Microsoft: Xbox 360 to Have External HD-DVD Drive

Stunning more than a few insiders today at the CES in Las Vegas, keynote speaker and Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates announced that an external HD-DVD drive would be available later this year for the Xbox 360. This marks a major shift in the conventional wisdom regarding HD-DVD for the 360 console, which was expected to do without HD-DVD capabilities for longer than has been announced. In a press release, Microsoft stated “The new drive will offer millions of Xbox 360 owners the ability to easily enjoy HD DVD movies and will provide consumers with even more choices for experiencing high-definition content, in either physical or digital form. Using Xbox 360 and the Xbox Live