Which Xbox 360 is the best for me?

Jeff Bakalar, Assistant Editor April 6, 2009

So you've looked at the Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360 and decided that the Microsoft console is the right one for you. Now the question is--which 360? There are three models to choose from:

• Xbox 360 Core System ($300): Avoid this one like the plague. It doesn't include a hard drive, and once you shell out the money to buy one--$100 for the 20GB model, or $180 for the 120GB model--you'll already be paying as much as the step-up models, each of which also include a headset and a wireless controller.
• Xbox 360 Premium [20GB] ($400): This model lacks the larger hard drive and HDMI output of its big brother. But if you don't plan on downloading a lot of game demos, movies, and TV shows from the Xbox Live Marketplace and you don't require 1080p or HDMI video output, this model is just fine.
• Xbox 360 Elite [120GB] ($480): The newest member of the 360 family includes a much larger hard drive, HDMI output, and a stylish black color scheme. While we wished it offered some more substantive upgrades, it's the best option for first-time 360 buyers--especially those who are interested in viewing movies and TV shows on their 360--but anyone who already owns the 20GB model (above) needn't feel pressured to upgrade.