Speculation and rumors have been around for a while that the next-generation Xbox gaming console will not have a hard drive as the current one does. Several days ago, it seems that an Isreal-based Flash memory maker confirmed this. There are a couple of things to note here about this, though.
First, this “announcement” wasn’t made by Microsoft (in fact Microsoft called the comments “speculation"), but rather by a Flash memory maker. And they don’t have any sort of vested interest in the issue I’m sure…
The comments on the AnandTech news item where I saw this almost all decry the possibility of no hard drive as either really bad or something that won’t matter at all. What surprises me, though, is that no one at all has yet mentioned what was part of a recent Xbox Live TOS update: it seems that Microsoft is going to start offering network-based storage for Live users.
The current Xbox HD is used basically for three things: game saves, new content downloaded via Live, ripped songs (for use as custom music in some games). So, let’s assume that the rumor of no HD is true. Where does that leave us?
1) Game saves will likely be to a Flash-based device, so that probably won’t be an issue. You’ll also probably be able to store game saves on the Live-enabled network storage.
2) Content which was previously downloaded via Live will now probably simply be part of the network storage. The downside here (and it’s legitimate) is that you’d almost certainly have to remain connected to the net to take advantage of this extra content.
3) Music storage… this seems to be the one that’s left out in the cold since I can’t really foresee having large enough Flash storage to make it a feasible storage medium for this. Granted, this is probably the least-used of the three things the HD is used for and only some games even support use of the custom music, but it was a really nice feature to be able to use.
So, if we go with the assumption that there won’t be a hard drive, we’re not nearly as bad off as we might have thought a month or two ago. It looks like the major functionality of the HD will be picked up by other things and hopefully no HD will mean the “Xbox Next” will be just a bit cheaper (or at least no more expensive).
Posted Monday March 8, 2004 in News by Chris Curtis
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Heh. Yeah. I guess I should have been more specific and clarified that I meant no more expensive than it otherwise would have been—i.e. the standard price that basically all consoles have upon release as you mentioned.
I certainly have no illusions that the next Xbox version will be released at under $200! :D
By Chris Curtis on March 8, 2004 at 12:08pm link
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Oh your post is great except for the last sentence, oh ha ha ha ha!
Ahem.
I don’t remember any console release since the 16-bit days that was less than $299, except for the SEGA Dreamcast. And as awesome as that was at the time, the technology that it used was much cheaper than what is being talked about for the XBOX Next.
By Derek Jones on March 8, 2004 at 11:38am link