Optional HDD for Xbox 2? Why make it optional?

Perhaps not everybody need the hdd? Like current xbox, how many actually used up the 8 gb hdd if they don't know about the function or those buy it just for gaming but not home media center.

But wouldn't it degrade game performance? Most Xbox games need HDD to use as cache right?

Slower loading time perhaps but i thought xbox next does come with hdd but how big it is are still unknown, maybe default size just few gigs but then it's upgradable?

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Just like when the PS2 first came out, the latest console graphics will be superior to PC when it came out for one or two years, then it became on-par with PC after another year and probably become outdated in another year or two later. That's the nature of consoles.

Because it's not upgradeable maa.
PC you can upgrade the component to make it more powerful, but you can't upgrade console.

.... I read somewhere that someone modded his Xbox with 1.4 Ghz CPU. Double the original speed. But not compitable with some games. 

But i can't understand...why use specialize mem card....allow us to plug in cheap thumbdrive lar!!! But at least it's not only 8MB...

Optional HDD for Xbox 2? Why make it optional?

Think again, Why would I(as microsoft,Sony,nintendo) want to give the business to thumb drive company when I sell 8MB memory card at a good price?
if I not mistaken...from the net news.....by making the HDD optional is to reduce the overall cost of XBOX. This can allow microsoft improve its price competitive.

A HDD cost nearly RM200. It is not a RM20 product that u can simply add in.

# Wireless Options: Xenon will enable both wired and wireless controllers (like the Nintendo WaveBird or the Logitech controllers), and will come with RF receivers for wireless options. The system also supports an optional Internet router/adapter.


# Controllers: The new controllers will be around the same size as the current S-controllers. Microsoft has eschewed the dual triggers for shoulder buttons, and the design is said to be a mixture between the current S-controllers and the current PS2 controllers. They will not feature slots for memory cards, which, we're told, are on the console itself. The system supports 64 megabyte memory cards. There are three controller slots, two controllers on front of the system, plus one USB on the back. Controllers have 2.5mm jacks for headset use.


# Console Design: The Xenon console design is said to be much smaller than Xbox, which seems obvious. The new design is styled less like a Corvette and more organic in shape. Its size falls somewhere between the new slimmer PS Two and original PS2.