Microsoft moves into chip world with Xbox

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It's a game console...

"It's a game console", you claim repeatedly. To which the average experimenter or hobbyist will reply rhetorically, "So what?" Practicality isn't foremost on their minds. Accomplishment is.

For example, I'm sure that a lawnmower manufacturer only intends his product to be used in the cutting of grass. He never expected four enterprising fifth graders to disassemble his product and install the motor in a go-cart, but there was precious little he could do stop it.

That the manufacturer provided those children with a service manual and a production manual so that the modification could be done safely probably jitters your nerves, aye? Chalk it up to the difference between the youth of 2003 and the youth of 1973. Back then, when you bought hardware, any hardware, it was yours to modify as you saw fit. The same could be said of early calculators and computers - disassemble one or two other devices to build a third unrelated device - hobbyist's creed: everything is spare parts.

Personally, I only see an Xbox cluster being at all reasonable when the product must look fashionable, as in: you want a mini-cluster in your home office, but your spouse object to five white towers stacked in the corner. Beyond such design sensitivities, I doubt there's much use. About the only practical rather than esthetic value the X-box adds is a stripped design. The Walmart PC draws more power than an Xbox. If Microsoft wanted to be intelligent about the experimenter's needs; they'd simply sign a Linux bootloader from a third party, allow the product to be sold and collect a royalty on the sale - just as they do with games. How many people will want to run Linux? Precious few. No money lost.

Posted by: John Le'Brecage   Posted on: 11/10/03 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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