[360] Xbox 360 Discussion. Thermal paste, the delicious and nutricious snack of the future.

I'm pretty glad I didn't already buy an Xbox 360.

Originally Posted by Engadget.com

Ever wonder why Microsoft hasn't released an HDMI cable for the Xbox 360, or whether the AV port was really capable of digital out? Well, here's your answer: we landed pictures of what appears to be the second Xbox 360 -- the Xbox 360 v2, if you will -- codenamed Zephyr. (The original Xbox 360, if you recall, was codenamed Xenon.) The long rumored about and awaited update to the console won't just feature a new, cooler 65nm processor, it's also finally added an HDMI port for full digital 1080p pleasure, as well as a 120GB drive, just what the doctor ordered. The 120GB drive may or may not come bundled with the kit, we don't yet know, just as we also don't yet know how much a Zephyr 360 is going to run (we imagine it'll go for the same price as currently so they can keep up a little on their expanding margin). But our very kind Xbox insider seemed happy to let us know we'd be able to get them "soon."

Source

Assuming for the moment the rumor is true, if the 120GB HD will be available to other 360's, then this wouldn't be too much of a blow. Depends on the price too, of course. Early adoptors, what's your take on this?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Mo0

The thing that confuses me about this is that releasing ANOTHER version of the 360 risks confusing consumers worse than how they already are. I don't think Microsoft is oblivious to the fact that the 2-tiered system confuses the average consumer, so I don't understand why they'd just abandon their current model for only a slightly upgraded one. I think they'd much rather be focusing on getting costs down on the current version.

I think it's more a pissing match with Sony than anything else. That, and the bigger number always looks more impressive to the average consumer. "I'm not entirely sure what a hard drive is, but does the 120 jiggabytes make the console twice as good as one with 60 jiggabytes?"

"Why yes sir, yes it does."

Originally Posted by Colonel Skills

I don't think the hardware change will be DS Lite level big and be such a required upgrade, though.

What. Since when was the DS Lite a "required upgrade?" I'm still perfectly happy with my regular ol' DS, and have no desire to get a Lite. As trivial as the Zephyr revision may end up being, DS -> DS Lite is still nowhere near in the same league. Plus, it's just a bit more expensive to be replacing a 360.

Although being the least expensive, GBA -> GBASP is still probably the most "required" of any revision.

Originally Posted by Colonel Skills

The update doesn't seem any different than the updates various other consoles go through in their lifetime, such as the 15 (I think we're up to that number now) different versions of PS2.

Well, yes, if you include the 3 that were only released in Japan, but most were so minor that the majority of PS2 owners didn't know about them. And the major revision (the slim, obviously), didn't happen nearly as early in the PS2's life span.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

My point being, however, that while the changes made to the DS Lite were purely aesthetic, there's actually better hardware in the Zephyr. It's not that much better from what we've seen so far, but it's still a bit of a slap in the face to anyone who payed $400-$500 for a slightly inferior 360 barely more than a year ago. Had the slim PS2 been released hardly longer than a year after the launch of the PS2, you can bet a lot more people would have been unhappy about it.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Solis

Actually the PS2 did have quite a few upgrades only a year or two after it's release. In addition to a more efficient and cooler processor (like the Zephyr) it gained progressive scan output for the DVD player and included the online adaptor as well as fixes for issues with PS1 games.

Yes, we've mentioned them. I pity anyone who used a PS2 as a DVD player, and LOL PS2 online play. For PS1 games, you could have either bought another PS2, or for flawless play, bought a much cheaper PS1. Hmm...

Originally Posted by Solis

Also, the additional brightness settings on the DS Lite allowed you to play under lighting conditions that would've been impossible on the original DS. I think those changes were somewhat more substantial than what we're seeing on the Zephyr.

Um, there's no lighting conditions under which it is impossible to play the DS, be it broad daylight or pitch black. Unless maybe you're shining a headlight on the screen/in your face, but I doubt the Lite would help in that regard.

Originally Posted by Solis

Regardless, I still don't see how this is really a slap in the face when it doesn't impare current Xbox 360 owners from doing anything with their console (i.e. no games or features would require something that doesn't come with the original consoles). Functionality-wise, the only thing that it allows for that isn't on the Xbox 360 is the HDMI port, but they never had any plans for that on the original model to begin with...in fact it might have been impossible for HDMI to be added to the original Xbox 360 since I'm not sure if the A/V out supports a digital signal.

Like I said in my first post on the subject, it all depends on the 120GB HD being available to older 360's. Even if it is, early adopters have probably already overpaid for the 20GB HD; now they'll need to pay more if they want a decent sized one (not to mention they'll also probably have to buy a memory card to transfer saves). I bet a helluva lot more people would have waited longer if they knew this was coming so soon.

It begs the question, though: if they already charge $100 for a 20 gig hard drive, how much is the 120 going to be?

Also, I wouldn't be surprised at all if they use this opportunity to add a built-in HDDVD drive, but we'll have to wait and see about that.

Originally Posted by Solis

And since when is this releasing "barely a year" after the Xbox 360 came out? There isn't even any confirmation of this, let alone date of release...I doubt we'll see it within the next month or two. In fact they recently reported that the CPU for the 65nm Xbox 360 wouldn't start to be manufactured until the middle of this year: http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/12/28/65nm_xbox360_cpu/

"But our very kind Xbox insider seemed happy to let us know we'd be able to get them 'soon.'"

Depends on what they mean by "soon," of course, but the term generally doesn't apply to more than a few months. The real question is, which is more reliable, Engadget's "Xbox insider" or TG Daily's "industry sources?" Either way, any time this year or next is probably too early to not piss people off.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Solis

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.

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 was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Solis

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.

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...

Quote:

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.

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.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Slayer X

There are a lot of good games on and coming for the 360, so if you were to pick on up pengudeus, I don't think you'd regret it.

Well, right now might not be the most efficient time. Unless he really wants any of the current games, he might as well wait for one he wants and keep an eye on news concerning a price drop or the Zephyr.

Originally Posted by pengudeus

It bears Microsoft's logo and that scares me.

...And, why is that exactly? It's proven itself as a reliable, solid console and has a good lineup. What did Microsoft ever do to you? Did a giant Windows XP box rape your father?

Most amazing jew boots

Originally Posted by pengudeus

When I imagine supporting Steve Ballmer, it gives me chills at night.

Come on, he's not all bad.

YouTube Video

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by CelticWhisper

I think that's exactly what he was talking about.

And I was obviously being completely serious.

Spoiler:

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Scratch and Sniff

2) As I've asked Colonel Skills before, has there been any current news for a black Xbox 360 with 120 GB and HDMI? I've read that Australia might be getting them, and the whole black 360 has been in the rumor mills (as I've read from various sources after Googling), but so far nothing really 100% concrete yet. Not that I'm doubting what Skills is telling me here, just curious if anyone has heard anything else - which I can understand if it's not 100% confirmed, just some news would be great.

The most recent I've heard of:

Quote:

You can’t keep a good rumor down. Just weeks after Microsoft stamped down talk that an HDMI-enabled Xbox 360, codenamed Zephyr, was in the works, the rumors are back. Retailers have confirmed that the new SKU is in their systems, set for a May 1 release for $479.99. In addition to the new video interface, the system would also pack a 120 GB hard drive into its nifty black exterior. Microsoft won’t officially confirm that such a configuration exists, but it’s interesting that so many retailers are wrong in the same way…

source

If it is retailing for that much, obviously the price of the other SKU's will drop.

There's nowhere I can't reach.