Xbox 360 Elite

[Glockstar]

Say hello to the newest model of the 360, what I shall call "the Elite Pack".

Back in Black: Elite 360 Confirmed
New HDMI-enabled system due in late April, 120GB HDD also sold separately.
by Douglass C. Perry

March 27, 2007 - In what appears to be Microsoft's standard cart-before-the-horse style of information delivery, the leading console manufacturer of this generation confirmed nearly all of the rumors preceding today's announcement of the new black, HDMI-enabled Xbox 360 Elite.

Dubbed the Xbox 360 Elite (not the "Zephyr" as had been rumored), the new black, $479.99 Xbox 360 comes bundled with a 120GB hard drive, has an HDMI port, and will ship to the US and Canada Sunday, April 29, 2007, Microsoft told IGN today in an interview over the phone.

The new "Elite" console contains the same parts, processors and chips as the Core and Pro units, and has the same dimensions, only it's got an HDMI port on its back-side (in addition to the standard RGB port) and comes with a 120GB hard disc drive (HDD), cables and headset, all in black.

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/776/776448/back-in-black-elite-360-confirmed-20070327085820176-001.jpg

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"And for a unit that's got twice the hard drive storage space as the PS3, comes with an HDMI cable, an Ethernet cable and a headset, it's still $120 cheaper than the $599.99 high-end PlayStation 3," said Albert Penello, Microsoft's director of global platform marketing.

A standalone $179.99 HDD also ships April 29. This package includes one 120GB HDD, software, and a specialized cable to port data from a user's current hard drive to the new one. To complement the new black console, Microsoft will also ship a wireless black controller (MSRP $49.99), a black Play and Charge Kit ($19.99), and a standalone rechargeable battery pack ($11.99) on April 29, also in black.

"The Elite is not a limited edition. It's permanent. And we will not replace any sku," Penello explained when referring to the flurry of rumors preceeding the official announcement. "We now have three SKUs and we predict the primary seller will continue to be the Pro system."

Penello also addressed concerns the new bigger hard drive might lead game developers to require it as a standard. "We won't force experiences that require the new HDD. Games will still be optimized around the 20GB experience. Nobody will be forced to buy a new drive."

Microsoft has no plans to offer rebates, discounts, or free trade-ins for loyal early adopters. When asked how he thought gamers would respond to the new higher-priced addition, Penello said, "I think and hope that people are going to understand. There is as price for being an early adopter and your points and feelings are valid (Penello said when referring to gamers IGN suggested would be angry about the new system). But whenever you innovate and change, you have to face this situation. Your same old system is still perfectly valid. Think about it this way, it's a new bundle that comes with a bigger hard drive."

When IGN asked why the launch system didn't come with a larger hard drive and an HDMI port, Penello explained: "We could never have done this before, to bring HMDI and 120 GB to the system when we launched in 2005. The reason we didn't do it before was because the HDMI standard wasn't complete. It takes time to develop these things. We started the console earlier than Sony did and when the HDMI standard wasn't done. At the time we were developing, this stuff was in transition."

IGN suggested to Penello that gamers might become skeptical about buying an Xbox 360 because of the introduction to this new system. Many gamers are already skeptical the existing systems aren't reliable, as they have witnessed countless stories of broken 360s only one and a half years since the launch in November 2005. Why should they buy a new system now, if for some new reason, Microsoft decides to create a new system a year and a half from now?

"Should we just ignore new technology? Or listen to the input we hear from gamers and address it? If some new technology comes out, I'm going to have to look at that. We're trying something new."

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/776/776448p1.html

[Glockstar]

The only thing I don't like about it... that it's black. I think that was a mistake on MS's part.

[Cuddly Knife]

I agree about the color. There are already enough systems that are Black.

And bummer about the 120 gig HDD being 200 bones. What a rip. Unless there is some quality content stored on that beast, I won't get one probably until they drop 100 buckeroos.

In any case, it's another option for gamers, which is a good thing. And seeing how it's still over 100 dollars cheaper than the 600 version of the PS3, haters can't hate like they would've wanted.

[Glockstar]

If I didn't already own a 360 this is the model that I would buy. Tho' that's not a 100%-sure decision I'd make... because of the color. I might wait to see if they'll make it in white. Which I hope they do regardless.

Like I said, I really think this black was a big mistake. It seems to me that one of the biggest reasons for this model is for the HD-DVD player. Which only comes in white. (Right now anyways.) Games are done in 720p, and you don't need HDMI for 720p.

But otherwise, yes, I believe the HDMI and the extra 100GB HDD storage space is worth the the extra $80.

Space is no longer really an issue for me with my little 20GB'er, but that's only because I cleaned house and only have game saves and XLA games on it. I deleted all of the demos and videos and ripped tracks I'd downloaded/put on it. But that's not really what I wanted to do; I like having the freedom and the convenience of dl-ing/storing/accessing whatever I wanted, when I wanted it. :(

And, HDD space may yet become an issue for me with my 20GB'er, because of the new size "constraints" of Xbox Live Arcade games. Which are now allowed to be up to 150MB, instead of 50MB. I love XLA and there's a ton more upcoming games I see that I want.

I had brief thoughts about trading my 360 in (when it comes back from the shop that is) and picking up one fo these new models when they come out. But then remembered that the HDMI doesn't really do me any good right now. My surround sound receiver doesn't do HDMI. And there's no way in heck I'm getting rid of the 5.1 surround sound.(!) Either the 360 is missing a jack - a separate, digital audio-out (does the PS3 have? - or my receiver is old tech. ??? Guess I'll keep it - everything I have (tv and receiver) is perfectly married to it afterall. Even if they aren't the tippiest-top of the top-of-the-line in new technology.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

I don't mind the color, though I don't mind the color of the original 360 either.

I agree, if I didn't already have a 360, this would be the one I would get. More HDD space and HDMI capability for $80 more bucks sounds pretty good.

For an existing 360 owner, though, I don't see any reason to make a switch. I just got mine hooked up to HDTV, and I'm satisfied with the way the games look so far (MLB 2K7 looks amazing) on the component cable hook-up.

Is it too early for the Elite? Should MS have waited a little longer in the 360's life cycle to make this happen?