On April 29, Microsoft released a new version of the Xbox 360, a limited edition version of the 360 with a black finish, an HDMI port, a 120-gigabyte hard drive, and a wireless controller and headset.
Earlier this year, a prototype of the Xbox 360 Elite was leaked out on the internet, codenamed “Zephyr.”
The new hardware of the Xbox 306 Elite seems to be a response to Sony including HDMI ports on both versions of their PS3. Microsoft didn’t include one of the ports on either of their previous versions of the 360, and Sony reported before their system launched that only their premium PS3 would have HDMI.
Microsoft is also charging a premium price, $479, which is still $120 cheaper than the PS3, since Sony has discontinued the 20-gigabyte $499 “budget version” because consumers weren’t buying them. Although the 360 Elite is a limited quantity release, the hardware configuration will be incorporated to the “premium” version after the Elite has sold out.
There is only one problem that has been around since the 360 was released: the absence of a WiFi capability. To many consumers, this setback will be inexcusable due to the fact that both Sony’s PS3 and Nintendo’s Wii have WiFi capabilities right out of the box, as well as handheld systems like the DS and the PSP.
Despite the flaw in the 360’s design, the Elite is definitely the way to go if you do not currently have a 360 and have been considering buying one. For those of you who already have one, you will not be able to get an HDMI port, but the 120-gigabyte hard drive will be sold separately.
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