From a session on cloud computing... "In the case of the TV we've got both strategies. We actually have a TV implementation in some senses built into Windows," Ballmer said. "It works really well for small screen TVs that you might call a PC, but for that big screen device here's a piece of hardware that we build, there's no diversity. You get exactly the Xboxes that we build for you. We may have more form factors in the future that are designed for various price points and options, but we think it's going to [be] important."

The article is here: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2361026,00.asp

 Please let one of these new form factors be a Media Center extender  that runs cool  and quiet! (yes I mean you, xbox fan!)

That sounds like they are going to make an xbox for the people who aren't necessarily into games... to push on the expansion of the Live marketplace. I would LOOOVE a new extender. I hate that i'm always looking to the future and never seem happy with the present, but the future always look so much cooler!!

 

I would love to have one that didn't play games, but was but only for streaming netfix, media center and probably the live marketplace for movies and stuff too. There's a lot of small devices that already do similar things, and MS is in a good position to push something like that put.

 wish they could offer it as say a PCI-E card that for gaming can take advantage of your graphic card and processor's power(remember the old 3DO PC cards?) and can also bring extender capability to a computer.  That would gain the favor of a lot of HTPC and gaming enthusiasts.

rantanamo

 wish they could offer it as say a PCI-E card that for gaming can take advantage of your graphic card and processor's power(remember the old 3DO PC cards?) and can also bring extender capability to a computer.  That would gain the favor of a lot of HTPC and gaming enthusiasts.

I'd admit, I would love that, an extender on a Card....awsome. Also, I could play Xbox 360 games with my keyboard, mouse and not be limited by the detail on a HDTV ! ? I would love that too....

I do remember the 3DO cards....(I still have one of those systems, collecting dust but, anyway)

I've been holding off on buying an Xbox because I assumed MS would come out with a smaller, quieter version after a couple years. I'm suprised it hasn't happened yet.

But reading the article I get the feeling he is talking about adding more media center-like functions to the platform. Specifically, I assume they are thinking about adding DVR capabilities. Probably not the direction most people who read this forum would want to go.

Now feel bad that I just bought a new XBox 360 from my cousin.  He had an old 360 which was experiencing some problems sent it into Microsoft and they sent him a brand new one. 

What really makes me nervous about this article is that it seems to continue point towards the Xbox and future iterations becoming MS's window to the television...not media center.  Maybe MC integration will get better with a ui update as well for V3 extenders, but with the way things have gone in the past I am sceptical.

It would seem that XBox is gaining more traction, but I still think MS is trying to leverage Media Center. Still not very effectively, but its there. For example, when you look at the insert that comes with the Windows 7 box, after going thruogh some pages with how the OS has changed, the rest of the book is devoted to "Five Ways to Get More from your PC"- the first two are Windows Media Center.

Is nobody concerned that he basically said Media Center Sucks on a big screen TV? When we all know the the opposite is true? Media Center is a terrible PC interface but great in a 10 foot interface.

I'd personally like to see the X-box form factor with no DVD, and super quiet, with the Media Center interface - a non-gamer version.  Oh wait, they used to do that and called them extenders.  Except the new improved version wouldn't be dummied down in terms of DVD playback.  And then, move the Media Center code to the Windows Home Server platform where it belongs.

tlitchfo

I'd personally like to see the X-box form factor with no DVD, and super quiet, with the Media Center interface - a non-gamer version.  Oh wait, they used to do that and called them extenders.  Except the new improved version wouldn't be dummied down in terms of DVD playback.  And then, move the Media Center code to the Windows Home Server platform where it belongs.

To me, you hit the nail on the head.  I'd buy 5 X-box devices with no DVD and super quiet to replace my 2100's. I even bought WHS, but haven't used it because I want a single box that can do it all. 

Don't think it's going to be a media center or xbox battle for the screen... the two will become one.  (At least I hope)

Look for it to all come together around the time the 7 series phone is released.  There is a reason it's been "delayed" so long....

 I think you guys are reading too far into the statement.  Given that you can get a new arcade Xbox for about $170, it doesn't make sense for MS to come out with something cheaper.  Especially if it loses the DVD drive, they can't make any money on game sales (unless they start pushing downloadable games in a big way, then maybe...).  Plus that won't really get quieter unless MS does a die-shrink on the CPU and GPU.

I'm not getting over-excited by this either. Not convinced that MS really sees potential in the Extender model.