Sixteen months after the release of its Xbox 360, Microsoft Corp. is unveiling a $480 "elite" version of its next-generation console April 29 that will come with a 120GB hard drive and cables for HD hookups. This is a new SKU in our lineup," Albert Penello, director of global platform marketing for Xbox, said of the Xbox 360 Elite. "As we introduce the larger hard drive, new people can make a choice. http://uk.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUKN2724344720070328?pageNumber=1

$180 for the 120GB drive seperately, or $80 extra dollars for the HD included (which is only 100GB extra) and a $10-20 cable? Holy crap, who is sucking the money out now? I could get at least a 2 to 1 ratio Gigabytes per dollar for my PS3 by buying a simple notebook drive. Microsoft is ridiculous. Do they make some super hard drive that is better than everyone else? PC hard drives give a 3 to 1 ratio now on gigabytes per dollar.

Here's even more info, apparently the Elite will not be a limited edition console, but it will only be sold in NA at first. http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2007/03/confirmation_microsoft_unveils_xbox_360_elite.html

120GB HD for the PS3: http://castle.pricewatch.com/s/search.asp?s=120gb&group1=2&sci=101&c=Notebook+Drives&i=&srt=t&mi=0&m=&view=

I will say this, though: it's a great move by microsoft because now they can say they have something that PS3 doesn't with the built-in boxes and still be a whole $20 cheaper. They also get a lot more money for the deal than they should.

i guess $180 isn't that bad if you're a Core owner? Basically you can upgrade to elite sans HDMI. i still don't get it tho. Why charge that much?

Heh, fair enough Kwaad, but I was not wrong. I said I can upgrade with a notebook drive. However, thanks for that info. I do like the fact that nothing sticks out of the PS3, though, such as the 360's power brick and their optional wireless router. I find it cute that microsoft opted for the PS2/3 black color as well, even if the original xbox was also black. Let's say you do go for the $80 notebook drive, though, so it does fit: $500+$80+$20 for cable and it's again $600. $700 for premium, 60 extra gigs (included HD), wireless inside, and card readers. Anyway, $480 vs$600 with an extra $20 GB hard drive and a blu-ray player...oh, and games on blu-ray which you know will matter for final fantasy games and such (N64 didn't have enough space for their RPGs, and despite every single square game being on nintendo before they went to playstation), oh, and free online play. Sony needs to release a statement about the upgradeability of the PS3. Microsoft keeps harping on these "choices" but they offer more expensive choices in Live and a $180 for 120GB (only $80 if you are buying new, which is only equal to the PS3's notebook drive possibility which gives you all the choices of notebook drives). At least $200 for an hd-dvd add-on is fair, even if it made the 360 cost the same as the PS3 ($500 and $600). Now, with the hd-dvd add-on, it's $680 versus the $600 of the 20GB PS3 with an upgraded HD (120GB) and an HDMI cable. Wow, a whole $20 saved from the previous difference. Except, wait, with that extra $20 I have myself an extra 20GB hard drive. So...$14 saved?

I don't really know if Microsoft's plan for doing this is all that sound. The system has just become 20 dollars less than the $500 PS3. Aesthetics aside (it does look better than the cream IMO) they boosted the hard drive substantially...and besides the HDMI cable (which you can find on the cheap)...those are the only "major" differences. (Did I miss anything?) If one were to buy the PS3 they would have an arguably stronger powered system and BluRay capability (both games and movies) for $20 dollars more. And ALSO isn't Microsoft going down the same path Sony originally did when it came to their multiple skus??? Now the $300/$400 dollar system is sans HDMI, which, back in the day, the $500 PS3 was minus (thankfully they changed that debacle). I think this starts to minimize the 360's advantage over the PS3 (it's all about the $$$). Now if Microsoft were to throw HDMI in the $300 and $400 they might be on to something. Oh well my thoughts.

I don't think its a bad move - as its about choice. Having another (extra) skew can't be that bad - some people want to blow MORE money, and this may tempt them instead of a PS3.