Xbox One's downsides outweigh its benefits

Unfortunately, Microsoft has made it very clear a broadband connection is required for Xbone to properly function. Xbox Wire specifically states that "Because every Xbox One owner has a broadband connection, developers can create massive, persistent worlds that evolve even when you’re not playing".[1] This is, in the eyes of Microsoft, a key selling point for the console. As to the idea of a 'limited features' version, that is speculation and cannot be really confirmed or denied.Just because a program has been solid in the past does not mean it cannot be breached, given the proper motivation. While you note the Sony online outage prevented online multiplayer from being accessed, the key difference with Xbone is that all gaming would be prevented from being accessed. You could still play any PS3 game offline during the outage, but with Xbone, under a similar circumstance, all gaming functionality would be lost. That is the issue - wheras an online outage on any other console would only affect online access, and online outage on Xbone would affect all access.As to the GameStop bit, it is very clear the point of the Xbone DRM is to eliminate used game sales in all ways. If Microsoft has no intention of doing it, why include it? And excluded territories should have a bearing on this debate; it may not be a disandvantage to your or me, but it sure is to them.XO is an entertainment device that does not have access to work or leisure activities of it's user unless it is on and is actively inputing information. Fortunately there is the simple concept of shutting down a computer[simple_shutdown_no_tracking]. I doubt that would make XO not work for 24 hours after turning on. For that matter I doubt that using Playstation Network on PS3 or Xbox Live on Xbox360 is any safer.Once again, the 24-hour check is actually confirmed by Microsoft. It is a core feature of the Xbone DRM because it confirms all downloaded games meet Xbone requirements.As for price, $499 is a lot to ask for any console, but with the bad features I mention, it is clear it is a much poorer product than Sony or Nintendo are offering. While you can mainly point at speculation (the games might be good, backend online might not be needed on all games, 24-hour countdown might not be real), I am giving facts - the price is higher, the console must have constant broadband internet, DRM is restrictive, and the Kinect is always on. Given the current facts, the only way to judge the console is clear - the Xbone has more downsides than benefits. As to your last comment, I am not anti-Microsoft or pro-Sony. I am first and foremost a Nintendo gamer. I own both the original Xbox (one of my favorite consoles) and the Xbox 360 (a very good console in its own right), and haven't owned a Sony console aside from the PSP and the original PlayStation. To me, the issue is not Sony v. Microsoft - it is of quality. A good way to judge downsides are to see what the rest of the market are doing, and no other console is utilizing the downsides of Xbone.To conclude, I will first note arguments my opponent has not acknowledged or has ceded:*1.5 Mbps is twice the speed most broadband users receive*119 million Americans do not have broadband at all*Microsoft could render your Xbone useless by shutting off the Xbone servers*The first sale doctorine is a principle of copyright law*Microsoft is a member of PRISM, and has been since 2007*Microsoft has restrictive patents relating to Kinect, that could limit how many people can watch or participate in Xbone activities like watching Netflix*Xbone is more expensive than PS4 and Wii U*No other console has always online, DRM, or spy-cameras*PS4 has a greater graphical capacity*PS4 is region-free, while Xbone is region-lockedAs is clear from my arguments and from the facts, the downsides of Xbone are tremendous. The DRM, online, Kinect, and price are all downides and inferior when compared to the competition consoles, the PS4 and Wii U. My opponent has not refuted these issues, but has attempted to make up for it with software value. Unfortunately, software is not proven at this point, but all of my issues are proven. Therefore, I would highly urge you to vote Pro.References:1. http://news.xbox.com...