backtop

Gadgets Report: Xbox 360 to Shed $50 in August
Marcus Yam (Blog) - July 26, 2007 9:01 AM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 35 comment(s) - last by mcturkey.. on Jul 26 at 6:26 PM

The Xbox 360 Premium  (Source: Microsoft)
Retail sources point to a $50 price drop for Xbox 360 on August 8

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Microsoft will cut the price of the Xbox 360 by $50 early next month. The report noted that its sources did not indicate if the $50 cut would apply to just certain Xbox 360 SKUs or across the entire line.

A retail source told the Reporter that the price cut will come on August 8 – during a period of the year that is traditionally sluggish for the videogame industry. Also, shipping on the following week is EA Sports’ Madden NFL 08 – one of the top selling game franchises in the U.S. A price reduction on the Xbox 360 would make it an even more accessible way for gamers to play the football title with next-generation presentation.

A Microsoft representative gave the expected company line with regards to the anticipation of a price drop, saying, "We have no announcements to make on pricing at this time. While price matters, content is king. And no other system is offering all the games people want to play this holiday at a better price than Xbox 360."

Expectations of an Xbox 360 price cut came shortly after Sony lowered the price of its 60GB PlayStation 3 by $100 to $499. One analyst forecasted that Microsoft would announce at E3 that the $299 Core system would drop to $249, the $399 Premium down to $349, and the $479 Elite to $399. Although Microsoft showed no movement on pricing at its E3 conference, industry onlookers continue to expect that a price drop to happen before the holiday season.

Comments     Threshold


This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
Core system
By webdawg77 on 7/26/2007 9:28:52 AM , Rating: 2
The Core system for $249 would be really nice :). This is considering that when I sent my first 360 in for repair, they told me to take off the HDD. When I received the refurbished system, guess what was on it? That's right, another HDD :). I know that I would only get a wired controller, but since I already have two wireless controllers, that would be a great deal :).

BTW, is anyone else here having problems with the disc being "scratched" by the optical drive? Have you reported this to M$ Xbox support? If so, have they said anything about a remedy / replacement? Thanks.

-Dave




RE: Core system
By A5 on 7/26/2007 9:32:44 AM , Rating: 2
The scratched discs is a common issue and it requires the console to be sent in.


RE: Core system
By webdawg77 on 7/26/2007 9:34:46 AM , Rating: 2
Thanks, after about 20 minutes on hold the other day, I gave up. Yeah, I should have clarified a little better. I knew it was a problem, just wanted to know if anyone had actually talked to them specifically about this issue and nothing else. My GoW disc is currently in the mail being replaced for the scratches.


RE: Core system
By webdawg77 on 7/26/2007 9:49:49 AM , Rating: 2
**UPDATE

I called Xbox support back. They will be fixing / replacing the system for free :). I'm not sure if this is because of warranty (I'm on my second system; first RRoD'd; second system has manufactured date of April 2006) or if it's because they realize this is another major issue. Either way, I hope the new system doesn't have either problem.


RE: Core system
By omnicronx on 7/26/2007 9:53:08 AM , Rating: 2
Scratch discs only start when you move your console with a disc in it, from vertical to horizontal, or vice versa.
Thats when your troubles begin. Its not actually totally common anymore though, it was only a certain kind of dvd drive they dont use anymore (im pretty sure its only the hitachi drives).
I know it voids warranty but i fixed it by opening up my box and then opening the dvd drive, and put in foam pads around the top of the dvd drive(most dvd drives have at least one of these, hitachi drives have 0, which when moved hits the plastic of the laser, usually putting it off balance).
My drive needed 3 to stop the scratching, and yes i am talking about disc scratching while the console is not moving.


RE: Core system
By webdawg77 on 7/26/2007 10:00:06 AM , Rating: 2
Both consoles were always in the horizontal position from Day 1. I have rearranged my den, but definitely didn't change the orientation nor did I leave the 360 on while doing so.

I took at look at my NFS Carbon and Burnout Revenge discs, they are showing some of the scratches. My GoW was the worst by far (mostly played on the 1st console). I got it replaced, and now it's starting to show them again (playing on the 2nd console).


RE: Core system
By omnicronx on 7/26/2007 10:04:48 AM , Rating: 2
Whether you moved it or not, (only took mine once, and i just moved it across the floor standing up) you have an april 06, which i think is rev 4, (mine is may 06 rev4) so chances are you also have a hitachi drive with the same problem, so if you can rma, do it otherwise it is about the only fixable problem on your 360 you can do yourself ;)


RE: Core system
By webdawg77 on 7/26/2007 10:07:59 AM , Rating: 2
Ah, thanks for the info. Yeah, I've already started the RMA process. I remember reading an article a while back about someone taking it apart and doing what you did to fix the problem along with making the drive quieter. The joys of being the "paying" beta testers :).


RE: Core system
By nekobawt on 7/26/2007 11:19:04 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
BTW, is anyone else here having problems with the disc being "scratched" by the optical drive?


http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=7992


RE: Core system
By omnicronx on 7/26/2007 11:28:22 AM , Rating: 2
He knows others are having the problem, i think he wants to know what he can do about it. i.e will ms take it back..
hopefully his answer is yes ;)


RE: Core system
By webdawg77 on 7/26/2007 11:32:38 AM , Rating: 2
Yes, M$ is going to replace / fix the console for free :).


RE: Core system
By omnicronx on 7/26/2007 11:56:19 AM , Rating: 3
Your lucky, a year ago they told me to go jump off a boat ;)


RE: Core system
By webdawg77 on 7/26/2007 12:03:57 PM , Rating: 2
LOL, I think M$ has reconsidered a lot of things dealing with the 360 HW over the last year.


RE: Core system
By azrael201 on 7/26/2007 1:48:40 PM , Rating: 2
i had to smooth talk the guy otherwise they had a strict policy against accepting consoles for repair for scratched discs.

i tried to demand they replace my Dead Rising-i'm on the final ending and it dies there...how lame.


I think Hard Drive Price is more important
By zombiexl on 7/26/2007 9:37:59 AM , Rating: 4
They really need to drop the price of their drives or release a case for replacing the drive with your own SATA 2.5 drive.. This is one of the area's where sony is offering a better deal.




RE: I think Hard Drive Price is more important
By omnicronx on 7/26/2007 9:55:03 AM , Rating: 2
sony offers conversion kits for HD's? or is it just take the drive out, put a new one in


RE: I think Hard Drive Price is more important
By darkpaw on 7/26/2007 10:27:48 AM , Rating: 4
Can just pop open the access bay and swap the drive with any 2.5" drive. This is one area where Sony definately has it better then MS, and its surprising considering how much Sony loves proprietary formats ($!$!$ Memory Sticks).


RE: I think Hard Drive Price is more important
By omnicronx on 7/26/2007 10:39:22 AM , Rating: 2
It probably costs most for microsoft to make their hdd case and adaptor than you think, and probably raises manufacturing costs. But they make it all back in sales of those hd's for all those that bought a core system. Good ol accessories, the bread and butter of the market ;)


RE: I think Hard Drive Price is more important
By darkpaw on 7/26/2007 10:59:42 AM , Rating: 3
I'd really be surprised if that case cost MS more then $5 to produce total. I used to have to order custom enclosusres once in a while and even in small runs (<500 units) we could get custom drive enclosures for $10-20.

I agree with your second part though, the only reason those drives cost so much is because MS wants the typical markup on accessories.


RE: I think Hard Drive Price is more important
By zombiexl on 7/26/2007 1:29:56 PM , Rating: 2
I think getting the non-RROD producing units out (dont want to overlook that) and allowing user's to upgrade the harddrive (there are 250GB 2.5 drives, and hitachi even has a 200GB 7200RPM 2.5 drive) would go a long way towards making people happy.

If they sold the enclosure for $30-$50 they would still make a killing. Actually probbaly more than stand alone drive sales, since alot of current owners would buy one.


By darkpaw on 7/26/2007 3:41:52 PM , Rating: 2
It would be great if they'd sell the case by itself for $30 or so. MS would make a killing on something they pay practically zero for and people what be able to put in whatever size drive they need for their needs.