Steve Ballmer teases new Xbox 360 form factors, price points and options
By Vlad Savov 
posted March 6th 2010 5:21AM
posted March 6th 2010 5:21AM
It's safe to assume new form factors point to a smaller rather than larger 360 chassis, though the price points and further options he mentions are wide open for speculation. It wouldn't be unreasonable to forecast Microsoft pushing out its own slimmed-down console to match up with Sony's PS3 Slim, but we also shouldn't discount the idea of an Xbox 360 with Project Natal hardware integrated into its shell. In other words, we really don't know what Steve has going on under that shiny dome of his, we just hope it's as exciting as he makes it sound.For that big screen device ... there's no diversity. You get exactly the Xboxes that we build for you. We may have more form factors in the future that are designed for various price points and options, but we think it's going to [be] important.
did no one ask about the courier ???
I did but he totally ignored me and said that he never heard about it :/
@Jabriiiz He can't have both ignored you and responded to your question. That's doublethink right there.
@Vlad Savov ouch
If anything, I hope the new form factors include "redesigned" internal hardware (i.e., less faulty shit, less rings of death).
@Gas
Or maybe they'll wise up and just have you register for -when- it does break, and have something built-in that sends out a signal when it fracks up. Then they just call YOU to confirm, and send out a box with prepaid shipping for it.
The one good thing I can say about my 360? They know how to fix it. :)
@Gas
they aren't having the same problems they used to. and since falcoln things have gotten a lot better (Still not an acceptable failure rate, but better) although my release day Elite console is still running strong, and i am on my 3rd PS3 due to drive failures, the newest one is a slim though, which i just got 2 days before the fat PS3's had the internet problem (the one that was the same as the Zunes issue)
anyway, i obviously hope its smaller, but they also need to make the Elite far more Elite. both versions should have a smaller form with everything the Elite has now plus a slot loading drive. the Elite at least needs to have a blu-ray plaeyer if its going to cost as much as a PS3, and WiFi couldn't hurt.
@Gas
As long as they make a Shell with the apple logo and Steve Ballmer's signature on it, id buy it...lol
@DeFlanko and this is exactly the kind of consumer that threatens to bring down the "good" market by giving MFGs the idea that if there's a shiny logo they put on their products then they can make them as crappy and featureless as they want. Even sometimes holding back on features to make money on the next iteration, this isn't good for the consumer at all. ever!
@SmilinGoat
Blu-Ray ain't gonna happen. It's just that simple.
@SmilinGoat
No way there is going to be Blu-ray for Xbox. Sony is not going to give Microsoft that technology when it will take buyers away from the PS3.
@Gas you cant really redesign the cpu more that they already have, besides combining it with the gpu
Stop the nonsense. Make it silent.
@Mikkis74
Yea... some of the coolers on PowerColor graphics cards.. for example... are amazingly quiet and are not oversized cost centers either.. all it takes is some thought and effort.
@Mikkis74 If you install a game to the HD, it is silent... and before the PS3 fantards start in, aren't installs mandatory for most games on the PS3 lately?
@Dale P
The thing is, you don't install the "game" to the PS3's HDD, you install a small portion of data that helps with loading times etc.
@Dale P It's a lot quieter when the game is installed, but there's still a lot of noise coming from the fans trying to cool the system down. Of course, this was understandable when the console was released, but now, they should make a few changes. They could use H.D.T. technology for the heatsink, use high quality fans that push a lot of air in comparison to the noise they make, and shrink the die of the CPU and GPU even more (I believe the CPU is currently at 65nm).
The only thing I wish for is for them to release a small and silent Media Center Extender device for use in bedrooms, kitchen.
@andreab
Dude, do you have an idea of how many of these thing are already on the shelves?
With HDs , without, with BR , with DVD etc, etc?
@Plexus I ment WINDOWS Media Center extender, just like a regular Xbox 360 does now, but without all the gaming hardware.
@andreab
Yes...these exist...no one wanted them. They released them...people ignored them. They cut the prices...people ignored them some more. They stopped making them.
http://bit.ly/dnT1QS
I actually read this already in two other places...Engadget, you guys need to speed things up...your getting behind slashgear, and well that's saying something because I cant even count the amount of times I saw Engadget videos embedded inside their articles lol
I WOULD KILL FOR A NEXT GEN-XBOX EVEN A DAY BEFORE ITS OFFICIAL RELEASE!
@abedinthehouse May want to rethink those morals.
@abedinthehouse
And after his killing spree was complete, abedinthehouse received his desired game counsel. He played not even 20 minutes before it Red Ringed. Dead. Forever unplayable.
The irony was not lost on him as the light of 20 cop cars filled his bedroom.
Red ring....To gray bars.
@LAY
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!
@LAY
oh man, good stuff
lols
@The Jambo
I was JK BTW
@LAY I didn't know someone could just "own" the game counsel.
Btw, MSFT pretty much confirmed there will be no 'slimmer' version of the 360 or any other 360 form factor. If anything, he is talking about the next-gen xbox console.
@abedinthehouse
And faceplates.... Again with the faceplates..
@abedinthehouse
MSFT? Who do you think you are? Jim Cramer? Why not simply say MS or Microsoft? Y'know... like a normal human being?
Well, maybe they should start be designing a power supply that is not as big as the Xbox itself. Also, instead of designing yet another form factor, can Microsoft focus first on making a 360 that is guaranteed to not RROD? How about clearly put the revision model on the package instead of trying to sell older and higher risk for RROD units in retail.
Microsoft needs to stop being cheap with their hardware for the next-gen Xbox FTW! Save them some money, and save us some money too!
Nuff said!
@abedinthehouse Apart from Nintendo, consoles are already sold at a loss in the hope that software licensing fees will make up the difference. By not saving money where they can, Sony and Microsoft will eventually be forced to pass on the cost to consumers - I mean, Sony already did with the initial launch of the system.
Are you willing to pay a fair market price for the absolute top of the line components?
@abedinthehouse Come on man, you used FTW in the wrong circumstance. If your going to hang around in geeky forums, at least take the effort to learn tradition and cultural etiquette.
Also, GTFO.
@Oli D
Im aware of how I used it, I was in a hurry to get my point across.
Nothing could be as exciting as Ballmer makes it sound.
these are some prtty untrendy desings!
@emopoops
I think the one that says CONSOLE adds a nice touch, in case you forget what you're playing.
@kirbyatemytoothbrush I have tried to find that one since seeing that picture, but it doesn't seem to be for sale anywhere. Has anyone seen that CONSOLE faceplate anywhere??
@boedarnez
I too have searched for that faceplate since launch. I even spoke to the creative head for the xbox 360 team at a design conference. Apparently they were never mass produced, and there was only a couple of them. I thought I saw a listing on ebay for one at one point, but I don't know how legit it was.
Faceplates were the biggest FAIL for the 360, I don't even see Microsoft making them.
For the love of God do NOT have Natal Built into the hardware. That means I have to have the Xbox always facing towards me. I want the freedom to stick the Xbox where ever I want to. Just have the the Natal sensor bar connect via USB or whatever. K Thx.
Put out the white one...but this time say "NO RED RING OF DEATH"
i just got you some new sales
I want a Zune Box/mini Xbox. Basically a new form factor for the Zune hardware like an apple tv, runs all the zune video/audio services along with Xbox Live Arcade games and you can interact with a 360 controller/remote & natal. It could run a lot of the 'family' type games the Wii does well out of as well as provide a lower price point (maybe? the 360 is pretty damn cheap) for Microsoft to get their services into people's living rooms.
Most importantly, it would be silent and therefore perfect for Media Center/Zune Video streaming.
I can dream can't I?
@willj
I'd bet you're closer to the mark than some might think. MS has a huge Live network to build on with social and gaming and media playback ... I'd want to capitalize on that if it were mine. Make a mobile version of XBOX360 -- and it might not be TOO hard since MS is starting to standardize Series7 hardware. Sony's apparently making a PSP iPhone app, right? MS would be in a better position to integrate their brands, I think.
Someone, somewhere deserves to be slapped for letting those designs go into production
This post reminded me of the one thing I couldn't care less about in a console.
new xbox = PS3 + Wii = HD graphics with Wii Fun
Just do it Steve!