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With the X-Box 360 launching a full year before either of the other next-gen (this-gen?) consoles, Microsoft must have found it hard to stay in the limelight. Sure, the 360 had the highest holiday sales, but no one was lining up at four AM to find one, and, as a proven success, there was little speculation regarding 360 titles. But now, with a new name and new features, the X-Box 360 Elite just jumped back into the discussion.

As rumored for months, one of the major changes for new console will be hard drive size. The X-Box Elite will have a 120 GB drive in order to accommodate huge file sizes from the game and video X-Box Live download services. The color scheme will be switched over to black (or "premium" black, as Microsoft puts it), and the console will ship with a matching wireless controller and headset. The X-Box Elite will also have an HDMI output port and come bundled with an HDMI cable. Take that, Sony.

The new console will retail for $479 in the United States, a full $20 less expensive than the "cheap" PS3. The 120 GB harddrive plus a data transfer cable will also be released separately for $179.

Source: GameSpot

Despite Sony's snotty reminder that the new X-Box still won't come with high-def DVD playback that no one has any use for anyway, this looks to me like Microsoft is giving gamers what they want. If Sony could knock the PS3's price into this range by making BluRay optional, I'd be right there. It seems ironic to me that Microsoft, the same company that insists on huge bundles for their PC products, is allowing consumers to decide for themselves whether or not they want a video game console or an entire entertainment center.

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Veni, vidi, dormivi.

Sony's approach is for HD gaming a generation early as well as possibly an effort to capitalise on another selling point PS2 had back in the early naughties, IE a cheap DVD player as well, but the High Definition wave is barely a ripple in the lake just now.Which does seem to be causing damage when operators with brains run the show elsewhere. Odd really: Of the 8th generation consoles, one is 7th gen with knobs on, one is probably 9th Gen lite, and only one really is 8th gen.

If Sony don't get a move on they're going to be on the ropes for sure.

This post has been edited by Del S on 28th March 2007 16:49

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"Only the dead have seen the end of their quotes being misattributed to Plato."
-George Santayana

"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here..."
-Abraham Lincoln, prior to the discovery of Irony.

it sucks that Xbox owners are too stupid (at least the one's i know) to just get an external hard drive instead of buying a whole new console. my friend jim got one and says it works fine

Edit

that would probably be true neo, but just talking about the people i know, they are all buying it

This post has been edited by dont chocobos rule? on 29th March 2007 01:25

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Aujourdhui a commence avec toi.

Quote (dont chocobos rule? @ 28th March 2007 18:43)

it sucks that Xbox owners are too stupid (at least the one's i know) to just get an external hard drive instead of buying a whole new console. my friend jim got one and says it works fine

I'd assume this is for those who don't already have a 360 (or collectors who want a black one...), especially since the HDD/HDMI cable are also being sold separately for those who already have the base console.

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Wasabi Viniagrette: Mix 1/3 C rice vinegar, 2 Tbsp sesame oil, and 2 tsp powdered wasabi. Excellent over cold udon noodles and shiitake mushrooms for a Japanese pasta salad.

Yikes, Microsoft are really beating up on Sony at every opportunity...
I really feel sorry for them, this must be stressful.

But hopefully it will quickly bring down the price of the PS3! You never know...

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'Let that be a lesson to all oppressive vegetable sellers.'

Quote (karasuman @ 28th March 2007 16:10)

With the X-Box 360 launching a full year before either of the other next-gen (this-gen?) consoles, Microsoft must have found it hard to stay in the limelight. Sure, the 360 had the highest holiday sales, but no one was lining up at four AM to find one, and, as a proven success, there was little speculation regarding 360 titles. But now, with a new name and new features, the X-Box 360 Elite just jumped back into the discussion.

As rumored for months, one of the major changes for new console will be hard drive size. The X-Box Elite will have a 120 GB drive in order to accommodate huge file sizes from the game and video X-Box Live download services. The color scheme will be switched over to black (or "premium" black, as Microsoft puts it), and the console will ship with a matching wireless controller and headset. The X-Box Elite will also have an HDMI output port and come bundled with an HDMI cable. Take that, Sony.

The new console will retail for $479 in the United States, a full $20 less expensive than the "cheap" PS3. The 120 GB harddrive plus a data transfer cable will also be released separately for $179.

Source: GameSpot

Despite Sony's snotty reminder that the new X-Box still won't come with high-def DVD playback that no one has any use for anyway, this looks to me like Microsoft is giving gamers what they want. If Sony could knock the PS3's price into this range by making BluRay optional, I'd be right there. It seems ironic to me that Microsoft, the same company that insists on huge bundles for their PC products, is allowing consumers to decide for themselves whether or not they want a video game console or an entire entertainment center.

you seem a little biased karasuman

The X-box 360 elite seems more of a homage to sony
painting it black and offering hdmi, next the will re-name it
"I can't believe it's not ps3"

the "cheap" ps3 may be more expensive than the 360 elite but it still has more features and is better value


the 360 elite apparently is quiter and cooler than the normal 360 suggesting that microsoft has upgraded the cooling to prevent the overheating and 3 red lights of doom that plaguued some 360 owners


all is looking good in the world of games

Quote (john aiton @ 30th March 2007 07:21)

you seem a little biased karasuman

The X-box 360 elite seems more of a homage to sony
painting it black and offering hdmi, next the will re-name it
"I can't believe it's not ps3"

the "cheap" ps3 may be more expensive than the 360 elite but it still has more features and is better value

News posters are supposed to inject their opinion into what they write. In this case, if I'm biased, it's really against everybody. I'm not a big fan of Microsoft and I will probably never own an X-Box. The PS2 is my favorite console, but I think Sony is taking their brand in the wrong direction both for sales and for what gamers want.

The only feature the PS3 has that the 360 doesn't is HD DVD, which only matters to people with really expensive TVs and the inclination to replace their movie library with expensive Blu-Ray discs. For their sake, everyone else who wants a PS3 for the games has to shell out hundreds of dollars extra. The PS3 would be a great deal if I wanted a Blu-Ray player, but I don't. As a game console, it's hideously overpriced.

And as for the "Elite"? Shrug. It's a 360 with more hard drive space, which, apparently, is something 360 owners want. Go them.

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Veni, vidi, dormivi.

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This post has been edited by john aiton on 31st March 2007 20:26