First Look at Microsoft's Xbox
PCWorld | at | by Mike
Microsoft is making its first foray into the gaming console market, releasing the high-powered Xbox system to crowds of eager gamers. With only an estimated 300,000 units of the $299 console available for launch Thursday, initial shipments are expected to sell out quickly. Microsoft has been talking up Xbox for nearly two years, originally unveiling it at a game developers conference in March 2000. Company officials have offered several peeks at the console and heavily promoted it to developers. The console beats the rival Nintendo GameCube to the market by mere days, and also competes with Sony's PlayStation 2.