Microsoft thinks they can "add-on" their way out of any technical short comings. They're going to learn the hard way (Sega way) that there are some add-ons you simply can't sell to the public. There's no amount of add-ons that could have saved the Dreamcast in the face of the PS2's technical superiority. (By the time PS2 hit Dreamcast had an inferior controller, an inferior memory card, a grossly inferior game media, an inferior cpu, inferior gpu, and it lacked a DVD player.) With the exception of the modem, everything that had been seen as huge advancements when Dreamcast was first released was suddenly seen as unacceptable and incompatible with expected standards the PS2 had set. Sony will very easily be able to do the same to Xbox 2. When Xbox 2 releases everything will be the most advanced on the market. By the time PS3 hits everything on Xbox from the controller to the ethernet cord will be seen as detestable in the eyes of developers and consumers.
How's that add-on hard drive working out for Sony? We're talking about the most powerful and skilled company in the video game business and they can't even sell this add-on. Sony can sell the Eye Toy, Sony can sell the network adapter, but if they can't even sell an external hard drive then Microsoft sure as shit isn't going to be able to pull it off.
The first console of the generation spends the rest of it's life trying to add-on it's way out of a feeling of inadequacy. It happened with the Genesis, it was starting with the Dreamcast, and we're certainly in the midst of it with the PS2 (modem/camera/hard drive).
Microsoft launching early with a barebones machine is a great reason to build DVR functionality, advanced eye toy specific features, online digital entertainment, and exclusive PSP related features right into the core of PS3. They'll think of something I can't think of. When Sega announced Dreamcast in early 1998 do you think anyone expected that niche DVD movie playback would ever become synonymous with video game consoles?
How's that add-on hard drive working out for Sony? We're talking about the most powerful and skilled company in the video game business and they can't even sell this add-on. Sony can sell the Eye Toy, Sony can sell the network adapter, but if they can't even sell an external hard drive then Microsoft sure as shit isn't going to be able to pull it off.
The first console of the generation spends the rest of it's life trying to add-on it's way out of a feeling of inadequacy. It happened with the Genesis, it was starting with the Dreamcast, and we're certainly in the midst of it with the PS2 (modem/camera/hard drive).
Microsoft launching early with a barebones machine is a great reason to build DVR functionality, advanced eye toy specific features, online digital entertainment, and exclusive PSP related features right into the core of PS3. They'll think of something I can't think of. When Sega announced Dreamcast in early 1998 do you think anyone expected that niche DVD movie playback would ever become synonymous with video game consoles?