Microsoft shoots self in foot (IMO)

[Sebastian]

According to GI, the rumors are all true: The new Xbox 360 has an HDMI port and will be bundled with an HDMI cable. It also sports a 120GB hard drive and a matte black housing and will come with a matching black controller. It will also be released in "late April"--much sooner than the rumored holiday launch.

That was the good news. The bad news is the console's reported price--a hefty $479, just $20 less than the 20GB PlayStation 3. But, unlike Sony's console, the new Xbox 360 won't support a next-generation video format. GI quotes a Microsoft rep as saying the format is "not proven." That fact was backed up by a recent report by industry-research firm Nielsen/Videoscan, which found the PS3-supported Blu-ray format is outselling HD-DVD two-to-one.

Article Here

I think it's bullshit that they upgrade their console while all of us who purchased the earlier versions are left out in the cold. What will be next, The inclusion of a HDDVD player? Also the price is freaking outrageous. Do they really think that people will buy this when they could buy a PS3 with a Blue Ray player for $20.00 more? GG Microsoft.

 

[Stigmata]

The price is ridiculous, but you DO know that the 360's hard drives can be switched out for higher-capacity ones, right?

 

[_Z_Ryuken]

You want them to send you a free HDMI cable or what?

 

[Sebastian]

You want them to send you a free HDMI cable or what?

No, its just that if they keep changing their console, there are going to be a shit load of unhappy customers. It wouldn't surprise me if down the road they decided to put in a hd-dvd player (which it would be stupid not to), and then the customers who bought this console would be shit out of luck. A good option would be a trade-in deal where you can send in your console and for $50.00 or so they would upgrade you to an ultra premium one.

 

[_Z_Ryuken]

A discount for current owners isn't a bad idea but good luck getting that to work.

 

[Dalamari]

They aren't making the current one obsolete, they've just got a new model

 

[giant384]

LOL its rather ironic this situation....this is turning into pc upgrades haha

 

[AmishSlayer]

I don't see much wrong with this...

This is just out there for HD fanatics or to entice more people to buy their first 360. It won't affect the games in any way.

MS is asking $80 more for 100 extra gigs of HD and HDMI support.

Why does this leave ANYBODY shit out of luck :|

 

[Gray Fox]

It kind of sucks for the early adapters, but the xbox 360 has some bad design flaws, and it's ok to fix them imo. The early adapters knew what they were getting into, when they bought it, there is no reason to make us suffer just because they accept it.

 

[Cole]

1.)IT'S A RUMOR. I am going to start a rumor about you running around in man thongs then say it's true. Is it true? No. The fact is until Microsoft confirms it, it's a rumor.


You think Sony is any better? European Ps3's are worse in terms of emulation(hardware changes!), and it costs more. A lot more. In fact if you use a different HDMI cable than Sony's Ps3 branded one(which you gotta pay for seperate I believe and costs $100), it VOIDS your Ps3 warranty. So when you throw in the HD-DVD player for the 360 and throw in the HDMI cable for the Ps3, the 360 is still $20 less.

Microsoft > Sony.

If you think this deal is a rip off your retarded. In the end this is not that bad of a deal. They are giving up a much larger hard drive along with an HDMI cable cheaper than it would be to buy them seperate. The HD crap? That breaks even due to the Ps3 not coming with an HDMI cable...furthermore breaks even because you wouldn't want to void your warranty on the Ps3 now would you?

 

[Qonfused]

This thread was about Microsoft only. Why did you mention Sony? Cue five pages of Sony bashing.

 

[Gray Fox]

1.)IT'S A RUMOR. I am going to start a rumor about you running around in man thongs then say it's true. Is it true? No. The fact is until Microsoft confirms it, it's a rumor.


You think Sony is any better? European Ps3's are worse in terms of emulation(hardware changes!), and it costs more. A lot more. In fact if you use a different HDMI cable than Sony's Ps3 branded one(which you gotta pay for seperate I believe and costs $100), it VOIDS your Ps3 warranty. So when you throw in the HD-DVD player for the 360 and throw in the HDMI cable for the Ps3, the 360 is still $20 less.

Microsoft > Sony.

If you think this deal is a rip off your retarded. In the end this is not that bad of a deal. They are giving up a much larger hard drive along with an HDMI cable cheaper than it would be to buy them seperate. The HD crap? That breaks even due to the Ps3 not coming with an HDMI cable...furthermore breaks even because you wouldn't want to void your warranty on the Ps3 now would you?

How would Sony know which cable u used, do the cables have some kind of chip with id that get's stored in the memory of the ps3 so they can check if you only used their cable or not.

As far as the BR is concerned, if you want hd the ps3 is still better simply because the fact that they include BR in all machines means that the games use it too, where as for ms you are only buying the HD addon for movies.

 

[IonizeMyAtoms]

I don't see much wrong with this...

This is just out there for HD fanatics or to entice more people to buy their first 360. It won't affect the games in any way.

MS is asking $80 more for 100 extra gigs of HD and HDMI support.

Why does this leave ANYBODY shit out of luck :|

Exactly.
It's in no way bad business sense to update a system, other than the slightly higher price tag.

 

[Cole]

As far as the BR is concerned, if you want hd the ps3 is still better simply because the fact that they include BR in all machines means that the games use it too, where as for ms you are only buying the HD addon for movies.

But do the games really need blu ray?

 

[smwScott]

How would Sony know which cable u used, do the cables have some kind of chip with id that get's stored in the memory of the ps3 so they can check if you only used their cable or not.

As far as the BR is concerned, if you want hd the ps3 is still better simply because the fact that they include BR in all machines means that the games use it too, where as for ms you are only buying the HD addon for movies.

They don't, and just to be safe you could switch them out for the composite cables that came with the system before you called tech support. The only thing that it effects is people who didn't know they weren't supposed to tell Sony they weren't using their cables. I use $6 HDMI cables from monoprice.com and it works great.

As for the PS3 being as bad as far as hardware changes ... it's not really a change. That's all the Europeans ever got in the first place, and that's all they're going to get it looks like. How the US/Jap PS3's are configured is really irrelevant. Not to mention that it looks like the Euro PS3's support pretty much every major PS2 game ever released ... something the 360 can't claim for X-BOX games.

As far as this change for the 360, I doubt it's true. MS can't possibly be that retarded. No one in their right mind would pay $480 for a 360 when they could get a PS3 with a Blu-Ray player for $500.

 

[Direwolf]

There hasn't actually been any advantage to the BluRay functionality yet, and whether it will make a difference outside of movie playback in the future is still in question. Playing HD movies is cool, but you're going to be paying for it and theres no garuntee that BluRay is really going to be the sucessor to DVD yet.

Also, the existence of this unit (codenamed the Zephyr) is one of the worst kept secrets in the industry right now, so we know it exists. Its the release date, exact specs, and price that haven't yet been confirmed.

 

[Stigmata]

If threads had soundtracks, this thread's would be the slow, falling whistle of a bomb.

 

[destrukt]

Wow, people are still ranting about new hardware coming out ? It happens with freaking everything from phones, to consoles to TVs, get over it you girl.

And no, they won't include HD-DVD as an internal drive.


No one is getting screwed over and how are people who've bought a 360 already out of luck ? You miss out, for the time being, if this is real, on HDMI (Wow, what a big loss) and a 120GB HDD (Which will be released separately later on, why do you think you can take the HDD on and off as you please ?).

 

[Iced_Eagle]

It's 80 bucks more and includes things which are non-essential.

120gb HDD - Nice, and perhaps needed if you really hit up the video marketplace, but otherwise just use the space on your current 20gb hdd wisely.

HDMI - I have it, but I don't care enough for it to make a difference... I'm also moving into an apartment in august where I probably won't have an HDTV sadly.

Quieter DVD Drive - It's been shipping on newer Xbox360's for a little while now.

65nm die reduction - Does anybody here REALLY care? "OMG I have a 90nm processor, I will not buy!"... Seriously, it's nice that it's a bit cooler and consumes a bit less power, but it's just that, a nicety.


I'm perfectly fine with my launch Xbox360... I don't know why some of you are bitching about this. New models always come out... Happens on every system going back to the Atari or such (though it obviously was just secretive under the hood changes).



Oh, and considering that most retailers are dropping the 20gb PS3 model, fairly soon the only option to get a PS3 will be ONLY $600, so it will be a $120 difference between this new Xbox360 and the PS3.


*Edit* Just read the current plans for this black X360 and it's more interesting now...

The black Xbox360 will be labeled as the Xbox 360 Elite, and everything (console, controller, headset) will be black. This will be sold for $480 and will only be made in limited quantities (few hundred thousand perhaps). Once the Elite sells out, then they will put the 120gb HDD and HDMI and such over into the white console with NO price increase, so it will be at $400. It will be replacing the Premium, and no idea on what will happen with core (if anything).

So essentially, early adoptors for this new Xbox360 get a black paint job and get to have all of the stuff right away, but will have to chuck up that extra $80 for it... Or else some of you can just wait until the Elite stops getting made and for it to be made into the new Premium system.

 

[Hypnosos]

Once the Elite sells out, then they will put the 120gb HDD and HDMI and such over into the white console with NO price increase, so it will be at $400.

No price increase? So why does early adopters have to pay to get a new harddrive? This is bullshit.

 

[destrukt]

No price increase? So why does early adopters have to pay to get a new harddrive? This is bullshit.

We don't even know the full details you over-assuming.. person.

Hell, we don't know even know if the whole Zephyr thing is real, you guys jump on any chance to mindlessly bash MS.

 

[VictimOfScience]

I could care less if this is true. As long as my (future) 360 won't overheat/fail when I play games like Mass Effect, Bioshock, Fable 2, etc, then I will be more than happy with it as is.

you guys jump on any chance to mindlessly bash MS.

Same can be said for even more folks vs. Sony on this forum. Both sides have had questionable launches, hardware issues, multiple pricepoints, lack of AAA games, etc etc etc. There's no good reason to bash any of them really. All of these problems are pretty darn commonplace in the world of console launches so people who get too miffed about this sh1t are proving themsleves to be quite the pack of R-tards.

 

[Kyorisu]

As for the PS3 being as bad as far as hardware changes ... it's not really a change. That's all the Europeans ever got in the first place, and that's all they're going to get it looks like. How the US/Jap PS3's are configured is really irrelevant. Not to mention that it looks like the Euro PS3's support pretty much every major PS2 game ever released ... something the 360 can't claim for X-BOX games.

Sure it's less a chip but it's still going to be the same thing. Much like the PS2 with PS1 emulation. As the software gets better the difference between those with the emotion chip and those without won't be there.

 

[Qonfused]

If threads had soundtracks, this thread's would be the slow, falling whistle of a bomb.

Indeed.

 

[dream431ca]

Now who thinks the PS3 is overpriced?? At least with the PS3 you get a built in Next generation video format player (blu-ray). So this means, if you want the black X360 and the HD-DVD, it will cost you about the same as the 60 Gig PS3. I think Microsoft is getting a bit weary.

 

[Cole]

So this means, if you want the black X360 and the HD-DVD, it will cost you about the same as the 60 Gig PS3.

That depends, are you willing to void your warranty on the Ps3? If your not, add $100 to the Ps3 cost for the HDMI cable.

 

[dream431ca]

That depends, are you willing to void your warranty on the Ps3? If your not, add $100 to the Ps3 cost for the HDMI cable.

I bought my HDMI cable for 20 dollars....there is an article out there that shows an 100 dollar HDMI cable is almost no different from a 6 dollar HDMI cable..all you get is better shielding...and that should not be a problem for the average home owner.

 

[Gray Fox]

That depends, are you willing to void your warranty on the Ps3? If your not, add $100 to the Ps3 cost for the HDMI cable.

It's already established that it doesn't matter since Sony can't find out what cable u used, unless you are dumb enough to tell them.

 

[Cole]

I bought my HDMI cable for 20 dollars....there is an article out there that shows an 100 dollar HDMI cable is almost no different from a 6 dollar HDMI cable..all you get is better shielding...and that should not be a problem for the average home owner.

Your touching on a different subject.

It's already established that it doesn't matter since Sony can't find out what cable u used, unless you are dumb enough to tell them.

Do you think the average person even knows about the HDMI kicker? No. You cannot just think in terms of what you know. But rather what the general population knows. Hell i'd be suprised if I could walk into my school and find more than 30 people who even know what HDMI is. Think for the general population, not the few smart people.

Also Sony could even ask for the receipt of the cable, or the cable itself if you want your Ps3 fixed.

 

[Gray Fox]

Wait don't you get a cable with your ps3?

 

[Iced_Eagle]

No, it gives you composite cables or whatever.

It's the typical Red, Yellow, White ones you also got with your PS1... HDMI cables not included.

Hypnosos: Because it's a limited edition black edition... If you don't want it, then just wait for the normal premium edition to come out a few months later. It's probably a way to start getting their factories prepared for the full blown ones and also see if people like the black xbox360.

 

[Direwolf]

Not the HDMI one. Its crazy, but its the way they've been doing it.

 

[smwScott]

That depends, are you willing to void your warranty on the Ps3? If your not, add $100 to the Ps3 cost for the HDMI cable.

That's retarded. I don't even think the Sony HDMI cables cost that much. Even if they did ... it's such a non-issue. I highly doubt it would even come up in a tech support conversation unless there actually was a problem with the cable you were using.

To bring a $400 360 up to the level of a $500 PS3 you'd need a Wi-Fi adapter ($100), a few years of X-BOX Live ($50/yr), HD-DVD Drive (was $200, recently dropped to $130), and you still don't get HDMI. Not to mention MS forces you to pay for proprietary hard-disk upgrades (of which none are currently available) while Sony let's you use generic drives. This mentality of nickel and diming the customers carries over to X-BOX Live where you have to pay for simple services like matchmaking and get berrated with cheap but usually ****ing worthless "microtransactions." They don't even let you buy things in actual dollar amounts like Sony but convert it to "Microsoft Points" so retarded people won't know how much money they're wasting.

You know what X-BOX Live reminds me of? ****ing AOL.

 

[Iced_Eagle]

Yea, but the point is, is that I don't want all that extra crap that Sony is forcing onto me.

I don't want Blu-Ray / HD-DVD.
I don't need a WiFi adapter
I don't need HDMI.
I don't need a bigger HDD right now.

Considering XBL is absolutely one of the best services out there, and you're comparing it to AOL, it clearly shows you're talking gibberish. I gladly pay $50 because I know the service will always be absolutely amazing... The PS Online system sucks hardcore... Yea it lets you play games for free, but the subtlety of the background matchmaking of XBL (TruSkill as it's called) is great because it helps level the playing field and makes it so I'm not getting my ass kicked every game I play because I'm playing with pro's.

Plus I get access to TV shows, movies, etc... In addition to kick-ass games in the XBLA (Worms! Woot!).

Honestly, Sony doesn't have the full package. They just don't seem to "click" with what we want now as consumers. They provide a baseline and very basic service, but that's not enough, especially to compete with XBL.