SlashGear

Oh well, it was a nice dream while it lasted. Microsoft has denied rumors that the company may start shipping a specialized version of its Xbox 360 console with – GASP! – an internal HD-DVD drive raather than the external drive they’ve been touting for months. This contradicts comments made by a Toshiba’s General Manager of Information Systems, Mark Whittard, who had surmised that Microsoft would build the technology right into their machine to compete with the PS3 (which will come with a built-in Blu-ray drive).

However, a Microsoft employee, speaking on his blog, stated that Microsoft is dead-set on remaining with the external optical
drive. “By keeping the drive external, we’re offering consumers a choice in creating their own hi-def experiences. So: no plans for an internal HD DVD,” he said. This does raise an interesting point; if the drive is kept external, does that mean that users could also hook up an external Blu-ray drive? (provided one ever gets released) That would make the 360 capable of playing both kinds of next-generation DVDs, which would be an advantage to Sony’s Blu-ray-only approach. Looks like this could get real interesting real fast.

[via Reg Hardware]