New XBOX?

I am thinking oof buying a xbox in a month or so but wondered if there will be a better version e.g like ps2's psx. I know about the crystal version and that doesnt appeal to me (especally as remote and headset are black). But I have heard rumors of a small xbox, xbox with a improved DVD player, bigger HD, and so on.

So is there gonna be a new one? Are there rumors of a new one? Any other info?

[Neil]

I think it's unlikely at this stage of the game, but never rule anything out when it comes to console wars.

I've heard/read those rumours too, but they have all turned out to be unfounded.

I don't think personally they will ever release one with a larged hard drive (the 10 gig one is already ample), & there's little wrong with the current DVD player, so I can't see the need for an 'improved' one.

is there any where that i can read the rumors?

also good xbox sites and goos sites for learning about it (wish i got the equip xbox now)

not xbox.com btw

[DrAwesome]

Originally Posted by Damien

is there any where that i can read the rumors?

also good xbox sites and goos sites for learning about it (wish i got the equip xbox now)

not xbox.com btw

Your already here
This is the best place for speculation and learning about it.

[grindkid25]

yeah at this stage its preety good to get an xbox. xb2 and ps3 wont be out for a while yet but im sure the hype for them is going to be growing and growing a d more people with be goin off current machines

[zoombini]

This is the very time when you may find some highly reduced Xbox prices, as the current 2 month trial offers are ending & those xbox cartons that are badged with the trials info will be being sold off cheaper. Gameplay just sold them for £99.

Any new boxes wont be around for a while yet & I think that everyone will suggest that you just get one now & dont wait - its not worth missing the fun.
Get a box, get Xbox live (if you have broadband - if not get that too) and get enjoying yourself.

[Defiant]

Dont dont think there will be a bigger HDD. Can't see it anyway because from what I've read the XBOX2 wont even have a HDD. There on about flash memory

[Tezcatlipoca]

Yeah, they haven't confirmed anything yet, but it does sound like XBox2 won't have a HDD

[Defiant]

Originally Posted by Tezcatlipoca

Yeah, they haven't confirmed anything yet, but it does sound like XBox2 won't have a HDD

Doe's seem strange though. They were on about "Xbox 2, the real "home station?""

[Tezcatlipoca]

I suppose it's to try & counter all the hacking/modding.

Plus, if XBox2 uses some sort of flash memory card, instead of a HDD, M$ will make more money, as people will *have* to buy them (unlike XBox1 memory cards, which aren't really necessary).

[Defiant]

Originally Posted by Tezcatlipoca

I suppose it's to try & counter all the hacking/modding.

Plus, if XBox2 uses some sort of flash RAM memory card, instead of a HDD, M$ will make more money, as people will *have* to buy them (unlike XBox1 memory cards, which aren't really necessary).

Yea but there idea's for this home entertainment system are surly fraud if they are only using flash memory?

[chambece]

Originally Posted by Defiant

Yea but there idea's for this home entertainment system are surly fraud if they are only using flash memory?

That's what I thought, but how about this for an idea - Put the games on DVD-RAM Disks - all gaves saves and downloads can then be stored on disk!!

And of course you then have your home entertainment system too....

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by Tezcatlipoca

Yeah, they haven't confirmed anything yet, but it does sound like XBox2 won't have a HDD

or will it?

Patent offers clue in mystery of Xbox hard drive
Last modified: April 7, 2004, 11:56 AM PDT
By David Becker
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Then again, maybe the next Xbox will have a hard drive.

The likely fate of the game console's storage medium--the subject of ongoing speculation as Microsoft closely guards details on the planned successor to the current Xbox--got a new twist this week from a patent granted to the software giant.

U.S. patent 6,716,102, granted Tuesday to Microsoft, covers methods for storing data about games in progress.

The patent specifically references "a gaming system (that) includes a hard disk drive for storing applications and other data," indicating Microsoft may be more committed to equipping future Xbox configurations with onboard storage than previously thought.

A Microsoft representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Beyond confirming agreements with key suppliers--including chipmakers IBM, ATI Technologies and Silicon Integrated Systems--Microsoft has steadfastly refused to discuss plans for the successor to the current Xbox.

But company insiders have suggested the next version of the console--expected to hit the market late next year--may not include a hard drive, one of several measures intended to cut production costs for the money-losing product. That idea was bolstered in February, when flash memory products manufacturer M-Systems announced it had signed a contract to create high-capacity removable storage devices for future versions of the Xbox.

But the new patent describes internal, hard-drive storage as a key advantage for the Xbox over competing game consoles, allowing larger storage capacity and room to segregate data on individual games from other information, such as hardware and system settings.

"There is a need for an improved system for managing data in a gaming system that includes an internal data storage device, such as a hard disk drive," the patent says. "Additionally, there is a need for an improved system for displaying information regarding data stored in the gaming system."

The patent goes on to give a detailed description of file structure, naming conventions and other methods intended to make it easier for people to find and manage game data.

[Tezcatlipoca]

Originally Posted by Defiant

Yea but there idea's for this home entertainment system are surly fraud if they are only using flash memory?

Maybe they've changed their minds about XBox2 being a complete home entertainment centre?

They already have XP Media Centre out there, so perhaps want to concentrate on pushing that (& later Longhorn?) to take centre stage in the living room?

(or maybe....two XBox2s....one without HDD for just games etc, & another more expensive one with a HDD & other features for home entertainment...that's one thing I've seen people wonder about)

Originally Posted by chambece

That's what I thought, but how about this for an idea - Put the games on DVD-RAM Disks - all gaves saves and downloads can then be stored on disk!!

And of course you then have your home entertainment system too....

Writable discs (& the ability for the console to write to them) could mean more chance of hacking & piracy though.

Originally Posted by Ramrod

or will it?

IGN had a story on that: http://xbox.ign.com/articles/504/504...html?fromint=1

It seems that although the Patent has just been granted, it was actually *filed* in March 2001....suggesting it's actually for XBox1.

The Patent

United States Patent 6,716,102
Whitten , et al. April 6, 2004

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Method and apparatus for displaying information regarding stored data in a gaming system


Abstract
A gaming system includes a hard disk drive for storing applications and other data. The hard disk drive has multiple storage areas for storing different types of data. Each application executed on the gaming system has an associated data storage area and is prevented from using data storage areas associated with other applications. When saving a game, the saved game data may include a descriptive name of the saved game, a graphic representation of the state of the game when the game was saved, a description of the game state when the game was saved, and a date and time that the game was saved.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inventors: Whitten; Jon Marcus Randall (Sammamish, WA); Pirich; Christopher M. (Seattle, WA)
Assignee: Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, WA)
Appl. No.: 802798
Filed: March 9, 2001 [/url]

Hopefully M$ will announce something about XBox2 soon, & end the speculation.

[TigaSefi]

Got me X Box all plugged in and stuff hehe... I'll get online tonight I reckon. I played Top Spin and I'll think I'll be hammered online.