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Xbox 360 Elite: is it a must-have upgrade?

(Credit: Microsoft)

Our Xbox 360 Elite review sample showed up late yesterday afternoon, and we're working up a full review. But that's gonna be a 3,500-word monster intended more for casual gamers and tech newbies who don't know a thumbstick from a joystick or a shoulder button from a trigger. For those in the know, here's the crib sheet on the Elite.

Cosmetics: The Xbox 360 Elite has a matte-black finish. I strongly prefer it to the "iPod white" color scheme of past Xbox 360 models. The included wireless controller and Xbox Live headset are also black. The only real downside is that other black accessories for the 360 won't be immediately available--Microsoft has announced only a black Play & Charge Kit and a rechargeable battery for now. Others will no doubt follow, but you might have to "go zebra" for some add-ons in the meantime. For instance, the HD DVD drive is rumored to be available only in white for the foreseeable future.

HDMI output: This has been at the top of the Xbox 360 wish list since the console was first introduced. But it's really more of a convenience than a necessity. On the plus side, it does allow for an easy, single-cable connection to compatible HDTVs and A/V receivers--and Microsoft includes a heavy-duty HDMI cable in the box (hear that, Sony and Apple?) But the connector apparently isn't the latest and greatest HDMI 1.3 version featured on newer HDTVs, A/V receivers, and the PlayStation 3. That means anyone who adds the HD DVD drive won't be able to pass the full bandwidth Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks available on those movies--only the DVD-level Dolby Digital audio track will be available. Also, despite all the HDMI hype, you're unlikely to see a major difference between HDMI and component-video on most displays. Yes, HDMI sometimes provides a slight increase in quality, but how much of a difference is dependent on the display more than anything else. And while the Elite supposedly delivers DVD upscaling via HDMI, our initial tests found the DVD image to be just as disappointing as the earlier 360--regardless of the resolution of the image.

Bigger hard drive: The Elite's snap-on hard drive is 120GB--six times the size of the older Xbox 360, twice as large as the PS3, and three times the size of the Apple TV. You can never have enough space, so the extra capacity is a definite plus--as anyone who's downloaded even a few of the multigigabyte game demos, HD movies, and TV episodes available on Xbox Live knows. Microsoft is also pledging to deliver an IPTV service to the 360 by year's end--and if it offers any sort of DVR component, that extra space will be even more crucial. (Existing Xbox 360 owners should note that the drive will be available separately for $180, as will a transfer kit that moves the files and settings from your existing HDD to your new one.)

And that's pretty much what the Elite is delivering for its $480 price tag. The black color scheme, HDMI output, and larger hard drive are all decent step-ups from the 20GB Xbox 360 (which remains on the market for $400), but the Elite is something of a disappointment when compared to the $600 PlayStation 3. A next-gen disc player, a Wi-Fi adapter, and a flash media reader--all standard on the PS3--remain optional add-ons for the Elite. Meanwhile, other design shortcomings of the original Xbox 360 seem to have remained more or less unchanged: there are still only three USB ports, the external power brick is still the size of a Volkswagen, and the DVD drive is still annoyingly loud. Moreover, the Elite supposedly doesn't even incorporate the rumored cooler-running 65nm CPU that's been talked about for months, so the internal cooling fan still needs to work overtime (more noise). And while Microsoft has pledged that the Elite will be more reliable than the notoriously buggy first-gen Xbox 360s, there's no easy way to track that. (For the record, both our months-old original 360 and the hours-old 360 Elite have performed flawlessly.)

A new Dashboard update is scheduled to roll out next week that could certainly affect any of the software issues (such as DVD-upscaling performance). But the Elite's hardware is pretty much a done deal, and I can't help to be disappointed that Microsoft didn't step up to the plate and address more of those annoyances listed above.

The bottom line is that the Xbox 360 Elite isn't a must-have upgrade for existing 360 owners, and it doesn't bring the 360 feature set in line with that of the PlayStation 3. But here's the thing: for me, the Xbox 360--either the $400 Premium model or the new $480 Elite--still has more of the games that I like to play: Lost Planet, Gears of War, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, and--the big one--this fall's only-on-Xbox Halo 3. Until the PS3 can offer some compelling alternatives (and I have no doubt that eventually, it will), the Xbox 360 remains the better option. If you agree--and if you're going 360 for the first time--you might as well spend that extra $80 and get the Elite.

The $479 Xbox 360 Elite includes a 120GB hard drive and an HDMI output

(Credit: GameSpot)

The rumors were true: an upgraded Xbox 360 will be hitting stores later this spring. As reported at Gamespot, the Xbox 360 Elite will feature a black finish, a 120GB hard drive, and an HDMI output. The new unit will be available in North America on April 29 at a cost of $479. The Xbox 360 Elite will include a wireless controller, a wired Xbox Live headset (both in matching black), along with all manner of relevant cables: HDMI, Ethernet, and the combination composite/component A/V cable for connecting to standard and high-def TVs that lack an HDMI jack. Despite earlier speculation, the Xbox 360 Elite does not include an HD DVD drive or a Wi-Fi adapter. Likewise, the Elite is said to utilize the same underlying hardware as the current 360 models. That would seem to mean the rumored cooler-running 65nm CPU isn't quite ready for prime time, though its eventual appearance will be more of a cost-saving measure for Microsoft rather than something that offers a tangible benefit to the consumer.

The Xbox 360 Elite will be a permanent addition to the product line, not a limited edition product. Moreover, the $299 Xbox 360 Core System (which includes a wired controller and no hard drive) and the $399 Xbox 360 Premium will remain in the lineup. However, the 120GB snap-on hard drive will be sold as a separate accessory for $179, allowing current and future owners of the step-down 360 models to upgrade at their leisure. Also, the add-on drive will include a data cable to transfer everything from the old 20GB drive to the replacement model.

For prospective owners of the Xbox 360, getting HDMI compatibility and a hard drive that's six times as capacious is well worth the extra $80. Current 360 owners know that the 20GB drive gets quickly filled up with demos and Xbox Live Arcade games, as well as movies and TV shows from Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace. The HDMI output, meanwhile, offers the potential for somewhat better video quality and wider 1080p compatibility with a wider array of HDTVs (compared to the VGA and component output options on the current 360). For anyone who already owns a 360, however, reinvesting in a whole new system will be a much harder sell.

How does the Xbox 360 Elite compare to the PlayStation 3? The $500 PS3 has a much smaller 20GB hard drive, while the $600 PS3 adds built-in Wi-Fi and a 60GB drive, plus a multiformat flash card reader. But both PlayStations work as fully functional Blu-ray movie players, and both have HDMI outputs (though Microsoft, unlike stingy Sony, is at least including the HDMI cable in the box). Still, it's likely to be the lineup of games that will determine which console consumers buy.

We'll have a full hands-on review of the Xbox 360 Elite as soon as it becomes available.

(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]

Xbox 360: back in black?

(Credit: Kotaku)

... at least for the next six weeks. By then, the Xbox 360 "version 2" may finally be available. It seems that Game Informer magazine is reporting in its April issue that an upgraded 360 will soon be hitting store shelves, with at least some of the long-rumored goodies: 120GB hard drive (six times the current model's capacity), HDMI output, and a sweet black paint job. Kotaku (where we snagged the Game Informer page scan shown here) has confirmed with the magazine's editor that the story is legit, not an April Fool's joke. And Engadget followed up with "trusted sources" who verify the crux of the story, as well as fleshing out some other tantalizing details, including the name--Xbox 360 Elite--and whether or not the new version will sport an integrated HD DVD drive and Wi-Fi adapter.

The bottom line: if you're in the market for an Xbox 360, hold off. With the Xbox 360 Elite said to be hitting in late April, it may well be worth the wait.