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"excellent value...if you do it right..." on by svc4you
Pros: Quite a few upgrades from the Core system. If you plan it out right, you can end up spending way less than what they would have you believe. EVEN without having the hard drive.
Cons: the fact that it doesn't even come with the old 20GB HD is still a big detraction.
Summary: Bottom line, if you're smart, you can get this system and buy your upgrades on a website that rhymes with the word "Hay" and begins with an "E". You'll spend less than the upgraded versions and for most people this edition of the system will satisfy them completely.
Differences:
Arcade does NOT have: headset, network cable, HD, HDMI cord (only comes with standard)
source: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/compare101.htm?WT.svl=nav
Most of that can be bought online for pennies on the dollar.
Yes, the advantage of buying the mid-range 360 is that you don't have to go hunting for those accessories. And to be sure, looking at the specs, buying the Elite 360 just shows everyone how much of a sucker you are. For all of us penny-pinchers in these hard economic times, a little hunting may save you enough dough to buy some more 360 games... :-) -
"Perfect replacement for a dead xbox (RROD)" on by JD_Mortal
Pros: No money wasted buying another hard drive. Hard drives are cheap on ebay. Controller to replace worn old controller, if this is your second xbox. New ones come with internal memory, but external memory makes playing at a friends house convenient.
Cons: No hard drive, but that is insignificant for most casual players. That's about it.
Summary: The game works great, full resolution, on any screen. The games are better than other games previously stashed inside. Long-term playability, and generally fun.
Sure a hard drive would be nice. If you are a hard-core player, you already have one, because you just burned through your old x-box, and this is a full replacement. If you are a casual player, which a majority are, you will not understand what the fuss is all about. Delete old junk, and save new junk. Problem solved. (Like you are really going to go back and play that two year-old game that bored you after one week. Delete it, don't become a pack-rat unless you have the storage to waste.)
Seriously, most games only consume a few Kb of space. Only downloaded games, which require gigabytes of storage, will be a problem. If you can afford downloadable games, you can afford the unit with the hard drive. So, again, this is not even an issue.
This new version seems to run cooler, play faster, rarely hesitates, and seems to have a better power-supply.
I only wish that they sold a "Core Only" version. For those of us who don't need a power-supply, controller, or video-cables. I would rather have paid only $100 for a new box core. (Amazingly, that is how much they charge you to repair it, if it breaks. Funny, it would be cheaper for them to give us a new one, instead of fixing our old ones. By the way, fixing does nothing except extend the time before it breaks again. It will never be returned back to "Factory new", no matter what they replace inside. Old pats are old parts. Replace your tires, you don't have a new car... You just drive it until the alternator goes, or the transmission, or the AC.
I love this thing. It continues to take my abuse, and never cries.
I run full HDMI with a HDMI computer monitor at full 1920 x 1080 resolution. Playing Movie DVDs, Music MP3s, X-Box games, X-Box 360 games, and Photo CDs. The only thins I have not done, is to hook this up to my computer.
Yes, you can hook these up to your computer. (With a network-hub or port-switch and the network cables.)
For $20.00 you can get a 20GB drive on eBay, or at a pawn shop, or any other place that sells used electronics. It is a hard drive, it will outlive the game unit. -
"no need for hard drive with latest xbox update" on by sabre3901
Pros: Excellent deal. And now with the new xbox update you can use Flash usb drives. 16gig usb drive is approx $20 on amazon! Great deal.
Cons: What cons?
Summary: This is a great system with fantastic online gaming. Its only competition is Sony ps3 and with its constant game hacking/cheating and slow blueray drive its $200 down the drain. $30 for a years worth of xboxlive is worth it if only for the constant xboxlive updates.
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"The right way to go if you are smart" on by MalvernGasperon
Pros: I agree with svc4you' - for the uninitiated there are 2 current models Arcade and Elite - both are EXACTLY the same in terms of CPU/Performance/Outputs - the important bit. All you get extra on the Elite is a headset, network cable and hard drive .
Cons: This looks a poor deal on the face of it, no hard drive means a limited game and online experience or a hefty £65.00 kick for a new MSoft additional hard drive right? - Wrong! Read on for the smart choice
Summary: Why pay nearly double for an Elite when all 3 'extras' over an Arcade are readily available elsewhere? The network cable you can get from any PC shop. The headset you don't need for the vast majority of games and live experience - do you watch a DVD on TV with a headset on. No. MSoft are relying on the fact that they have monopolised the hard drive unit at an extravagant price to push you into the overly expensive Elite.
But wait -official 20GB MSoft 360 drives are readily available for very little money on eBay due to the fact that the original Premium model shipped with these before a 60GB upgrade was released (its still current in Jan 2010) - many people buy the upgrade and are then left with a useless, empty drive (wiped by MSoft in the data transfer process) .... but perfect, legal and built for the 360. Get one of these and your Arcade now performs exactly the same as an Elite. Is 20GB enough? Well unless you are planning to download a whole host of films and game demos (you always have the option to delete these individually anyway) you wont fill it up anytime soon.
But it gets better - because the Arcade is poorly presented by dealers directed to push the expensive Elite there are lots of offers and bundles available to try and shift them. Right now in the UK (Amazon) you can get a second new controller and 3 new games FREE on a new Arcade that is already reduced by 15% in the sales.... £100 worth of extras!
Add £20 for a used 20GB HDD on ebay, £3.5 for a patch cable and you have a system as good in terms of performance and experience as the Elite.
This IS the smart choice with just a little bit of extra effort. -
"Terrible garbage console" on by moneyrules
Pros: Nothing it has no wifi bluray and you have to pay to play online
Cons: BROKE DOWN 6 times! Games suck
Summary: Not worth the money
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