Again, I ask, how does this affect CURRENT owners of the console in a negative way? The people that bought an Xbox 360 KNEW it came with a 20GB harddrive, so why does it matter that one with a larger harddrive is being released later? Would you really prefer that they DON'T offer upgraded features as soon as they can be made available and instead wait a year or two to somehow appease earlier console owners...despite the fact that releasing it later rather than sooner benefits noone? But I don't see how the 20GB drive isn't "decent sized", what in the world would require you to have 120GB of space?

The only thing that would have been better is if they had informed people earlier that they're going to be releasing an upgraded Xbox 360 in the near future, but since we have no idea when this is going to be released, I think it's a little early to say that they haven't given us advanced warning or that they're releasing it too soon.

Anytime I try to play outside or in a vehicle during the day when there's a decent amount of sunlight shining on the screen, it's virtually impossible to see. And the brighter screen brings out more details and a clearer overall image, which is something that will always affect your experience every time you play. On the other hand, none of these apparantly Xbox 360 upgrades will have much of an affect on the games themselves.

As Microsoft tries to expand the content available through the Live service to include movie and tv show downloads, I can see where 120 gig drives could be useful.

Also if there is more content like the Ghost Recon AW expansion pack which was around 1.2 Gigs for future games your 12Gigs (because you don't get access to 8Gigs) will run out fast. Also Final Fantasy 11 takes something like 3 or 4 Gigs itself too. However the whole HDD thing was a scam from the get go when they advertised that you get a 20Gig HDD but don't tell you that you really only get to use 12Gigs. Heck for the price of a 12Gig HDD for my 360 I could get a 120Gig HDD for my PS3, MS isn't being too competitive now are they?

(note: that bottom entry is infact Radiant Silvergun 3)

Moreover;

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3156213

As if Microsoft didn't know about this well before launch, although it was obviously in their best business interest not to mention it. But hey, if you think paying $100 for a 20... no, wait, apparently 12... gig hard drive, and then having to pay even more for a bigger one not more than a few years later because your first one filled up far more quickly than it should have is a good deal, then that's your opinion.

Now, if the 120GB HD ends up actually costing ~$600, then there's a different problem here entirely. But somehow, I doubt that will be the case.

Anyways, it's not so much the people who bought one at launch I feel sorry for - it's obviously risky to get a launch console these days, and they've had more time with it. It the loads of people who only recently got one for Gears of War or for Christmas that should be angered by this. I think it's a safe bet that they wouldn't have sold nearly as well last holiday season if this had been known then.

I really, truly, totally wish that that wasn't the case. But unfortunately, that is the case. There are far too many people spending a lot of money on things that they don't even understand, and it's disheartening.

14 gigs available, actually. I hardly think not being able to use a PC harddrive for a console suddenly makes it "not competitive". More storage space isn't something which is either a selling point (at least it shouldn't be) or requirement for games. And I hardly think it's a "scam" to advertise 20GB when the extra space is taken up by data caches that are required for games. Same way a typical PC advertises a "100GB" harddrive but then has 2GB taken up from the binary conversion, 2GB taken up by Windows, 1GB taken up by virtual memory, 5GB taken up by a recovery sector, etc.


I still don't see how you're "required" to get a new harddrive as soon as you fill up the old one. Everything that takes up space on the harddrive aside from gamesaves and soundtracks can be redownloaded from the marketplace, so it isn't absolutely vital to be a packrat with the harddrive. If you were required to install data to the harddrive to play games, then it would be a much bigger issue, but the only game that requires that is Final Fantasy XI and every other game just uses the space that's already set aside on the harddrive for that purpose.

Yes, obviously the harddrive is a ripoff. Console (and handheld) storage formats are always going to be horrible for the price. $35 for 8MB PS2 cards, $25 for 512k Gamecube cards (then $30 for 2MB cards a year later, then $35 for 8MB cards another year later), $80 for 2GB PSP memory sticks, etc. At least the current Xbox 360 harddrive is large enough that most people won't have a problem with NEEDING to get another one as soon as they fill up, which I really can't say the same for about other consoles (the 20GB PS3 should be fine though as long as you're willing to delete the install data for games).

But like you said, it's more of a pissing match with Sony. 95% of Xbox 360 owners probably aren't even using up half the harddrive, but being able to slap a "120GB" on the box makes it look more impressive sitting next to a 60GB PS3 that costs $200 more. It isn't something that's supposed to attract educated consumers as much as it's supposed to sway people that are debating between the two consoles and look at which has the bigger numbers. Compared to a price drop (which was probably the only other option they were considering), it doesn't really screw over current owners any more than the alternative. And weren't a lot of people expecting a price drop soon anyway? I figured they'd have one within a few months after the holidays were over.

I said this when the 360 came out, and I'll say it again, they should have waited and spent the extra time making sure that the console was ready to go out the door before releasing it. Instead we got a system that had a 16% launch failure rate, noisy as hell fans, crappy cooling system, and who knows what other corners they cut just to get it out the door... and they didn't even have all that great of games for launch that you couldn't just get on the PC or original X-box. Where as Sony & Nintendo might have taken longer, but their systems are much better designed.

The PS3 is not better designed at all. My PS3 experienced the red light of doom in the second week of owning it. The PS3 is bigger then the original xbox for gods sake. Luckily, i didn't have to go through much hassle in returing it and getting my cash back as i didn't want another PS3 as their is no exclusive games worth getting in the near future. let's not forget that the PS3 has the worst batch of launch-titles ever seen for any console launch.

I've had my 360 since launch and i've yet to have any over-heating problems and the fan isn't that loud unless your television is on mute. I'm a little dismayed by the recent rumours about a better, sleeker, 360. Although, it isn't enough to piss me off as the main reason for owning a console is the videogames and so far i've gotten plenty of fun outta of the 360; more then any other console this year.

I was under the impression that a lot of 360 owners were already annoyed with having to juggle data, and weren't looking forward to having to do it more once there's more movies and TV shows available through Live. Not that such reports are never exaggerations, though...

My guess is that the price drop will coincide with the launch of a $500 Zephyr. Similarly, at the same time the new hard drive will probably be available for $100, and the 20 gig drive will drop in price. If they can manage to do that any time around the launch of Halo 3, that would seem to be the sweet spot.

The HDMI port sounds really nice, though the main reason I'm getting it is new cooling. Bigger HD is meh.
Too bad it was pushed to Q3, I was really looking forward to playing GoW this spring.
Oldie news.

This may collide conveniently with the release of Assassin's Creed? =)

I bought the X360 just over a month ago, though my TV doesn't even have a HDMI port so I can't say I care, but might if the console is overpriced still in a few years when I get my next TV...

That said, as long as the HDD is no more than about $100 or so with the 20GB model getting a price drop, I'll deal with it. ;)

:tombstone:

Buying a 360
 

I'm getting a 360 in a few days and I was wondering if there's a way to find out when the system was manufactured. I'm going to try to get new one on eBay, but I don't want to buy one from the first batch even if it is new. Is there a number (serial number maybe) that I could ask the seller for so that I know around when the unit was manufactured?

Is there a reason you can't just buy it from a store?

Of course there will be. Ask him. He should give it to you, if he is legit AND provide you a pic of the number.

CLOSED.

This thing, http://www.joystiq.com/2004/12/16/xbox-indentifier/ , should be able to tell you all sorts of things, just by putting in the serial number. I haven't tried it, but it's worht a shot, I guess.

Ah okay. I was just wondering what I needed to ask for and how to find out the manufacturing date. Thanks. And about the store, it's sometimes cheaper on eBay although I might just go to the store if the difference isn't that significant.

They include the warranty that they got with the system when selling on eBay. Well, some of them. You know what, I think I'm just going to go to the store. =P

They may say they include it, but I believe that warranty only covers the "original retail purchaser", which is definitely not you, if you buy it on eBay.

Gotcha, mo0. Anyone using a wireless adapter to connect with their 360? If so, can you recommend a good one or should I simply go with the Microsoft one even if it is overpriced.

The only wireless USB adaptor that works with the Xbox 360 is the official first-party one. Otherwise you'll need a wireless bridge that connects through the ethernet port. Pretty much any of those will work I believe, even the original Xbox one.

Alrighty, that sounds good.


Thanks for everyone's help by the way. I'm one of those shoppers that has to research stuff before I buy.

How's MS going to know however, when the serial number hasn't been touched by anyone else? People are able to get support from MS regardless from what I have seen people writing online. Especially, if they pay for it, but still...

AFAIK, the 1 year extended warranty is for everyone, whether they bought it new from Amazon or Ebay. The only thing I would suppose would keep one from getting it is if the console is purchased used. Not all Ebay sellers are selling it used though. ;)