[bryne]

You still think this is still primarily a game console?

Microsoft is putting all its chips down on the battle for your living room, which is a major front. The fight to be the all-in-one device people buy that replaces their cable box, game console, and media server (and the data being positioned as the provider of that device brings with it) is not a small one.

Self-identified "gamers" like yourself, who will probably turn out to be the minority purchasing audience for this generation of consoles-cum-entertainment boxes, already have a venue for game porn - it's called E3 - and Microsoft knows it's coming up in a few weeks.

[nsxwolf]

Does the average consumer really want an expensive, gigantic box with huge blower fans to watch Netflix and Hulu - when an Apple TV, Roku, or any coffee grinder with an HDMI port does the job?

[chrisgd]

Yes, when they can take the place Apple TV and a Roku and play games on them. Plus, the interface is probably simpler for a lot of people. It is far easier to get to Netflix on the Wii than on the Apple TV, especially for my family members that are using it the first time. I assume this is similar.

[InclinedPlane]

The average consumer? Of course. They want as few fiddly bits as possible. They want their stuff to just work.

[nsxwolf]

Then they want an Apple TV or a Roku. My wife's grandma can and does use an Apple TV to watch Netflix. There's no way in hell she could ever navigate the UI disaster that is the XBox 360.

[HelloMcFly]

But everyone can speak, right? "Xbox, watch Netflix" --> instantly looking at Netflix. No need for multiple or big universal remotes, no switching inputs, etc.

I love my Roku, and I have no plans to get an Xbox 360 as I'm sure many of the features will require an XBL subscription. But the vision? I'm there with the vision.

[nsxwolf]

So far these "talk to your TV" features haven't worked out, and is it really worth the (guessing) $300 premium over a $99 Apple TV? No doubt if there's a good way to do voice control on a TV, Apple's going to figure it out before Microsoft does.

[HelloMcFly]

I agree at the moment. I do have Kinect and had high hopes for the voice commands, but as yet they just take too long to register. However, if it's as good as today's demo implied then we'll be pretty close to, if not at, the level that makes it the simplest (not cheapest) option.

> No doubt if there's a good way to do voice control on a TV, Apple's going to figure it out before Microsoft does.

I don't have the same blind faith. Apple hasn't put themselves far enough in the living room for me to wait for them. Sure, they got Apple TV, but that seems like barely a side project for them. It's not as good as the cheaper and more versatile Roku, and it's not as bold in thinking as the Xbox One (or even the Xbox 360).