Well, the HD-DVD player is seperate from the actual 'video game system' aspect. If you want to play HD-DVDs, great, but if not you can skip it and chop that $179 off the price.
Still, this is pretty much the same total you get for any of the next-gen systems. Even the Wii winds up nearly that high when you factor in that the controllers have multiple attachments to buy (most people will want the Wii-mote and nunchuck at least), and then for all the party games they have you'll probably want 4 of them.
You can always knock off almost $200 by forgoing the HD-DVD add on. With how fast prices in that format are plummeting you'll be able to get a standalone player for not much more in a year or so, and head-to-head a first generation Toshiba player kicked the crap out of the X-Box HD-DVD. I had a friend who swore by his X-Box return it once he could get a good deal on the Toshiba.
That is, I'm guessing they still use VGA for the HD. If not, then I would be less sure of the difference in quality.
Originally posted by Guru ZimElite - $449 Wireless - $99 Second Controller - $49 Used copy of Overlord - $50 HD-DVD - $179
It was right around $820 or so when I was done pricing it.
Who in their right mind is paying this much for a video game system?
Well I wouldn't bother with the wireless adapter, it's next to nothing to just run a CAT5 cable. The Elite is nice, but not a need as the $350 system is almost as good considering it's now shipping with HDMI as well so the bigger hard drive is the only real difference. And as was said, I don't think anyone is buying the HD-DVD add-on anyway. No point.
So yeah, not cheap, but system, extra controller and at least one game would be under $500.
I guess I've been spoiled by the Wii. You almost never need the Nun-Chuk it seems. The wireless was built in, and I just assumed it would be on the Elite 360 - I can't believe that's an extra $100. I'm not running Cat 5 through my house just for this, everything else is wireless now (2 TiVos, Wii, laptops, etc) so it's not something I'm gonna switch on now.
Ugh. I could see myself dropping even $500 on a system but not $800. That's sick.
//edit: I mean I just bought a 94 F250 for $1300. A truck and a game console shouldn't be remotely near the same price.
Originally posted by Guru ZimI guess I've been spoiled by the Wii. You almost never need the Nun-Chuk it seems. The wireless was built in, and I just assumed it would be on the Elite 360 - I can't believe that's an extra $100. I'm not running Cat 5 through my house just for this, everything else is wireless now (2 TiVos, Wii, laptops, etc) so it's not something I'm gonna switch on now.
Ugh. I could see myself dropping even $500 on a system but not $800. That's sick.
//edit: I mean I just bought a 94 F250 for $1300. A truck and a game console shouldn't be remotely near the same price.
(edited by Guru Zim on 30.8.07 1645)
I can see what you're saying, but running cable is just so easy most of the time I do it even when it's not needed. Signal strength, random drops, and speed just make me feel the need to do it. Plus since most of us have our devices all near the TV, you can run just one drop and hook everything up through a switch. And even if you have multiple places like me, there's always a phone/cable wire you can tie a string on and pull up/down then back with the attached Cat5 for an easy install.
Originally posted by AlexThe prices for accessories border on criminal. Micro$oft!
(edited by Alex on 31.8.07 1108)
Eh, it's not just Microsoft. Price out an extra Wiimote and nunchuck. It ain't cheap.
Zeruel, he meant that they have, without really making major note of it, adapted the 20GB system to have an HDMI port on the back that it did not have at launch. That was a big selling point of the newer black Elite system, plus the bigger hard drive. So now it's just the hard drive. I don't believe it comes with a cable, but like you said they come pretty cheap now. `
komarkaze, you can use a bridge but many routers I've found either lack the ability or can only do it with the same brand. Not sure why this has been so limited in the past but to go that route you need to do some research first into what your router can do.
Ok, wait a sec. I'm an I.T. guy and I have no idea what you are talking about.
I have a wireless router upstairs. I just need a NIC for the X-box. The guys I spoke with at the game store said there wasn't a third party option - the only wireless adaptor was the $99 Microsoft one. Is this wrong? I guess I can google it.
I don't know how important the 100gb on the Xbox HD is. From what I understand, that's how you play the old Xbox games, you get a profile or something on the HD for each game you want to play. Is that it? Other than that, 20 gb should be fine for save files and I don't see myself downloading large demos, so maybe I should just go with the cheaper unit?
Honestly, I had assumed the Elite came with the HD-DVD drive just from the name, I was surprised to see that it was such a lame package.
Really, if you're looking for a hi-def media center thingy, I'd go with the PS3. For $500 you get Blu Ray movies, Wi-Fi, and 60 GB of hard drive space right out of the box. The Sixaxis controllers cost 50 dollars apiece, but you also don't have to buy a battery pack seperately like you do for the 360 controllers.
Originally posted by Guru ZimOk, wait a sec. I'm an I.T. guy and I have no idea what you are talking about.
I have a wireless router upstairs. I just need a NIC for the X-box. The guys I spoke with at the game store said there wasn't a third party option - the only wireless adaptor was the $99 Microsoft one. Is this wrong? I guess I can google it.
I don't know how important the 100gb on the Xbox HD is. From what I understand, that's how you play the old Xbox games, you get a profile or something on the HD for each game you want to play. Is that it? Other than that, 20 gb should be fine for save files and I don't see myself downloading large demos, so maybe I should just go with the cheaper unit?
Honestly, I had assumed the Elite came with the HD-DVD drive just from the name, I was surprised to see that it was such a lame package.
No, you can use anything you want for the connection. The 360 has a network cable jack on the back. Doesn't matter how you get it a connection, just get it one. Use an access point in bridge mode if you can, or you can buy a third party "Wireless Gaming Adapter". Granted the ones tabbed as gaming adapter by like Linksys still tend to be pricey for what they are, but like I said if you can get a bridge working it's likely cheaper anyway. I set my nephews up with a third party adapter and it works fine. I ran a cable for mine and it works better, but in the past I did have a bridge setup.
Honestly I kinda wish I had the bigger hard drive, but not that badly. I'm pretty sure people have figured out how to replace the drive with one of your chosing anyway(though not positive). I like being able to get demos more than I thought I would, but there isn't much point in keeping them after you try the game so space hasn't been an issue. If you got into downloading movies and tv shows, then maybe but I can't see a reason to do that. You are right about needing the drive to play old Xbox games. It has to download a file for each. Also game updates like new levels or items are done this way too.
I can confrim the 360 will run fine over a wireless bridge. Whoever gave you the idea that it will only run over the Microsoft adaptor is either misguided, or trying to fleece you.
Being an IT guy you should know not to trust the guys in the local game shop before you've done your own research...
Nothing better then making a Game store employee look foolish when he uses his baised opinions...
Originally posted by Guru Zim Ok, wait a sec. I'm an I.T. guy and I have no idea what you are talking about.
I have a wireless router upstairs. I just need a NIC for the X-box. The guys I spoke with at the game store said there wasn't a third party option - the only wireless adaptor was the $99 Microsoft one. Is this wrong? I guess I can google it.
It has a NIC. "Built-in Ethernet Port". That's how it does the whole on-line with X-box Live! thing.
When the guy at the store told you there's only one wireless adapter available and it's from Microsoft, he was speaking the truth, I'm sure. The Microsoft wireless adapter is a USB device. But if you've got a wired ethernet port, you can buy one of many available wireless bridge devices that plug into your ethernet port on your device and obtain a wireless connection.
Mind you, most of the wireless bridges you'll find online cost the same $80 - $100 that the Microsoft Wireless adapter costs, but if you can grab an older Linksys WRT54G, you can get wireless bridge functionality with firmwares like DD-WRT.
I'm more concerned that you're a self-professed I.T. guy who runs his entire home network wirelessly. For shame
Originally posted by AlexReally, if you're looking for a hi-def media center thingy, I'd go with the PS3. For $500 you get Blu Ray movies, Wi-Fi, and 60 GB of hard drive space right out of the box. The Sixaxis controllers cost 50 dollars apiece, but you also don't have to buy a battery pack seperately like you do for the 360 controllers.
All fantastic points, but with one problem... there are maybe one or two games that are worth buying right now for PS3 that cannot be purchased on the 360.
"What you don't understand, you can make mean anything." -Palahniuk
You can check out this link for a little more info about wireless bridges. There is only one official wireless adapter for 360, but I have heard some people using Airport Express with it. I personally use an ethernet cable just because it's more convenient for me.
This was posted by me just under two years ago: Note: I was already berated several times for the Rock/Shoulderbreak thing. I have been dully informed. Anyway, I think we can all trace the Smackdown/RPG idea right back here to me.