ChronotriggerJM said: jcp234 said: This is only Microsoft's second generation in the hardware home console market. Don't underestimate Microsoft. Most big companies are willing to invest large sums of money into investments that will promote future returns. Look at Verizon's FiOS business. Verizon is spending billions to implement their new FiOS network. More money than Microsoft initially sunk into the first X-box. And on top of that...Verizon is actually borrowing huge chunks of that money from lenders. This means Verizon is using billions of of someone else's money on a business plan that may fail. Verizon isn't expecting to make back that money immediately, but in a few years...Verizon is betting that its Fios network will turn a major return on their initial investment. Big companies do it all the time..I don't see how Microsoft is any different. If anything..Microsoft probably has the most leverage and flexibility to do it. Give Microsoft some time...I can assure you that Microsof is not just throwing billions into the X-box devision without a plan. I am sure that Microsoft's development, feature implementation and manufacturing practices for hardware will improve with more experience. Nintendo and Sony are veterans in the hardware game...give Microsoft some time. And I wouldn't be too worried about Microsoft. Most of its specialties are in software (which have grossly higher profit margins than hardware). |
I agree with you completely, I just feel MS might have realized that they so far have met nothing but failure on the "console" front, I truely feel they might be going software only next time around. I also like to think of it like this, didn't the Playstation 2 only make Sony something like 1.8 billion dollars total to date so far? I mean that's a pretty menial drop in the bucket as far as profits are concerned to Microsoft. I would just think that they'd prefer to tackle they're specialty instead of essentially failing twice at carving a "hardware" legacy. I do agree that they probably have some much bigger master plan in mind, but right now I just don't see it, I mean at least the negative losses on the PS3 can be contributed to establishing Blu-ray as the new medium, all I can really see on the 360 is xbox live, but with growing establishments like Steam and PSN it just seems like an uphill battle :x |
I am a big fan of Microsoft, so I may have a more optimistic perspective on the matter.
With that said, I can still be objective and express my disappointment with some of their products/services:
1) Windows Vista (terribly inefficient and just a step backwards in innovative software)
2) X-box 360's lack of an internet browser (just unacceptable)
3) RROD
4) I would have liked the implementation of the HD-DVD in the 360's hardware (though I know it would have bumped up the price of the 360)
5) I think all 360s should have an HDD of at least 80gb capacity
6) Internet Explorer just seems more and more bloated. I have been quite impressed with Mozilla's recent Firefox 3 beta efforts.
But currently, software is selling really well on the 360 and its online services have a loyal following, so I am confident/hopeful that Microsoft will gain more ground and acceptance in future generations.
And I would not say the X-box division has failed or is failing. Microsoft's 360 is performing signifcantly better than the first X-box. Sure, it still has many hurdles, but like I said...Microsoft is software first and this is only their second generation in the hardware game. Give them time.