News

Comment by: 26r0cK (May 01, 2007 11:00)

wow another hardware change so soon? and i thought sony changing the ps3 from 60gb to 80gb was too fast. poor new elite owners. quickly get ur refund and wait for this if you just got yours. dont let MS get the most of ur $. :P

Comment by: AXT (May 01, 2007 11:08)

At least with the ps3 you don't have to spend $180 to update you hard drive. If you want you can go to the store and purchase any size laptop hard drive and stick it in there.

Comment by: aratsu (May 01, 2007 12:44)

ChromeMud, is there need to change PS3 cpu? No, there isnt, because PS3 doesnt overheat like 360. I dont say that Sony wont upgrade the PS3 someday, but its totally different thing to upgrade the hardware to better in performance than upgrade it because of overheating problems etc.

Comment by: ChromeMud (May 01, 2007 14:19)

Mine doesn't overheat and I've played it to death.
Three rings of death does exist but mine probably
wasn't made on a Friday.
Millions of 360 owners are not all getting overheating problems
so don't exaggerate the truth aratsu!

Comment by: handsom (May 01, 2007 14:22)

First off, this is absolutely *NOT* the place for 360 vs PS3 discussions. Not even remotely.

Secondly, as a 360 owner, you know-the one who bought those first overheating systems; I can honestly say that it comes down to one thing: Your own intelligence.

If you're going to buy a system that runs even $200, it just might be a good idea to get an extended warranty. If your system is three, four, five, or six hundred-You'd be stupid not to, especially in the first year of release. The longer the in-store warranty the better, if it's mail-in, it's valueless because it doesn't give you a new working system that day, does it?

That said, more recent 360's have been known to have less problems, it's the first few batches that were evil. The 65nm is simply a 'complete' fix to give almost(Nothing is certain for any hardware manufaturer... Ever) a garauntee that this overheating problem will go away entirely.

The 65nm has been known for over a year now. As someone looking to replace, I've been deliberately holding off until the 65's come out. If people "didn't know" it goes to show that they didn't really think out their investment too well; and considering the cost of the 360(or PS3) is so high, it's an investment that really should be thought out; and at least warrantied in-store for more than 90 days.

But those are conclusions I've come to the hard way over the years.

Comment by: ChromeMud (May 01, 2007 14:46)

Well,we could all wait 50 years and get a 5nm CPU that
relies on solar power and runs at sub zero temperature
but by that time I'd have arthritus and my eyes probably won't appreciate 1080p either.
People waiting a year later to get a cooler chip is fine but
when your mates are playing online for a year while your
twiddling your thumbs is a SAD place to be!

Comment by: ThaJazz (May 01, 2007 16:25)

i agree and when the new 65mm chipset comes out just wait a little while and turn your system in on the warrenty and get the new chipset.problem solved

Comment by: rihgt682 (May 01, 2007 16:40)

This is why it's good to wait about 2 and 1/2 yrs before buying new systems. Unless it's from nitendo. like wii.

Comment by: ZippyDSM (May 01, 2007 18:07)

I really hate the sloppiness of MS but when the new 360s have double 65NM cpus I will buy one.

Comment by: handsom (May 01, 2007 18:55)

@chromemud

Good point. Personally, I say if you've got the money and you're considering it, go for it; just make sure you get a warranty. You'll be glad you did(on the system, AND the in-store warranty). As long as you aren't modding your system, Gamestop offers a very good almost no questions asked warranty; I just wish they'd sell a LONGER one. I would be willing to pay double warranty for a two year on something that is four hundred or more, it's worth the peace of mind.

There are a wide selection of games for the system, something for everyone. And the online play cannot be surpassed(Sorry Sony; but you're a long way off, but the fact that you're free is really great; you're just not fleshed-out and 'connected' enough yet.)

Like I said, if you're waiting, don't. The major bulk of system death passed a while ago; but get a warranty to be safe, it just can't be stressed enough.

Comment by: ThaJazz (May 01, 2007 19:15)

[quote=handsom]@chromemud

Good point. Personally, I say if you've got the money and you're considering it, go for it; just make sure you get a warranty. You'll be glad you did(on the system, AND the in-store warranty). As long as you aren't modding your system, Gamestop offers a very good almost no questions asked warranty; I just wish they'd sell a LONGER one. I would be willing to pay double warranty for a two year on something that is four hundred or more, it's worth the peace of mind.

There are a wide selection of games for the system, something for everyone. And the online play cannot be surpassed(Sorry Sony; but you're a long way off, but the fact that you're free is really great; you're just not fleshed-out and 'connected' enough yet.)

Like I said, if you're waiting, don't. The major bulk of system death passed a while ago; but get a warranty to be safe, it just can't be stressed enough.[/quo


you can extend the gamestop warrenty this is how you do it when you turn in your 360.all you have to do is pay for a new warrenty on the new console.and that is all you have to do yes this way cost more than the ms warrenty but at least you know you are getting a new system not refurbished

Comment by: oofRome (May 01, 2007 22:48)

you know, it's not like the new 360's will be able to do anything that current 360's can't. besides run cooler. I don't see too much to be upset about.

Plus, "consoles getting hardware revisions" should't exactly surprise anyone. It always happens.

Comment by: ZippyDSM (May 01, 2007 22:54)

Originally posted by oofRome:

---

you know, it's not like the new 360's will be able to do anything that current 360's can't. besides run cooler. I don't see too much to be upset about.

Plus, "consoles getting hardware revisions" should't exactly surprise anyone. It always happens.

---

it effects the people that have the over heating 360s,all in all MS has handled all this sloppily....

Comment by: borhan9 (May 02, 2007 03:37)

This sounds like good news. In how in the long run its going to make it cheaper. But still i am not going to but Microsoft's console. I think they need to work on Vista's issues at hand first and then deal with consoles. In saying that Vista is not that bad if the user is somewhat knowledgable on how to fix or get around things.

Back to the consoles i would like to see what the difference would be besides the price as they say.

Comment by: ZippyDSM (May 02, 2007 03:52)

Originally posted by borhan9:

---

This sounds like good news. In how in the long run its going to make it cheaper. But still i am not going to but Microsoft's console. I think they need to work on Vista's issues at hand first and then deal with consoles. In saying that Vista is not that bad if the user is somewhat knowledgable on how to fix or get around things.

Back to the consoles i would like to see what the difference would be besides the price as they say.

---

meh is not like MS is going out of their way to fix "ME 2" and the 360.....

Comment by: handsom (May 02, 2007 14:38)

I'm not sure what is meant by the whole "ME 2" thing....

As for the prices, I think this will relate to a price drop on the systems a few months after they hit. It'd be really good if they dropped the price on the same day as the Halo 3 release. That would sell a lot more systems and games all around for M$.

Console revisions happen a lot. Hopefully just for things like cost efficiency, but sometimes for defects and problems, etc. Apparently everyone's forgotten the launches of the PS2 and the Dreamcast altogether as they complain that this sort of thing is unheard of, or some awful new thing. When you buy a console in the first year it's out, you get two things:

-Bragging rights
-A Potential Brick/headache

That's the risk you take. Considering the track record M$ had with the first xbox, they've done pretty well for themselves up until the 360 mess. Furthermore, M$ has made a LOT of effort to help people with these broken units, they extended warranties, use RMA's, and ship another system instead of making you wait for YOURS back. That's more than competitors have done in the past. Unless you are honestly expecting Gate$ to show up at your door, shake your hand and apologize while they set up your new system; you can't realistically ask much more from them as a company.

Did a lot of bad units go out? Yes.
Did M$ do something about it? Yes. More than their competitors/predecessors have in the past.

Sony refuses to help customers with problems like this until they are taken to court, and forced to do so. This has happened a few times.
Sega basically didn't even acknowledge that bad batch of Dreamcasts that were on our shelves opening day, they were nearly all returned and replaced with a swift second shipment Sega sent out. I think they knew, but wanted to say they shipped a larger number right away, lol.
Nintendo.... Well, they manufacture their own product, unlike their competitors; and they start far enough ahead to be able to test and quality check before launch.

The people talking about how M$ gave everyone the shaft seem to be comparing their level of service to a non-existent manufacturer who knocks on your door to apologize and fix the problem the minute you call. Comparing them with other companies, I'd say M$ is handling it very well.

Comment by: hughjars (May 02, 2007 19:17)

I always liked the idea of them going back to black, the 'proper colour' for all the CE a/v kit (it goes with everything so well).

I think they missed a trick by not holding off the 'Elite' until the 65nm stuff was ready.

They could even make a bit of a plus-point of the new more reliable & better spec by renaming it the Xbox 365.

But I like the idea of not building in the HD DVD drive, it's totally unnecessary to do so when it is available now in such a versitile and inexpensive add-on form.

If they had built it in we wouldn't have such an easy time using it as a very handy multi-format external ROM drive with our PCs.

Comment by: ChromeMud (May 02, 2007 20:35)

When the 360 gets a 65nm CPU and GPU,it could be overclocked
to offer slightly smoother framerates in busy scenes and still run cooler.
Mind you,keeping the chips locked at the current speed will suck less
power, so cheaper running costs and being greener could also be a good incentive to upgrade.

Comment by: hughjars (May 03, 2007 08:43)

True ChromeMud, and we all know how 'green' today's consumer likes to think they are.

But as mentioned on the other thread (about lower XBox 360 shipments, stocks and revenues.....which are merely a sign of getting saet for this 65nm version) the lower costs of the 65nm CPU and GPU will allow Microsoft a lot of room to act.

They can either go for actual substantial profits per unit (which IIRC they are already now at, or are just on the verge of with the existing mk1 version)
or
they could go in for some very aggressive price competition which, thanks to the lower production costs, would still cost a lot less than before
or
they could maintain the costs of subsidy as it originally was and take the XBox 360 retail price through the floor.

If I were a competitor I'd be very worried about this.

Comment by: ChromeMud (May 03, 2007 10:09)

@ hughjars

I agree with what you say.
Microsoft are going to have a lot of room to manoeuver,
whatever happens.
I think the market is big enough to sustain all three
consoles and the PC gaming platform too.
There isn't a one stop gaming solution anymore like there was
with the PS2 when it had the market to itself.
This situation now is the best ever for the consumer and
great for gaming.
WAR is GOOD!

Comment by: zru2u (May 03, 2007 14:37)

ok

to all those people advising to buy the extended warranty for the 360

maaybe you should read this here: LOOK FAMILIAR?
cuz ya know, it is on the same site you're all looking at :P

>on a side note, i didn't buy it..and my 360 died after about 8-10months
(i can go look it up if you want..i wrote down its Birth/Death dates :D
at any rate...i was pretty ticked off but i found out about the ^^ above mentioned extension and i had a fixed (still working strong) 360 shortly after.

If you're going to mod, an extended war wouldn't be a bad idea.. but have fun trying to keep that void sticker in nice shape..you'd probably be better off by just removing/cleaning the crappy thermal compound M$ stuck on the GPU and using some good ol artic silver, if you do some googling you'll probably find that a lot of people have turned some "Red Lights of Death" into nice Green lights by doing just that ;)


>and that 1year warr is renewed after having the 360 repaired i believe...but don't quote me on that

k, my lil tiff is over... just felt like mentioning a lil something before everyone spent money when they don't have to.


OH...and my 360 is working fine (for now) i'm probably just going to buy a wii...why would i need 2x 360's anyhow?... only ONE HDTV here!

Comment by: StarKatz (May 05, 2007 04:38)

Personally I think it is a total rip-off!
To think they put something on the market know full well that within the year of release they will be putting out a better version.
My DH bought one originally from the UK wasted that much money!
Then it craps itself and he outlays another $700+ to get one in Aus and now there's a newer version!! Give me a break!!
Sony are so bloody greedy!

Comment by: StarKatz (May 05, 2007 04:43)

I meant to say Sony and Microsoft are bloody greedy!!

Comment by: handsom (May 11, 2007 20:29)

And you would be right in saying that. :D

But then again, that's kind of why 99% of corporations are created. So it's about as significant as saying that 90% of human beings that are currently on or above the surface of the earth are breathing air. (It's probably a good estimate that ten percent are yet-to-be-buried corpses, morbid, eh?)

I will say Sony and MS are more... Blunt about it. But they're all in it for your wallet. Some just look nicer than others while they're trying to snag your precious pennies(Nintendo). But that's the way it's always been, it's still up to you to make the conscious decision of who's effort you think has merited their shared goal.

Comment by: ZippyDSM (May 11, 2007 20:41)

Originally posted by handsom:

---

And you would be right in saying that. :D

But then again, that's kind of why 99% of corporations are created. So it's about as significant as saying that 90% of human beings that are currently on or above the surface of the earth are breathing air. (It's probably a good estimate that ten percent are yet-to-be-buried corpses, morbid, eh?)

I will say Sony and MS are more... Blunt about it. But they're all in it for your wallet. Some just look nicer than others while they're trying to snag your precious pennies(Nintendo). But that's the way it's always been, it's still up to you to make the conscious decision of who's effort you think has merited their shared goal.

---

======================================================================
Blunt?? I dunno MS jsut droped the live bomb about Live...its vista only (we knew that already) but its setup the same as Live with the silver and "premium" services.

So the Live infected games cant act like normal online PC games...thank god its only vista.....

FIGHT THE M.A.F.I.A.A.