Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite
Manufacturer: Microsoft Corp. Part number: B4J-00122
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- While it's neither a must-have upgrade for existing 360 owners nor as feature-packed as the PS3, the Xbox 360 Elite's combination of top-notch gaming and digital media features make it the current game console of choice.
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CNET editors' review
Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite price range: $299.99 - $517.39
- Reviewed by: John P. Falcone
- Reviewed on: 04/27/2007
- Updated on:09/11/2009
- Released on: 04/29/2007
The good: Excellent selection of games, including many 360-only exclusives; all games are in native high-definition; user-friendly Dashboard interface; supports wireless controllers and accessories; Xbox Live service offers online multiplayer (with matchmaking and voice chat) and content downloads for most games; backward compatible with many--but not all--original Xbox titles; doubles as a superior digital media hub and Windows Media extender; online Marketplace allows easy purchases of minigames, add-on gaming content, high-def movies, and TV shows.
The bad: The Elite fails to correct most of the annoyances of the original 360 version: the noisy DVD drive and cooling fan; a gigantic, oversize power supply; no built-in wireless networking; only three USB ports; a substandard DVD player; online gaming requires a paid subscription to Xbox Live; proprietary wireless format limits third-party accessories.
The bottom line: While it's neither a must-have upgrade for existing 360 owners nor as feature-packed as the PS3, the Xbox 360 Elite's combination of top-notch gaming and digital media features make it the current game console of choice.
Editors' note: As of September 2009, the Xbox 360 Elite has replaced the Xbox 360 Pro 60GB console. It will also be sold at the lowered price of $300. Please check out our Xbox 360 resource page for all your Xbox 360 questions and needs.
The $300 Xbox 360 Elite is now sold in a white box (opposed to the old gray one) and also removes the once-included HDMI cable.
The Xbox 360 was the first of the "next-gen" videogame consoles to hit the market in the fall of 2005. By the time the PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Wii hit stores--a full year later--the 360 had not only established itself as a top-tier game console, it was well on its way to becoming a full-service digital entertainment media hub for the living room, with built-in support for high-def TV and movie downloads as well as Vista-friendly media streaming. While Sony and Nintendo struggled with their respective launch issues--just as Microsoft had toiled 12 months earlier--the Xbox 360 has cruised to the No. 1 spot on the home console charts, with more than 10 million units sold worldwide.
So what does Microsoft do for an encore? Release a slightly upgraded Xbox 360, of course. The $300 Xbox 360 Elite is black instead of white, includes a 120GB hard drive (six times as capacious as the previous 360's, twice as big as the PS3's), and sports an HDMI output for easier hookups to HDTVs.
The question for current and prospective gamers: Is the Elite worth the extra $80? For anyone who owns the existing Xbox 360, the answer is probably no--the HDMI connector is more a convenience than a necessity, and the larger snap-on hard drive will be available to existing 360 users as a standalone $180 accessory. Moreover, there's certainly a tinge of disappointment that the Elite's higher price tag doesn't deliver a few more bundled features in the box--the Wi-Fi adapter and the HD DVD drive still need to be purchased separately, for instance. In other words, the Xbox 360 Elite is just a warmed-over version of the previous model that doesn't deliver any groundbreaking, PS3-killing features.
That said, the Xbox 360 currently has a larger and more impressive library of games, and until the PS3 can offer some compelling alternatives--and I have no doubt that eventually, it will--the Xbox 360 remains the better option. And if you're going with the 360 for the first time, you might as well spend that extra $80 and get the Elite.
The hardware
Except for its black finish and HDMI port, the Xbox 360 Elite is cosmetically identical to the Xbox 360 Premium. When laid horizontally, the 8.8-pound console is 12.15 inches wide, 3.27 inches high, and 10.15 inches deep. Like the PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Wii, the Xbox 360 can also be propped up in a vertical position and can be customized with interchangeable faceplates that cost as much as $20. The 360 is neither as slick as the glossy PS3 nor as cute as the diminutive Wii, but the Elite's matte-black finish is certainly a big step up from the "iPod white" color scheme of the earlier Xbox 360s. While the Elite blends in with the other black components in your A/V rack, however, it may not match all your accessories--you may need to mix and match some white 360 accessories, as not all accoutrements will immediately be available in black.
The back panel of the 360 Elite includes an HDMI port (one of the big selling points), an A/V connector, a single USB port, and an Ethernet jack. Normally, we'd complain about a proprietary connection such as the Xbox A/V jack, but Microsoft includes an adapter breakout cable with both component (high-def) and composite (standard-def) connectors, plus analog stereo audio and an optical audio jack for surround sound output. An alternate audio-only adapter (RCA stereo or optical audio) is included just in case your TV or home theater system can't accept audio via HDMI. The bottom line is that the Xbox 360 Elite can be connected to virtually any TV or home theater system in a variety of configurations, without the need for purchasing any additional accessories.
The HDMI output is a welcome addition, as it provides a single cable solution--digital audio and high-def video--for connecting to HDTVs and A/V receivers. Whereas the previous Xbox 360 could output HD video up to 1080p resolution via component (or optional VGA adapter), far more HDTVs actually accept that highest of resolutions via the HDMI input. The downside is that Microsoft seems to have opted for something less than the HDMI version 1.3 found on the PlayStation 3. That means that any movies played on the optional HD DVD add-on will be limited to standard Dolby Digital soundtracks, not the higher resolution Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD, or DTS-HD Master Audio.
Whereas the Nintendo and Sony game consoles have built-in Wi-Fi support, the older Xbox 360 was limited to a wired network connection. Sadly, that hasn't changed on the Xbox 360 Elite--Ethernet remains the only built-in option. Yes, you can get the optional wireless networking adapter, which conveniently clips on to the back of 360--but it monopolizes the solitary USB port on the console's backside.
On the front of the unit, you'll find two more USB ports hidden behind hinged doors in the faceplate, as well as two memory-card slots. Unlike the standard flash memory formats accepted by the Wii and the PS3, however, Microsoft opted for proprietary memory cards--but you'll never need them unless you need to swap saved games or other small files between two 360s. The USB ports provide connectivity to any wired controllers and other USB accessories (such as the Xbox Live Vision Camera); alternately, they allow for quick hookups to a variety of media devices, including digital cameras, MP3 players, or even your iPod or Sony PSP. Many USB keyboards are compatible, but for the most part, they are strictly relegated to communication and data entry functions, not gameplay. Another small design gripe: You won't be able to connect some thumbdrive-style MP3 players, such as the original Apple iPod Shuffle, to some or all of the 360's recessed USB ports. You'll need a USB extension cable to connect them because the entryway to the port is too narrow.
The 360 Elite also includes on its front panel an infrared (IR) port, which lets you use a wide variety of compatible remote controls--both 360 specialty models and generic universal remotes--without the need for an external dongle. By contrast, the PS3 has no IR port, forcing you to use a Bluetooth remote.
The Xbox 360 Elite's hard drive is located in the proprietary detachable module that snaps onto the side of the console. Since the 20GB hard disk on the original Xbox 360 filled up very quickly--download a 1GB game demo here, a 4GB HD movie there, and toss in a handful of TV episodes, and things get tight fast--so the 120GB of space on the Elite is essentially a necessity for anyone wishing to take full advantage of the Xbox 360's media functionality. The same 120GB drive module will be available as a separate $180 accessory for existing 360 owners who wish to upgrade; likewise, a transfer kit accessory (a special USB cable/dongle and software) will allow existing settings and files to be moved from old hard drives to new ones.
As part of the $300 Elite bundle, you'll also get a single wireless controller and an Xbox Live Headset, which connects to the controller. They're identical to previous models except for the black color scheme--the Elite controllers don't add any new functionality, such as the tilt sensitivity in the PS3 or the motion control of the Wiimote. They accept two AA batteries, or you can opt for a snap-on rechargeable model (available separately). Each 360 console can support as many as four wireless controllers. A green LED on both the 360 itself and the controller indicates exactly which controllers (numbers 1 through 4) are connected. This is also true if you are playing with a mixture of wireless and wired controllers; you know who has which controller. All in all, we really like the design of the Xbox 360 controllers, with the possible exception of the four-way D-pad, which occasionally slips axes when tapped (mistaking horizontal input for vertical, or vice versa).
Two other less-than-stellar aspects of the Xbox 360 that have been carried over to the Elite are the absolutely massive external power supply and the console's noise. While the giant power brick can be hidden away behind the entertainment center, the exhaust fan and especially the DVD drive remain noisy to the point of distraction.
Dashboard
The Xbox 360's onscreen Dashboard interface is truly stellar, and it's clear that the folks at Microsoft looked less toward Windows and more toward the vaunted TiVo interface for their model. Yes, the 360 interface certainly has some ties to that of Windows Media Center PCs, but it's slicker and more user-friendly, with color-coated tabs for the system's various features, including gaming, media, system settings, and Xbox Live. To page through the various activities, you simply move the directional keypad on your controller (or the remote) left to right. With the increased processing power, windows open quicker than they do on the original; the system and interface as a whole just feels zippier. Like the faceplates, the Dashboard is customizable, with a host of themes preloaded on the hard drive and many more available to download.
Continuing the Xbox 360's customization kick is the Gamer Card, which consists of a personal avatar--a picture chosen from a batch of Microsoft approved images or an image you've captured using the Xbox Live Vision Camera--as well as a motto 21 characters or less in length. The centerpiece of the Gamer Card is the Gamerscore: a point-total representative of predetermined goals, known as Achievements, met in each and every game. It's a nice way to foster offline competitiveness between gamers, as even completely single-player games such as Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion include Achievements. But if Microsoft is planning on taking the personalization angle to the same sort of 3D level as Nintendo's Mii avatars or Sony's Home environment, it hasn't yet made any such plans public.
Digital media and DVDs
While it's primarily a game machine, the Xbox 360 Elite is a formidable digital media hub as well. Plug a digital camera, a flash card reader, a thumbdrive, or a music player into the Xbox 360's USB port, and if it's compatible with a Windows PC, you'll likely have plug-and-play access to browse your photos, listen to your MP3s, and play WMV videos. Digital media on your home network are similarly accessible: just install Microsoft's Windows Media Player 11, Zune software, or Windows Media Connect (all are free downloads) on any PC running Windows XP or Vista, and the 360 will be able to stream music, and access photos and WMV videos from the remote PC. If your PC is Media Center-enabled (certain versions of XP, Vista Premium, and Vista Ultimate), the integration is even tighter. The 360 doubles as a Media Center Extender, letting you access your TV recordings--including those in high-def--from the networked MCE PC.
Of course, the 360 is a capable CD/DVD player as well. You can't copy music files from connected or networked devices, but you can rip CDs straight to the 360's hard drive, then use those songs as soundtracks for pretty much any native Xbox 360 game.
On the DVD front, the Xbox 360 Elite offers essentially the same disappointing performance as the earlier 360. DVDs are generally soft and lacking in detail, and the Elite failed some of the basic HQV tests that even many bargain DVD players can ace. It's fine for casual viewing, of course, but the HDMI connector seemed to offer no discernible improvement. (A forthcoming Dashboard update might offer some software upscaling improvements.) In happier news, the quality of the external HD DVD drive and the downloadable Xbox Live Marketplace videos (see below) were generally stellar. But the rub here is that the HD DVD drive remains an add-on, whereas the PS3's Blu-ray drive is standard equipment.
Xbox Live
Every Xbox 360 model has a base-level membership called Xbox Live Silver. That offers the ability to create a list of friends, view their gamer cards, and communicate with them outside of a game via voice chat and voice messaging using the headset, or even video chat with the Vision Camera. In order to play multiplayer games, however, you'll need to upgrade to Xbox Live Gold, which costs $50 a year. While Sony offers similar online multiplayer chat and head-to-head gameplay for free on the PS3, it remains a less polished experience than Xbox Live, which has had several more years to perfect its online capabilities to its current best-in-class state.
Xbox Live is much more integrated throughout the 360 than it was in the old Xbox. At any time, you can punch the Home button on your controller to bring up the Live message center. In theory, you can be playing an offline, single-player game of, say, Enchanted Arms, get an invite from a friend (think instant messaging), then pop out to the Dashboard while you swap discs and dive into F.E.A.R..
The in-game Xbox Live experience hasn't changed drastically, but then again, the service was already near-impeccable on the Xbox 1. By virtue of the system's processing power, games should be able to support more players online. Perfect Dark Zero, for example can handle 32 players, more than all but a few Xbox1 games. Test Drive Unlimited transforms the open roads of Hawaii into a gaming lobby, where you can pass by potential opponents on the road. Then there are games that support video chatting, such as the Xbox Live Arcade's Texas Hold 'Em. As developers have learned the ins and outs of the 360's hardware, we're starting to see more players and less lag in the many online-compatible 360 titles.
Marketplace
Both free (Silver) and paid (Gold) Xbox Live accounts have access to the Xbox Live Marketplace, which offers up free movie trailers and game demos, as well as premium (pay-per-download) content, such as Dashboard themes, gamer tag pictures, and extra content for full-featured games. Items are purchased by using Microsoft points, which is the proprietary 360 currency that's purchasable through the system or via prepaid cards (the going rate for 1,600 points is $30, for example).
One big draw for the Xbox Live Marketplace is the wide range of titles available for Xbox Live Arcade. There's a healthy mix of completely original titles and classic PC and arcade games freshened up with high-def visuals; some even include online multiplayer options. All of the games are playable as free demos, but to compete online and earn achievement points, you're going to have to pony up the Marketplace dough.
The other major Marketplace feature is downloadable TV show episodes and feature-length movie rentals. Available in both standard and high-definition, videos will run 400 to 800 Microsoft points ($5 to $10); TV shows are downloaded "for keeps" (until you delete them), while movies need to be watched within two weeks and then disappear within 24 hours of being viewed. Judged against other downloadable or streaming video providers (Apple TV and its various competitors), the video quality of Marketplace content is good to excellent. While false contouring can be seen in transitions to and from scenes drenched in black (fade-ins and fade-outs, for instance), videos are largely free of most other offending artifacts, and resolution is noticeably enhanced in HD versions. In short, the Video Marketplace is one of the more promising TV/DVD alternatives to date, and the Xbox 360 Elite's expansive 120GB hard drive is much better suited to power downloaders than the 20GB Xbox 360.
Games
The Xbox 360 Elite has the same basic guts as earlier 360 models: a customized IBM PowerPC CPU boasts three processing cores running at 3.2GHz each, each offering two hardware threads, while the ATI graphics processor is said to be able to pump out 500 million triangles per second. The console has half a gigabyte of memory that's shared between the system and video card, plus an extra 10MB of dedicated video RAM just for good measure. We could go on, recounting the 360's supposed 16 gigasamples-per-second fill rate using 4X antialiasing and 48 billion shader operations per second--not to mention, of course, the 48-way parallel floating-point dynamically scheduled shader pipelines and the 9 billion dot product operations per second. But, frankly, even if we understood what half those impressive-sounding specs meant, we'd have no way to verify or benchmark them.
What we can say is that Xbox 360 graphics, by and large, range from very good to spectacular. Yes, PCs can still deliver higher resolution and better frame rates than even HDTV offers, but you'll need to invest in a video card that costs as much as the 360 itself. And while the PlayStation 3's vaunted Cell processor is ostensibly "more powerful" than that of the 360, software developers have yet to tap the full capability of the PS3's graphical prowess. In other words, 360 games tend to look as good or better than their PS3 counterparts (the less expensive and less powerful Wii isn't even in the same ballpark). Consider the expansive environments of a game such as Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion or the amount of characters on screen at one time in Dead Rising. Similarly, Call of Duty 3 had us ducking for cover as we slogged through some of the toughest firefights of World War II. Meanwhile, in the more intimate confines of the ring, the boxers in Fight Night Round 3 looked astonishing--when a knockout blow was landed, a close-up replay would reveal the copious amount of spit, sweat, and blood emanating from the victim of pugilistic brutality. Furthermore, the 360 has its share of key exclusive titles; you won't find the likes of Gears of War, Lost Planet, or the upcoming Halo 3 on the PS3 or the Wii.
Backward compatibility
While the 360's library is constantly growing, it can also play more than 340 games designed for the original Xbox. The backward compatibility is enabled through downloadable emulation profiles; they're free, but you'll need the hard drive to install them. In fact, the software for Halo and Halo 2 compatibility is preinstalled on the hard drive. Unfortunately, while 340-plus sounds like a high number, that leaves hundreds of old Xbox titles unplayable on the 360 for the time being. Microsoft is working to broaden the list--it's added dozens of new titles since launch--but there's no announced timetable as to when the remaining games will be ported over, and it certainly seems as though not every game will be included.
The backward compatibility on the Xbox 360 has its benefits and drawbacks. Microsoft claims that it's pumping up the resolutions and adding antialiasing effects to the older games, and both tweaks seemed in evidence while playing Halo 2. Also, playing an online-enabled Xbox1 game (such as Halo 2) lets you seamlessly interact with other Xbox Live players still using the old console. On the other hand, some games such as Fable: The Lost Chapters have brought along new graphical glitches and none of the Xbox1 custom soundtrack-enabled games (for example, the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy) will recognize the songs imported onto your 360. Finally, there is no way to transfer your Xbox1 saves to the 360, so you'll have to reconfigure your workout regimen in Yourself Fitness.
By comparison, the PS3 can play most (but not all) of the games published for the PS2 and even the original PlayStation--though the fact that Sony is constantly tweaking its underlying architecture (moving from hardware to software legacy support) may make future PS3s less backward compatible than earlier versions. The Nintendo Wii plays nearly all of the games published for the GameCube, though you need additional accessories (controllers and memory cards) to play them.
Executive Editor David Carnoy, Senior Editor David Katzmaier, and Assistant Editors Matthew Moskovciak and David Rudden contributed to this review.
User reviews
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Its Xbox 360... Improved!
by sebassupastar on April 20, 2007
Pros: HDMI - 120gb... and all the magic that makes 360 a winner.
Cons: Lots of cons... see review for details.
Summary: Ok. First : This hasn`t been released yet. And I don`t think an honest review of the product can be made so far. Screw the PS3 vs Xbox flamers ...
Summary: Ok. First : This hasn`t been released yet. And I don`t think an honest review of the product can be made so far. Screw the PS3 vs Xbox flamers that keep ******** over their favourite console`s competitor.
If you`re a 360 owner already, this is not a very welcome addition from microsoft cuz it probably pisses you off that you don`t get it and its not a good buying option for you. But this console isn`t on the market for 360 owners... I feel your pain, but ****, no1 wans to hear you ranting about it.
Now, if you`re in the market for a next-gen console, the 360 elite has alot to offer you.
Pros :
1. Actually, huge library of games (in comparison of ps3). tho in a year or so it may even out.
2. Faster loading times for games (vs ps3)
3. Multi platform games are being developped for the XBOX first, so the other versions are usually less good.
4. Game developpers find it more easy to develop games on the XBOX due to its 3 general-purpose processors. That probably means that more games will come out on Xbox360.
5. Included headset, HDMI cable. (ps3 dont)
6. Controllers have a good feel. (ps3 dont)
7. Possible HD-DVD capability (for an extra $200). I put this as an advantage because, if you dont want it you dont pay for it. And if you want it, well its better to have a separate unit play your high def dvds, this way you don`t use up your console. (remember how playing dvds made your last gen consoles screw up).
8. Peer to peer online (vs ps3 dedicated servers.) Well even if this usually means more lag in games, it also means developpers don`t have to spend extra money to include online support in their games. Ps3 devs must run dedicated servers which cost them money. And no1 guarantees they will support it forever.
9. Games look better. Go read reviews about it. No arguing here. Not bcuz the 360 is a better machine but see #3 and #4.
10. Because it was released first, has the market advantage.
Cons :
1. You pay for online (ps3 is free)
2. Game developpers have to develop games with minimal hd use to accomodate all 360 owners since MS had the great idea to release a HD-less version of the 360.
3. Machine is less powerful than ps3. More limited in capacity. Might be overcome by ps3 2-3 years from now.
4. 360`s have a history of breaking down at a freaky rate. Some people report having to change their xbox up to 5 times since its release due to console failure. Thankfully microsoft replaces them (with refurbished parts). Don`t know if the new elite will be fixed, but buy the store exchange program if u can. (ps3 has had reports of console probles also, but comes nothing close to the plague-level of broken 360`s)
5. Xbox is sided with HD-DVD, a media that will probably lose the high definition media war due to its weak marketing strategy.
6. Nothing is free with xbox live.
7. Lack of good RPG games in its libary. Sony is known to hold the exclusives with many japanese RPG developpers. too bad.
8. Wireless internet connection is not included and costs $120 CAD (for the MS part) you can find a regular part for half that price though. (ps3 has it included)
Bottom line :
What makes this console a better choice has nothing to do with its specs as it is inferior to the ps3 in that area. Its the gaming community`s choice because a) it was released first b) has more games c) game developers like it more, making it the first choice.
Price is not and advantage at all with the 360. If you put both consoles in comparison, the 360 actually costs more. That is if you want it to have High def media capacity and wireless internet capability like the PS3.
A tough choice, but I`m going for the 360 elite when it comes out hoping it wont break for a while.Updated
Update on Con #7.
Square, the game developper behind the Final Fantasy series, and a leader in the RPG gaming scene has broken the exclusivity with sony and has announced that its next installment in the FF series will not be a ps3 exclusive.
This probably means that they will develop games for the 360.
This announcement alone has a huge effect on sony`s playsation fanbase. Go read the playstation and xbox forums. See how ps3 fans are crying and how xbox fans are laughing.Updated
Square, the game developper behind the very famous Final Fantasy game series, a leader in the RPG gaming scene, has just announced that it has broken the exclusives with sony and that the next installement in the FF series will not be a ps3 exclusive.
Though they haven`t confirmed it yet, its a safe assumption the next FF game is coming to X360.
This is a big blow to the sony fanbase. The forum community is shocked by this press release.Updated
I went and bought this system.
Here`s what I bought with it.
1 elite remote
1 play & charge kit
1 12 month xbox live card
1 wireless network adapter
1 extended warranty (Read down to see why)
Basic gear, nothing fancy here. Ended up laying down more than 1000$ (cdn) for the gaming system and to have it be online ready (1 year then another $60). Its far from the $550 price tag and might make you think twice before diving in the new-gen console market. Maybe you can save a few bucks if u don`t need the wireless adapter.
Picked up the 3-year extended warranty (100$cnd) from Future Shop. I was compelled to do it by the bad reputation the console has. All numerous reviews on the poor reliability for the xbox360 console and all the nightmare stories you can read from users who had to return theirs more than once were more than enough reason to grab the warranty.
I NEVER buy those extended warranty. I know they`re a rip-off. But they have proven useful to many xbox360 users who have had theirs fail. Get a brand new one instead of a refurb that won`t last past a few months.16 out of 17 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Some of you are not too smart
by srednasttam on April 10, 2007
Pros: 120GB, HDMI
Cons: No 65nm pro.
Summary: Alright, I can't believe how stupid some of your "reviews" are. First of all, MS isn't aiming this product at current 360 owners. DUH. *** would they? They don'...
Summary: Alright, I can't believe how stupid some of your "reviews" are. First of all, MS isn't aiming this product at current 360 owners. DUH. *** would they? They don't expect current owners to pony up more $$$.
Secondly, one of you completely left out the fact that the HDMI output is included. OMG it's only 1.2 and not 1.3? How dare they! Gimme a break. You clearly can't please everyone. If MS had released it with 1.3, people would complain about that. MS will always be this "evil" corporation that can do no right.
Lastly, who needs a 120GB HD? People who know that IPTV is being developed, that's who.
Your reviews are void if you're a fanboy. Make an objective review of the product, don't bash it purely to bash it. It's hilarious how anti-MS everyone is. Yet, if Apple does the same thing, it's OK.Updated
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3158279
/reviews14 out of 21 users found this user opinion helpful.
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FOR YOUR INFORMATION
by Spywell on April 15, 2007
Pros: Black color 120gb Hard Drive
Cons: Product is not in retail yet (TBD)
Summary: This is great for anyone who hasn't purchased their new next gen consoles. The Elite system retails at $479.99. Also microsoft is selling the 120gb hdd (in gray, ...
Summary: This is great for anyone who hasn't purchased their new next gen consoles. The Elite system retails at $479.99. Also microsoft is selling the 120gb hdd (in gray, price TBD) Considering these prices anyone wanting an xbox360 and want the extra storage this system will be much cheaper than buying the hdd alone. A new xbox system is $399.99, a 20gb hdd cost $99.99, and lastly an Xbox360 Elite with 120gb hdd, black snazy casing, and HDMI support for $479.99 is a good price. Where a regular 360 with 120gb hdd would cost same as ps3.
All the ps3 flamers should stop it's imature why do you care so much keep your comments to yourselfs. Besides of all the ps3's I have tried to try, two were locked up and the third locked up two minutes after I started playing (in stores such as EB games and gamestop)
Games for ps3 too hard to write b/cuz of the processors. And the blue ray lags ps3 b/cuz it is so much slower than the current technology. Bluetooth took a leap and will not be ready for much much longer in the mean time all the titles for ps3 have gone to its main competitor (xbox)14 out of 23 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great choice for 1st Xbox!
by vgon82 on April 30, 2007
Pros: Excellent graphics, up-converts DVD's to HD (great quality), included HDMI cable a plus, 120GB Hard Drive
Cons: None that really affect me. It is a bit loud, but seriously, the sound of your games (or movies) will drown it out with no problem.
Summary: I bought the Xbox 360 Elite yesterday and so far I love everything about it. I am not a hard-core gamer (I have not owned a game console since the ...
Summary: I bought the Xbox 360 Elite yesterday and so far I love everything about it. I am not a hard-core gamer (I have not owned a game console since the Nintendo 64), but I wanted a next-generation console and decided to wait a bit. I hooked up the Xbox to my Samsung 32" HDTV and it looks amazing. I have only played Call of Duty 3 so far, but I have to say that I'm very impressed with the graphics and gameplay. I'm also getting Halo 3 as soon as I can. I like that there are many games for the Xbox 360 right now. The included wireless controller is great (my wife liked the fact that there will not be cables lying around). The included HDMI cable is a plus considering these can be expensive. I watched a couple of episodes of 24 using the Xbox and I have no complaints as far as quality. I can't find a difference between the Xbox DVD player and my current LG DVD player. They both up-convert very well with no visible differences. The 120GB HD might be a little too much, but I would rather have more space than I need than just enough.
I can't speak for those of you who already own an Xbox 360, bur for those of you who don't, I think the Xbox 360 Elite is a great choice for only $80 more than the Premium version. I know the PS3 has "better hardware", but it's too expensive, I don't really want a Blu-Ray player, and I don't need my game console to have Wi-Fi.5 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent Software, TERRIBLE HARDWARE! This is a Slap in the Face to Early Adopters.
by mamyint on May 31, 2007
Pros: HDMI, 120 GB, Excellent Microsoft Game Studio Exclusives, Excellent Controller
Cons: TERRIBLE HARDWARE
Summary: I proudly purchased an Xbox the day it launched. I had so much fun playing Halo and was so impressed with the graphics of the Xbox 360 that I bought ...
Summary: I proudly purchased an Xbox the day it launched. I had so much fun playing Halo and was so impressed with the graphics of the Xbox 360 that I bought one even though I swore I would save up for a PS3.
First off, let me say that I loved Gears of War online. It goes down as the best online co-op experience I have ever had. No doubt about that. For that, I give the Xbox 360 serious props.
Now...my issues. First off, the hardware is terrible. How many people have had to suffer at the hands of the dreaded 3 red lights? I have...twice. I lost 2 months of my Xbox Live Gold subscription that I paid for due to repairs! Thankfully Microsoft didn't charge me a penny for the repairs, but as you can imagine, I was pretty ticked off.
I bought an Xbox 360 about a month after it came out. I was so happy when I got it and played Fight Night until my hands were sore. I was dazzled by the HD graphics. My PS2, god bless it, just couldn't compete...
Obviously, if Microsoft thought that HDMI and a larger (13.2 GB... after format...) hard drive were important, they probably should've added that in the first place. What I am so angry about is that not only is my "Premium" system no longer premium, but it would cost me $179 + tax to upgrade my HDD? AND I still don't have HDMI? That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. I spent $400+ on my console at launch for a faulty system and now I have to put another $200 down to get it somewhat close to the new "Elite"?
The white Xbox looks like crap compared to the new one. I feel so jipped. Is that how a loyal customer should feel?
I was so excited to play Mass Effect and Bioshock and Halo 3, but now I'm not nearly as excited anymore. Why? Because I have some second rate, reject Xbox 360 that I swear is going to break down at any minute. Rather than deal with my ticking time bomb, I was fortunate enough to find a friend who really wanted a 360. I was able to sell it to him for about $400. I took the loss on the controller and games.
Now I have more money to spend on PS3 games this fall/winter.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to hate on the Xbox 360. I'm hating on Microsoft. They've got a pretty good package. The Xbox 360 is a pretty good deal overall. It's got some really sweet games and Xbox Live is fantastic.
But wake up people. The hardware BLOWS...that's not an opinion, it's a known fact. The hardware is inferior to the PS3. I would never spend $200 for an external HD-DVD player! Yeah you can get 1080p with it, but you get 1080p analog, not 1080p like you would with HDMI...Did anyone think of that?
I'm just pissed off at Microsoft for scamming me.
The Xbox 360 Elite looks great on paper, but it sure does suck when you're sitting on the phone talking to "Max" the retarded, automated help dude that answers every Xbox Support Call.
I don't want to talk to Max, I "effing" want to talk to Bill; to give him a piece of my mind for scamming me.Updated
HDMI 1.2?!?!?! What the $*#! is that all about? They add HDMI and still can't get it right...Would it kill them to add current technology to their "Elite" system?
Seriously...this is like a company releasing hardware with USB 1.1 ports or 802.11b Wi-Fi...Yeah it works, but it's a generation too late...5 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good update on a great system especially for people with HDTVs
by chrispgriffin on April 19, 2007
Pros: Sleek look, HDMI output, 120 GB hard drive
Cons: Integrated WiFi would have been cool...but not completely necessary
Summary: The Elite system is really geared towards the people that already have a HDTV and really want to show it off. But if you don't have an HDTV and ...
Summary: The Elite system is really geared towards the people that already have a HDTV and really want to show it off. But if you don't have an HDTV and like the look and the 120GB, you don't need an HDDVD drive. That's why the 360s are cheaper than the PS3 in the first place. You can't go wrong with either the Elite or the "normal" 360, especially when Halo 3 comes out. I do really like the expanded hard drive for all the new shows that the marketplace is coming out with though, good move.
5 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I'm See'in RED.......Red Rings that is.
by texbox on March 28, 2008
Pros: Great Gaming. Live is Excellent. Decent Hard Drive
Cons: Noisy operation. Reliability - lack of.
Summary: First I must say I really enjoy the Xbox. You already know why you want this machine. I bought my elite right before the release of Halo3. I waited hoping ...
Summary: First I must say I really enjoy the Xbox. You already know why you want this machine. I bought my elite right before the release of Halo3. I waited hoping that I would get the latest version of the xbox360. I waited till after all the bugs where worked out by the early adopters. The stories of overheating I attributed to noobs packing their console into too tight a place. The loud fan and drive noises had plenty of time to be corrected. This is what I thought.
3-2009
After only a few months the happy green glow ring on my console turned red.
I found that this means my Xbox now qualifies for a free all expense paid round trip to Mc Allen, Texas. Once there it will spend February in a rehab facility where it can cool off while attending the mandatory xbox360 factory reunion. I am still waiting for my revised TexBox360 to return home but it is March now and it is Spring Break and Texas is warm???..
Updated on Mar 20, 2009
WOW almost exactly a year since my xbox360 Elite was returned. And Guess what just happened? You are right! My xbox has indicated (by the use of the red ring) that it would like to go back to Texas today the First day of spring. I knew that most xboxs are obligated to go for a factory reunion once, but I didn?t imagine that it was going to be yearly event! Of course MS pays it for but last time it was gone for about 50 days and the unit that was returned was not even the one I sent in. I still really enjoy my xbox gaming but this console design is STUPID. Why did you guys at MS decide to jam this noisy bunch of inefficient hardware into such a small box? Please rebuild mine twice as big, half as noisy and more reliable then I would be much happier.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Best game system I have ever owned
by boonez156 on March 8, 2008
Pros: 120 gig hard drive, black console, wireless controllers, great games, great graphics
Cons: system is very loud, big bulky power adapter
Summary: I have been a gamer from the start. From the Atari 2600, NES, Playstation, the original Xbox. This system is the best one yet with the original NES being a ...
Summary: I have been a gamer from the start. From the Atari 2600, NES, Playstation, the original Xbox. This system is the best one yet with the original NES being a close 2nd. The black color choice is great looks good sitting in the enertainment center. I like the fact that I can rip music to the hard drive or hook up my MP3 player to it. The games for it a great. Call of Duty 4 and Halo 3 have been the best so far. The only negatives are the big bulky power adapter, you have to hide behind something and the fact that the system is very loud. Mine sounds like plane trying to take off. But I can take all that because once you start playing the games you forget about all the negatives.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good System
by MushroomStamper on March 26, 2008
Pros: Tons of storage
Cons: Standard dvd drive
Summary: I bought the Elite version the day Halo 3 came out. I love this thing the online is by far the best online service for a console. This thing has ...
Summary: I bought the Elite version the day Halo 3 came out. I love this thing the online is by far the best online service for a console. This thing has a huge hard drive and produces great graphics and sound. The dvd drive and the fan are very loud.Xbox live is cool but its cost money to use it.Overall I like this system very much.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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BEST GAMING EVER
by THE COMPUTER HEALER on February 26, 2008
Pros: XBOX LIVE, MASS EFFECT, BIOSHOCK
Cons: HD FAILURE ( three rings of death)
Summary: if you're a gamer you've most likely chosen your gaming syatem already. however if your one of those that are in between and you want to play games. ...
Summary: if you're a gamer you've most likely chosen your gaming syatem already. however if your one of those that are in between and you want to play games. buy this, period. the only con i have is the hd failure. i have the xbox 360 since launch and it took two years for my first one to break. that was one i purchased two weeks earlier. then the halo edition burn out after one month. then my trusted premium from two years ago bit the dust. the bright side within 3 weeks all three were back at my door brand new. with the 65nn chipset(supposedly no overheating, we'll see).
pros- apart from mario and two games on the ps3 you arent missing much chosing the xbox 360.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Microsoft Corp.
- Part number: B4J-00122
- Description: Introducing Xbox 360 Elite, the premier Xbox 360 console package that includes a massive 120GB hard drive, a HDMI port, and HDMI cable, all wrapped up with a premium black finish. Xbox 360 Elite also includes a black wireless controller and black Xbox LIVE headset. Xbox 360 Elite has enough space for a whole library of Xbox LIVE Arcade games as well as downloadable high-definition TV shows, movies, music, and all the other content available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace.
General
- Name Xbox 360
- Type Game console
- Compatibility MS Windows XP Media Center compatible
- Enclosure Color Black
Game Console
- Color Support Color
- Media Type DVD-ROM
Processor
- Type IBM PowerPC 3 cores 3.2 GHz
- Installed Qty 1
- Floating Point Performance 1000 GFLOPS
Memory / Storage
- RAM Installed ( Max ) 512 MB ( 512 MB ) GDDR3 SDRAM - Integrated
- Cache Memory 1 MB
- Storage DVD-ROM 12x - Tray
- Hard Disk Drive Yes
- HDD Capacity 120 GB
Video
- Video Output ATI Xbox 360 - 256-bit - 2D/3D graphics acceleration
- Fill Rate 500 million triangles/sec
- Video Memory Installed ( Max ) Video adapter memory - 10 MB - Integrated
- Graphic Effects Anti-aliasing
- Max Resolution (external) 1920 x 1080
Audio
- Sound Output Mode 16-bit / Surround Sound
- Max Sample Rate 48 KHz
Input Device
- Type Game pad - External
- Connectivity Technology Wireless
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x AV cable port, 3 x USB 2.0, 1 x Ethernet ( RJ-45 ), 1 x HDMI
- Expansion Slots Total (Free) 2 ( 2 ) x Memory
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included 1 x HDMI cable
- Included Accessories Xbox Live headset, Wireless controller, Component HD AV cable, Ethernet network cable, 120GB external hard drive
Power
- Power Device Power supply - Internal
- Battery None
Product series
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Manufacturer: Microsoft Corp.
Specs: Xbox 360 Elite - Game console, DVD-ROM, 1 x IBM PowerPC 3 cores 3.2 GHz, 512 MB ( 512 MB ) GDDR3 SDRAM - Integrated, 1920 x 1080
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Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite w/ Forza Motorsport 2 and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Manufacturer: Microsoft Corp.
Specs: Xbox 360 Elite System - Game console, DVD-ROM, 1 x IBM PowerPC 3 cores 3.2 GHz, 512 MB ( 512 MB ) GDDR3 SDRAM - Integrated, 1920 x 1080
Accessories
- Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (white) (31520708)24.99 - 51.95
- Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller (31520707)28.96 - 44.99
- MadCatz Xbox 360 MC2 Racing Wheel (31965064)
- Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller for Windows (31594377)25.99 - 34.99
- Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Controller and Play & Charge Kit (black) (32422399)48.99 - 59.99
- Microsoft Xbox 360 Limited Edition Red Wireless Controller and Play & Charge Kit - game pad (33200897)52.99 - 64.99
- Mad Catz Xbox 360 GamePad game pad (31894749)24.99 - 25.85
- Microsoft Xbox Live 60GB Starter Pack - game console accessory kit (33387486)89.96 - 114.44
- Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (black) (32422797)29.99 - 49.99
- Mad Catz Beat Pad dance controller (32492231)39.99
Manufacturer info
- Microsoft Corp.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Microsoft Corp. products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.microsoft.com/
- Address:
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052 - Phone: 425/882-8080
- Fax: (425) 706-7329
