A $99 Xbox? More Than Meets The Eye . . .

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OK so Microsoft’s launching a $99 X-Box with Kinect. Sure you then need to pay a subscription fee (which comes with access to XBox Live Gold), but you also get a warranty.

So that throws things back into Sony’s part in the price wars on their aging platforms. I think it’s got a few interesting repercussions beyond that:

  • It’s pretty smart pricing – totally you’d pay $29 for the subscription model, but you also get a lot of benefits. Microsoft may be trying some new plans that won’t just be for this system – but for the next.
  • As it’s a two year plan, my guess is we won’t be seeing a new XBox for 1 1/2 to 3 years.  If you’re developing for XBox, breathe a sigh of relief – but not if you just started a new project.
  • This is an experiment. How it pans out will be watched by others – and responded too.  Pay attention.
  • It reverses common methods of pricing game systems – and merges them with online services all-but-totally.  If you work in gaming, pay attention (and notice how Microsoft is even more of a gatekeeper).

– Steven Savage

Promoting Professional Geekery #36 – Have A Book List

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(For more Promoting Professional Geekery, see this Roundup of past columns.)

OK you’ve got those must-read books, right?  And they’re really important to people’s careers.  You being the progeek that you are know what to read, and often tell people about it.

Of course I’m pretty sure you’re usually forgetting it.  Or adding to it – and forgetting it.  Or you’re not sure.  Or you forgot everything.

So here’s one of the simplest tips to help out progeeks – keep a list of the best books you’d recommend to your fellow geeky pros and share them with people.  A lot.  Yes, write it the heck down.

Yeah that’s . . . pretty much it.

Of course half the benefit of this is actually, truly, asking what is indispensable for people to read – and that alone is going to provide you a lot of benefit right there.  You’re not tossing off an exhaustive list, or a single book – you’re having to ask yourself “what is a reasonable list of books people should read.”

That question is going to help you help others.  It’ll also make you think seriously about the lessons you learned.

If possible, keep a copy of each book you’d recommend to lend out to people.  Just be sure to get them back.

What’s my progeek booklist?  I actually have three must-reads.

  • Me 2.0 by Dan Schwabel.  It may be a few years out of date but the basic concepts and ideas are strong.
  • Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi.  The book everyone says you must read?  Is actually a must read guide to good networking.
  • The Unwritten Rules of the Highly Effective Job Search by Orville Pearson.  A rational, intelligent guide to a good job search.

So what’s in your list?

– Steven Savage

Hulu Not Requiring A Cable Subscription – Yet

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OK this is a rumor, and it sounds like it’s not happening/not for awhile, but there was talk of Hulu requiring a cable subscription.

This popped up yesterday, and after an initial clarification, it looks like the oft-discussed idea would mean a delay getting content. It also doesn’t sound like it has a lot of support.

I want to call this out if for nothing else so people keep an eye on this possibility. A few thoughts:

  • As a cable-cutter this is not going to get me to use cable, it’s going to piss me off. I don’t see it as a way to rope in hardcore cable cutters.
  • This could get people to stop trying the service or get less interested in it – which may be a way to kill it off.
  • I see attempts to do this could fragment the Hulu backers.
  • Attempts to do this also might lead to competitors to leap in. If you want to be a competitor or work with one, pay attention.
  • Attempts to do this might also lead to all sorts of lovely legal complications and issues. If you’r in geek law, keep an eye out.
  • Any competitors who leap in would already have their own services for streaming . . . say, Netflix or OnLive . . .
  • Note a big idea is to make it so you can only see shows after 30 days if you have no subscription.  That plays to the one and only thing the content companies have – access/immediacy.

I’m still watching this, but I’m not sure we’ll see any motion for awhile.

– Steven Savage