HappySqurriel said:
Rainbird said:
HappySqurriel said:
While some of this sounds reasonable, I doubt the rumor on the whole ...
The smaller, (relatively) less powerful, less expensive, and more energy efficient part is what I would expect because (between the RROD and opportunity lost of being a $300 XBox 360 vs a $600 PS3) I believe Microsoft has reason to tweek their hardware strategy from the last generation.
With that said, I'm very doubtful they would use an arm processor and I have doubts their system would be based on "Windows 9". Backwards compatibility, while not the most important feature, acts to lock people into a platform because (regardless of whether they will play them or not) people don't like to think that they will lose the option of playing their old games. By switching architecture you are likely going to release a system without backwards compatibility (or with limited BC) unless the system is dramatically more powerful; which would not be the case if the rumor was true. At the same time, while I wouldn't be surprised to see features that won't be available until Windows 9 is released, I doubt it is accurate to say it is based on Windows 9. |
I think you're overstating the importance of backwards compatibility. The PS3 is doing well enough without PS2 compatibility, and I think Microsoft already has enough incentives to keep people on board through Live accounts. And while you may be right in calling out the Windows 9 part, I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft would in fact do just that.
Considering the recent move to support ARM, and the efforts that Microsoft have made to shrink Windows 8, I don't think it's unlikely that Microsoft could use this as an opportunity to bring more unity to their ecosystem. If they can size down Windows to what is needed for the Xbox, the NextBox may very well be based on Windows 9. It remains to be seen if this will be a popular choice amongst developers of course, not to mention how it might actually be done, but I think it's something Microsoft wants to have.
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I'm not trying to imply that backwards compatibility makes or breaks a system, but it can be the deciding factor for millions of gamers ...
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Of course it can, I just don't think it's that important here. And BC was only meant as the subject for about two lines of my post anyway. 
