Microsoft play catchup with the PS3 and add external HD DVD optional drive in time for holidays

Not to be left out of the hi-def geek-fest of annoucements coming out of E3 this week, Microsoft have announced they are adding an optional add-on extra for the XBox360 to give it an external, USB-connected HD-DVD drive in order to play upcoming hi-def movies and games released on the HD-DVD format.

Sony is backing the Blu-Ray hi-def next-gen DVD drive format, and both PS3 models will ship with an integral BluRay DVD drive as its main drive. Should game developers take advantage of it’s 25GB single-layer capacity (50GB dual-layer), this potentially offers PS3 gamers massive amounts of game content. Without the external drive, XBox360 owners could only match this capacity with some frantic DVD disk swapping. However, how long will it take before game developers are shipping content that will take advantage of this much content?

While the XBox360 currently does not have any true HD TV connectivity options such as HDMI or HDCP, the $599 version of the PS3 does come with HDMI output.

OnLamp.com: Advanced MySQL Replication Techniques

As I run this server on a MySQL powered solution (a Hibernate-based web-app running on JBoss4 on Linux), I’ve wondered occasionally what it would take to introduce fault tolerance at the database level in case of server failure.

OnLamp.com have an article by Giuseppe Maxia called “Advanced MySQL Replication Techniques” that shows what is involved to set up replication between multiple database server instances to introduce high availability of a MySQL database.

Barrier to entry for new PS3 – $499 and $599 versions?

Sony annouced the exact launch dates, configurations and prices yesterday for the much awaited PS3, with it’s 7 core processor, the Cell.

At $499 for the 20GB version and $599 for the 60GB version, one can only think that this is priced way too high for the ‘casual gamer’ and average consumer – you are not going to get the average family pass the electronics store and pick one up without some serious consideration first. However, since Sony bets on a 10 year lifespan for their gaming consoles, is this configuration well placed to last the next 10 years? Yes, probably.

Even at these prices Sony is expected to be taking a serious loss per unit sold, at a cost to manufacture estimated at approx $800 per unit.

The launch date for the new PS3 will be Nov 1 in Japan, followed by Nov 17 in North America.

According to Joystiq, here’s the difference in features in terms of the $100 difference:

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  • 20GB base vs. 60GB

  • You lose HDMI output
  • You lose MemoryStick / SD / CompactFlash slots
  • You lose 802.11 b/g wireless

    This looks like a substantial difference, so it’s not just the HD upgraded size.