Xbox.com adds HD DVD player product page

by Matt Burns, posted Aug 10th 2006 at 4:26PM

Microsoft's Xbox.com just added a HD DVD product page on the site. The price? Nope, still not listed. The site is void of any super secret insight, but it does have a few nice images of the drive and the standard marketing information. It is interesting to note that one of the points that this site is trying to make is that people prefer the HD DVD format two to one over Blu-ray. It does seem that way to us and is echoed with the amount of posts created and viewed at AVS Forum. The page also provides 'helpful" links to everyone's favorite Xbox/HD DVD podcast: Major Nelson's. With this site launching, does that mean that we might see the price sometime soon? Oh, we sure hope so.

Filed under: Industry, Advertising

Tags: 360, dtv, hd dvd, HdDvd, hdtv, tv, xbox

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Project Z @ Aug 10th 2006 5:33PM

More importantly, when will this ship?

Neutral

NNTPgrip @ Aug 10th 2006 5:52PM

I've just got one thing to say about this drive. Theres no grove or what not that will physically "mount" this thing to the 360. No biggie, and I'm sure there will be several accessories made to make that happen.

Other than that I think it should be cool. - hopefully the 360 won't be hammered to much during playback and won't have to turn the jet fans on too loud.

Neutral

Dracula Jones @ Aug 10th 2006 7:03PM

I just feel like the design is sideways. It maintains the overall look of the 360 case, but it clashes by turning the design on its side.

Minor gripe aside, I'm probably going to get one if it reviews favorably.

I also like that it has two USB ports on it and a wireless adapter mount, so I can move my adapter over and gain a port for the Vision Camera when it comes out. Just a nice touch there.

Neutral

IseWise @ Aug 11th 2006 3:39AM

I really would like to see how much this is going to cost Microsoft, and me of course. I heard that it will be cheap, but if it doesn't sell, and for the record, major add-ons to consoles have never gone to well, Microsoft is stuck up the river with out a paddle, kinda. And despite the high price of the PS3, every one know that it already has a next gen optical device in it. Also the PS3 will sell out guaranteed on launch day, so you can count on X many of Blu-Ray drives in peoples homes.

Neutral

Nill @ Aug 11th 2006 6:45AM

You've experienced next-gen gaming on Xbox 360™ … now experience next-gen DVD movies with HD DVD. The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player is the most affordable way to jump into the next generation of DVD technology, along with the flexibility to enter when you are ready. Just plug Xbox 360 HD DVD Player into Xbox 360 and enjoy the ultimate home theater experience with more clarity and detail thanbroadcast, cable or satellite HD. Feed your HDTV the high definition content it craves with HD DVD on Xbox 360!

Neutral

ScootOnDown @ Aug 11th 2006 8:30AM

No HDMI on that drive and no price would concern me greatly.

In the past I've heard many people compare Blu-Ray to Betamax, well in my opinion the comparison should be HD-DVD to Betamax. Betamax was a better quality product that failed due to VHS dominating in titles and harware. The Blu-Ray onslaught is coming and with more hardware and more studio support there is no way HD-DVD will win this format war. By first quarter 2007 there may be an estimated 3 - 5 million Blu-Ray players in homes, compared to what? an optomistic 50,000???? I feel all the movie studios will see the light at that point and support Blu-Ray.

Neutral

Zach @ Aug 11th 2006 8:40AM

ScootOnDown

Whats the point of having studio support behind a format if NONE of the studios are releasing titles? Its rediculous, HD DVD has more titles than Blu Ray, yet, Blu Ray has nearly all of the studio support, which, according to Sony and everyone else is the deciding factor on who gets the cup and who goes home.

Sounds to me studio support isn't the deciding factor if these companies are too nervous to release any titles.

Neutral

Steve J @ Aug 11th 2006 8:42AM

I think this HD-DVD drive could do quite well... if they get the price right.

(I think) You're looking at casual gamers who like to watch the odd movie and wont be too concerned that this isn't a fully featured HD-DVD player. If the price is cheap enough, they may say "what the hell, let's try a couple of these high def movies too".

If the price is as high as some people are predicting though, this thing is going to die a horrible death... especially if those same consumers look at a proper Toshiba player and think "that isn't much more to pay..."

Neutral

ScootOnDown @ Aug 11th 2006 9:11AM

Zach

"NONE" of the studios are releasing titles?? At the moment there are approx. 25 Blu-Ray titles to 47 HD-DVD titles. HD-DVD HAS been out twice as long. I don't think studios are "nervous" I think they want more players in the market. Hardware, and sales of hardware will be a reason for studios to provide content for the format(s), and I don't see HD-DVD with additional "quality" hardware coming down the line anytime soon.

Besides if this lackluster 360 add-on (Sega 32x, anyone?) isn't priced between $200- $250 the sales will be incredibly low.

Neutral

Larry @ Aug 11th 2006 10:23AM

ScootOnDown, you keep using the Sega 32x example as if the Xbox 360 will be using the HD-DVD drive for gaming which they are not. It is just a movie player. The success of failure of it will not effect the Xbox 360 as a whole.

Neutral

ScootOnDown @ Aug 11th 2006 10:50AM

Larry, it was never my intention to suggest the unit to be used for games. It was strictly an asthetic issue, most people don't like a bunch of stuff (add-on(s) piled up in their HT cabinets. I hope the 360 does some great marketing to combat the PS3, but I would think the only "legit" answer to the PS3 would be to offer up a new movie/gamer bundle with the 360 proedition, HD-DVD drive and their Wi-Fi adapter for $599. I hope they do it. I personally don't think it will look as sleek as the PS3 but asthetics are subjective.

Neutral

Scott @ Aug 11th 2006 10:59AM

No offense Scoot, but the PS3 is as sleek as a George Foreman Grill. Aesthetically, the PS3 is the worst designed version of the PlayStation.

I agree with #3 - Dracula Jones though. They should have the 360 add-on front match the actual 360 front. It looks off when you set them side-by-side now because they are so different.

Neutral

ScootOnDown @ Aug 11th 2006 11:20AM

Hey, George Foreman has some pretty "sleek" grills! But at least George wouldn't try to rip you off by charging you $99 bucks for a $25 Wi-Fi adapter.

Neutral

WASD John @ Aug 11th 2006 11:59AM

There is absolutly no reason why a HDMI output can not be added in the future to the Xbox360. It does not need to be on the actual HD-DVD drive. Look at the original Xbox and the various outputs that it is capable of doing. It will only be a matter of time before a HDMI output is available for it. The only concern I have about this player is upscaling. I want a player that will upscale my current DVD collection to at least 1080i and I have no clue on if the 360 will do this. I have heard that a VGA cable allows the 360 now to upscale dvds to 720p but I still want 1080i. So I may just hold back a bit more to find out what the full capabilities of the HD-DVD addon will be. But if it does upscaling to 1080i, then I'm in (Well that and depending on price)!

Neutral

Scott @ Aug 11th 2006 12:53PM

#13 - WASD,

The 360 upconverts to 720p and 1080i via the VGA cables already. One of the devs commented that they'd like to enable upconverting via the component cables too....not sure if that will actually happen though.

I doubt will ever see an HDMI cable because the 360 output is analog. But, it really isn't an issue because the movie publishers have supposedly agreed not to enforce the ICT until 2010...possibly as late as 2012. That makes HDMI mute for this console generation.

Neutral

Scott @ Aug 11th 2006 12:56PM

#13 - Scoot...the wifi adaptor would be more than $25 because it supports 802.11g and 802.11a. Search around and you'll find that the a/g adaptors are closer to the $99 price than you think.

Neutral

ScootOnDown @ Aug 11th 2006 2:17PM

#16 - http://www.shopping.com/xPO-Belkin_Wireless_Notebook_F5D7010 - $29
#15 - WASD, Nice!

...and for the record I hope they release this thing at a price point where people will actually buy it. I just don't think it's going to happen.

Neutral

Scott @ Aug 11th 2006 2:29PM

#17 - Now find one that can be used on something other than laptops. Specifically, game consoles.

Neutral

Zach @ Aug 11th 2006 2:29PM

Thats a PC card, not an Ethernet Bridge. Try looking up the WGA54AG or the DGL-3420. And naturally hardware additions are always expensive as its an attempt to bring back money lost through console sales. The controllers for example cost roughly $15 - $20 to make yet they sell for a' lot more.

They also like to use the excuse that your buying Xbox branded products ya da ya da ya da, that whole thing.

Neutral

ScootOnDown @ Aug 11th 2006 2:43PM

#19 - "They also like to use the excuse that your buying Xbox branded products ya da ya da ya da, that whole thing."

That's kind of the whole point here? Same thing with this 360 HD-DVD drive. As far as the Wi-Fi adapter is concerned, the technology isn't expensive, like you said (xbox) is charging you about double because a) theirs is the only one that will work with the 360 and b) it's a branded product and c)they're trying to recoup what they're losing on the systems.

#18 "Now find one that can be used on something other than laptops. Specifically, game consoles." You can't, why? Because then Microsoft couldn't stick it to you with their overpriced branded peripherals.

Neutral

Scott @ Aug 11th 2006 3:19PM

#20 - LMAO...You linked to a PC card as an example of a "cheap" a/g adaptor? This is something that no other console can use...not the Xbox, the Xbox 360, the PS2, and the $500 PS3.

The Linksys A/G network gaming adaptor runs for ~$80. Wireless bridges are more expensive.

MS's mistake is not with the price of their a/g wireless adaptor but with not selling a 802.11g/b only version that would easily retail for $50 or less. Consumers can still pick up one of those themselves.

I originally had my 360 hooked up to a WRT54G Linksys Router that I modded into a bridge. But, I needed the bridge elsewhere in the house so I tried the cheaper Linksys Gaming Adaptor....giant PITA. I then bit the bullet and picked up the MS adaptor...

I was wary of the price for the wireless adaptor as well. But after purchasing it, it is a breeze to setup and performs very well.

Neutral

ScootOnDown @ Aug 11th 2006 3:34PM

#21 - I think we're way off topic here. But...I have been waiting to purchase a 360 or a PS3 since last year (I actually had a 360 and sold it on Ebay, couldn't refuse!). I had an XBOX and was very happy with it, but when I sold my XBOX was also when I started looking into Hi-Def media and Iliked the fact that the PS3 was going to be, for me, an excellent option and an opportunity to spend the $599 and get both items that I wanted. I'm not bashing the 360, I really do think it's a great system, but for myself who is someone that definitely watches movies more than plays games it makes a ton of sense.

Neutral

Ben Hobbs @ Aug 12th 2006 8:14AM

People keep talking about the installed userbase of Blu-Ray being in the millions but in reality that makes no difference. For example say if conservatively only 10% of 360 buyers bought the HD DVD drive, then you have 500,000 - 1,000,000 people who are DEFINITELY going to be buying multiple HD DVD's, because its an option, a choice and people who have specifically gone out of their way to buy the HD DVD drive are going to be a lot more likely to purchase software for it.

My phone is supposedly a pretty good mp3 player, but I've never used that feature. Most of the people wanting a PS3 want it for games, in fact its not always a positive thing that it can play movies as well. What kid wants their parents watching movies whilst they are itching to play games?

To date more people have the 360 than the PS3, it will be easier for all those who already have a 360 to buy a HD DVD drive than go buy a PS3 to watch inferior quality movies. If you are into console gaming to any sort of serious extent, then you already have a 360 - if not then its most likely to be because you can't afford one. All those 5 million 360 owners are 5 million gamers that really have no reason to pick up a PS3 but every reason to pick up a HD DVD add-on.

Neutral

GhostDoggy @ Aug 12th 2006 8:29AM

Without confirming the price is below $300, how many people are going for a half-feature solution vs. a standalone product that can be had for $450 elsewhere? Its not integrated (right?) so it isn't saving you any shelf space.

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