: Guy's definitely an idiot - and his analogies suck. (Yes, my phone stops
: being able to make phone calls if I go into an area that has no service -
: but THE PHONE STILL WORKS FOR OTHER THINGS. Comparing that to a device
: that CHOOSES to stop functioning, for all tasks, if its internet
: connection drops for too long is idiotic.)

: That said, this is a silly argument - because Microsoft isn't going to
: release a device with those restrictions.

I do have my doubts that they'd implement such a feature, since they would be shooting themselves in the foot financially by cutting off many millions of potential customers. As I mentioned in my other post, a third of all households lack broadband, and even over a third of all 360 owners don't have XBL, plus there the fact that either one's internet service or XBL itself can go down at a moment's notice, rendering an always-online Xbox a brick until service is restored.

That said, I don't put anything past anybody, and Activision and EA have already shown they're willing to use always-online DRM in specific games despite the potential and actual blowback, as seen with the Diablo III and Sim City debacles, so it's not totally outside the realm of possibility that MS could pull a similar stunt with an entire console. It'd be a disastrous mistake that could cost them dearly, but businesses do stupid stunts all the time. I'd give this rumored "Always-online Next-gen Xbox" scenario a 10% chance of happening. Unlikely, but still possible.