8 Reason's Why XBOX ELITE isn't ELITE?

[crash323]

1. Three 360s is one too many. Currently there are two Xbox 360 models available, and that's already a stretch. Yeah, it's about choice, but it's also about reducing confusion when presenting a prospective buyer with a product. Having three SKUs available to consumers makes it seem like Microsoft doesn't know what it wants to be. Hardcore gamers (like many of you reading this) are sure to do their due diligence when deciding on a game system, but keep in mind that hardcore gamers are the minority. Most gamers purchase a platform with very little research other than selecting which system supports the game(s) they want play.

2. It's still cheaper than the PS3. Cheap is a good thing. But for something to be considered "Elite," in theory it should probably also be the most expensive product on the market. Try as Microsoft may, when looking at price alone, PS3 still has the "elite" advantage when viewed by the affluent upper-class, the same class the $479 Elite is aimed at. Sure, the $499 PS3 just died and $299-399 Xbox 360 models will still prevail, but Microsoft's price advantage over the PS3 just got a whole lot smaller.

3. No wireless networking. C'mon. This is just inexcusable. Even the DS with its 12 year-old computing technology supports wifi. There's no excuse for what's being dubbed as "elite" not to include this inexpensive, widely used networking standard. Microsoft can pimp "choice" all they want on this one, but who doesn't want wi-fi? Sample: "No, I don't ever want wireless networking, so don't make me pay the $10 wholesale price of adding it." Preposterous.

4. The current 10 million 360 owners are getting the shaft. Microsoft says the Elite isn't aimed at existing customers but for niche HD enthusiasts who still don't own an Xbox 360. Fair enough, but didn't Microsoft just get done telling existing 360 owners that bigger hard drives and HDMI video were unnecessary? Why the sudden shift in philosophy? Even new Elite owners may be getting the shaft as Microsoft will continue to optimize all Xbox Live Marketplace content for the 20GB hard drives, possibly making the Elite's 120GB drive a moot point. And by further segmenting the Xbox 360 platform, no one version benefits as game developers must consider each when developing games and testing hardware. The largest common denominator typically wins.

5. It will still be really loud. By not including a more efficient, cooler-running 65 nanometer processor, we assume the Elite will continue to pump out an irritating racket when turned on, primarily due to its noisy cooling fan. Usually, loud-running consumer electronics are more akin to discount products, not the high-class "elite" as the name implies. This will totally ruin our experience while we drink Cristal and listen to Vivaldi (yes, we're audio snobs).

6. No HD-DVD bundle. Is the Elite trying to be a multimedia device or not? Not including an HD-DVD drive just feels underdeveloped, and something Microsoft could have used to juice up excitement for the Elite. Of course, we can't help but suspect that the increasing popularity of Blu-ray had something to do with the decision to exclude HD-DVD this time around. Furthermore, the add-on drive will not be released in black for Elite owners still wanting HD-DVD support. That'll look real classy on your entertainment center; the black-and-white cookie look is so in this year.

7. Someone tell Microsoft that white is the "new black." Sure, Microsoft needs to differentiate from ghostly white Wiis and pastel-colored Apple products, but white -- not black -- is where the good stuff is right now in consumer electronics. Microsoft wisely went with white the first time around, so why the change without letting Elite owners decide on a color? And don't even try to sell a monochrome variation at a premium. Since when did I have to pay more for a black car?

8. The machine isn't intended for gamers. Ultimately, the Elite has nothing to do with enhancing the gameplay experience; it's for multimedia whores. HDMI, a larger hard drive, new movies and TV content? Great. Remind me why the gamer in me cares? How will the Elite improve my games? From a game saving and demo download standpoint, a 20 GB hard drive is more than enough (hint: you were right the first time, Microsoft). After all, despite whom Elite is being pitched to, gamers are the ones really buying the product.

The only thing "elite" about Microsoft's new Xbox 360 is its price. At $480, it's just $20 shy of the once-available, now-defunct 20GB PS3. Shedding the contrarian in me, the extra hard drive space and bundled HDMI support (including cable) is nice from a non-gamer standpoint. DVD upscaling is appreciated too. But as a gamer, it's hard to get excited about the Elite. And this isn't to say it won't sell; we just wish it was selling "more" to gamers.

INFO 4rm http://gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox360...s/109355.shtml

Please use the [ quote ] tags in future (no spaces). You got points for nothing there, and all while breaking the 5 word minimum rule ~ Graham

[StruggleWithin]

Sure the HDMI would be important, but I still use component for all my systems. Didn't see much of a difference with the HDMI..Also the only thing that really bugs me is the price of the damn HDD..

[Extoll]

Good find good read. I will go with that. the Wifi part made me lol

[Knuckles126]

I agree with some of the points made, especially about the wifi and lack of 65nm processors.

[Sufi]

What kind of a stupid reason is "It's still cheaper than the PS3."...

[The_One]

What kind of a stupid reason is "It's still cheaper than the PS3."...

I guess they're just a bunch of "elitists" (pun intended ).

[StruggleWithin]

Yea the WiFi and the 65nm chips..forgot about those..

[Wilse]

Think Microsoft wanna claw some money back into their pockets with the xbox losing money every year.

[Sufi]

I guess they're just a bunch of "elitists" (pun intended ).

I mean, I know where they're trying to go with it lol. Prices do give people perception that something is the best but it isn't always the case...raising the price will not necessarily improve its perception as well. The product itself has to be seen as being the best out there feature-wise to have that perception...so I see what they're saying but they're pretty dumb.

[Extoll]

Dont think u will see a 65nm cpu untill a small more sleeker xbox360 comes out.

we can dream
HDD 120g
HDdrive
Hdmi
65nm cpu
smaller case
smaller powerbrick
Wifi

I would buy that. even at a price tag of 599.99

[Knuckles126]

You can go out and buy a $500 PS3 and it comes with more than this Elite has to offer.

[Xaor]

How is WHITE the new black.

The elite is SO much better looking than the normal 360 imo.

[WhatRuOn]

6 reasons why this list is dumb.

1.) Your number two reason, is the exact opposite of good marketing. This bundle is already too expensive.

2.) Your number four reason: They aren't getting the shaft if they.....don't buy it.

3.) Your number five reason is just plain false. 90% of the noise the 360 makes is from the disc drive, not the cooling fans.

4.) #6 - Adding HD-DVD, would A: drive the cost up, see reason 1. and B: would create the false impression that the discs will be used for games.

5.) #7 is just plain dumb

6.) #8 - What?

[Knuckles126]

How is WHITE the new black.

The elite is SO much better looking than the normal 360 imo.

Well...it's missing some chrome on the controllers, but other than that it looks pretty good.

[Sventax]

Yeah they wanna play in the same street SONY does, but they can't match with the PS3... the facts are already know..

[Extoll]

6 reasons why this list is dumb.

1.) Your number two reason, is the exact opposite of good marketing. This bundle is already too expensive.

2.) Your number four reason: They aren't getting the shaft if they.....don't buy it.

3.) Your number five reason is just plain false. 90% of the noise the 360 makes is from the disc drive, not the cooling fans.

4.) #6 - Adding HD-DVD, would A: drive the cost up, see reason 1. and B: would create the false impression that the discs will be used for games.

5.) #7 is just plain dumb

6.) #8 - What?

I think they are trying to say with #8 reason is they feel MS is trying to aim for people who wants to DL hd movies and watch them in 1080p. Also with the IPTV they are post to be doing then 120g hd will be needed for DVR like saving. So i can see why they would say something like that.

[Sufi]

6 reasons why this list is dumb.

1.) Your number two reason, is the exact opposite of good marketing. This bundle is already too expensive.

2.) Your number four reason: They aren't getting the shaft if they.....don't buy it.

3.) Your number five reason is just plain false. 90% of the noise the 360 makes is from the disc drive, not the cooling fans.

4.) #6 - Adding HD-DVD, would A: drive the cost up, see reason 1. and B: would create the false impression that the discs will be used for games.

5.) #7 is just plain dumb

6.) #8 - What?

I agree with everything else you said but I think reason #4 had SOME weight to it. It's not going to screw people over like the extra 4MB RAM did for N64 users back in the day but it will make them think that they bought their console way too early, especially the ones that either have a HDTV that supports a DVI/HDMI or want one that supports one.

Everyone would LOVE to watch Halo 3 at its best visual quality and that's not possible with a component (which most of the people will be using) and even a VGA cable is not as good as a DVI/HDMI.

It makes people wanna get the Elite version but I'm sure most would not want to pay the extra cost associated with the trade and the hassle you have to go through (not to mention, losing your data unless you buy the Elite before you sell your current 360).

They also made a good point about the 20GB being the standard and Live marketplace not being optimized for the 120GB, it IS possible but of course, we don't know because 120GB never came out with the 360.

I'm not saying it should've come with a 120GB HDD because that would've been extremely expensive back then but I can see the point they're trying to make, same issue would apply to the PS3 but Sony never cared about the 20GB version since most of the PSN games average about 500MB to 800MB and game installs take anywhere from 1GB to 4GB. But Sony can do that because 60GB is still the majority.

Again, that could go any way but it is still a good point. Just like with the DVD vs Blu-ray issue, we don't know what developers would be able to do with more space unless we GIVE THEM MORE SPACE.

120GB space isn't really an issue though, the more the merrier and it was out of MS's control at the time due to cost issues. The NO HD-DVD add-on included is also not MS's fault but it is a disadvantage to them because Sony is practically giving away Blu-ray in PS3 for free...something the MS can't do because they don't make HD-DVDs in-house.

But I agree that the rest of the issues were pretty stupid and baseless.

[BudFox]

6 reasons why this list is dumb.

1.) Your number two reason, is the exact opposite of good marketing. This bundle is already too expensive.

2.) Your number four reason: They aren't getting the shaft if they.....don't buy it.

3.) Your number five reason is just plain false. 90% of the noise the 360 makes is from the disc drive, not the cooling fans.

4.) #6 - Adding HD-DVD, would A: drive the cost up, see reason 1. and B: would create the false impression that the discs will be used for games.

5.) #7 is just plain dumb

6.) #8 - What?

yeah, I'm not a fan of the elite either, but that list was weak. Every point was either obvious, un-true or ridiculous.

Oh well the Elite deserves bad press. I sweear they are going to dump those hdmi boards into the core by summer. That plus a do it yourself 120gb drive sounds good to me.

[crash323]

Here's a PICTURE of what comes out of the Xbox 360 Elite box

[WhatRuOn]

I agree with everything else you said but I think reason #4 had SOME weight to it. It's not going to screw people over like the extra 4MB RAM did for N64 users back in the day but it will make them think that they bought their console way too early, especially the ones that either have a HDTV that supports a DVI/HDMI or want one that supports one.

Everyone would LOVE to watch Halo 3 at its best visual quality and that's not possible with a component (which most of the people will be using) and even a VGA cable is not as good as a DVI/HDMI.

I think your exaggurating the "difference" between the quality of a HDMI connection vs a component connection. I'd be willing to bet that if two "Elites" were placed side by side, playing the same game, one on HDMI and ond on component, most people on this forum and most people in general wouldn't notice the difference.

[Knuckles126]

Notice it shows everything except the power brick..

[Sufi]

I think your exaggurating the "difference" between the quality of a HDMI connection vs a component connection. I'd be willing to bet that if two "Elites" were placed side by side, playing the same game, one on HDMI and ond on component, most people on this forum and most people in general wouldn't notice the difference.

You're 100% correct, they would not be able to tell the difference even from a direct feed because it will never look the same as it would on your HDTV or even if on your monitor, the videos do not look nearly as good as they would when you're actually playing the game. Due to that limitation, you can't tell small but significant differences that hardcore gamers care for. And I'm guessing that most 360 users LOVE getting the best visual quality possible out of their consoles.

It is not an exaggeration, I know this for a fact that at higher resolutions, VGA can't compete with DVI (we're not even talking about component inputs here). I can give you a proof, it might take me a day but if you want proof I can give it.

[Breed]

Here's a PICTURE of what comes out of the Xbox 360 Elite box

LMFAO, randomest post of the decade, +rep for that laugh you gave me...

[Forza1]

Sorry, but Llama already confirmed the 65, and the Elite is quiet, quieter than the louder PS3.

[Sockpuppet]

Here's a PICTURE of what comes out of the Xbox 360 Elite box

I couldn't care less for the Elite unit itself but WOW that packaging is awesme. I just want the box. Any one who picks up the Elite wanna send me the box it came in please