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Posted: **2006-08-09 09:48am**

MS shows off 360 external HD DVD drive
Posted Aug 8th 2006 4:25PM by Ross Miller
Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Peripherals

On Monday, Microsoft showed off its HD DVD drive to attendees of the DVD Forum in Los Angeles. While playing The Phantom of the Opera, Senior Program Manager Kevin Collins demonstrated the navigation menus. Microsoft's John Porcaro recently revealed what the "open tray" dashboard interface looks like (tentatively, not final) with the HD DVD drive attached.

"All the audio and video processing is done inside the Xbox," Collins said.

Collins would not give a firm price, but declared the external HD-DVD drive would be one of the least expensive of the HD DVD players to reach market. In May, Games Industry reported rumblings from retail outlets that Microsoft conveyed a price such that the HD DVD drive and Xbox 360 combined would cost less than a PlayStation 3.
The HD DVD / Blu-ray debate still rages on. High-Def Digest recently ran their first two Blu-ray vs. HD DVD reviews, declaring HD DVD as the winner in both trials (Training Day and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang). However, the site does note that Blu-ray's troubles could be the result of the player itself, and not the format.

*edit*

forgot the link

Posted: **2006-08-09 07:56pm**

Combined cost less than PS3 could mean as high as $300 if they use the Core Xbox and the Premium PS3 package as comparison points.

Posted: **2006-08-09 08:57pm**

Interesting, the use of an external drive. It allows them to introduce a Blu-Ray drive if need be.

Posted: **2006-08-10 12:12am**

Uraniun235 wrote:Interesting, the use of an external drive. It allows them to introduce a Blu-Ray drive if need be.

That is a good point. Should they lose the format wars, they could make a new drive for the dominant format provided they have the rights to.

Posted: **2006-08-10 12:35am**

Sony holds the rights for Bluray, correct? If so do you really think Microsoft would be paying them royalties to use it?

Posted: **2006-08-10 12:46am**

atg wrote:Sony holds the rights for Bluray, correct? If so do you really think Microsoft would be paying them royalties to use it?

If they had to in order to ensure the success of 360? Yes.