xBox 86

The MTV show was, simply, embarrassing. Obviously, the xBox 86 is NOT ready for primetime since none of it was actually demonstrated.

Worse, the rumor mill (originally thought to be incredibly skillful Microsoft manipulation) has turned out to be a tractor trailer load of BS that (literally) steamrolled over Microsoft's little Mini Cooper trunkful of factual revelation.

Let me just throw out two small examples of how ridiculous the situation is (to me):

From their official news release: "The integration of Xbox Live into the system lets players receive game invitations from friends while they’re watching movies or listening to music."

Hmm, note the description of "while they're watching movies or listening to music". Realize with me that this wording is the work of a very hardworking PR flack. Why? Because the feature will NOT work when you are watching TV. It will only work when you are using the xBox's OWN DVD Playing functionality (or it's media player functions).

Well-crafted though the PR flack language is, it just doesn't actually jibe with the whole "With Xbox 360, gamers are always on" image. It's not true, and it won't be true...period. In fact, the wording is so well crafted that I have doubts that the "online features" will work even when you are streaming video content from a Media Center PC.

Example Two, from xbox.com: "Featured on both the wireless and wired controllers, the Xbox Guide Button puts you in control of your experience. In addition to bringing up the Xbox Gamer Guide and the Xbox System Guide, the Xbox Guide Button lets you turn the system on and off without ever leaving the couch."

Wow, what a "feature." But do you think that the system will allow you to rip your GAME DISCs to the harddrive? Why would that matter? Well, say you are sitting there watching a DVD, and you actually receive an invite to a game. What next? Apparently, that's when you get up, go over and remove the movie, put in the appropriate game disc, and sit back down. (Oh, and now you have lost your place in the movie you were watching, too!)

Face it, it's just going to connect up like my current xBox does (in the DVD selection of my Home Theater receiver). But my Tivos are the default video selection on my home network.

So how DO you make the xBox "86" (<--my pet name) the centerpiece of your always connected entertainment world? First you buy it, then you buy a bunch of additional controllers, an optional custom A/V remote, a Media Center PC (hardware and software), at least one additional HiDef tuner/capture card (good luck with that), and finally you buy additional xBoxes or Media Center Extenders for EVERY OTHER TV in your house. Well, so much for a $300-400 outlay. You are actually looking at $2,500 to $3,000 minimum...

Look at a typical household: Let's say you would want 2 xBoxes (and thus at least 6 (if not 8) controllers. Plus at least one Media Center PC and an additional HiDef tuner/capture device; and finally, at least 3 additional Media Center Extenders for additional TVs (or just room stereos for the audio aspect).