New Xbox in Short Supply; Gamers Want Premium Unit

[Jeremy Charette]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1892444,00.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1892444,00.asp</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Some buyers hoping to get the advanced system were asked to settle for the cheaper one, and they were not happy. "Bad idea, bad idea," David Hornak, 32, said of Microsoft's decision not to release more of the $400 units. He was offered only the $300 system at a Best Buy in New York. "Hard-core gamers would pay up for a premium system and do not want to feel limited to a shaved down system," Hornak said. Microsoft acknowledged the shortages but did not comment on gamers' argument that the company should have focused early sales more on premium sets. "We are well aware that many gamers are disappointed to have not gotten their Xbox 360 on day one. We are working around the clock to manufacture as many Xbox 360s as we can and are replenishing our retail channel week after week," Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's Entertainment &amp; Devices division, said in a statement. A spokesperson for Best Buy said the company was sold out at most of its U.S. stores and declined to comment on the Web site chart. Gamers can add a hard drive and accessories to raise performance of the lower-end unit."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/xbox360core.jpg" /> <br /><br />Looks like Jason Dunn wasn't the only person who went home unhappy.

[rzanology]

i really dont see what the big deal is. When i went to pre order mine they were sold out of the first shipment and i would not be getting one for sure. so i went ahead and pre order the core. I really didnt bother me much at all. I didnt need the remote because my media center is right next to the xbox. I really didnt care for the wireless controller as yet...i will buy a few of them later down the line. But i did have to shell out the extra $99 for the hard drive which was a must. So yes i still spent the 400 - wireless and controller. Yes i missed out on a deal...but the point is i got the 360! It looks like people seem to think that the $400 and $300 systems are diffrent units. They are not...they are the exact same, its just they come with diffrent things.

[jmulder]

What I find interesting is that everybody wants the premium version, but when that's not available they buy the core version anyway. Considering Jason just called the core version the 'screwed' version, you can imagine that the markup must be higher (for somebody, if not the final retailer) on that core version.

So why would they ramp up production of the premium if people are buying the core anyways?

[rzanology]

i think the main thing here is the hard drive. Had the hard drive been a little cheaper...lets say $50, i think most of us would have gone for the core any way. how much of us (on this site for argument sakes) really need the remote when we have media center already. The wireless controller strikes me at something i can always buy later....which i am going to do any way.

But i have to go out on a limb and say i disagree with jason on this one. It may not be as big a deal as you get with the $400 one. but the way i see it....as long as the 360 itself is still the same hardware and plays the games the same, it shouldn't be refured to as screwed. I've been talking to alot of people and they keep coming across as if they $300 is some how trash or a lower version.

I myself was going for the $400...but...i didnt get it so i had to get the core...got my hd the same day and now im home gaming like there is no tomorrow. My question to those of you who reserved the $400 one and didnt get it....is the core system that bad now? If you had reserved you're core you'd be gaming right now :)

[Outlaw94]

I reserved my system, a premium, on July 16. I still don't have one. I'm second shipment but you know what? I don't mind. I would rather get what I want than something I only want slightly.

I agree with Jason. The core bundle is crap. If you ever plan to get any of those accessories than you end up spending much more than you could have in the beginning.

The game selection is good but not great. At least for my tastes, so I don't waiting. I do refuse to be suckered into spending more money in the long run for something that I could of gotten cheaper if I would have waited.

[David Horn]

The cynic in me says why have people buy the Premium System for $400 when you can make them buy the Core system and $300 worth of accessories instead.