Planet 9

**fondueski** · #1 06-24-2007, 08:36 PM

This console has been sold out for weeks now. Evidently MSFT originally said it would NOT be a limited edition version, but it sure seems like limited edition to someone trying to buy one

**Coupe-de-Gras** · #2 06-24-2007, 10:45 PM

Try going to a relatively close neighboring city or to a different store that can grab stock from an entire region and pull it to your closest store, like CompUsa. BestBuy is another good shot. The only differences I think are:

1. Bigger HD 120GB vs 20GB

2. HDMI video out. That could make a big picture quality difference. Haven't seen one hooked up like that yet though.

3. Black color.

The bigger hard drive is very nice as xbox live now sells regular dvd and hd-dvd complete movie downloads through the marketplace in the media section. The prices are in Microsoft points with about 250 for a standard dvd and 2 to 5 times that for an hd-dvd one. The sizes are likewise as well, about 1.5 to 2.0 GB for a standard dvd and up to 7+ GB for an hd-dvd one.

**smounic** · #3 06-24-2007, 11:01 PM

I'm pretty certain that the hd can be upgraded very easily in the regular version if that is your biggest concern. As for HDMI, I think its way to buggy right now to use. I'll stick to component cables thank you.

Lastly, if you really want one try walmart. People rarely look there and you can usually find them.

**fondueski** · #4 06-25-2007, 01:40 AM

Thanks for the tips. I've had mixed HDMI results - DirecTV and DVD player good, cable box horrible. I'd like to at least give it a shot.

**K-Man S** · #5 06-25-2007, 08:32 AM

The HDMI on the Elite system works fine, but HDMI always depends on all the components you have in the stream so if you have say a receiver that is 1.2 HDMI but a BlueRay player that is 1.3, you'll lose the intervening functionality (if any that is important to you). Problem is that most vendors don't publish any specs on their HDMI implementation. I was in Best Buy the other day and asked about HDMI 1.3 recievers and they still didn't have a single one...

As far as image quality goes if you have a good component system the HDMI may not look any different or very slightly better which may depend more on the media/game you are watching than anything else.

What ticks me off is that Microsoft still hasn't allowed an HDMI cable to be sold separately for all the existing XBOX 360 owners wanting to use one. That is forcing people to buy the Elite system if they want HDMI currently.

**Swancoat** · #6 06-25-2007, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by K-Man S

The HDMI on the Elite system works fine, but HDMI always depends on all the components you have in the stream so if you have say a receiver that is 1.2 HDMI but a BlueRay player that is 1.3, you'll lose the intervening functionality (if any that is important to you). Problem is that most vendors don't publish any specs on their HDMI implementation. I was in Best Buy the other day and asked about HDMI 1.3 recievers and they still didn't have a single one...

As far as image quality goes if you have a good component system the HDMI may not look any different or very slightly better which may depend more on the media/game you are watching than anything else.

What ticks me off is that Microsoft still hasn't allowed an HDMI cable to be sold separately for all the existing XBOX 360 owners wanting to use one. That is forcing people to buy the Elite system if they want HDMI currently.

To be fair, the HDMI implementation on the 360 Elite is an entire different port - not just a different AV cable. The regular 360 just doesn't have that port.

Seems like that current AV port is not HDMI capable by design, so there had to be a psuedo-major revision to add that in.

**K-Man S** · #7 06-25-2007, 09:22 AM

That sux, I thought it was just a different AV cable ending in HDMI as opposed to component? That's what an article I read made it appear to be, but if it is something completely different then yeah that does kinda screw existing Xbox 360 owners unless there is an upgrade path.

I was just thinking the other day how video game makers lose money on hardware anyway that if they made their consoles plug-n-play upgradeable for things like processor, graphics, a/v connections, etc. with a core architecture that they could get existing console owners to continue to spend money on hardware too as opposed to just software alone...

**Swancoat** · #8 06-25-2007, 09:45 AM

Yeah, the Elite has the AV port like the regular 360 and then the HDMI port is separate, right below that.

The real question is why on earth they wouldn't add HDMI support in it from the start? They HAD to know people were going to want it. It's been around for a while now. Is it cost prohibitive? (I understand when the consoles are sold at a loss, adding it extra features might seem hard to justify).

Anyway, I'm not generally a huge fan of MS, but I want to give them full props for my recent dealing with them.

My 360 recently cratered (The dreaded 3 red lights - hardware failure). Apparantly it's a well acknowledged problem - however my console is definitely out of warranty. Anyway - I called in, and without my asking, they offered to have it shipped to them, repaired and shipped back ALL AT THEIR COST. Very nice support.

**Coupe-de-Gras** · #9 06-25-2007, 01:25 PM

Well, the 120 GB hard drive is available from stores like BestBuy or CompUsa. Last week when I looked at BestBuy, the price was $179 for that thing!?!?

**Chris S** · #10 06-25-2007, 02:18 PM

I have HDMI running from my PS3 and Dish HD-DVR to my Onkyo receiver, then to my Samsung DLP TV. It works perfect, no bugs. You do lose the picture momentarily when switching inputs, though, but no big deal there.

It was nice replacing the old spaghetti nest of wires w/ a few HDMI cables!

ecmazza · #11 06-25-2007, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by K-Man S

That sux, I thought it was just a different AV cable ending in HDMI as opposed to component? That's what an article I read made it appear to be, but if it is something completely different then yeah that does kinda screw existing Xbox 360 owners unless there is an upgrade path.

I was just thinking the other day how video game makers lose money on hardware anyway that if they made their consoles plug-n-play upgradeable for things like processor, graphics, a/v connections, etc. with a core architecture that they could get existing console owners to continue to spend money on hardware too as opposed to just software alone...

I just came across this from www.joystiq.com about a possible third-party HDMI solution for us non-elite 360 owners:

"Mod company XCM has reportedly created an HDMI cable for the regular, non-Elite white Xbox 360. According to the product page, the cable will allow you to output in 1080p. XCM told maxconsole that the product will be finished in about four weeks.

No details have been revealed as to how it will work, and if any modifications to the hardware will be necessary -- the above image is listed as conceptual, totally baffling our concept of reality. Our friends at Engadget reported when the Xbox 360 Elite came out that the visual upgrade is nigh discernible when using the HDMI cable, but we're betting someone will like the idea of using only one plug head as opposed to the five (three for video and two for audio) for component cables."

**smounic** · #12 06-25-2007, 06:09 PM

How about a hd for $89 and you follow the instructions here.

You could even go with a 250 gb hd for $239, but I'm not sure that the xbox360 will address more than 120 right now.

Originally Posted by Coupe-de-Gras

Well, the 120 GB hard drive is available from stores like BestBuy or CompUsa. Last week when I looked at BestBuy, the price was $179 for that thing!?!?

**SF Cfan** · #13 06-26-2007, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by ecmazza

I just came across this from Joystiq about a possible third-party HDMI solution for us non-elite 360 owners:

"Mod company XCM has reportedly created an HDMI cable for the regular, non-Elite white Xbox 360. According to the product page, the cable will allow you to output in 1080p. XCM told maxconsole that the product will be finished in about four weeks.

No details have been revealed as to how it will work, and if any modifications to the hardware will be necessary -- the above image is listed as conceptual, totally baffling our concept of reality. Our friends at Engadget reported when the Xbox 360 Elite came out that the visual upgrade is nigh discernible when using the HDMI cable, but we're betting someone will like the idea of using only one plug head as opposed to the five (three for video and two for audio) for component cables."

Interesting concept. Component video is an analog output (not that there is anything wrong with that). HDMI is all digital. Unless they have some really cool hardware mod in mind, a Digital-Analog-Digital signal path would predict no upgrade in picture quality. The reduction in the number of cables required to one would seem to be the primary benefit.

**fondueski** · #14 07-05-2007, 06:30 PM

Pickup up an Elite at Gamestop. Well worth the extra $80 in lack of cable clutter and a nice sized hard drive.

***TX-KmanS*** · #15 07-09-2007, 01:19 PM

Okay, after seeing all the pictures and the video mpollard posted today, I'm going to get an xbox 360 and forza 2 today. Admittedly I am not the biggest video game freak, but the Forza 2 game just looks too good to pass up. Any thing I should know about the game system before I make the purchase?

Any info would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks in advance

**K-Man S** · #16 07-09-2007, 01:51 PM

Get the Elite system if you can and if you like Black, otherwise a regular Xbox 360 can be found almost anywhere, get the one with the hard drive, NOT the "core" system. Get an extra rechargeable batter pack or two and the charging station and of course as many controllers as you need and you should be golden.

BTW Sony lowered the price on the PS3 by $100 today.

***TX-KmanS*** · #17 07-09-2007, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by K-Man S

Get the Elite system if you can and if you like Black, otherwise a regular Xbox 360 can be found almost anywhere, get the one with the hard drive, NOT the "core" system. Get an extra rechargeable batter pack or two and the charging station and of course as many controllers as you need and you should be golden.

BTW Sony lowered the price on the PS3 by $100 today.

Thanks, I called around already and I couldn't find anyone that has an Elite system. Looks like a regular Xbox 360 system it is. Once I'm up to 'speed' I'll see about joining the CC Forza Races.