Xbox 360 Elite Price Drop $299, No HD Cables
I’m sure this comes as no surprise to anyone but I guess you can consider it official now. Microsoft has reduced the price of the Xbox 360 Elite from $399 to $299 effective on Friday, August 28.
That’s an attractive price but if you dig deeper into the new Xbox 360 Elite packaging, you’ll notice that the console is shipped with composite cables only now. High definition say what? I remember when Sony made the mistake of not including HD cables (HDMI or component), many considered it stupid to say you delivered an HD experience. Microsoft actually went on the offensive saying that the Xbox 360 was the only console that delivered an HD experience right out of the box. I guess they can no longer make that claim but I suppose being like Sony in this case is win?
Who knows the reason behind stripping the console of HD cables? I think it’s pretty ridiculous actually. There are consumers out there who know little about cables and will assume a composite connection is the best the Xbox 360 can offer. They’ll go on enjoying an experience that is far from high definition. You can blame the consumer sure but the added confusion of stripping cables isn’t much help.
On the other hand, I doubt many people even use an HDMI connection or component one so this may not mean anything in the end. Yes, believe it or not people know very little about this kind of stuff.
Fear not though fellow high definition freaks because I’m here to let you know that you can get some great deals on HDMI cables at www.monoprice.com. You shouldn’t have to but I figured I would pass on the information so that you can enjoy an HD experience with your new Xbox 360 Elite.
August 27th, 2009 at 8:50 am
I think they should have kept the pro. Keep the same prices, but give the pro the 120GB hard drive and give the Elite a 250GB hard drive. Give people the option to get a bigger hard drive.
August 27th, 2009 at 8:55 am
This won’t make a difference sadly, especially with no video wires, that’s just bad. The PS3 Slim at $299 is the better deal by far.
August 27th, 2009 at 9:40 am
No HD cables at all? I guess it won’t make a difference to many people. Just us hardcore gamers will notice. I hope this is signaling a drop in hard drive prices.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:16 am
“This won’t make a difference sadly, especially with no video wires, that’s just bad. The PS3 Slim at $299 is the better deal by far”.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:24 am
http://www.firefold.com/HDMI-to-HDMI-Cables-C485.aspx here is a link to quality hdmi cables, I use these with very little signal difference between big name cables, oh btw i got a 3 pak of 3ft hdmi chords for less than 8 dollars. I guess 306.50 versus 299 may be the difference maker for a few of you…..
August 27th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Pilex, you, I and everyone here knows HDMI wires can be had for cheap. But I think there are plenty of gamers who see not including the wires as a sort of cop out. After all, when the systems first came out and Sony didn’t have wires every Microsoft gamer and even Microsoft, commented on that sole fact. Now Microsoft is doing it.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Read the fanboy CORDERO’s post – http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=25010#comments
August 27th, 2009 at 11:17 am
I hear ya BPD, I just have never really bought into the whole war issue, now that ps3 is 299 i will own both etc. it’s just more marketing for each side when we beef with each other. It is all a ploy truthfully, the chord doesn’t cost them enough to actually leave it out for any other reason than to see people argue about it generating buzz.
August 27th, 2009 at 11:24 am
The LEAST they could have done was include component cables. Even so, I had a friend who used the component cables but didn’t switch the switch to “HDTV” so he was looking at a 480i picture for months. When I switched it to the 720p native for his TV, he couldn’t believe the difference it made. Imagine how many other people are doing that out there…
August 27th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Urgh why do they have to be that annoying like Sony?? The reason is probably so they can rob even more people of their money, by charging for even more accessories that should be standard with the console. FTEL Microsoft… FTEL!!!
August 27th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
TYS!
August 27th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
FTEL? Someone please explain.
August 27th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
For The Epic Loss, as opposed to For The Epic Win
August 27th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
It’s actually worse than what Sony did… Microsoft is taking HD cables out, when Sony never included them in the first place. = Microsoft should know better by now based on the dislike Sony got for doing something so stupid, yet Microsoft does it anyway… That’s worse!
August 27th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Yeah I completely agree
August 27th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Also like Deac said, “Microsoft actually went on the offensive saying that the Xbox 360 was the only console that delivered an HD experience right out of the box.” = That now makes them hypocrites!
August 27th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
I will wait for the 120Gig ELITE SKU to drop to $199.99 before I ever consider buying another 360… I wonder what that Future ELITE 250Gig SKU will cost?
August 27th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
I don’t care WHY they got it right. The point is that they did. And perhaps that factored into the Wiis design. Well, guess what, its the number one system now, so maybe that was a smart move. The thing that bothers me most about Sony is that they PROMISED full back compat from the beginning. Then they changed their minds. Super lame.
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:19 pm
No matter what they will have to drop the price to around $125 to make the deal as good as mine, I got my arcade and 60 gig HDD at Circiut City for $125 when they were going out of business.