Doesn't anything with windows 8 do that too? Can't imagine many places wanting their clients to see them using an xbone controller (or worse, kinect) to video conference.

<Unoriginal thought alert>
…and as other forums are already discussing, if the recent security investigations and the claims coming from Snowden are to be believed, would you want to discuss/conduct any sensitive business over Skype with MS and the US Govt potentially listening in?
</Unoriginal thought alert>

Sorry if I'm being thick. Microsoft say XO is running a custom version of Windows 8. Wasn't there something about the Xbox being able to install Windows Store apps? There will be no desktop interface etc. So this has practically the same limitations as Win RT, with no Office?

Faux MS Quote; “If the gamers don't want it, lets find someone else to offload it to.”

Sorry Microsoft, this is the mistake you made. Gamers want a games machine, not a universal 101-in-1 do it all box.

Shockingly, I can actually see this as an option. Only issue would be convincing those with the purse strings that its not a toy, they'll hear xbox and just think games. But having seen how much companies spend on teleconfrencing, the kinect with skype is a reasonable option

Bit puzzled as to why they didn't rebadge it and make it look a bit more business-like at the very least for a different market

I tend to be a fan of Microsoft products such as Windows Phone 8, XBox 360 and Windows 7, but this just smacks of desperation. I can't see businesses going for this myself.

Arthran
Shockingly, I can actually see this as an option. Only issue would be convincing those with the purse strings that its not a toy, they'll hear xbox and just think games. But having seen how much companies spend on teleconfrencing, the kinect with skype is a reasonable option

Or people could just still use their laptops or desktops that cost $400 from dell etc anyway

…and playstations could be used as nuclear missile guidance systems….

Hardware_Elite
Or people could just still use their laptops or desktops that cost $400 from dell etc anyway

But they generally don't.

I think MS are aiming at the people that spend pretty huge amounts of money of gear from the likes of Polycom. These stretch well into the thousands of pounds.

We have a laptop in the office which we take to the meeting room to plug into the projector. X-bone for the office? Maybe, but only to play games at lunch…

kawauso
Bit puzzled as to why they didn't rebadge it and make it look a bit more business-like at the very least for a different market

I think they pretty much did with the design of it.

It would be good for video conferencing in as much as the kinect2 is a very good camera, so a kinect2 plugged into a laptop/pc would probably be a far better option.

An MP'll stick in a claim for one.

So you would need an XBOX live account aswell i guess… yeahhhhh ok Microsoft

Wouldn't it be more effective to buy 1 cheap Web cam for this office, and 1 for that office?


I did chuckle at the thought of a business buying a game console.

'Hey apple, this would be a great product for your main meeting room!'

I just want to point out (since it's often not clear to people) that a Microsoft MVP isn't a Microsoft employee. He's a person who's rewarded by Microsoft for having a positive presence in a community related to a Microsoft product. So it's basically an end user's idea which appealed to Microsoft enough to stick on its blog site.

Personally, I don't much see the point in using an Xbox in the office (except for gaming), but I do see how it can be developed into a useful conference room device, using the kinect to provide much better interaction, from drawing on a virtual board, to gestures which allow to focus on particular people for remote conferencing or show certain slides.

If they did a ‘pro’ version with Lync / AD / Exchange UC integration but no games
(or games hidden away) I think it might do well. At the moment Polycom / Cisco have the market tied up where customers spend tens of thousands for really rather awful inflexible equipment.

Chadders87
Faux MS Quote; “If the gamers don't want it, lets find someone else to offload it to.”

Sorry Microsoft, this is the mistake you made. Gamers want a games machine, not a universal 101-in-1 do it all box.

Couldn't agree more.
Microsoft want it to do everything, I just want to play games.

Suggests it's a justifiable business expense and great for video conferencing.

I can just imagine myself with an HMCE inspector during an audit …. “but it's for video conferencing, honest!!”

Riiiight. :rolleyes:

T Muffy;894305

Chadders87
Faux MS Quote; “If the gamers don't want it, lets find someone else to offload it to.”

Sorry Microsoft, this is the mistake you made. Gamers want a games machine, not a universal 101-in-1 do it all box.

Couldn't agree more.
Microsoft want it to do everything, I just want to play games.

If i look at my friends list and i know its a small example yet 75% of them are watching netflix or love film or watching a film. look like there using the xbox as a streamer rather than a games console.further more i think one of the main reasons the playstation got into the home was its abliltiy more as a blu-ray player as as a range of age generations saw the box as a multi use facility.

magnetobob
If i look at my friends list and i know its a small example yet 75% of them are watching netflix or love film or watching a film. look like there using the xbox as a streamer rather than a games console.further more i think one of the main reasons the playstation got into the home was its abliltiy more as a blu-ray player as as a range of age generations saw the box as a multi use facility.

The point is that both the Xbox and PS3 were games consoles that had other attributes such as dvd player and netflix as a bonus. MS is reversing this by making the XBO a Home Media Center that you can play games on.

Small difference really, except when they annoy gamers and destroy a loyal fan base in favour of a non-gaming core focus.

Maybe I'm weird but I don't think it's that daft. There are many younger, smaller and tech savvy businesses out there for whom this use wouldn't be laughable. Not every corporation is a grey suited Vodafone or BP.

Really, only 0.001% (or somesuch) of businesses out there need to understand possible benefits and try this and it's a huge increase in sales for MS with no downside.
I can't argue with their strategy. Even if it doesn't take off, it's cost them nothing - as the development costs have already been spent for their core target audience, which is largely already a captive one.