OK, enough talk, now it's time to 'Rock The Vote'

[Ty]

Dropped out. Just going to wait and see. Might not have any killer Apps at launch anyhow (like many/most console launches) therefore I doubt I'll be missing out on anything.

I'll probably get the Premium version though if I do eventually buy. The price difference is simply too great and though most of that crap that comes extra is crap (Component cable? Does this have a propriatery connection? If not, I bet it's no different than a crap $6 cable from Rat Shack) I'd spend the extra bucks just to have it.

 

[V3]

I would've preferred the barebones version and ugraded as necessary, but looking at the prices for the upgrades, it just makes more sense to get the premium version. I will probably wait until December to get one though.

MS is using a cheap tactics, they price all the upgrade to make the premium looks cheap. This is marketing 101. Even the core pack is priced to make the premium looks cheap. (The core pack should have been $199 to begin with, for what you are getting, which practically no more than a Dreamcast, if you look at their respective time slot)

They got nothing to lose and everything to gain (since they are the first this time around, ie no direct competition) and they will be supply limited for the first few months. Its just that the way they price those upgrades, makes it so bluntantly obvious what they're trying to do. Its like they are insulting you.

That said I am getting the core pack with no game and nothing else. Just to complete my console collection. I was going to get some games earlier, but not bundling the HD AV cable with the core pack, is like spitting at me while they are insulting me with those upgrade prices at the same time. I can live with no Hdd and wired controller, but HD console with HD AV cable as an extra premium is a big WTF.

 

[PC-Engine]

MS is using a cheap tactics, they price all the upgrade to make the premium looks cheap. This is marketing 101. Even the core pack is priced to make the premium looks cheap. (The core pack should have been $199 to begin with, for what you are getting, which practically no more than a Dreamcast, if you look at their respective time slot)

They got nothing to lose and everything to gain (since they are the first this time around, ie no direct competition) and they will be supply limited for the first few months. Its just that the way they price those upgrades, makes it so bluntantly obvious what they're trying to do. Its like they are insulting you.

That said I am getting the core pack with no game and nothing else. Just to complete my console collection. I was going to get some games earlier, but not bundling the HD AV cable with the core pack, is like spitting at me while they are insulting me with those upgrade prices at the same time. I can live with no Hdd and wired controller, but HD console with HD AV cable as an extra premium is a big WTF.

Look dude I'm not stupid and you gotta be f*king kidding about selling a Xbox 360 for $199 because it's essentially a DC.

Even without a HDD and no wireless controller, it's still worth $300 just like the PS2 was when it came out. I'm not being fooled by anyone. MS lost a buttload of money on the Xbox because of the standard HDD.

You have to buy 12$ battery pack , 29.99 $ charger kit or spend a fortune on batterys .

You can buy a 2 pack of 2500mAh AAs for $5. You also don't need the charger kit. You can buy a $10 charger at Best Buy. How do you think I've been using my Wavebird?

 

[rabidrabbit]

As the High Definition is not yet more common than standard def, it's no surprise the core package includes a cable that makes it possible to connect the xbox360 to any television that was manufactured in the 90's until today.
If the core pack had only a HD cable, then those majority who have no HD TV would be even more pissed off.

Including two cables (HD and SD) in the core would not have made marketing sense.
The core package is just that, the basic gear that is guaranteed to work out of the box in most peoples homes. The more expensive package is targeted more towards hc gamers who know if they realy need the HD cables and hard disk and extra multimedia features.

It should not be expected that a manufacturer would bundle a non standard cable with a gear it hopes to sell to the mainstream customer.

Edit: I do agree though that MS has gone a bit too far with accessorizing and the pricing of some of the gear.
Heh, at least that should guarantee MS some more shelf space and visibility in stores... for a while at least

 

[V3]

Look dude I'm not stupid and you gotta be f*king kidding about selling a Xbox 360 for $199 because it's essentially a DC.

The core pack for $199. Which is barebone than you can upgrade with those prices.

You yourself said

I would've preferred the barebones version and ugraded as necessary, but looking at the prices for the upgrades, it just makes more sense to get the premium version. I will probably wait until December to get one though.

If the core pack is $199, you can upgrade as necessary without the need of premium version.

 

[Sean*O]

Cancelling my pre-order tomorrow. The marketing of the 360 has turned out to be questionable at best in my eyes.

The HDD issue really gets to me. MS never hinted that they were going to launch 2 versions until now. I think the massive pre-orders went to their collective head.

Hopefully, massive pre-order cancellations will make them re-think their strategy.

 

[AlphaWolf]

(The core pack should have been $199 to begin with, for what you are getting, which practically no more than a Dreamcast, if you look at their respective time slot)

If it were 1998 and the Xbox360 could only push 3 million triangles, I am sure it would only cost $199.

 

[PC-Engine]

The core pack for $199. Which is barebone than you can upgrade with those prices.

You yourself said

If the core pack is $199, you can upgrade as necessary without the need of premium version.

What are you talking about? I never said if the core pack was $199

I don't have a problem with the Xbox being $300 without a HDD. I DO have a problem with the HDD upgrade being $100 since I was expecting the HDD addon would be around $50/$60.

 

[Acert93]

$199? No way.

http://www.beyond3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22751&page=2

1. The console is expensive to make. 512MB memory, 332M transistor GPU (X800 = 160M), 3 core PPC CPU, controller, power supply, case/cooling/hsf, wireless controller support, ethernet port, usb ports. Your talking about a GPU BIGGER than the 7800GTX and 2x the memory and that retails for $600! The 360 has its own power and CPU and so forth and is being sold for half that!

2. The accessories (retail value of $200) included with the Premium SKU for an extra $100 probably cost MS less than $65 and are therefore making some money on the deal (and cutting out retailers!)

It is really clear they are throwing in a ton of cheap accessories to sweeten the pot. Accessories are a HUGE source of profit for console makers because they are cheap to make and sell at good margins for both them and the retailer.

$199? That deserves a big

 

[V3]

As the High Definition is not yet more common than standard def, it's no surprise the core package includes a cable that makes it possible to connect the xbox360 to any television that was manufactured in the 90's until today.

Both the AV cable should be there the standard and the HD version. Its a HD console afterall, it doesn't matter if people that buy it doesn't have HDTV, its not MS problem, from their point of view, IF they have given both cables. Than X360 is HD console.

Including two cables (HD and SD) in the core would not have made marketing sense. The core package is just that, the basic gear that is guaranteed to work out of the box in most peoples homes. The more expensive package is targeted more towards hc gamers who know if they realy need the HD cables and hard disk and extra multimedia features.

Yeah but they market X360 as HD console, if they didn't I would be fine with just standard AV cable.

It should not be expected that a manufacturer would bundle a non standard cable with a gear it hopes to sell to the mainstream customer.

Its a standard cable for HD console though. The non standard one would the standard AV cable (which should be dirt cheap anyway.)

 

[V3]

What are you talking about? I never said if the core pack was $199

You didn't, I said the core pack should be $199.

I don't have a problem with the Xbox being $300 without a HDD. I DO have a problem with the HDD being $100.

What I am saying is if X360 is $199, the $100 Hdd would be more bearable.

Core pack $199.
Premium pack $399. (Become non official SKU, perhaps store deal)

Than you can get $199 barebone and upgrade later as you need even if the Hdd is $100. Without the premium pack making those upgrade looking expensive.

 

[PC-Engine]

Than you can get $199 barebone and upgrade later as you need even if the Hdd is $100. Without the premium pack making those upgrade looking expensive.

Everyone is laughing at your $199 barebone suggestion you know why? Because it's a fantasy. Don't you own a business or something?

 

[Uncle]

I'm not yet 100% sure which one I'll get, but I'm kinda leaning towards the core system because it would seem that I don't need the accessories in the more expensive version. You can save to an external USB HDD, can't you? If not, then I'm getting the premium version (which I think is cheap considering I went and spent 500€ on a PS2 and Xbox ). I need a bit more info before I make decision (e.g does the X360 HDD enhance your games by faster loading etc).

 

[jvd]

there is no word on if u can save to an external hardrive. No one knows

 

[V3]

Everyone is laughing at your $199 barebone suggestion you know why? Because it's a fantasy.

No more fantasy than most people $299 with Wireless and Hdd before this official price announcement. Its a suggestion with reasons. The price has been officially announced, and most likely won't change, I am just making a suggestion, that might be better for people like you.

Don't you own a business or something?

I do. But I am retired now. I am going to do some missionary work, fortune been good to me, so I am going to share them.

Look $199, is for people like you, so they can upgrade later without being overshadow by the premium pack. People will upgrade, and they'll make alot of money on those upgrade.

My assumption is there are actually alot more people like you, who wish for barebone and upgrade later compare to those who prepare to pay for premium. But currently the pricing structured is not conducive to that.

Also remember this is what MS wants the consumer to be able to do, mix and match. But their pricing structured overshadowed it for the Premium pack.

If it were me, I would just created 1 SKU with wireless controller, HD AV cable, Hdd, for $349. With Live Starter Kit on the side. But then again I want a standard, not people mix and matching the way MS wants it.

 

[rabidrabbit]

there is no word on if u can save to an external hardrive. No one knows

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox360/xbox360console.htm

Xbox 360â„¢ Hard Drive (20GB)
Save games and music, plus download new Xbox Live® content.

 

[PC-Engine]

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox360/xbox360console.htm

Um..jvd is talking about a HDD from your PC.

 

[jvd]

rabbit i'm responding to uncle who asked if u can save to an external usb hdd . The hardrive ms sells is of course ms's and i wouldn't expect not to. However u don't know what they wont allow

 

[rabidrabbit]

oh, ok. I don't think you'd be able to save to an external usb HDD.

I don't think you'd even be able to transfer files between an usb mass storage device and xbox360 either. I wouldn't be surprised if you'd be able to use the usb mass storage device only for "streaming" data from the usbmsd.

Being able to save to an external usb hdd would go against the MS policy that all xbox360 peripherals must be "MS approved".
Any usb stick could then replace the MS (approved) memory cards.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Still getting ONE at launch, but the announcement killed off my plans for two... and now I just read in my xbox 360 training stuff, that the damn remote that comes with the premium package is NOT the full version remote...nickel and diming, nickel and diming...DAMN!

That was some of the most painful marketting speak I've come across in a while. Apart from the repetitions, I love that idea that leaving out many components and charging an arm and a leg for them is supposed to be 'empowering' users to upgrade!