Would personally love to buy the next generation of Xbox, but until Google Fiber comes to town (or Cable atleast), my X-one considerations are nimb.
Same boat as Flying Jester here, rural area madness. Most of the hate for the new model is because of the always online, DRM-thing, the necessary Kinect 2, and a few other stuff too.
From perspective here, Microsoft is wanting to evolve into an entertainment system rather than stay a gaming system.
With excellent reasoning to do so: Broader audience means greater profits.
The problem with that is, everyone with a computer already has one. So, essentially what they're selling you on is gimmicks and presentation. From what I've heard, another major problem with entertainment systems is region lock. In the U.S., Microsoft leaps to ensure that a variety of entertainment is available with music via Xbox Music, and movie rentals via Zune, a number of TV, movie, and sports syndicates (ESPN, NHL, NBA) have launched their products to Xbox 360. In the rest of the world however, you will only access a fraction of what is offered in the United States (Netflix's lacking library, etc). Rumors are their competition is no longer just Sony, but Apple and Google, whom they're now trying to beat out the living room. Complete with 1984 jokes.
Microsoft failed to reach a lot of people with their presentation, introducing a multi-media set-top box where the games became an uninspired afterthought. This crashes the console hard since a majority of the 360's selling point was it's social aspect of it. Now the system is adapted to one room, one family, and with no way to trade used games. Thank Kinect 2 and Always-on DRM for that one, which have both been the major dents in the marketable factors of the system. With this generation, the two big names have done a switcheroo in the reputation department, with Sony now being the old Microsoft, and Microsoft the old Sony.
http://www.gametrailers.com/full-episodes/w5i2js/bonus-round-microsoft-s-next-move Fastforward to (10:42) in the above link. Andy McNamara (Editor-in-Chief, Game Informer) giving points about movement in the gaming industry and about Indie devs being pissed at Microsoft, and Sony's embracing them. A large part of the struggle here is the console companies are trying to appease both their big time publishers (EA, Square-Enix, etc.), who want to get rid of used games and stop having retails like EB-Games rubbing profits in their faces, and the customers who want an open gaming console that enables a smooth standard efficient play of next generation software.
. . .
Now as why the Always-online DRM-thing sucks... sending a friend your game?
He will need to pay full price of the game.
www.kotaku.com/you-will-be-able-to-trade-xbox-one-games-online-micros-509140825
"You'll have to pay a fee--and not just some sort of activation fee, but the actual price of that game--in order to use a game's code on a friend's account. Think of it like a new game, Harrison said."
The Only way your friend doesn't have to buy the game (At full price) is if you are there signed into your account. The Kinect is mandatory, and can't be turned off
[qoute]
http://www.penny-arcade.com/report/article/the-kinect-is-mandatory-and-cant-be-turned-off-welcome-your-new-motion-sens [/quote]
"Kinect does require to be connected to Xbox One in all cases, yes," he said .
Always on, always watching/listening, giving Microsoft feedback.