No. We "know" the next xbox currently has always online drm, mandatory game instals, is kinect required, and possibly no used games. Sure we can wait for Microsoft to spin these as advantages but that's what this guy is already trying to do. He's not saying they aren't happening.

its called projection.  

The next xbox will be fine, but of whats rumoured I expect the ps4 to be the console of choice for the vast majority of core gamers and thus for most early adopters this fall. This tends to snowball into the mainstream preference, 2/3 years down the road.

It is not unreasonable for fans to freak out about a very negative rumor (Most people would agree Always-connect is a dreadful idea) given the fact that Microsoft refuses to confirm or deny, until now I suppose. I'm sure they know what the are doing, for fuck's sake, they're microsoft.

Still, you leave your fans in the dark (even if it is just rumors) and a shitstorm is bound to appear and that's what we are dealing with now. Maybe this article will help calm people down a bit. May is almost here and all questioned will be answered. I don't blame people for freaking out though, I would be frantic too.

But let' s be real for a few minutes, we are still gonna purchase the 720, regardless of result to all of this.

This guy himself confirms the always online drm and many sources confirm the others. Of course a rumor is a rumor but the same sources almost perfectly predicted PS4 and Wii U specifics. Therefore it's safer to assume they are correct verse the opposite, hence "confirmed."

I know you don't view most of these things as bad but the general gamer disagrees. For example with mandatory installs most people are worried about using up storage space. We'd prefer the current system where it is left up to the consumer, even if textures have to be slightly worse. For example I have survived this whole gen with my original 12 GB launch 360 memory even though I have about 50 XBOX games. If I really wanted to do installs I could have bought more memory. With mandatory installs however it gets rid of that choice. Also the next XBOX has games sectioned up similar to steam and PS4 so regardless of instal speed, games will be playable almost instantly. Most complainers know this.

Kinect required means the console will not function unless Kinect is plugged in. This again is getting rid of consumer options. It's really not that big of a deal, unless kinect 2 is huge, but it still is a needless negative.

I'd agree that complaints about these two issues are overblown. In fact all of the complaints are overblown. The key thing is though that at the core they still are legit complaints. Every rumor nowadays is negative to core gamers yet this guy says "everything I’ve seen about this is really positive." That's his problem.

I think you are getting too hung up on the info that has come out and what people are speculating in regards to this. Yes no real info has come out regarding the next xbox but speculating is what we do here and based on the rumours about "always online" you have to expect threads that are negative about this based on gamers' preferences. You are unrealistic and dreaming if you expect gamers to keep their mouths shut while they wait for an official press release. As for the rumours themselves, they are NOT yet proven but from unofficial statements we have heard, nothing contradicts the idea of it being "always online" (which I take to assume means games/apps cant play without an online connection) so they havent yet been UNPROVEN either. 

As for your trolling comment about installation - you must really be annoyed to say that. Lol. Though as I have already said install isnt a prob for me. 

One thing I do know is that MS employees think Sony dropped the ball with the PS4. After the specs came out and the presentation I spoke with a few MS employees involved with Durango development and they really do feel Sony is headed in the wrong direction. I personally was surprised by the response because I was actually impressed with the PS4 and thought the cloud aspects and the hardware specs looked solid. But they were pretty confident that what Sony put out there is going to fall way short of what MS is going to be doing, so my curiosity is peaked and I'll look forward to the May event.

As a PS3 owner, let me say that if 720 does require a constant online connection to use, I would be concerned about it. I would ask why? What does MS want to monitor continuously? When I put in a blu-ray, will MS know what videos (and cds) i'm playing, and associate them with me in a database for targeted advertising on the dashboard? Will it be a lock to prevent playing used or borrowed games without buying another key? Why will I not be able to play even a game that's single player, physical or digital, without a connection or login? Will MS have continuous access to the Kinect cameras and audio sensors, or be able to transmit that back to MS? When it's turned off (standby mode), will it still be connected and capable of sending info to MS? What other questions could we think of....

What does MS want to monitor continuously?

Why do you think they will monitor continuously? What makes you sure Sony doesn't do that when you are online? What makes you sure they don't do it now (both MS and Sony)?

When I put in a blu-ray, will MS know what videos (and cds) i'm playing, and associate them with me in a database for targeted advertising on the dashboard?

They can retrieve this info already (both MS and Sony). What ads they will show you will have to be seen.

Will it be a lock to prevent playing used or borrowed games without buying another key?

Prevent used games? than Gamestop wouldn't be looking forward for NextBox.

Why will I not be able to play even a game that's single player, physical or digital, without a connection or login?

Why don't you just wait what MS will announce?

Will MS have continuous access to the Kinect cameras and audio sensors, or be able to transmit that back to MS?

This is possible already and will also be possible with PS4.

When it's turned off (standby mode), will it still be connected and capable of sending info to MS?

I don't know but given that Sony said that in standby-mode you can download games and run updates, they are definitely able to send data to the mother ship.

What other questions could we think of....

I am asking myself why you have doubts on NextBox while almost everything is possible on PS4, too. Even if PS4 does not require always online and MS does, I believe very few will run PS4 offline, especially if you realize that internet is still spreading and getting faster.

don't mind