New Xbox Arcade units to pack 256MB internal storage

Now that the New Xbox Experience has been mostly-successfully pushed out, with its avatars, new interface, and updated marketplace, Arcade owners with less than 128MB of storage have been left out in the cold -- and the big M's "solution" of free memory cards wasn't exactly ideal. That's changing, however -- a MS spokesperson confirmed to Xbox360 Fanboy that new Arcade units will contain 256MB of internal memory. So if you've been looking to pick up a new 360 Arcade, feel free to get your Netflix HD on as soon as every last cord is connected -- if you're a subscriber, that is.

[austin @ Dec 2nd 2008 9:17PM]

right. netflix HD. with the arcade's hard drive and included HD cables and all.

[AVG @ Dec 2nd 2008 10:10PM]

Isn't the point here that the 256mb embedded memory gives you the ability to watch Netflix without the HDD?

[Gus @ Dec 2nd 2008 10:28PM]

Netflix doesn't require a hard drive, and HDMI cables can be had on Amazon for less than five bucks.

[xcrunk @ Dec 2nd 2008 10:52PM]

it's a pity I can't just slap whatever SATA 2.5" drive I might have laying around. I just pulled a 160GB from my PS3 and upgraded to a 250GB drive.

Also, don't you need XBOX LIVE GOLD....to stream movies?

[AVG @ Dec 2nd 2008 11:19PM]

"...don't you need XBOX LIVE GOLD....to stream movies?"

If that's true, that is the lamest bullshit I've ever heard of. You can be sure if this feature lands on the PS3, it won't require any extraneous subscriptions. If I have a Netflix account, I should be able to stream for free, period.

Wait, I'm getting all worked up and don't even know if it's true. Someone confirm this?

[xcrunk @ Dec 2nd 2008 11:34PM]

"This movie-watching innovation is available to Xbox LIVE® Gold members who are also Netflix members and allows them to instantly watch movies streamed from Netflix via Xbox LIVE for no additional monthly fee."

Source:
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/netflix/

[AVG @ Dec 2nd 2008 11:54PM]

lol

"Innovation."

Innovating new ways to get me to use a PS3 instead of a 360 as a media center.

[gotoman00 @ Dec 3rd 2008 12:30AM]

ummm... xbmc on orig xbox ftw?

[GhostDoggy @ Dec 3rd 2008 7:08AM]

How the heck of 256MB of non-volatile going to enable anyone to use Netflix? MPEG-2 DVD movies would be 4-9GB in size and MPEG-4 versions would be about half that unless they over-compress or down-resolve the content. As such, how will a 2-4GB MPEG-4 DVD movie going to fit on 256MB of non-volatile?

I can only imagine this will allow streaming for live viewing and not through queued-storage for time-shifting behavior. I think Microsoft needs to market the cheapest non-Arcade version of the 360 (the one with the 20GB hard drive) as the Netflix 360 package and stop trying to milk the poorest of 360 owners.

[iEye @ Dec 2nd 2008 9:18PM]

256MB?

I think my wrist watch has more memory than that...

[Backlin @ Dec 2nd 2008 9:53PM]

So you got a wrist strap for your iPhone?

[nohone @ Dec 2nd 2008 10:24PM]

And yet, even with 256MB storage and 512MB of ram, the 360 plays more, and higher quality games than the best MAC can at a much, much lower cost.

[josh @ Dec 2nd 2008 10:45PM]

MAC... you mean Media Access Control?
i dont understand

[El Taco @ Dec 2nd 2008 11:34PM]

its the same amount that Wii has.

[Bassir @ Dec 2nd 2008 11:41PM]

@nohone

Why are you bringing up PCs?

[Nytrojen @ Dec 2nd 2008 9:19PM]

There's one extra variant of the 360 kickin around now... must be causing havoc with the product lifecycle management

[Vanillacide @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:35AM]

Yes, because these 256MB internal memory models are also 'Jasper' chipset, i.e. the GPU is 65nm along with the CPU. Therefore it runs with less power, is cooler and quieter, albeit with the same DVD-ROM, and should be less prone to RRoD.

The Osborne Effect is in action, which is that many people are waiting to get their hands on this new model and are avoiding the older Falcon models; annoyingly (for customers) Microsoft make it hard to identify and find the new variants.

[James @ Dec 2nd 2008 9:20PM]

So, wait... You won't need a hard drive to use Netflix on these new 'arcades'? and 256MB is enough room to hold the buffer?

[JBDragon @ Dec 3rd 2008 1:55AM]

The expanded memory is to allow the NXE to all fit in the internal Memory as it's larger then what the older 360 systems can fit which is why a part of it is put onto the Hard Drive or Memory Card. With the new 360 with the larger Internal Memory, this is now not needed. This is where the 360 system files/Dashboard is stored at. Don't confuse this Memory with the other 512 Megs of the Normal Ram.
Netflix is buffered in the normal RAM, NOT the Hard Drive or a Memory Card. No need for either, just a gold Subscription. If your hooking up to a HDTV, and want to watch HD content also, then a cheap $5 HDMI cable and your set.

See, MS keeps adding features to the XBox while keeping prices the same or lowering them. Adding HDMI, Larger Hard Drive, Larger Internal Memory and not loosing a thing!! Sony keeps cutting out features. Memory Card ports, Backwards compatibility (Hardware and then software) what else.

[EricC @ Dec 2nd 2008 9:22PM]

Whoa, Microsoft! Don't go crazy with the internal storage. Wouldn't want someone to get hurt, now.

[youngstunna @ Dec 2nd 2008 9:24PM]

man up MS. just include the hdd.

[Mitch R. @ Dec 2nd 2008 9:28PM]

Why don't they just use the 20GB hard drive on the arcade?

20GB Arcade
60GB Premium
120GB Elite

That seems like a pretty good lineup, no?

[Tron @ Dec 2nd 2008 9:47PM]

And lose an entire market base? Few people use more than 20gb as it is, and the majority of people with 360s don't use the HD features on a regular basis, so either the prices will be close enough that no one will buy the arcade, or the prices will remain as is, and no one will buy the premium console.

[Backlin @ Dec 2nd 2008 9:57PM]

Actually, with no installed Xbox 360 games and very little video (five at the max), I've almost maxed out my twenty gigabyte hard drive. Those Rock Band tracks eat up a ton of space. Not to mention downloadable content for other games too. Can't forget Arcade games.

In fact, it's so ridiculous, that I use streaming and portable media players to watch and listen to stuff through the Xbox 360.

[Tron @ Dec 2nd 2008 10:03PM]

either your movies are bigger than they need to be, or you downloaded an insane number of rock band songs, because from my experience, the average song size is around 30 mb

[Tron @ Dec 2nd 2008 10:05PM]

though I suppose hd movies are going to be pretty big, but when would you ever need that many movies stored on your xbox?

[BigD145 @ Dec 2nd 2008 9:32PM]

Just how expensive would it be to toss a 1 or 2 GB chip in these?

[Marek @ Dec 2nd 2008 9:41PM]

2GB $3.77 retail + free shipping:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820208244

wholesale manufacturing cost for MS, 50 cents?

[BigD145 @ Dec 2nd 2008 9:55PM]

Probably.

[Richard @ Dec 2nd 2008 11:46PM]

I'm sure the modding community will right this wrong.

[Dave Chappelle @ Dec 3rd 2008 12:11AM]

Dude there are mobile phones with 32gb of memory now and these twats will not even give out more than 256mb? truth is that IT COSTS THEM MORE to create individual 256mb USB's with the plastic case around it then it will embedding a storage device.... M$ is not out to 'help you' once again they have milked a tiny little extra for a few cents...

oh ye and now its less portable.

[Riley @ Dec 3rd 2008 2:38AM]

how have they milked anyone for a few extra cents?
they put the flash inside the xbox for no extra cost, and how does that make it less portable?

[BigD145 @ Dec 3rd 2008 3:04PM]

They give you a piss poor excuse for internal storage so you'll want a larger HD to make up for it. Don't ask me how that works, only the consumer knows. I'm guessing it has something to do with "storage is storage."

[chefgon_ign @ Dec 2nd 2008 9:42PM]

Your article is misleading. You are suggesting that this gives you added abilities over the old way, but that isn't true at all. The Arcade system has ALWAYS come with 256mb of memory, it just used to be removable so you could transport it to a different system if you wanted. Now it's just internal.

Exact same amount of storage out of the box, exact same abilities "as soon as every last cord is connected," just now you lose the portability.

[jeremyturnley @ Dec 3rd 2008 9:09AM]

The "portability" you're touting isn't really relevant. Most items downloaded from XBL aren't usable on systems other than the one you downloaded them on. So unless you're talking about trial versions, free content, or user profiles, content wasn't ever really "portable".

[Ordeith @ Dec 3rd 2008 1:28PM]

Jer (can I call you Jer?):

You must be thinking Sony.

You can use any Xbox DLC you have purchased on any 360 console when you are logged into Live.

You can transfer the DLC with a memory card if you don't want to wait, or you can re-download it to ther other console to play. What you purchase gets tied to your Live ID and the licenses will follow you around.

[chefgon_ign @ Dec 2nd 2008 9:44PM]

I believe Netflix streaming requires 8mb of free space for the buffer.

[Plothole @ Dec 2nd 2008 10:13PM]

Flash memory generally doesn't make a good buffer for video. It would burn through the limited write cycles.

[AVG @ Dec 2nd 2008 10:19PM]

"It would burn through the limited write cycles."

It's not 1995 anymore. Truly modern flash memory has so many write cycles it would take you a lifetime to burn it out.

[Plothole @ Dec 2nd 2008 10:44PM]

Normally I would agree, but video buffering puts considerably greater demand on the memory. Consumer-level Flash is still noticeably limited in this regard.

[reallynotnick @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:48PM]

Why the heck would your write a stream to the HDD/flash memory when you have 512MB of ram to work with! I am pretty sure they have to have at least 64MB of ram available if not 400MB+ to store the streaming video temporarily.

[MRCUR @ Dec 2nd 2008 9:55PM]

Hmm, I'm pretty sure we knew this when the Jasper consoles will found. Might want to mention that in the post; all of these consoles with integrated storage are Jaspers...

[Ethan @ Dec 2nd 2008 10:01PM]

Do we still get a memory card?

[gabe @ Dec 2nd 2008 10:09PM]

i just ordered an xbox arcade - i doubt i have this version though -

[Penguin Warlord @ Dec 2nd 2008 10:33PM]

I kind of resent those quotation marks around solution.
I think that giving out free memory cards to all is a pretty good customer service solution, instead of just leaving them out in the cold.
I mean what else would they do? There isn't much until they reach a point where you can download physical memory off of xbox live. (probably about 3 years away).

[tom @ Dec 2nd 2008 10:38PM]

The xbox arcade + madden 2009 bundle is available tonight at Dell for $208.99 with free shipping. A phenomenal deal. Here's the link: http://www.techdealdigger.com/deals/microsoft-xbox-360-arcade-208-at-dell-home--home-office/5304

[prometheus @ Dec 2nd 2008 11:02PM]

XBOX 360 arcade cannot do HD. It does not have the port for it and the Netflix you get is the SD version, so you cannot stream HD content even if you mod it. According to MS, the arcade version is for the casual gamer and that's it, nothing more.

[Dmitri @ Dec 2nd 2008 11:12PM]

hum....arcade is EXACT same hardware as all other versions, it just does not come with an hd cable.....buy the cable and do HD

I wonder where people get so much nonsence

[David @ Dec 2nd 2008 11:18PM]

No you fool, the arcade has added an HDMI spot, it's just that there is no HDMI cable included and the cable included is just standard definition and does not include the component add-on. All xbox 360's contain the same hardware configuration, it's just add-ons, colors, and names that change the prices.

[prometheus @ Dec 3rd 2008 8:43AM]

He is right. Unfortunately I got BS'ed by BestBuy (suprised?!). Wikipedia said that it does have an HDMI port and Netflix does support it. Sorry everybody.