Should You Buy The Xbox 360 Core Bundle ? No Way!

[Zeus]

Cnet have prepared an answer to the following question "There are two versions of the Xbox 360--a deluxe version for $399 and something called the Core System for $299. Shouldn't I just buy the more affordable version, instead of one bundled with a whole bunch of stuff I probably don't need?"


The Xbox 360 Core System ($299) is a bare-bones system that ships with a wired Xbox 360 controller and a composite-video/stereo audio A/V cable. Meanwhile, with the $399 Xbox 360 Premium Edition (which is technically--and confusingly--known simply as the Xbox 360), you get a wireless Xbox 360 controller, a component HD A/V cable, a 20GB hard drive, a headset, and an Ethernet cable. For a limited time, the Premium Edition will also include an Xbox 360 Media Remote, which is a slightly downsized version of the Universal Remote.
While you could live with the Core System's lack of a wireless controller and headset, its missing hard drive is the deal breaker. Without a hard drive, you can't use Xbox Live, save your games, or play original Xbox titles. You'd be "saving" $100, only to have to go out and buy the stand-alone hard drive accessory for that same price. Likewise, all the other missing peripherals are available à la carte for the Core System, but they'll run you at least $110, not including the $100 hard drive. In other words, the $399 bundle gives you at least $210 worth of extra accessories for only $100 more.


News Source: <A href="http://www.cnet.com/4520-11488_1-6396488-1.html" target="_blank">Cnet.com</a>

How do you feel on this ? Perhaps you are a casual gamer and feel you don't need the extra trimmings, does Microsoft's move to offer two versions make any real sense ?

[MrFlump]

I got a core system last night after queueing for 8 hours at my local supermarket who had them on first come first served basis.

Personally, i'm not too fussed about all the extra bells and whistles. The core system in the UK cost £209 while the premium system was £289 - and my local Asda bundled in an extra wired controller and 64Mb memory card for £20 more. I'm not a fan of Wireless Controllers and probably never will be mainly because there is nothing more infuriating than having your controller die in the middle of a game - so I was getting something I preferred in the core pack anyway (and given that if I'd got the premium, i'd have ended up buying 2 wired controllers anyway, that'd bump the premium pack price up another £60)

The Hard Drive is not essential for me as I'm not looking to download anything in the near future and when I finally decide that there is a need for it, chances are that larger hard drives will be available anyway for the same price as the current one. Also, i've not got a HDTV (hell, there are hardly any available at any sensible price in the UK anyways) so an HDTV cable really does nothing for me.

The only thing that I did go out and buy was the Live headset for £15 today. So basically, i've got a core system with everything I need to run what I want for £244. Whereas a premium system for the specification I would want would cost me £349.

£105 difference? I think i'll still be saving money when its time to get that hard drive and I've got exactly the same system deep down as those with the "premium" pack. And I think I can live with the different coloured DVD tray in the core pack...

[legion]

Hi,

Well i guess most of wether you buy the core system or the deluxe bundle depends on what you want and where you live.

Due to the increasing developments in technology i think that £80 for a single 20gb HDD is a right proper ripp off, I think that it would be much better to wait it out for the first year before even considering the purchasing of the 20gb HDD because MS or others could develop ways of using standard usb HDDs with the Xbox 360 or release sizeably larger ones to boot rendering you're 20gb drive effectively a door stop, for a standard user i feel that a memory card retailing at £22 is a much better option currently than a 20GB HDD for 4 times as much.

I also feel sceptical regarding the use of any wireless technology, ever since wireless technology started seeping onto the market way back when i have had problems with detection and response time, i have always beleived that hard wired technology is always more reliable than wireless technology.

And the last point that i would like to mention that i have had confirmed by several companies is that here in the uk not one of the Xbox bundles is shipped with any games so if you bought 2 games and a core system that would cost you £310, the deluxe version would cost you £380 not to mention that the deluxe version is subject to availability and many stores dont think that they will be able to meet the customer demand for them until late February of next year if not longer.

All in all i am very pleased with the core system package and do not think that it is as bad a deal as everyone say's, ok you dont get wireless controllers, funny how thats never bothered any of us before but now all of a sudden we've all got to have one, and like i said above it's ok if you have the extra £££'s to attach for games and additional equipment (if a new hdd is released within the next few months, hey it's you're loss besides what are you really goning to use a 40gb HDD for anyways if you cant store games on there) and also if you live in Japan or the States where the deluxe version is 10 a penny.

Laters,


Legion.

[Gcentrex]

Well for me the Delux pack was the best option since I intend to buy some normal Xbox games for it because I don't have a normal Xbox system.

I can never ever find the correct memory card for what game im wanting to play so the hdd has 2 uses for me.

I like to try out demos but im not gonna buy the mags so the option to download them is a better option for me, I was intent on using Live to play online so the headset is another must, trying to play a game an not knowing what the other person is doing is bad, since some people don't have a switch and can't have a PC connected at the sametime to use MSN to chat.

So in my case the Delux is the better and cheaper option, if I had an original Xbox and didnt want to use Live for downloading demos then I would have had a core system.

[crono]

i wanted a full,but only could get my hands on a core,the hdd is a must have not only for download but mostly for your save's

The cords are pretty long,so a wireless importend,i like the remote controle,but still must get one :-s

I dont understand why they released 2 versions(well only more money to get i can think off)becuase i think the xbox360 is incomplete whitout a hdd.

[morpherex]

WTF is the difference between the remote that comes with the premium, and the one that is bought separately?

[legion]

Hi,

I dont understand why they released 2 versions(well only more money to get i can think off)becuase i think the xbox360 is incomplete whitout a hdd.

I must agree with you to the extent that this is partly money related but the other reason why MS released two versions i beleive is that one was intended to be a budget version and the other was intended for people who could afford the extra money to spend on one so that MS could attract a larger portion of the market, especially as they have released the 360 practically an entire month before christmas here in the UK, i think it was slightly earlier in the US.

laters,


Legion.

[crank]

I was only able to get a core on 11/22 so its what i got, since then i got the hd, a wireless controller, and a headset so its pretty much a premium minus the silver bling on the cd tray :) and i just spent like 30 more then i should :( stupid m$ for not just releasing it with all this stuff....bah....