Microsoft Handheld

[hedgehog]

Do you think Microsoft will attempt to make a handheld to compete with Sony and Nintendo? Or will they just release the X2? I think Msoft is probably brewing up some sort of handheld system to compete, what are your views on this?

[joeybastard]

I don't think so for this generation. I think with the PSP getting way ahead of them and Nintendo firmly entrenched they are going to concentrate on the next console this time around.

 

It wouldn't suprise me if they have one in like 2 years or so.

[Atarifever]

If Microsoft made a portable, I would buy it at launch. I can say without any doubt that it would be at least as cool as the PSP, otherwise they wouldn't even bother. Of course, by the time that happens Sony will have a great lineup and hugh third party support for the PSP (or PSP 2) and Nintendo will have returned fire with some kind of mind linked, half robot half man super palmtop crazy plus system, that plays a good game of Zelda. Still I imagine microsoft releasing some kind of sleek black stealth bomber sized handheld that can do my laundry and make me a better person on every level.

[hedgehog]

Yea, I'am thinking they may release one next year or so. I was thinking about how far PSP and DS has already gotten. It would be nice though.

[jeepnut24]

A few years ago, they had thought about it but scratched it quickly. Now that they are seeing the success of the PSP, I would imagine they may be thinking about it again. Maybe in a few years, but I think the X2 is their main focus and should be.

[HawgWyld]

I don't know why, but whenever someone suggests a handheld made by Microsoft, I think of something that weighs about 20 pounds and runs off a car battery.

[+Random Terrain]

I don't know why, but whenever someone suggests a handheld made by Microsoft, I think of something that weighs about 20 pounds and runs off a car battery.

I bet it would be bulletproof too.

[The Eidolon]

My vote would be probably not. Is Microsoft making money on the Xbox

yet? I know they initially were taking substantial losses to gain market

share. Until video games are a profit center--not just making money,

but making enough money to justify spending resources there instead

of on some other (profitable) sector of Microsoft's existing businesses--

I don't see the wisdom of expanding Microsoft's product line.

 

A generation down the line things could be quite different, if Microsoft

has an established, money-making position and want to use that to

make money in the handheld market. One big question is what form

gaming handhelds will take in a few years' time. Will dedicated

portables (like the Gameboy) win out or will people want other features

built in (video, music, telphone, whatever). The market is in flux and

what seems like the ideal combination of features now may not do so

well in a few year's time. Look how wireless capable PDA's like the

Blackberry have pretty much killed demand for the older generation

of PDA's that used to be so profitable for Palm. Some kind of wireless

connectivity and multimedia will probably be a given on the dominant

handheld in the generation after this one, but at what price point and

with what specific features I doubt anyone knows for certain yet.

 

Microsoft tends to like to integrate more "features" rather than fewer,

so whatever multimedia gaming gadget they design will probably 1)

lose money and 2) be too expensive at first. They would be best off

to sit out for a couple years until the market matures. A gaming-only

system to compete head-to-head with the GBA and its successors

doesn't make enough use of Microsoft's strengths to be an attractive

financial gamble in my view.

 

--The Eidolon

[JB]

... and Nintendo will have returned fire with some kind of mind linked, half robot half man super palmtop crazy plus system, that plays a good game of Zelda.

HAHAHA!

...

I'd buy it.

[sku_u]

I don't know why, but whenever someone suggests a handheld made by Microsoft, I think of something that weighs about 20 pounds and runs off a car battery.

I bet it would be bulletproof too.

 

It'd probably also be waterproof up to a depth of 20,000 leagues and could do your taxes for you. :wink:

[+FujiSkunk]

I don't know why, but whenever someone suggests a handheld made by Microsoft, I think of something that weighs about 20 pounds and runs off a car battery.

I bet it would be bulletproof too.

 

It'd probably also be waterproof up to a depth of 20,000 leagues and could do your taxes for you. :wink:

 

Free BSOD with every purchase!

[jeepnut24]

I want a portable system with actual storage space for my mp3s. Sony came close, but didn't quite make it. I doubt Nintendo will cross over, so hopefully MS will ship one that will replace my current MP3 player. Then Id have one less thing to cary and I could play Halo wherever I wanted to. That would be really nice. Throw in Splinter Cell and Project Gotham and Im set for a while.

[Avid Fan]

I dunno about X-boxes being water proof, but my gamecube survived the water test

[Invader_dag]

Leagues are a measure of distance, not depth.

[Atarifever]

Leagues are a measure of distance, not depth.

 

Well, the book is still good. I also enjoy Star Wars even though making the Alderan run in 5 parsecs (or whatever) means the same as "I made the trip to Toronto in 20 miles"... now to wait for Star Wars fans to say "Well d'uh" and non fans to say "What?" or "Who cares?"

[Atarifever]

Leagues are a measure of distance, not depth.

 

Well, the book is still good. I also enjoy Star Wars even though making the Alderan run in 5 parsecs (or whatever) means the same as "I made the trip to Toronto in 20 miles"... now to wait for Star Wars fans to say "Well d'uh" and non fans to say "What?" or "Who cares?"

 

Kessil run... 12 parsecs... I fact check.

[The Eidolon]

Depth is a type of distance... But since a league is 3 miles, 20,000

leagues depth would put you well past the other side of the earth.

I heard 20,000 leagues under the sea referred to how far the

sub travelled (laterally) in its journeys around the globe while it

was "under the sea." Not how far under the sea it was.

 

--The Eidolon

[Stingray]

 

Kessil run... 12 parsecs... I fact check.

 

Chalk me up as a geek. I was just about to offer that correction off the top of my head.

 

-S

[Atarinvader]

Depth is a type of distance...

 

Depth is a scalar measurement between two points, which classifies it as a distance.

 

My pet peeve is when people talk about light years as a measurement of time, as opposed to it being the distance light would travel in a year.

[Albert]

I doubt we'll see a handheld from Microsoft anytime soon, since they're probably pretty busy with the Xbox 2 at the moment. But I'd welcome their entry into this market space, as competition between several wealthy companies would be good for us consumers. I'm sure they'll be carefully watching to see how the PSP and DS do in the marketplace, and whatever Nintendo decides to release as the true successor to the GBA.

 

..Al

[JB]

Leagues are a measure of distance, not depth.

 

Well, the book is still good. I also enjoy Star Wars even though making the Alderan run in 5 parsecs (or whatever) means the same as "I made the trip to Toronto in 20 miles"... now to wait for Star Wars fans to say "Well d'uh" and non fans to say "What?" or "Who cares?"

 

Kessil run... 12 parsecs... I fact check.

The books offer an excuse. Han had to skim a black hole cluster to get that distance. A slower ship would've been sucked in.

Hence, a fast ship is necessary to do a 12-parsec Kessel run.

 

 

As for leagues being a distance, not depth, measure...

 

A XBoxPortable will be able to travel 20,000 leagues straight down.

[Atarinvader]

I personally think we'll see Microsoft pushing the directX format on future portable Window projects before they entered the handheld market fully, if at all.

 

MS have reportedly backed other non Sony and Nintendo handheld projects; the Gizmondo runs some Windows software, and there are some others in dev that are based, I believe, on CE. Very much as with the Dreamcast I think Bill will slime his way in, testing the water, with some other company's R&D money.

[sku_u]

Depth is a type of distance...  But since a league is 3 miles, 20,000  

leagues depth would put you well past the other side of the earth.

I heard 20,000 leagues under the sea referred to how far the  

sub travelled (laterally) in its journeys around the globe while it  

was "under the sea."  Not how far under the sea it was.

 

--The Eidolon

 

From what I understand, the Xbox portable will be so tough that it can pass right through the earth's core without being injured. It'll also be capable of travelling to the sun's core while maintaining it's structural integrity and will be the only thing capable of entering a black hole without being destroyed.

[HawgWyld]

From what I understand, the Xbox portable will be so tough that it can pass right through the earth's core without being injured.  It'll also be capable of travelling to the sun's core while maintaining it's structural integrity and will be the only thing capable of entering a black hole without being destroyed.

 

Sounds impressive, and expensive. Let me guess -- Microsoft plans to eat about $500,000 on every new unit so as to offer the thing at a price comparable to the PSP.

[Classic Pac]

There was a brief mention of this in a gaming magazine about 2 years ago. Personally I think if one hasn't come out by now, i doubt one ever will.