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A handy 360 SKU chart for holiday shopping
Joystiq has compiled an updated 360 SKU chart just in time for the holiday shopping season. If you're looking to pick up an Xbox 360 for someone special (like yourself, for example), this super handy chart can help you (or your mom) sort out which console is which. There are five different SKUs out there -- all with a variety of possible chipsets -- so it's understandably confusing, especially to the uninitiated (also known as the people who buy presents). Head over to Joystiq for the chart and a helpful (if schizophrenic) FAQ.
Holidaze 2008: Xbox 360 SKU chart, revisited
We'd love to say picking up an Xbox 360 is as easy as going to the store and grabbing the first box with the console's name on it. For better or for worse, this generation of consoles gives consumers many choices at the (potential) expense of causing confusion at the store. This holiday, Microsoft has three different models (aka SKUs) on the market: Arcade, Pro and Elite. So, it's with all this in mind that we present you this handy guide for discerning the difference between the various Xbox 360 SKUs out there. Please note that the red, green and yellow coloring is not only festive decor for the holiday season, but a subjective highlight of what each version excels in (or subsequently lacks). #comparechart { border: 2px solid #333; border-collapse: collapse; } #comparechart td { padding: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc; vertical-align: top; margin: 0; line-height: 1.3em; font-size: 80%} #comparechart th { font-size: 80%; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 4px; background: #eee; } #comparechart th.mainth { font-size: 100%; border-bottom: 1px solid #333; } #comparechart td.red { background-color: #f08c85; } #comparechart td.yellow { background-color: #ffffcc;} #comparechart td.green { background-color: #b3e2c4; } Elite Pro (60GB) Arcade Pro (20GB) Halo Edition Core Hardware Price $399.99 $299.99 $199.99 $349.99* $399.99* $279.99* Storage 120GB HDD 60GB HDD 256MBmemory card 20GB HDD 20GB HDD none Color Black White White White Green/Orange White HDMI port Yes Yes Yes After July 2007 Yes After July 2007 Bundled Accessories Ethernet cable Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Headset Wired Wired No Yes Wired No Play &Charge Kit No No No No Yes No Video cables HDMI 1.2,RGB**,Composite RGB**,Composite Composite RGB**,Composite RGB**,Composite Composite Controller Wireless Wireless Wireless Wireless Wireless Wired Other Xbox Live Silver,1 Month Gold Silver,1 Month Gold Silver,1 Month Gold Silver, 1 Month Gold Silver,1 Month Gold Silver BackwardsCompatibility Yes Yes No*** Yes Yes No*** Notes:* Model has been discontinued. Price based on final MSRP.** To correct some formatting issues, "component" has been replaced with "RGB" in the chart*** Hard Drive required for backwards compatibilityI've got to ask some rhetorical questions, can you help me out ... again?Of course, it's always fun to talk to yourself.Awesome! Thanks!No problem.
Holidaze 2008: PlayStation 3 SKU chart, revisited
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Holidaze_2008_PlayStation_3_SKU_chart_revisited'; We'd love to say picking up PlayStation 3 is as easy as going to the store and grabbing the first box with the console's name on it. For better and for worse, this generation of consoles gives consumers many choices at the (potential) expense of causing confusion at the store. In all, there have been six different hardware configurations for the PS3, with two of those currently in production.So, it's with this in mind that we present to you a handy guide for discerning the difference between the various PlayStation 3 versions (aka SKUs) out there. Please note that the red and green coloring is not only festive decor for the holiday season, but a subjective highlight of what each version excels in (or subsequently lacks). #comparechart { border: 2px solid #333; border-collapse: collapse; } #comparechart td { padding: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc; vertical-align: top; margin: 0; line-height: 1.3em; font-size: 80%} #comparechart th { font-size: 80%; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 4px; background: #eee; } #comparechart th.mainth { font-size: 100%; border-bottom: 1px solid #333; } #comparechart td.red { background-color: #f08c85; } #comparechart td.green { background-color: #b3e2c4; } #comparechart td.yellow { background-color: #ffffcc;} 160GB 80GB(Aug. 08)80GB(Aug. 07)60GB40GB20GB Hardware Model # CECHP01 CECHK01 CECHE01 CECHA01 CECHG01 CECHB01 Price $499.99 $399.99 $499.99* $499.99* $399.99* $499.99* Chrome trim Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No USB 2.0 slots 2 2 4 4 2 4 802.11 b/g Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Flash cardreader No No Yes Yes No No Bundled Accessories Ethernet cable Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Video cables Composite Composite Composite Composite Composite Composite Controller DualShock 3 DualShock 3 Sixaxis Sixaxis Sixaxis Sixaxis Backwards Compatibility PS2 No No Software** Yes (NTSC),Software** (PAL) No Yes PS One Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Notes:*This model is discontinued. The price on the chart represents the listed price before Sony axed it.**See explanation in F.A.Q. below.Alright, Joystiq, time to answer your own questions.Let's do this.
Let's review: all the PS3 SKUs
There's been some confusion about all the various PS3 models that are available. Sony has introduced, and discontinued, so many different SKUs over the PS3's relatively short lifespan so far. Did you know, with the discontinuation of the Metal Gear Solid 4 model, there will only be two SKUs on the market? And did you know that neither will have backwards compatibility? Check out Joystiq's handy reference guide to see the stats of each SKU -- and if make sure you've nabbed the system that fits your needs exactly! Educate me! >
New 80GB PS3 provides minimal power savings, might have 65nm RSX GPU
Last we heard, it was still up in the air somewhat as to whether upcoming PlayStation 3 consoles would house the elusive 65-nanometer RSX graphics processor. According to a curious buyer of Sony's newest 80GB unit, there is a smidgen of data that hints at a 65nm chip actually being under the hood. By using the oh-so-scientific Kill-A-Watt, he discovered that his older 40GB PS3 sucked down 125.8-watts when idle, while the fresh 80GB edition ate up just 111.9-watts. The findings were similar when looking at power draw during DVD playback and while spinning Metal Gear Solid 4. Unfortunately, this mighty fine fellow is planning to return the new unit after being disappointed by the minimal energy savings, so he's not apt to rip the thing open and prove once and for all what kind of GPU is in there. Meanwhile, we heartily suggest that someone do just that and put this question to bed.[Thanks, Khattab]
GC 2008: 160GB PlayStation 3 hitting Europe Oct. 31
With game installations, downloadable content and digitally distributed titles cluttering up our PlayStation 3's brain, it comes as little surprise to see Sony announcing yet another SKU with increased storage capacity. The word from its 2008 Games Convention press conference is that a 160 gigglebyte model -- which is otherwise identical to others units -- will be hitting Europe on October 31st, complete with €70 worth of downloadable game content. But is the €449 price tag a trick or a treat?We're checking with Sony regarding any plans to release this model elsewhere.
Confirmed: 60GB Xbox 360 and $50 price-cut on outgoing 20GB bundle
At this rate our Bingo cards will be filled before Microsoft takes the stage on Monday morning! Microsoft has finally confirmed the much-talked about rumors of a $50 price-cut to the 20GB Xbox 360 Premium bundle ($299.99 in US and Canada) and introduced a new bundle outfited with a 60GB HDD -- set to replace the outgoing 20GB model. The 60GB model will retail for $349.99 while the Arcade and Elite bundles will remain at the current price-point of $279.99 and $449.99 respectively.For those keeping score at home with your official X3F E3 Prediction Bingo Card, you can mark off the Xbox 360 Price-cut, the new Xbox 360 SKU, a 60GB HDD and the Too Human E3 XBLM Demo squares. It's a shame those weren't all in a line together. It's almost as if we planned it that way![via Joystiq]
Rumor: Leaked MS email confirms 60GB SKU, more
Well as E3 approaches, it looks Microsoft just can't keep a lid on their announcements. The lowered price on the 20GB unit has been rumored for a while now, and the idea has even been bandied about that its purpose was to clear the shelves to make room for a 60GB unit. While this of course is still waiting on some sort of official word (likely coming around or at MS's E3 press conference), a leaked email supposedly sent out to GameStop and Blockbuster company buyers seems to confirm both the new 60GB SKU as well as a "Live Starter Pack" for Arcade owners, which consists of a 60GB HDD, 3 Months of Live, a Headset, and an ethernet cable, all for $99.99.Additionally, the email states the 20GB HDD is being phased out altogether and that the 120GB stand alone drive will receive a price cut to $149.99 (HA!). Word is that the 60GB Pro Unit will hit before the month is out and the Live Starter Pack will hit late October or early November. Whether or not the new 60GB SKU will be subject to the new price drop is unknown, but doubtful. Likely the 20GBs at $299.99 are a fire sale, and the 60GBs will still be $349.99.The full text of the email can be found after the break.
Rumor: 20GB Xbox 360 is out, 60GB is in
TrustedReviews is pretty confident about their latest "world exclusive" – they say the Xbox 360's 20GB hard drive is going the way of the Core system (read: dying), and in its place we'll have a 60GB Pro system. While the site is sure their info is on the money, they're not sure about when we can expect this new drive (before the end of Microsoft's fiscal year, says their source, which ends June 30). Will the hard drive-less Arcade console replace the missing 20GB model? They can't be sure, but they do say the boys in Redmond are considering adding another SKU to their increasingly complex product lineup. Something in between the Arcade and the 60GB? Or perhaps something with built-in Blu-ray (if that "makes sense")? [Via Engadget]
Europe getting 40GB PS3 bundles packing Gran Turismo, Blu-ray movies
While we chew on that incoming Metal Gear Solid 4 80GB PS3 (with DualShock 3) in the States, Europe has a pair of SKUs of its own to look forward to. Sony's hitting with a "movie bundle" on March 19th that includes Spider-Man 3, 300 and Casino Royale on Blu-ray, along with a 40GB PS3, all for the regular €399 price. If you can wait until March 29th, for the same price you can nab a 40 gigger bundled with Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. Both bundles promise to be quite appealing, but apparently neither come packing HD cables, which could be a bit of a hangup for those ready to make the Blu-ray plunge. GT5 box art is after the break.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Poll: What's it going to take to make you buy a PS3?
Dare we say it, the tide is turning. With some hot numbers projected for 2008, the PS3 is seeing a lot of wins lately, most notably that little format-war scuffle you may have heard about. Now that we've (finally) got wind of a release date for the DualShock 3, and an SKU that includes MGS4 sweetening the deal, the still-pricey PS3 is looking mighty alluring. So, what's your story, what's it going to take? %Poll-10460%
Rumor: New 360 SKU on the way?
To go with our "New Xbox Live" rumor, here's another rumor about a supposedly new product out of the Microsoft camp. Amazon.com is reporting that many of the current 360 SKU's are "Discontinued by the manufacturer," and this is hitting right at a time when there's swirling talk about how there are shortages for the 360 on the supply side of things. Not only that, but then there are the rumors about the new chipsets and motherboards, which may or may not be being readied for a new line of SKU's. Hardware evolution over the course of a console's life-cycle is not unheard of, but this round of the console wars has been hit with enough SK craziness to last several generations. With this new rumor surfacing in the midst of news about new chipsets and discontinued models, maybe Microsoft is simply updating whats in the bundle, not the price of the box. Then again, GTA IV is right around the corner, and that would be the perfect time for a price drop or SKU shift ....
Arcade 360 to see lower price in Japan
Struggling as they are in Japan, Microsoft has pulled another move in a desperate attempt to gain (or perhaps simply lose no more) ground. The Premium 360 there had previously been priced at 34,800 yen, and on March the 6th Microsoft will launch the Arcade to the tune 27,800 yen, which is (one would think not coincidentally) much closer to the Wii's Japan price of 25,000 yen. With this new price effecting only the Arcade SKU it's difficult to see how this could gain Microsoft anything at all, as with the sale of Arcade units the consumer is still not receiving the entire experience (Live, HDD required content, etc) and may not end up being a loyal customer. Just how hard is Microsoft willing to push in Japan? Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon have already released and that didn't change much at all, so what will it take? Will this price drop do anything to sales? Readers, is Japan a lost cause for the 360?
New PS3 SKU practically confirmed by GameStop
According to a report, the next iteration of PS3 packages has been all but confirmed during a GameStop conference call recently. Apparently, the 80GB version of the console is dead, and is due to be replaced by a 120GB model bundled with the Dual Shock 3 controller -- just like we mentioned a few days go. There's no set price or release date, though speculation is that it will turn up by GDC. Instead of a denial, Sony has gone for a "no comment" in regards to this news, though it certainly looks like this is the direction they're heading in, regardless of what they say.[Thanks, Khattab]
Sony insider talks PS3 SKU strategy
GameDaily BIZ tapped one of its "very reliable" Sony sources to find out what's going on with the never-ending roller coaster of PS3 SKUs and strategy. According to the source the executive teams and product strategists are meeting this week in Japan and "there are a lot of different strategies under consideration, but nothing is final yet."The source says consumers hadn't seen a distinct difference between the original pairing of the 20GB and 60GB models, and now with the 40GB and 80GB. Apparently Sony is looking to "at least double" the storage capacity for the new model replacing the 80GB version to deal with the future vision of the PlayStation Network. If the source is solid -- and GameDaily BIZ says he is -- then not even Sony knows what it's doing with future models of the PS3 at this point.
No plans for 120GB PS3 in UK, says Sony
With rumors predicting the imminent disappearance of the PlayStation 3's 80GB model and its subsequent substitution by a new SKU in America, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has chimed in and told GamesIndustry.biz that it currently has no plans to introduce a 120GB PS3 to the UK. Whereas the rumored 120GB - 160GB PS3 (with Dual Shock 3 controller) would take the retired 80GB model's place in the US, there would be no ex-SKUs to do the same in the UK. The 40GB system is the only in-production model currently being sold in the European region.As for the arrival of a new PlayStation 3 in America, Sony is sticking to its silenced "no comment" guns.
Sony killing 80GB PS3, introducing 120GB or 160GB model with Dual Shock 3?
According to Ars Technica, Sony has some big plans for a PlayStation 3 refresh, starting with a phase-out of the 80GB model. According to an "inside source" -- which Ars claims has been consistently right on video game-related predictions -- the console-maker's new plot is starting to take shape, holding fast to a two-SKU approach on packages, upping the hard drive capacity on systems, and including the Dual Shock 3 controller. The new bundles will take the high / low road, with the source stating that the 40GB model will remain on shelves, while the 80GB, Spider-Man 3-inclusive system will disappear, only to be replaced with a 120GB or 160GB configuration. Of course, right now these are just words on a screen, though in light of Best Buy's recent stock changes, there certainly is an air of movement over at Sony.[Thanks, Khattab]
Smaller Blu-ray laser could reduce PS3 production costs
It really does seem like we can't throw a stick without hitting a new PS3 SKU or news of a price drop -- a recent advancement in Blu-ray technology could signal the creation of yet another PS3 model or lowered price for the system some time in the near future, should Sony decide to incorporate it into their home console. Sony and LED manufacturer Nichia recently jointly created a smaller, more efficient Blu-ray laser that would significantly lower PS3 production costs should it replace the PS3's current "chubby laser". This, in addition to the many other cost-cutting innovations Sony implemented in the past year, might lead to yet another price cut for the system -- but the unmentioned, non-discounted inclusion of the lil' laser into existing SKUs is just as likely. We're certain we'll hear more about this in the coming months, once the PS3 hardware market has cooled its proverbial jets.
Joystiq Holidaze: explaining the Xbox 360 SKUs
We'd love to say picking up Xbox 360 is as easy as going to the store and grabbing the first box with the console's name on it. For better and worse, this generation of consoles gives consumers many choices at the (potential) expense of causing confusion at the store. So it's with this in mind that we present you this handy guide for discerning the difference between the various Xbox 360 versions (aka SKUs) out there. Please note that the red and green coloring is not only festive decor for the holiday season but also a subjective highlight of what each version excels in (or subsequently lacks). #comparechart { border: 2px solid #333; border-collapse: collapse; } #comparechart td { padding: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc; vertical-align: top; margin: 0; line-height: 1.3em; font-size: 80%} #comparechart th { font-size: 80%; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 4px; background: #eee; } #comparechart th.mainth { font-size: 100%; border-bottom: 1px solid #333; } #comparechart td.red { background-color: #f08c85; } #comparechart td.green { background-color: #b3e2c4; } Elite HaloEdition Pro Arcade Core Hardware Price $449.99 $399.99 $349.99 $279.99 $199.99* Storage 120GB HDD 20GB HDD 20GB HDD 256MBmemory card none Color Black Green/Orange White White White HDMI port Yes Yes Certain models** Yes Certain models** Bundled Accessories Ethernet cable Yes Yes Yes No No Headset Wired Wired Wired No No Play &Charge Kit No Yes No No No Video cables HDMI 1.2,Component,Composite Component,Composite Component,Composite Composite Composite Controller Wireless Wireless Wireless Wireless Wired Other Xbox Live Silver,1 Month Gold Silver,1 Month Gold Silver,1 Month Gold Silver,1 Month Gold Silver BackwardsCompatibility Yes Yes Yes No*** No*** Notes:* The Core model has been discontinued. The $199.99 price tag is based on the GameStop refurbished price.** See explanation below*** Hard Drive requiredAnd just in case you still have questions, we've gone ahead and written up a F.A.Q. after the break.
New PS2 coming to Japan: same price, same size
Sony has announced a new model of the Playstation 2 for release in Japan, which features an internal power supply and weighs less than the current slim-line model. Despite these changes, the unit will not receive a drastic cosmetic makeover, and will sell at the same price as the current PS2 (16,000 yen, or approximately $139.70 USD).The new unit weighs 720 grams, down from the 820 grams the current model weighs (including its external AC adapter). The new(ish) PS2 will launch on November 22 in three colors, with peripherals to match, including a vertical stand (pictured with consoles) for 1,500 yen (approx. $13). No word yet on releases outside of Japan, although it seems likely that the new units will eventually make their way to other regions.%Gallery-9849%Read -- Sony to launch new PlayStation 2 model in Japan [Reuters]Read -- Official Press Release [Playstation Japan]
