Philips to supply DVD drive for Microsoft Xbox

[bonkers325]

"...Dutch Philips Electronics NV said on Monday that software giant Microsoft's new Xbox video game system will use a DVD drive supplied by Philips' Optical Storage group. Philips said in a statement that it was able to design a DVD solution for the Xbox and get it into volume production within the short timeframe demanded by Microsoft. No financial details of the order were disclosed..."

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[MrBond]

Still gonna need the remote to actually enable DVD playback, from what I've read. I dunno why they can't just make it controlable via the gamepad, like CD's are on the Dreamcast.

Oh well, it's a $300 console, whats another $40 to play DVDs? I'll probably have close to $500 in it when it's all said and done.

 

[tigerbait]

By not including the DVD playback, they pass off the DVD licensing fees to the cost of the remote control. That way, the hardcore gamers who don't want DVD do not have to pay for it. I guess that was a necessary corner they had to cut in order to meet the $299 price point.

 

[MrBond]

tigerbait, that makes sense now. I saw that they had to cut that out to save money, but I couldn't understand why.

 

[Pacinamac23]

Yep, tiger is right. MS is gonna lose a lot of money off each console sold so they gotta cut the costs somehow.