Spy shots of Black 360 surface

(Credit: tgfcer.com)

A small group of spy shots have surfaced on Chinese forum tgfcer.com, depicting what looks to be a large group of black Xbox 360s on the tail end of a production line. Also in the photos is a shot of the detachable hard drive, which pretty clearly looks to be 120GB, confirming several rumors that a new premium SKU for Microsoft's gaming console is forthcoming. The only thing missing from the shots is the back of the console, which would validate the claims an HDMI port was on the way.

For early adopters of the system (myself included), it's worth remembering that nearly every gaming device undergoes a hardware revision. The Nintendo DS Lite and Slimline PS2 have done incredibly well by shrinking things down and re-pricing. It will be interesting to see if Microsoft keeps the Core system kicking about, as three SKUs for one console is just too many. Now, if only it could do something about that giant power brick...

[via XBOX360 Fanboy]

[DarkHawke]

The GOOD version of the 360?

There's a lot to recommend the 360, most notably the better-than-Apple-TV networking and streaming with your Windows PC, and it's the only system with the latest version of my fave PS2 game, DOA. But there's also a lot that's kept me away from it, starting with the design. As huge and clunky as I thought the first Xbox was, it looks so much cooler than the bizarre silhouette of the 360. The concave curves are weird and so is the bulge of the hard drive on top of the unit (at least that's what I think it is). I know since this is the "360" it's supposed to be about circles and all, but where the hell is the X on the Xbox? You knew where it was on the old version!

Then there are the other little less-than-PS3 things, like no HDMI, only DVD playback standard, HD-DVD requiring an external add-on drive (?), only a 20 GB hard drive, and as I've famously heard, they're noisy as all hell, even with having a massive separate power brick. I'd prefer a Blu-ray drive, but there's no chance in hell of that happening soon (though the external drive solution might allow that if HD-DVD goes the way of the dodo), but if the other technical shortcomings can be addressed without breaking the bank, that might be the tipping point for me. And now with BLACK cases? Icing, baby. Icing.

[DarkHawke]

The GOOD version of the 360?

There's a lot to recommend the 360, most notably the better-than-Apple-TV networking and streaming with your Windows PC, and it's the only system with the latest version of my fave PS2 game, DOA. But there's also a lot that's kept me away from it, starting with the design. As huge and clunky as I thought the first Xbox was, it looks so much cooler than the bizarre silhouette of the 360. The concave curves are weird and so is the bulge of the hard drive on top of the unit (at least that's what I think it is). I know since this is the "360" it's supposed to be about circles and all, but where the hell is the X on the Xbox? You knew where it was on the old version!

Then there are the other little less-than-PS3 things, like no HDMI, only DVD playback standard, HD-DVD requiring an external add-on drive (?), only a 20 GB hard drive, and as I've famously heard, they're noisy as all hell, even with having a massive separate power brick. I'd prefer a Blu-ray drive, but there's no chance in hell of that happening soon (though the external drive solution might allow that if HD-DVD goes the way of the dodo), but if the other technical shortcomings can be addressed without breaking the bank, that might be the tipping point for me. And now with BLACK cases? Icing, baby. Icing.

[BCF1968]

What's the point of HDMI if

the HD-DVD drive is still going to be separate? You can't watch HD-DVD movies unless you fork over $200 for the HD-DVD drive that's in addition ot the $479 for this new and "improved" 360. And since the XBOX 360 games are in DVD9 format and not HD-DVD, well HDMI is pretty useless there too. And still no built in wi-fi. That's another $100.

[BCF1968]

What's the point of HDMI if

the HD-DVD drive is still going to be separate? You can't watch HD-DVD movies unless you fork over $200 for the HD-DVD drive that's in addition ot the $479 for this new and "improved" 360. And since the XBOX 360 games are in DVD9 format and not HD-DVD, well HDMI is pretty useless there too. And still no built in wi-fi. That's another $100.

[make_or_break]

Improved, but there is the price premium

Doesn't seem like there's much there for someone who's already got a 360. But the Elite will cost $80 more for the add-ins (HDMI and 120GB HD), according to a local Seattle newspaper; seems like MSFT is quite happy with the current price points and is willing to concede the sales lead to Nintendo. I'd guess that 360 Premium sales may shrink to nothing given the NEED for the larger HD if the 360 is supposed to be a hub in an home entertainment center.

As for the optional 120GB HD upgrade for earlier 360s, $180 is a lot to pay for only an upgrade of 100GB. Since component vid works fine for me, aside from the black case and controller there's not much value here for this current 360 Premium gamer. Certainly it's no sale for me with either the Elite or with the 120GB HD upgrade option, since I never intended on making the 360 the centerpiece of my entertainment system (a computer can take care of that). And for those who do intend on using the Elite as a media hub, the new unit should've had a wireless streaming built-in; good going, MSFT, with your continual release of half-baked solutions. Considering that adding the separate HD-DVD drive now will push the Elite package OVER the price of a PS3, now who's kidding who?

[make_or_break]

Improved, but there is the price premium

Doesn't seem like there's much there for someone who's already got a 360. But the Elite will cost $80 more for the add-ins (HDMI and 120GB HD), according to a local Seattle newspaper; seems like MSFT is quite happy with the current price points and is willing to concede the sales lead to Nintendo. I'd guess that 360 Premium sales may shrink to nothing given the NEED for the larger HD if the 360 is supposed to be a hub in an home entertainment center.

As for the optional 120GB HD upgrade for earlier 360s, $180 is a lot to pay for only an upgrade of 100GB. Since component vid works fine for me, aside from the black case and controller there's not much value here for this current 360 Premium gamer. Certainly it's no sale for me with either the Elite or with the 120GB HD upgrade option, since I never intended on making the 360 the centerpiece of my entertainment system (a computer can take care of that). And for those who do intend on using the Elite as a media hub, the new unit should've had a wireless streaming built-in; good going, MSFT, with your continual release of half-baked solutions. Considering that adding the separate HD-DVD drive now will push the Elite package OVER the price of a PS3, now who's kidding who?

[make_or_break]

Improved, but there is the price premium

Doesn't seem like there's much there for someone who's already got a 360. But the Elite will cost $80 more for the add-ins (HDMI and 120GB HD), according to a local Seattle newspaper; seems like MSFT is quite happy with the current price points and is willing to concede the sales lead to Nintendo. I'd guess that 360 Premium sales may shrink to nothing given the NEED for the larger HD if the 360 is supposed to be a hub in an home entertainment center.

As for the optional 120GB HD upgrade for earlier 360s, $180 is a lot to pay for only an upgrade of 100GB. Since component vid works fine for me, aside from the black case and controller there's not much value here for this current 360 Premium gamer. Certainly it's no sale for me with either the Elite or with the 120GB HD upgrade option, since I never intended on making the 360 the centerpiece of my entertainment system (a computer can take care of that). And for those who do intend on using the Elite as a media hub, the new unit should've had a wireless streaming built-in; good going, MSFT, with your continual release of half-baked solutions. Considering that adding the separate HD-DVD drive now will push the Elite package OVER the price of a PS3, now who's kidding who?

[make_or_break]

Improved, but there is the price premium

Doesn't seem like there's much there for someone who's already got a 360. But the Elite will cost $80 more for the add-ins (HDMI and 120GB HD), according to a local Seattle newspaper; seems like MSFT is quite happy with the current price points and is willing to concede the sales lead to Nintendo. I'd guess that 360 Premium sales may shrink to nothing given the NEED for the larger HD if the 360 is supposed to be a hub in an home entertainment center.

As for the optional 120GB HD upgrade for earlier 360s, $180 is a lot to pay for only an upgrade of 100GB. Since component vid works fine for me, aside from the black case and controller there's not much value here for this current 360 Premium gamer. Certainly it's no sale for me with either the Elite or with the 120GB HD upgrade option, since I never intended on making the 360 the centerpiece of my entertainment system (a computer can take care of that). And for those who do intend on using the Elite as a media hub, the new unit should've had a wireless streaming built-in; good going, MSFT, with your continual release of half-baked solutions. Considering that adding the separate HD-DVD drive now will push the Elite package OVER the price of a PS3, now who's kidding who?

[apple94]

I don't think it is much as a wow for me

Because the PS3 can do all of those things that this new xbox can do exept
everything is built in, and really why do you really need 120gb of hard drive,
60gb is enough, even 20gb

[make_or_break]

60GB is not enough if...

...you use the PS3 or 360 as a media center. Doesn't take many downloaded movies, TV shows and sizable music library to eat up a 60GB HD. I've got more than in music files alone on my 80GB 5.5G iPod. If anything, 120GB is STILL too small.

[ikcizokm]

120gb is still not enough

apple94, your comment made me think of when I bought my first PC back in 1993. The rep @ Gateway assured me that there was no way I would EVER need anything more than 16mb of RAM. I ordered 32mb.

Not trying to knock your comment, but the reality is that the bigger the drive, the better. I'm almost surprised MS didn't put in a 250gb drive. Consider that you cannot fit all of the Xbox Live Arcade games on the 20gb drive that comes with the current Premium system. Add to that the various HD video downloads, game demos, expansion packs like Oblivion's "Shivering Isles" and you can fill up 120gb very quickly. And we haven't even started adding our MP3's to the Xbox hard drive yet!

I'm wondering what the backlash will be when Sony releases an improved PS3 next year that has a 250gb drive in it. :)

[apple94]

I don't think it is much as a wow for me

Because the PS3 can do all of those things that this new xbox can do exept
everything is built in, and really why do you really need 120gb of hard drive,
60gb is enough, even 20gb

[make_or_break]

60GB is not enough if...

...you use the PS3 or 360 as a media center. Doesn't take many downloaded movies, TV shows and sizable music library to eat up a 60GB HD. I've got more than in music files alone on my 80GB 5.5G iPod. If anything, 120GB is STILL too small.

[ikcizokm]

120gb is still not enough

apple94, your comment made me think of when I bought my first PC back in 1993. The rep @ Gateway assured me that there was no way I would EVER need anything more than 16mb of RAM. I ordered 32mb.

Not trying to knock your comment, but the reality is that the bigger the drive, the better. I'm almost surprised MS didn't put in a 250gb drive. Consider that you cannot fit all of the Xbox Live Arcade games on the 20gb drive that comes with the current Premium system. Add to that the various HD video downloads, game demos, expansion packs like Oblivion's "Shivering Isles" and you can fill up 120gb very quickly. And we haven't even started adding our MP3's to the Xbox hard drive yet!

I'm wondering what the backlash will be when Sony releases an improved PS3 next year that has a 250gb drive in it. :)

[extirpator]

Cost comparison PS3 vs xbox 360 elite

So the 360 Elite is going to be $479, $20 less than a 20Gb PS3. If you want to watch HD-DVD movies you must spend an aditional $200 for the HD-DVD drive. Total price of the Xbox 360 Elite $679. $179 more than the 20Gb PS3, but the PS3 has a smaller hard drive. Lets see what we can get for a hard drive on the PS3 for that $179.

A quick check on pricewatch shows that a 120Gb 2.5" hard drive can be gotten for as low as $76 (http://castle.pricewatch.com/s/search.asp?s=120Gb+2.5%22+sata+HDD) a $103 less than the Xbox 360. Now admittedly we also need an Equivilent HDMI cable. A $30 one will fit the bill as I'm doubting they are including anything higher quality than that with the 360. We're still ahead spec wise by $73. Lets take that $73 and do something the 360 can't do. Instead of getting a lousy 120Gb hd lets get a 160Gb drive. At $105.00 for the least expensive 160Gb drive (http://castle.pricewatch.com/s/search.asp?s=160Gb+2.5%22+sata+HDD&srt=t&mi=0&m=&view=) we're still at a savings of $50. That's still enough to get roughly 2 Blu-ray movies or potentialy a game, and you have 40Gb more content space than the 360.

[extirpator]

Cost comparison PS3 vs xbox 360 elite

So the 360 Elite is going to be $479, $20 less than a 20Gb PS3. If you want to watch HD-DVD movies you must spend an aditional $200 for the HD-DVD drive. Total price of the Xbox 360 Elite $679. $179 more than the 20Gb PS3, but the PS3 has a smaller hard drive. Lets see what we can get for a hard drive on the PS3 for that $179.

A quick check on pricewatch shows that a 120Gb 2.5" hard drive can be gotten for as low as $76 (http://castle.pricewatch.com/s/search.asp?s=120Gb+2.5%22+sata+HDD) a $103 less than the Xbox 360. Now admittedly we also need an Equivilent HDMI cable. A $30 one will fit the bill as I'm doubting they are including anything higher quality than that with the 360. We're still ahead spec wise by $73. Lets take that $73 and do something the 360 can't do. Instead of getting a lousy 120Gb hd lets get a 160Gb drive. At $105.00 for the least expensive 160Gb drive (http://castle.pricewatch.com/s/search.asp?s=160Gb+2.5%22+sata+HDD&srt=t&mi=0&m=&view=) we're still at a savings of $50. That's still enough to get roughly 2 Blu-ray movies or potentialy a game, and you have 40Gb more content space than the 360.

[extirpator]

Math error

Sorry had a math error in my post, it was $44 not $50 still enough for 1 or 2 movies, but only enough for a used game, or a few downloaded ones.

[extirpator]

Math error

Sorry had a math error in my post, it was $44 not $50 still enough for 1 or 2 movies, but only enough for a used game, or a few downloaded ones.