X-Box 2: Won't Include Hard Drive

[DayleJ]

Looks like you'll have to splash out on separate flash memory units instead.....

It's looking almost certain today that Xbox 2 won't include a built-in hard drive but will instead rely solely on flash memory cards.

Flash disk specialists M-Systems recently announced that they had signed up with Microsoft to develop "customised memory units for future Xbox products and services". Now the company's president, the improbably-named Dov Moran, has gone on record saying that Xbox 2 definitely won't have internal storage - presumably in a bid by Microsoft to keep the cost of the machine down.

"Microsoft has taken the hard drive out of its Xbox," he says. "The only thing left will be a CD; that's all. At some point, when users want to save their email messages, copy music or anything like that, the only storage they'll have is what we give them."

M-Systems' Fast Flash Disks, which were originally designed for military and aerospace infrastructure applications (sounds like fun), have storage capacities ranging from 16MB to a whopping 47GB. It's not yet clear what storage capabilities the products that they supply Microsoft will have, although we'd imagine that they would have to at least match the 8GB capacity of the current Xbox hard drive.

However, Microsoft themselves have said that Moran's comments are nothing but speculation. We should get official confirmation of Xbox 2's specs at the end of this month as the machine is expected to be unveiled at the Game Developers Conference, which kicks of on 22 March in San Jose.

[Oddball]

That Sucks, i bet u anything that PS3 will put an Harddrive in theirs. But u cant blame Microsoft, they want to actually make $ off there next consle, they loose $200 of every consle sold on Xbox 1.

[Half-White]

Hmm... I guess that it is reasonable... hopefully those mem cards will have lots of memory space...

[cHilli]

Thats a balls, the HD was the reason I chose the XBox over the GC at the end of the the day. If consoles get alot more expensive, which it looks like they will, ($500 for a new Ps3?) People will just get PC's.

save their email messages, copy music or anything like that

If this happens, and parts will become available to buy or upgrade the XBox, its the same as buying a crap PC and upgrading it.

[Oddball]

If they let me remove the HD from Xbox 1 and put it into Xbox 2 than That would be just fine.

[Good Ol' Redneck]

now that right ther would be kool if the ps3 had it in it but it sucks that the xbox2 wont and whens it gonna be out:beer:

[Oddball]

If Xbox Next puts of a quality line up like Before, then i will still buy it, if not i will have to consider my options.

[Half-White]

At any rate I probably won't get the next Nintendo system... tho I will keep getting Game Boys...

[Oddball]

I'd have to agree on you there, Nintendo is losing alot of third party support, at this rate they wont make it in the next consle race. I may also get PS3, but i dont know for sure.

[Half-White]

Not only that, but I think Nintendo rips off their customers for money. Here are some examples of that:

- In Metroid Prime, once you've beaten it, you need to hook it up to Metroid Fusion so you can unlock Metroid 1. Why not just make it automatically unlock when you beat MP?

- In any Pokemon Game Boy game, you need to trade with the other versions to get all the pokemon.

- In Animal Crossing, you need a GBA and GC-GBA link cable to go to the island.

- Also in AC, you need an e-reader and some cards to unlock to unlock cool stuff.

- Worst of all, you can't buy the Zelda anthology disc separately from a new GC. If you don't want to get a new GC, you need to register some of your games online or subscribe to Nintendo Power, which I feel has also diminished in quality.

Whereas Halo is better than any game on GC. Other great games would include Morrowind, Panzer Dragoon Orta, and Star Wars: KOTOR.

Other games I would like to get for XBox: Ninja Gaiden, Project Gotham Racing 2, Halo 2, Half-Life 2, Fable, and maybe Perfect Dark Zero. What do I want to get for GC? Baten Kaitos, Tales of Symphonia, and maybe Zelda: Four Swords and FF:CC. A mere four games right there.

Things don't look good at all for Nintendo. At any rate, I still love their Game Boy.

[Oddball]

Nintendos Policy: Why would anyone want to go online when they can waste $80 for gba and gamecube games for connectivty. Thats just plain retarded. Thats why i thought about buying an additonal consle late 2002.

Nintendo is not cutting the mold for me. I missing out on all these games I bought GCN for. Banjo Kazzoy, Perfect Dark and some other games. I'm not even getting a Time Splitters 3 for my Cube, i mean wazup with that.

I need a company that cares more about me, the gamer than just losing money. Xbox has lost 2.83 Billion for me the gamer. Not alot of companys will lose that much $ for u, but microsoft does. They care about making me quality games, online or not.

Most companys have abondoned the cube, its sad really.

But We shouldnt bash the cube too much, there are some good things about it, and I dont want to start a consle war, cant have that.

I still think i will get Xbox Next, because of the roster the put out.

[Half-White]

Granted, there are good things about GC. Small size, and a few high-quality games: SSBM, Viewtiful Joe, among others.

[Oddball]

But If Xbox next doesnt have a HD, they better make up for that, in overall consle power.

[Good Ol' Redneck]

now it would be kool if they would make it the very most powerful system on the planet!:beer:

[Half-White]

Originally posted by Oddball
But If Xbox next doesnt have a HD, they better make up for that, in overall consle power.

Yep. but in the end, the games will be all that matters. And XBox does not fail to deliver by any means. I bet XBox Next will be the same way.