The XBox is the closest thing Microsoft makes to an Apple PC. They fully spec it, they designed the interface from scratch to address a targeted audience, and they even defined a unique case to showcase the offering. At the Game Developers Conference (GDC) last week, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) raised the bar on what has become one of the more interesting battles in the industry. Actually, it would be more accurate to say Microsoft has taken the gloves off and now -- really -- is going after the entertainment segment.

The Xbox and MSN groups at Microsoft have been more like independent companies loosely coupled with the parent. A few months ago, MSN was brought back into the fold and made strategic again -- so much so that there are rumors suggesting Microsoft may buy AOL from Time Warner. The GDC was the coming-out party for the Xbox group to move through the same process.

While they didn't actually announce the Xbox 2, I think I have enough to create a reasonably strong idea about what that will be. I'll end this column with my predictions on this highly anticipated new version of the product.

The Xbox 2 Speculation

I promised to give you my call on Xbox 2. This is only a guess, but with what we know about the new converged platform, I can at least confirm that rumors of Microsoft moving to a G5 chip were just wishful thinking by a few Apple loyalists. The chip will be built by IBM, which also builds for VIA and AMD.

My best guess, given the timing of the product and the new PlayStation 3, is that it will be based on the AMD 64-bit core that IBM helped develop. It will have a hard drive because it needs the performance. And it will continue to have a DVD drive. A burner would compete with the PC and add unneeded cost; a media bay is a remote possibility.

It will run the old games. New 64-bit games -- which is where that AMD part is really supposed to shine -- will scream on this console. Therefore, it'll likely run an embedded version of Windows XP 64. It will have an ATI graphical and sound subsystem and a case that will stack on the shelf better than the current one. The remote control IR receiver probably will be built in, but the remote itself will continue to be an upgrade, and progressive scan for DVDs will finally make it into the product. An accessory family will include 802.11g WiFi, wireless joysticks with voice capability, a video camera and HDMI outputs (along with composite, DVI and VGA).

The Xbox case color likely will remain black, but with a pronounced silver X on the front. We won't know for some time whether I'm right, and Microsoft isn't talking. But it does give us something to look forward to.

News Source: http://www.technewsworld.com/perl/story/33233.html