs4, socom, littlebigplanet) but 360 has a rich online experience (private chatting anywhere on the console, sending voice messages, dedicated servers).

Not that this is related, but their customer service really shined through when I tried to update my xbl sub with a prepaid card. Ive never heard such terrible customer service, those people would eat their children for your credit card number, it was quite scary.

[eduardor2k]

ohwell... m$ screws up once again.

I don't think the same, because you always had a console cheaper than the competition (Not including the Wii).

sorry microshaft, your already too late for me, I have both consoles now. I dont think its possible to go without one console or the other, ps3 has a superb UI with some great exclusives coming this fall summer (mgs4, socom, littlebigplanet) but 360 has a rich online experience (private chatting anywhere on the console, sending voice messages, dedicated servers).

That's fine, if you like one game that's not available on the x360, i think it's normal to buy a Ps3.

This post has been edited by eduardor2k: Apr 2 2008, 05:54 PM

[steveju]

Arcade: 199€
Premium: 249€
Elite: 299€
Ultimate: 349€

Where did you get those prices? Are you saying MS would lower their prices AGAIN before the launch of "ultimate"? ERPs aren't that low and the prices online are almost equal to the ERPs:

Arcade: 199€ (correct)
Premium: 279€ (wrong)
Elite: 369€ (wrong)
Ultimate...
Now, remember that EU has never gotten anything at a reasonable price, so let's say 499€ just to be sensible. 349€ is really unrealistic, unless you're converting from USD to EUR, well, then it's too high

This post has been edited by steveju: Apr 2 2008, 07:18 PM

[vengeancegoon]

ps3 has a superb UI

Are you smoking crack? The PS3 (and the PSP, I own both) have terrible UI. I work in the field and I don't think there is a single designer here that loves the UI. It's simple and has nice clean icons, but poorly laid out and don't even get me started on the store (let us hope the redesign fixes this). Microsoft's blades are far nicer, although I could do without all the ads.

Personally I would love it if Microsoft came out with a SKU that has BR player. I could then get rid of my PS3 which I personally think is a hunk of junk. I love the PSP though so Sony will keep me in that respect but the PS3 is utter garbage in my eyes (I know that is not a popular opinion, just mine).

[MrFish]

Do none of you remember the HD-DVD addon dissections?

For those who weren't paying attention, the add-on and the 360 take drives with the same form-factor and interface, in order to cut manufacturing costs through standardisation. You can take the drive out the add-on, and put it in your 360. It won't do anything (except, presumably, have a natter with Microsoft to get you banned from LIVE), but the point is that it fits. Because any 360 drive also fits in the external enclosure, the fact that a company is making a 360 drive does not imply that Microsoft is making a 360 with that drive inside it.

Unless Microsoft's Xbox division has suddenly been taken over by complete cretins, the bluray drive will be used to retool all those returned unsold HD-DVD addons, which will go back out to retail for much the same price.