Look out, Slim: Xbox 360 Elite showing $299 in new Walmart ad
By Paul Miller 
posted Aug 21st 2009 3:28PM
posted Aug 21st 2009 3:28PM
[Thanks, Randall]
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* zero games included.
It's got "endless flicks".
WTF?
Maybe they're getting Neverending Story 1, 2 and 3 (before the remake comes out). ;)
nice picture there wal-mart... showing only an included composite cable? this isn't a PS3. WTF
Don't forget that Lionel Hutz sued all of the movies in the Never Ending Story trilogy for false advertising.
Now with 54% failure rate!
But it's got a HDMI port. I always wanted one of those things.
FNG,
They took the HDMI cable out of the Elite. Check the packaging.
I never said anything about the HDMI cable. Did they discontinue the composite/component combo cable that every other HD included 360 has always had?
Yes. They took the component cable out.
And the core didn't come with component, and the arcade didn't either. I think the Arcade video out cable doesn't even have optical out (I think the original Core might have).
@FNG:
Yes, The Elite no longer includes the HD dongle thingy. Kotaku covered it a couple weeks ago. I think they justify it by saying that it's not necessary for most users, considering how widely used HDMI is now. IIRC, it was only useful if you needed to split your audio signal from your HDMI.
HDMI audio isn't that widely used. Most people I know still run video to their TV and audio to their amp, because their amp doesn't accept HDMI.
The optical audio out cable and the WiFi adapter will remain huge sellers IMHO, and represent significant (semi-)hidden costs to the 360 for a lot of people. Not everyone mind you (I use HDMI audio and ethernet), but for a lot of people.
@ why not the LS2LS7
I know the arcade/core didn't have it. that's why I said:
"the composite/component combo cable that every other HD included 360 has always had"
... HD included 360 ...
@ flit
the elite came with an optical dongle with L/R analog audio, an HDMI cable and a composite/component cable.
what a joke if they dumped the composite/component cable for a composite only cable.
Gotcha man. HD can mean high-def. And every 360 does high-def. If you had said HDD (like it says on the hard disk drives that come with 360s) it would have been more clear.
FNG:
It's not an if. They dropped the component cable.
I know acceptance is the final stage of grief, but you're gonna have to get there some day.
Kotaku covered this a long time ago.
@ why not the LS2LS7
No grief here. I have 3 360's. A launch, an Elite and a 60GB Pro. All kickin it with Media Center and DirecTV HD in Media Center via HDPVR and DVBLogic. HD DirecTV Media Center FTW. I also have a 40GB PS3 cause I'm an old school gamer who needs it all. I also have that POS console from the big N, but I don't like to admit it...
Crap, no optical on that composite thing? Thanks for pointing that out.
I have tech coming out my ying yang and I never use hdmi audio except for stereo to the TV. This is because I need at least a 5 hdmi switcher and almost no receivers have that at any price. There is also no way to split out the audio cheaply so I use optical. perfect. If I got another 360 I would need to buy the stupid over-priced cable. No thanks. Looks like a third PS3 for me.
Why waste your cash on one of these for $299, when next week you can get a PS3 Slim, with Blu-Ray, Wifi, free onling gaming, and vastly better game catalogue this season...
for all those of you that think that this picture is an accurate representation of the included accessories for the new elite sku you are wrong. that headset design is very old and outdated and hasn't been manufactured for over a year which to me means walmart just threw some shit together to make an ad.
Built-in wifi is shitty anyway. Heck, even the external xbox adapter is not the greatest. Anyone who wants a decent wireless service with low lag will go for something like the WNHDE111 Wireless-N Access Point/Bridge.
In terms of blu-ray, not interested myself. I use netflex and save the hundreds $$$ required to buy my dvd collection again. I'll be damned if I spend hundreds $$$$ again buying blu-rays, only to have them superseded in another 6 or 7 years themselves.
netflix dam it..
@JKL
Yeah, because buying a PS3 (or any blu-ray player) instantly invalidates your entire DVD collection.
Please.. I've got all 3 current consoles, about 1500 DVDs in total, and a hundred or so blu-rays now.. I enjoy them all. The PS3 is my primary media disc playback and I enjoy DVDs on it regularly. I feel no desire to re-purchase all my DVDs in blu. I have, however, bought a few movies again that actually got a nice bump in quality that improved the viewing experience on blu.
I've used netflix a bit... hate waiting on choices for discs and the streaming just isn't a enjoyable for me (quality isn't as good). But to each his own. I prefer to own the physical media for now, or have a local copy (I've done some iTMS purchases)
What a bad deal, especially when PS3 has blu-ray, wi-fi, and free online; while 360 has no blu-ray, no wi-fi, a 54% failure rate, and $50 a year for online. 360 is the more expensive console, nothing new here.
Now before you low rank me, just think about those facts. PS3 is the better deal here, anyone with half a brain would know that.
You guys don't get it, it's not about the hardware, the wii proved that. For anyone who wants a battle of the hardware I would like to see them compete with my Rampage II extreme, 2 * ati 4890, 1tb * 4 raid 0 config, 6 gig ddr3-1600 system. Now come tell me about hardware and your shitty ps3. Forgot to mention the intel i7 950 cpu. Spare me the bull crap about hardware.
Consoles have evolved from the traditional games console, let alone battle of the hardware. It's all about the online experience, usability etc. Live, netflix and the media center extender kick ass.
Yes the PS3 has some great technical features, if your looking for that. Whereas, the xbox offers a more functional online experience. Sony's niche is hardware, Microsoft's niche is software.
JKL:
That's correct, the picture is out of date. It shows an ethernet cable but none is included.
The "included" text below is the accurate text, and it explicitly says composite cable. Kotaku confirmed this by looking at the actual box a week ago or more.
Time to upgrade my Pro to an Elite so all my electronics in my entertainment center are black...
racist! :)
Nah I'm going to throw my Pro into my white car so it evens out...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsu0HvIp85A&feature=PlayList&p=3F6036AF58C41387&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=31
WIN!
You just *might* have too much money on your hands. That and... is Wayne Brady gonna haveta choke a bitch?
@Dan
Nah, one has way too much disposable income when they've already got all the matching black gear, but can't get things like the Time Capsule and Apple TV in black. grr.. :)
Oh, and the Wii, but that's like the bastard step-child off to the side anyway.
I got an elite 5 months ago for that very reason.....
everything else in my setup is black, PC, HTPC,Cablebox, TV, home theater system....
hell I wish they would hurry up and release the black Wii so I can stop hiding the white one...it sticks out like an eyesore....
The important thing is that it includes a black wireless controller, in black.
I am pretty sure the ,black after controller is referring to the headset
That would make sense.
is that true the black controller is thicker and longer? :)
How about the HDD? 20GB is killing me!
It will be 120GB.
It's the elite, it has a 120GB HDD. It also comes with and hdmi cable.
...They better not have removed the hdmi cable, and the component!
No need to upgade if you already have a HDMI Pro you can go online and get a 120Gb HDD off of ebay for $40-60.
the box that engadget showed has no mention of an HDMI cord or component.....
^
lol yeah,
I thought they did included an HDMI cable, but then I read again only to found out it was a "port".
;)
What is a Slim if it's still FAT?
The price.
Watch out PS3 Slim.
Or have you missed the 30 PS3 Slim articles in the last two days?
Fail of the day Nick.
NO HDTV CABLE? not even component? Huh?
Monoprice, FTW.
I hope they just didn't want to clutter their ad with a bunch of cables.
If they really took it out, that's a really cheesy way to lower the price, especially since they took out Fable II and Halo 3.
They took it out just like the PS3. LAME.
No, it doesn't come with an HDMI or component cable. Composite only.
I read somewhere it doesn't come with an ethernet cable anymore either, but I don't have any confirmation of that.
So people stop spreading false things heres a link
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/compare101.htm
ryan, that's old. they pro is dead and the arcade/elite are the only 2 systems. not today, but soon.
For a person like me who's got no more available HDMI ports left on TV, component cable was and still is a must-have. I'm planning to get a 360 and I think I'll end up getting a Pro instead!
F U M$.
For a person like me who's got no more available HDMI ports left on TV, component cable was and still is a must-have. I'm planning to get a 360 and I think I'll end up getting a Pro instead!
F U M$.
it's not even a way to lower the price. a 6' HDMI cable would cost MS like $3.
It's true! They removed one of the biggest selling points! (HD cables of all kinds) If you look closely, there's no HDMI kit and no component cable... Oh well, I have the one from my pro and when I get a decent TV I'll buy two HDMI cables (360 -> amplifier -> TV)
Definitely was one of the main upsides to the Elite, but also one that's not immediately noticeable to the general clueless public who does most of the buying. Sony's been doing the same forever with no real consequences, so if there's an opportunity to cut costs while nickel-and-diming the customer, why the hell not?
hmm...$300 for a dvd gaming system/overpriced hdds or $300 for a gaming system/blu-ray player/media center/2.5" removable hdd
that does sound like a hard decision
Serious question: How do I use the LIVE system to play the new Halo on the PS3?
Serious question is serious.
Games matter too?
Halo? Seriously? If that's supposed to be the best exclusive for the Xbox you can come up with, then the Xbox is seriously screwed.
I use to think Halo was the greatest game out there until I played COD, it made Halo looks like a child's game...o wait
He's an xbot, the Halo 2b (oops, I mean Halo3) and "PS3 doesn't have any games" outdated arguments will last forever.
Oghowie, you're kidding right? Are you still living in 2007? The list of exclusives, 360:PS3, is something like 6:5 right now. The "no games" argument is only for people with too much fanboy up their butt.
Don't forget the built-in wireless and free online playing.
I have both systems, I find it hard to commit to the Xbox due to the charged for Live.
Who brought up Halo? lol
Sony fans are are hilarious.
haha, forgot about the wireless and free network. You get sooo much more for the PS3 vs the 360, it doesn't make any sense to get a 360 anymore. I also own both but my PS3 sees 10x the use because of the functionality of it. I bought the 360 for Halo and Forza, but Halo has really gone down hill big time. Every time I get on there it is nothing but kids on Live cussing away like no tomorrow, I mean even a 8 year old came on one time and was cussing, completely uncalled for. Also with Forza 3 coming out, it is two discs...really attractive and then we have Gran Turismo 5 coming out that easily blows Forza out of the water graphics wise. I know Forza 2 had better game play then GT4 but I believe that GT5 can pull it off and re-claim the title of being the best racing game out there especially with WRC being in it!
@ Levi
If you read my comment you would have noticed I was talking about taking games into consideration while deciding on a system, not just the specs.
Luckily I don't have to worry about that since I own both.
BTW, how do I get in the Sony Defense Force?
Just add another $100 for a Roku Netflix Player for that BluRay player of yours.
I do like how Derek's comparison of 360 and PS3 removes media center capability from the 360 and only gives it to PS3.
Fantastical
$299 gets you a brand new RRoD.
And the Elites are more difficult to fix...
I didn't realize they were constructed differently.
I will NOT buy a 360 until their rate of failure drops significantly. Right now, I just see it as a bad investment.
Whats with the no component cable? Total BS! The Pro had a component cable at the same price! Basically they dropped component and upgraded the drive from 60GB to 120GB. This isn't anything! Might as well have left it how it was. Now whoever wants a useful (with a hard drive) 360 and HD has to pay $30 more than they used to (unless you are using HDMI and/or know about good places online to buy cheap cables, which most don't).
¿What happen to the HDMI cable and the charger and rechargeable batteries? microsoft don't stoop down to sony's level
HDMI was included when I bought mine last year
HDMI is removed. Ethernet cable is removed. Component cable is removed.
No rechargable batteries, did the Elite ever have them?
This isn't really what people think of as the Elite. It's a black pro minus the component cable and with a 120GB HDD. MS just renamed it so some people would think of it as a price drop instead of just a re-spec of the pro SKU.
stoop to sony's level? Do you realize that hardly any HD products actually include an HDMI cable? Only the overpriced versions of products, like the Elite. Just get a Pro, and get an HDMI cable off of Amazon for 8 bucks. Save $92. Based on pre-SKU-shuffle prices, of course.
Can't be that confident of your machine if you need to slash the price within 2 days of the opposition :shrugs:
This has been something that has been rumored for a couple of weeks now, if I remember. MS is simplifying it's SKU line-up by removing the Pro and just offering the Arcade and the Elite. The original selling point for the Elite was the HDMI output and it's HDD but now that all versions of 360s have HDMI outputs the Pro was in an awkward position and the Elite's main selling point was gone. So now they just cut the Pro and dropped the Elite into it's pricepoint.
I think you're giving the Slim a little too much credit here.
@ epsilon343
And the PS3 slim has been rumored for a couple of months now. Basically, if there was never talk of a PS3 slim or PS3 price cutting, that Elite would still be $399. MS only slashed the price because they knew they couldn't let Sony hog all of the news and slash prices while upgrading their product. It would make MS look like an arrogant d*ck if they kept the Elite the same price after the week Sony just had. It's a pretty good move on MS's behalf to wait till after Sony to cut the price, now they have the freshest news (although it doesn't compare to what Sony did IMO)
These prices were already set more than 2 weeks ago based off of leaked ads.
Does it come with an intercooler? (jk jk)
Either way I will probably pick up this and a ps3 slim.
hey Microsoft how about lowering the price on those harddrives hmm?
They've dropped down a considerable amount on ebay. You can get one for $40-60 on there if you shop around...
That's still way too much when I can get a 500GB hard drive for $100.
WTF, the PS3 is a much better value now. Its the same price and includes Blu-ray and a rechargeable battery. It costs them WAY more to make than it costs Microsoft to make the 360, yet it is the same price. This "elite" lost all of its selling points except its stupid 60GB bigger hard drive, and who really cares about that? This is worst than the old Pro.
The PS3 also includes WiFi built-in. That's another $72 on Amazon ($99 RRP).
"This "elite" lost all of its selling points except its stupid 60GB bigger hard drive, and who really cares about that?"
uuuuuummmmmmmm.....
maybe people who want more hard drive space? People who don't EVER delete game data (tru gamerz holla!) People who store music on there. People who like Arcade games (Castle Crashers FTW!) Etcetera, etcetera. Then there is people like me who just need that hard drive space to fit all of the digits of their gamerscore on. At least it would be that way if I had more time to practice...time to go make up a lame excuse to not come in to work. Meanwhile it's time for some Nazi Zombies. I love it when their heads pop...
To be honest, I like the ability to use normal batteries in my gaming controllers. I have regular old AA rechargeable batteries, so, cost isn't an issue. I'd just be afraid of the internal battery going bad and having to spend another $40 - $60 on a whole new controller (I don't have a PS3, yet, so I'm not sure of the exact price on those controllers. Slim is really making me think about picking one up finally.)
the rechargeable battery packs are cool and all, but, I learned the hard way that the Microsof ones suck unless you have the charge station, and not the play and charge kit. Those wires not only stop working after a few weeks, but they also ruin the batteries. after my 2nd play and charge kit in 4 months, i went back to my old rechargeable AAs (not to mention, the controller that came with the Arcade I bought while my Elite was out for repair doesn't even work with the rechargeable 306 batteries. The contacts on the controller are bad :()
first engadget post ever, woohoo.
Blu ray is no good really. With xbox 360 games on a dvd disc, they are sizeable enough that you can havea Games on demand service where you can download full games to your hard drive, whilst some blu ray games (especially first party ones) are way to big to even think about transferring over the internet.
go go captain dvd
There is nothing about Blu-ray that makes games larger. If games fit in 8GB (dual layer DVD), then the games will only be 8GB, even on PS3.
Well, guess people can't b***h about the PS3 not having anything other than a composite cable anymore.
LOL, composite cable? I hope that's a mistake. At this point, PS3 slim is a better value (built-in wifi, blu-ray playback) then. Silly Microsoft.
I nearly choked on my coffee reading you actually supporting a Sony product for once. I may have to screen cap this.
@leapingmadly: Unlike most people, I'm not a fanboy of any brand. I simply state things the way it is. I'll give credit where it's due. If that picture is really the only things that will be in the box of the $299 elite, then yes, at face value the PS3 slim is a better deal.
The picture is wrong. Read the text. The ethernet cable in the picture isn't included either!
I don't know, I think its pretty arguable which is the better value. Hardware extras like wifi or a bluray drive may be nice, but it's an unfair comparison since you're not even giving the software or services any consideration. Sony is a hardware company, Microsoft is a software company, you can expect them to play to their strengths.
Doesn't the PS3 only include a composite cable?
The only thing I'd miss in there would be the adapter for the HDMI audio out, because I actually use the damn thing.