MS had different SKUs at launch. Anyone who honestly thought that they would get the best SKU for the entire cycle at launch was either ignorant or self-deluded. Consoles almost always update with better components or smaller designs (look at the PS/PS2, most handhelds, etc) and when a company launches with 2 diff SKUs, it's a safe bet they'll offer ever more.
Personally, I think offering one with HDDVD built in is a mistake. It just crowds the market with more unnecessary SKUs and there isn't a big demand for it.
But, again, how is built in HDDVD that big a deal? Because it will take up slightly less space than buying the add-on? That's a pretty minor concern. I would be more concerned about the temperature of the console and how the different chipsets will (hopefully) fix this for future users...that'll tick off early adopters more than anything. I can't see many people caring about a few inches of space in their entertainment center.
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MS had different SKUs at launch. Anyone who honestly thought that they would get the best SKU for the entire cycle at launch was either ignorant or self-deluded. Consoles almost always update with better components or smaller designs (look at the PS/PS2, most handhelds, etc) and when a company launches with 2 diff SKUs, it's a safe bet they'll offer ever more.
Personally, I think offering one with HDDVD built in is a mistake. It just crowds the market with more unnecessary SKUs and there isn't a big demand for it.
But, again, how is built in HDDVD that big a deal? Because it will take up slightly less space than buying the add-on? That's a pretty minor concern. I would be more concerned about the temperature of the console and how the different chipsets will (hopefully) fix this for future users...that'll tick off early adopters more than anything. I can't see many people caring about a few inches of space in their entertainment center.