Paul Thurrot Predicts November Debut, $500 Tag For Xbox 720

New submitter inkribbon writes that Microsoft blogger Paul Thurrott has now predicted that Microsoft's Xbox 720 console will actually hit the market this November. Thurrott offers a mix of what he considers cold, known facts and "clearly identified conjecture" about the upcoming device. Important to users is this confidently offered claim about the price: "Microsoft will initially offer two pricing models for the console: a standalone version for $499 and a $299 version that requires a two-year Xbox LIVE Gold commitment at an expected price of $10 per month."

Like cell phone contracts

[tepples]

It's the same reason that a smartphone costs $99 with a contract or $499 without: part of the price of service covers the subsidizes the hardware.

Re:I hope not.

[Anonymous Coward]

I love Live because by I can watch Netflix if I pay both a Netflix subscription and a Live subscription because services freely accessible on just about every other platform should only be available on Xbox as part of a paid service on top of Netflix subs.

On viewing I can tell you the picture is definitely sharper and the selection wider than Netflix on appliances with free Netflix clients. Same for Internet Explorer requiring a Live Gold membership. Web pages are crisper and more balanced than when viewed on these shitty platforms where Internet access just works. It's just crazy that most devices with Internet access aren't subject to an additional charge of some sort for which there's little obvious value added. Obama should do something about this.