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[Vic Viper]

Report also says Microsoft aims to bring in Xbox 2 at a too-low-to-resist price point, and months ahead of PS3.

According to coverage in The San Jose Mercury News the specifications for Microsoft's successor to the Xbox were revealed to veteran tech reporter and Merc writer Dean Takahashi. The coverage also suggests that Microsoft plans to capture a much larger share of the console market than it currently enjoys by keeping the cost of the console down, and by launching ahead of Sony's PlayStation 3.

The specs for the next Xbox, at least according to the Merc's report, are as follows:

Three IBM-designed 64-bit microprocessors, the same chips now used Apple Computer's high-end G5 PowerMac. According to the Merc, this will give the new Xbox "more computing power than most personal computers."

A graphics chip designed by ATI Technologies that will clock in with speeds faster than the upcoming R400. The Merc says, "This chip will help the next Xbox to display games with the resolution of high-definition TV."

Compatibility with the original Xbox, which is based on Intel and Nvidia chips, isn't guaranteed. Microsoft is concerned it would cost too much money in hardware or in licensing fees to enable the Xbox Next to play old Xbox games, says the Merc. This is risky in part because Sony's strategy has been to maintain compatibility with its old consoles.

According to the Merc, there is no mention of a hard disk drive for the new machine, and the Merc has even gone so far as to suggest that the next Xbox will instead rely on flash memory to store saved games and permanent data. The report also suggests that the possible inclusion of a hard disk drive and the amount of dynamic RAM available in the machine will depend on what Sony announces for its PS3. Microsoft had not commented on the report at the time of writing, and is unlikely to shed any more light on its plans until next month's Game Developers Conference in San Jose (where much talk in the industry suggests a major Microsoft announcement will be made), or E3 Expo in Los Angeles in May.

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[Dactrius]

Microsoft needs to realise that backwards compatability is more than just necessary, it's practically vital! That was one of Nintendo's mistakes with the gamecube although agreeably a multi-format system would cost a huge amount. Microsoft need to ensure backwards compatability is high on their list of things to include in the XBox's successor as it was an incredibly appealing feature of the PS2 over the original PlayStation.

It comes as no suprise it will be high spec though - We're talking about Microsoft here after all.

[Spank-A-Thon]

The report also suggests that the possible inclusion of a hard disk drive and the amount of dynamic RAM available in the machine will depend on what Sony announces for its PS3

I find this one statement both interesting and amusing...

In essence it sounds like Microsoft is basically gonna let SONY design XBox 2!!! Whatever PS3 will have, XBox 2 will have... I've said this before and I'll say it again now. M$ seem totally obssessed with defeating SONY. Why can't they be happy simply sharing the market with SONY? Surely having the second-placed console is not so bad? They've sold well.

Why don't M$ concentrate on XBox and making a great console rather than concentrating on what SONY can off. It doesn't sound like M$ want to give the consumers that best possible console, it sounds more like M$ are only concerned with making a console that is technically superior to PS3...

They still don't get it...

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[Sid554]

Originally posted by Spank-A-Thon

It doesn't sound like M$ want to give the consumers that best possible console, it sounds more like M$ are only concerned with making a console that is technically superior to PS3...

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Which it probably wouldn't be anyway, seeing as how they're talking about bringing their console out first. The real issue at hand here, IMO, is that Microsoft still doesn't seem to grasp the concept that it's the games that sell systems-not the technical specs. In the end, people don't really care how powerful a console is-they care what they can play on it.

[Vicious_2003]

Well you cant blame Microsoft for being interested in what Sony going to have under the hood. It always helps to know what your competitors are up to..especially in the console gaming market. And why cant M$ accept second place ?. Because they are microsoft !. Money doesent please them anymore they fill thier pillows and fire places with it. All that is left is for them them to have bragging rights over thier competitiors. And you cant have that when your a clear number 2.

Besides its especially important for them to know what sonys got cooking if they are going to release thier next gen console first. They dont want Sony putting together a system that is superior to thier own now do they ?. So they figure it out now so they know what they need to do to prevent it.

And lets not forget that is still specualation...we dont know if its 100% true or not.