Just bought the Elite... I don't get it...

I was at Best Buy earlier today and saw they received a huge amount of Elite 360s, which were at their reduced price of 499$ Can. I already got a Premium but i thought what the heck, ill take it back if this isn't worth it. People have claimed that their Elites were quieter and that HDMI made a world of difference in terms of picture quality. I thought id check myself.

The production date is June 21st 07, i check about 10 different boxes there and they were all the same. People who claimed quieter Elites were from June/July 07, so all is good. I hook it up and turn it on. I opened the tray to see what DVD drive i got, its a Hitachi, from the tray alone it looks exactly as the one in my Premium, which was also a Hitachi. Its obviously not a 65nm, and apparently has the same DVD drive. Im pretty sure my Premium had the newer Heatsink since the manufacturing date was Feb 07, basically i didn't see how this Elite be any quieter than my Premium.

This is where i get lost. Idle noise is comparable, if not slightly lower, but really close. I shoved a disc in to hear it under real gaming conditions and Lo... its quieter... i would say about 30% less noise form the DVD. I don't see how this is possible unless there are different versions of the Hitachi Drive but with the same tray or there is some kind of noise insulation in the Elite, which wasn't there before as all websites who took an Elite appart didn't mention it.

As for image quality, it all depends on your set. Some brands have very good component inputs and you would need professional calibration tools to know theres a difference. I have a 50" Panasonic 07 model, which have top notch component inputs. HDMI was reported to give better sharpness at the cost of color quality. It looks pretty much the same on my set, if its sharper its maybe 5% more so. Colors look great but im no professional. I wouldn't buy an Elite for the HDMI unless you 1: have crappy Component inputs on your set or 2: bought the HD-DVD drive and want to upscale DVD's through it.

Bottom line, with the TV i have and paying Canadian prices, the Elite offers roughly 30% less drive noise and black casing for 100$. The added HD space is wasted in my case and not worth a penny. HDMI may be worth it for some but i believe that the people who claim they get MUCH better picture quality with HDMI is simply from the placebo syndrom. As i do not plan on buying a HD-DVD add on as i believe in a purely digital format and find another disc medium to be prehistoric, component would be fine. Am i taking it back? yes but not now, at the end of my 30 days. Im getting a 65 nm model for sure though.

So Elites are $499 and Premiums are $399 now? Not on the BB site. It would be nice to know.Large_Soda

Sorry I must remark on one of your comments: "...as i believe in a purely digital format and find another disc medium to be prehistoric, component would be fine."

You do realize that statement contradicts itself right? If you believe in a purely digital format as you say - then you can't use componant cables as they are analog.

LOL - Just had to point that out. :)

Sorry I must remark on one of your comments: "...as i believe in a purely digital format and find another disc medium to be prehistoric, component would be fine."

You do realize that statement contradicts itself right? If you believe in a purely digital format as you say - then you can't use componant cables as they are analog.

LOL - Just had to point that out. :)

DataDream

Hehe, i meant that since that isn't available yet im in no rush to get HDMI

I'm puzzled, how can you tell its not a 65nm by looking at the DVD drive? I am not saying it is or isn't just seems like an odd observation.tkemory

Those were separate observation as 65nm chips haven't shipped yet, my comment was that both noise reducing upgrades we are waiting for, the chip and the drive, were not in current Elites thus not the reason why my Elite is quieter tham my Premium.

Sorry I must remark on one of your comments: "...as i believe in a purely digital format and find another disc medium to be prehistoric, component would be fine."

You do realize that statement contradicts itself right? If you believe in a purely digital format as you say - then you can't use componant cables as they are analog.

LOL - Just had to point that out. :)

DataDream

What he meant was he prefers a purely digital method of receiving movies, like digital distribution, not the physical connection to the TV.

But what I would like to say is that it will take a long time before we get HD DVD/Blu Ray quality video over the internet onto our 360s or PS3s.

For now a physical disc is the best, most practical method of seeing HD movies.

[QUOTE="tkemory"]I'm puzzled, how can you tell its not a 65nm by looking at the DVD drive? I am not saying it is or isn't just seems like an odd observation.DullBozer

Those were separate observation as 65nm chips haven't shipped yet, my comment was that both noise reducing upgrades we are waiting for, the chip and the drive, were not in current Elites thus not the reason why my Elite is quieter tham my Premium.

Chances are good that its quieter because its newer.

Just to throw this out there. The HDMI is totally worth it. Prior to the Elite launching I bought a VGA cable and tried it out to get full upscaling on DVDs. The upscaling was much better but the colors were all washed out. Luckily I was able to talk the gamestop manager into taking the cable back, considering it was opened and nothing was wrong with it other than what i mentioned above.

Once the Elite came out I traded in my premium and love both the HDMI and the 120GB HDD. The picture quality is better, I can watch my HD-DVD movies in 1080P, I have fewer cables in the back of my television, I can keep demos and not have to delete/re-download because I am running out of space. Plus I traded in my Premium that was going on 2 years old, for one that was brand-new.

I know for a fact I had gotten my 180$ worth out of the console (Cost of Elite minus value of trade in).

Everyone is waiting on the 65nm like they are going to walk on water, I am having fun in the meantime with my problem-free 360 Elite.

[QUOTE="DataDream"]

Sorry I must remark on one of your comments: "...as i believe in a purely digital format and find another disc medium to be prehistoric, component would be fine."

You do realize that statement contradicts itself right? If you believe in a purely digital format as you say - then you can't use componant cables as they are analog.

LOL - Just had to point that out. :)

Large_Soda

What he meant was he prefers a purely digital method of receiving movies, like digital distribution, not the physical connection to the TV.

But what I would like to say is that it will take a long time before we get HD DVD/Blu Ray quality video over the internet onto our 360s or PS3s.

For now a physical disc is the best, most practical method of seeing HD movies.

I saw a clip of a show called Dragons Den two weeks ago, the concept is that people with inventions go there and pitch their idea to wealthy investors in hopes of getting $ to develop of market their ideas. One guy went there with a prototype DVD format with a micro chip inbeded into the disc itself, as a way to counter piracy. He was quickly turned down by all investors but one said something i found interesting. He basicaly said he "knew" the current disc format, may it be Sd or HD wouldn't last more than 4 more years and that we then would move to digital, making production of better discs a waste of money. I also think discs are obsolete and both BR and HD-DVD's are temporay solution as the digital format is taking more time to establish than previously believed. Doesn't have to be online, but data on a chip is much more convenient than a disc. No loading, no wear and tear, smaller, cheaper, doesn't degrade over time. So yeah HD disc will act as a temporary bridge to HD, but i wouldn't invest in it. Imagine buying movies on chips the size of DS cartridges, and imagine how small players could be.

I see you fail to mention how much more skace you have on the hard-drive. That would count quite a bit in the extra $100 you have to pay for the elite. Oh and the fact it's black!!!xTheExploited

Agreed. I can't wait to get mine. It will come in handy when you get all the US consumers have.

[QUOTE="tkemory"]I'm puzzled, how can you tell its not a 65nm by looking at the DVD drive? I am not saying it is or isn't just seems like an odd observation.DullBozer

Those were separate observation as 65nm chips haven't shipped yet, my comment was that both noise reducing upgrades we are waiting for, the chip and the drive, were not in current Elites thus not the reason why my Elite is quieter tham my Premium.

To my knowledge the 65nm chip is not meant to reduce the noise. It is to reduce the heat produced within the 360. That along with the additional heatsink that was said to have been added.

I never understood the complaints about the 360 being loud to be honest. I have had two so far. One premium, and one elite. The elite does sound a bit quieter but when yur ingame can u really tell me u hear the fans of the 360 + the drive? And if its on idle come on now. If u have yur 360 on idle and u are on a phone conversation while in the same room will the noise really bother u to the point u haveto leave the room to continue your conversation?

[QUOTE="Large_Soda"][QUOTE="DataDream"]

Sorry I must remark on one of your comments: "...as i believe in a purely digital format and find another disc medium to be prehistoric, component would be fine."

You do realize that statement contradicts itself right? If you believe in a purely digital format as you say - then you can't use componant cables as they are analog.

LOL - Just had to point that out. :)

DullBozer

What he meant was he prefers a purely digital method of receiving movies, like digital distribution, not the physical connection to the TV.

But what I would like to say is that it will take a long time before we get HD DVD/Blu Ray quality video over the internet onto our 360s or PS3s.

For now a physical disc is the best, most practical method of seeing HD movies.

I saw a clip of a show called Dragons Den two weeks ago, the concept is that people with inventions go there and pitch their idea to wealthy investors in hopes of getting $ to develop of market their ideas. One guy went there with a prototype DVD format with a micro chip inbeded into the disc itself, as a way to counter piracy. He was quickly turned down by all investors but one said something i found interesting. He basicaly said he "knew" the current disc format, may it be Sd or HD wouldn't last more than 4 more years and that we then would move to digital, making production of better discs a waste of money. I also think discs are obsolete and both BR and HD-DVD's are temporay solution as the digital format is taking more time to establish than previously believed. Doesn't have to be online, but data on a chip is much more convenient than a disc. No loading, no wear and tear, smaller, cheaper, doesn't degrade over time. So yeah HD disc will act as a temporary bridge to HD, but i wouldn't invest in it. Imagine buying movies on chips the size of DS cartridges, and imagine how small players could be.

That would be hella awesome. You can throw em around like the old days of cassette tapes. The person who invented the compact disc needs to get his A$* kicked real bad.

Those were separate observation as 65nm chips haven't shipped yet, my comment was that both noise reducing upgrades we are waiting for, the chip and the drive, were not in current Elites thus not the reason why my Elite is quieter tham my Premium.

DullBozer

Just curious. How do you know the 65nm chips haven't shipped yet? Since the main purpose of the 65nm chips is to reduce manufacturing costs, I wouldn't think MS would offer a price cut before the price of manufacturing was actually reduced. I always assumed the price cut would coincide with the introduction of the new chips. Additionally, I wouldn't think MS would offer the 3 year warranty and retroactive reimbursement without having taken steps to reduce the amount of defective 360s. Just smart business. Anyway, got a link as to the actual date of the chips being included?

Yeahyour getting so much extra space, $100 dollars right there. If you buy a 160 gb harddrive for your ps3 it'll cost around $100-$150.

actually for 100 dollars you can buy a 320gb harddrive and put that into a ps3 if you wanted to which is a much better deal considering its 3 gigs for a buck basically, but i still prefer 360 NacresErut

Not really - since they don't have a 320gb drive in the laptop size. And you can't put a 3.5" stansard "inside" your PS3.

:)

[QUOTE="DullBozer"]

Those were separate observation as 65nm chips haven't shipped yet, my comment was that both noise reducing upgrades we are waiting for, the chip and the drive, were not in current Elites thus not the reason why my Elite is quieter tham my Premium.

Grende1

Just curious. How do you know the 65nm chips haven't shipped yet? Since the main purpose of the 65nm chips is to reduce manufacturing costs, I wouldn't think MS would offer a price cut before the price of manufacturing was actually reduced. I always assumed the price cut would coincide with the introduction of the new chips. Additionally, I wouldn't think MS would offer the 3 year warranty and retroactive reimbursement without having taken steps to reduce the amount of defective 360s. Just smart business. Anyway, got a link as to the actual date of the chips being included?

The 65 nm chip will come on a smaller more cost efficient motherboard, on which a HDMI port will be added. The box will also be slightly different so you know your getting the HDMI/65nm model, even though it wont say 65 nm chip on the box. MS is waiting for the current batch of 360 to clear from retailers shelves before they ship the new model. There are also rumors that the power suply could be inserted inside the casing as opposed to having a huge external one like now. They will also include quiter drives but no-one knows who manufactured them, im guessing Benq since they were the latest models found on some "very few" 360s, maybe a newer model though they stressed the word quieter.

So no, nothing on sale now has the 65 nm chip, look for different looking boxes this fall.

Yeahyour getting so much extra space, $100 dollars right there. If you buy a 160 gb harddrive for your ps3 it'll cost around $100-$150.

himankz

I was speaking for myself, as i never even came close to fill my 20gb, its a worthless investment. If you could use it then the Elite is for you regardless of reduced noise and HDMI port.

I'm puzzled, how can you tell its not a 65nm by looking at the DVD drive? I am not saying it is or isn't just seems like an odd observation.tkemory

lol

***************************

well my elite was made march 7th '07. it gets hot,so no 65nm but i heard july elites have them

[QUOTE="DullBozer"][QUOTE="Large_Soda"][QUOTE="DataDream"]

Sorry I must remark on one of your comments: "...as i believe in a purely digital format and find another disc medium to be prehistoric, component would be fine."

You do realize that statement contradicts itself right? If you believe in a purely digital format as you say - then you can't use componant cables as they are analog.

LOL - Just had to point that out. :)

mehoff88

What he meant was he prefers a purely digital method of receiving movies, like digital distribution, not the physical connection to the TV.

But what I would like to say is that it will take a long time before we get HD DVD/Blu Ray quality video over the internet onto our 360s or PS3s.

For now a physical disc is the best, most practical method of seeing HD movies.

I saw a clip of a show called Dragons Den two weeks ago, the concept is that people with inventions go there and pitch their idea to wealthy investors in hopes of getting $ to develop of market their ideas. One guy went there with a prototype DVD format with a micro chip inbeded into the disc itself, as a way to counter piracy. He was quickly turned down by all investors but one said something i found interesting. He basicaly said he "knew" the current disc format, may it be Sd or HD wouldn't last more than 4 more years and that we then would move to digital, making production of better discs a waste of money. I also think discs are obsolete and both BR and HD-DVD's are temporay solution as the digital format is taking more time to establish than previously believed. Doesn't have to be online, but data on a chip is much more convenient than a disc. No loading, no wear and tear, smaller, cheaper, doesn't degrade over time. So yeah HD disc will act as a temporary bridge to HD, but i wouldn't invest in it. Imagine buying movies on chips the size of DS cartridges, and imagine how small players could be.

That would be hella awesome. You can throw em around like the old days of cassette tapes. The person who invented the compact disc needs to get his A$* kicked real bad.

If you want to know what is comming next in the movie industry, look at the music industry, its that simple. Music is moving to a purely digital format, Itunes sells like crazy, people love it. Movies are much larger and are usualy "late" to catch up. But the disapearance of discs is inevitable. I see Blue-Ray and Hd-Dvd as DVD audio discs, who failed miserably. Despite the added content, video clips, 5.1 sound and un compressed audio quality, average Joe never saw why he would pay more for that and the format never sold enough to become cost effective and come down i price to replace regular Cds. That same average Joe won't see enough of a difference between 480p and 1080p to convince him either, not at the price the sell for. Other problem is TV sets are getting better and better at upscaling regular DVD's, making it harder for casual movie enthusiasts to justify the move to HD. Digital appeals to everyone, its simple, cheap and compact, and honestly find one PC gamer who doesn't use the full install for his games to remove loading times? I buy a PC game, i install it and i never use the CD again, ditch the cd part and download it, who cares about the box, its not a frikin board game.

The 65nm CPUs are allegedly shipping later this month or sometime next month, just in time for the Halo 3 rush. Elites don't have them yet. The new model of 360 will also have HDMI as standard.

http://kotaku.com/gaming/rumor/cooler-360s-coming-this-month-or-next-287275.php

With this in mind, the Elite suddenly doesn't look like such a good deal. If all 360s have HDMI then you are paying an extra $100 for 100GB larger HDD and a black paint job.

My almost-launch 360 is bound to die sometime - I wonder if it will last until Christmas, at which point they might send me a new one. :D

I've had my Elite for a month now and its awesome. The extra memory alone is worth it, not to mention its black and is slightly quiter.-Samael-

yep...when my first360 fried, i wanted to upgrade. alas, they were all out, so i got another premium system. my friend got the elite, though, and i think they're pretty cool.