March 20, 2006, 1:08 PM by Speedfreak_UK
I like how the battery life and size are rather conveniently left out. It's not like they're important to handhelds anyway, I suppose.

March 20, 2006, 1:14 PM by Hawk4x4 to Speedfreak_UK
If it uses flash memory and no optical drive, I see no reason it won't have decent battery life.

March 20, 2006, 1:24 PM by Speedfreak_UK to Hawk4x4
I was thinking about the screens and the specs.

March 20, 2006, 1:30 PM by Arande
How do you think that the load times would be?

I heard mentioned somewhere that the PSP's loadtimes were rediculously long.

By the time it comes out though, wouldn't the processors have got quite a bit more advanced?

March 20, 2006, 1:48 PM by khaid to Arande

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I doubt that it would have an optical drive (DVD), as that adds unnecessary size and drains battery. Music, movies, and games should be downloaded to the internal storage (or memory cards).

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Wouldn't be a very portable much less handheld unit anymore with 4-5" screen and use optical discs.

March 20, 2006, 11:01 PM by chairmansteve
Any speculation or ideas on the physical design?

Clamshell, Slate, Convertible, or Slider? With a slate design, the screen and any buttons would always be visible.

March 20, 2006, 11:19 PM by Hawk4x4 to chairmansteve
How about the top of the clamshell folds completely back? The screen, buttons and analog sticks are all on the bottom, and the triggers and shoulder buttons are on the top, which when open becomes the back of the unit. That way, the triggers won't impede on the closed design and makes the handheld easier to fit into your pocket.

Also, if you use this design, the battery and the memory card slot/internal memory can be housed in the top of the clamshell. This leaves the bottom exclusive to the screen and the hardware.

March 23, 2006, 5:39 PM by moofoo3 to chairmansteve
Maybe rather than using a thumb stick they would implement a wheel sort of like the iPod, and then they don't need to be so thick, and keeps it flat. Same may go with the buttons, maybe something like the iPod center buttion would work well.

March 23, 2006, 6:49 PM by Airzonk to chairmansteve
If I was to make a guess based on my perspective of where technology and gaming has been going, here's what I think might resemble the Xbox handheld (not including specs)if it came out around 2010 or 2012.

It will be a very slim (1/4" or less) device with one screen and no buttons. The entire area, including the screen will be touch sensitive. It will be simplistc and give the appearnce of being more of a thick peice of paper that you put into your pocket. It will be scratch resistant and bendable. Meaning, you'll be able to bend it to the point that the general popluace will be awed by its ablility to be bended. It will not use insertable media. All games will be downloaded to the handheld from some kind of a device, possibly a kiosk at every store it's games are sold.

March 24, 2006, 12:39 PM by chairmansteve to Airzonk
Woah! That's like Year 2000™ stuff!

Bendable OLED or FOLED screens can be done. They can be rolled up like paper or put on clothing. But I've not read about any technology in development that would allow bendable processors, memory, and storage. Maybe some sections would have to be rigid. But anything's possible.

If the handheld is just one screen and no buttons, the priority should be a haptic multi-touch screen before trying to make it bendable. That would allow directional controls and multiple buttons on the screen that feel like buttons. It would probably involve vibration motors behind the screen.

March 25, 2006, 6:49 PM by Alex to chairmansteve
with see through or transparent metal out now and so many leaps in materials it seems possible, but rigid sections don't seem like a drawback if they come with a natural cost advantage.

March 27, 2006, 5:22 PM by kenneth9265
What would the graphic be like on a handheld like that? An Xbox-like quality?

March 28, 2006, 8:46 AM by moofoo3
More Speculations:

Xbox Live Wireless
System linkable with other Xbox brand consoles, not just handhelds.

Steve, how much do you expect such a device to cost?

March 28, 2006, 9:08 AM by saycheese to moofoo3
Howmuchever powerful the system might be, it won't gain mass market if the price goes north of 200-300USD. 400 bucks would be really pushing it, unless Microsoft manages to pull an iPod-esque surprise, effectively combining gaming, audio and video capabilities in a PSP-esque form factor.

Just improve the PSP and the iPod, and do it right without ducking around with new disc formats with limited usability. Price it alongside the iPod and the PSP and just make them play games. Reap the gold.

March 28, 2006, 12:37 PM by chairmansteve to moofoo3
Anywhere from $200 to $400 is possible for Xbox Portable at launch. There may be two models with different size HDD, possibly flash in the cheaper model.

Xbox Portable would surely link with Xbox 360.