Doom of Xbox on the horizon due to Linux?

[RangerWickett]

Guys, you do realize this thread is 3 years old, right?

But yeah, all y'all called it, alright. Linux on X-Box. Whoo-wee. I remember the dark times after Linux became available on the X-Box, and Microsoft went out of business. I doubt the scar on my soul will ever heal from those baleful days.

 

[Ilium]

To answer KenM's questions: As RangerWickett says this is an old thread. Original XBox. And people do it because an XBox is much cheaper than an equivalent PC. As others have pointed out Microsoft loses money on each one, which they make back (and then some) on game sales. It's a common business model. So if you want to run Linux on a PC you can buy an XBox, boot it under Linux and you're good to go for less initial outlay than just buying a PC.

 

[drothgery]

To answer KenM's questions: As RangerWickett says this is an old thread. Original XBox. And people do it because an XBox is much cheaper than an equivalent PC./QUOTE]

No, it's not. It was for a time. But it's not anymore; the $199 reconditioned special or $149 used 3-year-old budget-box-when-it-was-new is supererior to an original Xbox in every way (except for the ability to play Xbox games).

As others have pointed out Microsoft loses money on each one, which they make back (and then some) on game sales.

Actually, the Xbox division of Microsoft has only been profitable for one quarter, around the Halo 2 launch. The 360 is far less unprofitable, though; it's very likely the Xbox division will have a second profitable quarter with the Halo 3 launch next spring, and then stay profitable until the 3rd-gen console ramp-up.

It's a common business model.

... although in the console space it's only worked once to build marketshare (with the original Xbox), and it's never worked to make money.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

we all know gates and linux thats why we tend to see it as an atack but its just buisness not personal and we live in a free interprise market where almoste any dirty tactics go this happens every day in buissnes yet with unknowns nobody cares intill some ones making millions with dirty buisness tactics how ever if it was a football game and you say microsoft can tackle but linux cant the games fixed its one those have your lawers call mine i bet your bluffing ill call you deals till theres a compramize between 2 parties there will be a lota dirty buisness games to play

Until you learn how to use punctuation, what capital letters are, and spell a little better, I cannot read your posts. Please learn to communicate properly before you post again.

 

[reanjr]

The thing to remember is, despite you having bought an xbox and owning the physical piece of hardware, you did not purchase rights to modify the copyrighted material that is owned by Microsoft.

Actually, yes you do have the right to modify all the copyrighted material (IP) that comes with it. The DMCA provides MS the right to secure their IP and removes your right to circumvent that security. But you do still have the right to modify the IP.

Semantics maybe, but still fairly important as this is the legal justification for why the DMCA does not inhibit fair use.

 

[reanjr]

You can't modify their software, just as much as you can't (legally) modify the latest song, movie, or work of art at the museum without permission from the copyright holder.

Again, this is the kind of misunderstanding that makes people accept the DMCA so readily without question. You CAN modify any song, movie, or work of art that you purchase. You simply cannot distribute it. This is called fair use. Same law that allows you to rip a CD to your computer for listening to it.

 

[Morrus]

in buisness its dog eat dog if you cant play the game get out and there are no nice guys and there are no inocent

Untrue. In unetihical business, it may be dog eat dog. Not all "business" is unethical.

 

[SmokestackJones]

we all know gates and linux thats why we tend to see it as an atack but its just buisness not personal and we live in a free interprise market where almoste any dirty tactics go this happens every day in buissnes yet with unknowns nobody cares intill some ones making millions with dirty buisness tactics how ever if it was a football game and you say microsoft can tackle but linux cant the games fixed its one those have your lawers call mine i bet your bluffing ill call you deals till theres a compramize between 2 parties there will be a lota dirty buisness games to play

Hey pal, you wanna translate that for the folks who aren't illiterate?

-SJ

 

[Alzrius]

Wow, I think this is my first thread necromancy!

So, I guess the Linux on Xbox thing came and went without too many ripples, and didn't hardly cause the death of the system like I'd wondered about back in my first post. Darn!

 

[Banshee16]

I doubt this will be the death of the Xbox. DC died because people weren't buying games for it. Here's more on it -

Which is exactly what might happen if it becomes easy to copy the games, I figure

Banshee