Xbox 360 Elite Bundle Reviews

• 360 elite value bundle resealed - manufactured June 2007

  
  By AW6OKT5P1F20T on 2007-11-13
  received our 360 elite value bundle monday 11/12/07 - box was resealed after bonus games added - stickers on box ('go big' not preprinted) original lot# and team sticker was covered by another sticker - serial number indicates manufactured June 2007 (ie: lot 0724 - made in the 24th week of 2007) confirmed as a Zephyr motherboard via heatsink, Hitachi drive - like many was hoping for a falcon board - oh well - hoping it will be reliable! so far so good - 3 stars as the product received did not match the one pictured (relabeled, resealed, etc)
  
  

• Elite Version is Well Worth Having

  
  By A3V6Z4RCDGRC44 on 2007-12-31
  Note: This is not a review of "having an Xbox 360". I did a full review of that already, on the base XBox 360 unit. We have had one since launch and we LOVE it and play it far more than we ever touch our Wii or PS3. This review is specifically about our upgrade to an XBox 360 elite.
  
  The Xbox 360 Elite - with its shiny black case - is the latest version of the Xbox 360 with several important upgrades. First, it comes with a 120 gig hard drive, which is very important for people who love to download games, music and movies. Next, it comes with a built in HDMI port!
  
  First, the disk space. We got an Xbox 360 base unit right when it first came out, and we play *constantly*. It was very easy to get those 20 gig of space on the basic hard drive filled up with all sorts of things. We had music to play as background music in some games, we had lots of game demos we were trying out. We had videos to watch and downloadable games from the marketplace. We definitely needed more space.
  
  For graphics, we can easily notice that the video quality from the HDMI feed is better than what we were getting from the high def feed on the regular Xbox 360. The regular one offers component (red-green-blue) as its only high def feed. So if you're a gamer with a high def TV and want the best quality signal, you'll be happy about this HDMI output.
  
  Yes, you get a black wireless controller, a black headset and Live Silver membership along with this package. But really, most Xbox gamers have those things already. And most of them have Gold Live, since without Gold you can't play online. So these three things are certainly nice to have, but not a reason you would buy the Elite system.
  
  The package comes with a single disc containing 2 games - Forza and Marvel Ultimate Alliance. Both are old games and not that thrilling; we had them already. Still, free games are at least things you can give away to friends.
  
  Perhaps best of all, the Elite has a new motherboard inside it which is much more reliable. It's called a FALCON. How can you tell what motherboard your Xbox 360 has? Here's the trick. It works for any 360
  
  * Turn your 360 off and take off the hard drive and remove the game.
  * Turn the unit upside down.
  * Put a flashlight directly against the bottom grill.
  * Look in from the SIDE grill at the inside of your 360.
  
  If you see 3 red rings that "stick up" from the green motherboard, you have an old launch motherboard. If you see 3 red rings that "lay flat" on that motherboard, it's the middle Zephyr version. If you have only TWO red rings that lay flat, you've got a Falcon!
  
  I highly recomend having an Xbox 360 in your house for gaming, and I highly recommend going with the Elite. The hard drive space is VERY useful, the HDMI graphics are great, and having a 360 in general is just superb. Again, we literally play with the 360 all the time and rarely touch our other systems. The whole reason we had to get an Elite is that we were fighting over who could play on the 360 even though we have all these other game systems in the house.
  
  Highly recommended.
  
  

• Really Fun for the hardcore gamer but be aware of reliability

  
  By ABSYIF0ONC2AF on 2007-12-01
  NOTE: due to recent changes, I would update the rating to 4 stars if I could.
  
  Very fun for a serious gamer (to me my Wii is more for parties and house guests), and in my opinion it has better (and more) games than PS3 (both now and in the near future). XBox 360 also has the best online experience compared to all the other consoles.
  
  Things you need to know though:
  - For 2 games you can get cheap used (currently around $50 at Gamestop), you lose a wireless internet adapter that costs $100; if you want one now like I did - just get one of the older package deals
  - This does not have the new chip/motherboard, that are less prone to break ie have the "red ring of death" ie this version of the 360 is still prone to die (though the warranty it comes with lasts till 2009, in my opinion it's better to wait until next year when the old units are sold - in fact all current Elite units have the old chip)
  - (outdated - this is no longer an issue as of 07/14/2008) Unless you're going to buy lots of mini downloadable Xbox Live arcade games and movies; get the premium/pro instead (20 GB Hard drive) and save $100. Most games don't use hard drive space except for saved game files (which to me is kind of stupid and makes having a big hard drive less useful = more loading screens and longer loading times; why did Microsoft downgrade the 360 from XBOX 1? I have 120GB I don't mind if games use 1GB or more so I don't have to wait for loading)
  - You will need to buy an extra fan (if you don't it's likely you'll be waiting 2 months for Microsoft to repair your Xbox 360 when it inevitably goes "red ring" without one)
  -- do not buy the Nyko fans (even the new black one) or any other fans that connect to the Xbox360's power cord, get one that either has its own power cord or USB cable; or you will VOID your WARRANTY (read the 360 user manual for reference)
  - The fans (even without the extra one you need to buy) are very very loud; you probably need a good sound system to counter it
  - in my experience optical audio has a lot of static / doesn't work well (yes I checked my audio hardware and i have good cables)
  - like the PS3, the Xbox 360 doubles as a space heater; only the Wii console is cool temperature wise
  
  Summary:
  Get this version of the Xbox 360 only if you really really want the 120 GB hard drive. Even the newer Premium models have HDMI now...
  
  UPDATE(S):
  Some Elites have been reported to have the new chipset / motherboard combo. However, if you want a better chance at getting one with the new chipset / motherboard - you need to be able to see the actual box of the 360 that you're purchasing. You need to know 1) the manufacturing date, and 2) the Lot Number (which MS now tries to cover up with a sticker)
  
  As for reliability with the new chip/design, it's a lot better. Based on reports, the new failure rate is around 10% as opposed to 33% with the old design. Still this is over 3 times higher than the industry standard of a 3% failure rate.
  
  Currently I still think that the 120GB isn't really very useful. Even without deleting movie previews, demos, xbox live arcade games, and game addons - I'm only using about 5GB (I have 12 boxed games and 3 unlocked downloaded ones). the Elite does come with a set of HDMI/Optical cables worth $50 (just be aware that for many people optical audio still doesn't work properly even with falcon). Given that even the new premiums are now also missing the wireless adapter, the main difference is still the harddrive and the $100 price dif (the lower end premiums now also have HDMI - it's not exclusive to the elite). I guess this is good for people that need an ego boost and want to make themselves feel special because "it's black". For me I didn't feel too great about wasting $100 bucks for something I didn't need when the white premium would have done just fine.
  
  LATEST:
  After 4 months of ownership, ten real games, four downloaded games, a bunch of game demos, and movie rentals... the hard drive does come in handy. I was wrong on that point =)
  
  As of 07/14/2008 MS has finally added/announced the "Play from hard drive" feature:
  
  "Copy your games from the game disc and play directly from the hard drive. Not only will the drive not spin, but load times are quicker, as well. Of course, you will still need the disc in the tray to prove you own the game."
  
  As of now with new more reliable chips, a good warranty program, and key updates I would now rate this system at 4 stars (it's still very loud and hot, and reliability still isn't as good as Xbox 1)
  
  

• Comparing Xbox 360 and PS3

  
  By A2K69DOY8JC5VN on 2007-11-18
  It so happens that I have both consoles and so I can see good and bad aspects of each one and be able to compare them more or less objectively.
  
  Xbox 360 is, at the moment, a more mature platform of the two. You can see it first of all from rich selection of available games (including exclusives, that you can not find on any other platform). Xbox 360 has better user interface, with features that PS3 either totally lacks at the moment (like video rental service) or implemented poorly (Xbox 360 Marketplace is by far better then PS3 store). It's hard to explain without actually seeing each system, but, ironically, Sony's PS3 feels more like a computer with it's open system design and awkward user interface, while Microsoft's Xbox 360 feels like an actual gaming console with refined interface while a proprietary system design. Who would have thought, heh?
  
  From the games, that are available on both platforms, Xbox 360 versions are, as the rule, a better option. This is not because PS3 lacks in computing power. Far from that. PS3 actually has more potential in what it can deliver. But the reason Xbox versions play and look better is because most of the developers currently create their games for Xbox 360 in the first place, and then port them to other platforms (PS3, PC). As a result, a lot of fine-tuning and additional content that is done on XBox 360 is left behind, when PS3 version is finally released. The situation should improve in the future as developers get more familiar with PS3 architecture and larger PS3 market share should make developers pay more attention to these releases.
  
  Of course, not all news are bad for PS3. PS3 has some truly alluring stuff that keeps people looking back at this console, even if there are not many games released for it yet. Hardware-wise, PS3 is a marvel of the modern computing. It has such built-in exclusives, as Blue-Ray Movies Play, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity, support for Lynux OS (for all the geeks out there) and the list goes on. Another very important aspect for the army of the current PS2 owners, is a backward compatibility for the majority of the PS1 and PS2 game library (~ 80% on the 80Gb version, close to 100% on 60Gb version, but completely absent on a 40Gb edition). Xbox 360 can at best preach around 60% support for it's original Xbox titles. If you currently own PS2 games and are thinking on upgrading to PS3 soon, you can check the status of your belowed titles at "http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/CompatibleStatus" link.
  
  PS3 controller has some "Wii-style" features in it as it can detect movemement in several planes. Newer PS3 games take advantage of this, resulting in some cases in a more natural control of the game. Even included in 80GB bundle Motorstorm game allows you to steer your vehicle with the subtle movements of the controller, rather then relying on stick.
  Unfortunately, current sixasis controllers lack force feedback (new controllers will be released in spring 2008 that will add force feedback back). There is also tactile difference between Xbox 360 and PS3 controllers. I, personally, prefer slightly larger and more rounded Xbox 360 controller as it fits very nicely in your hands allowing you to relax palms as you grip it for a prolonged periods. Sony's controllers are smaller and leave your palms hanging in the air, as you grip controller with fingers alone. Try playing 2-3 hours straight and you can start feeling the difference and appreciate Microsoft's design. Both controllers are wireless with PS3 edition featuring built-in battery and USB connection for charging and Microsoft providing optional battery pack and charging cable or AA battery support. There are advantages to both approaches.
  
  HDTV support, is now equal on either system. Xbox 360 used to lack HDMI interface for pure digital picture, but later editions have it built-in and both systems support up to 1080P signal to your TV. Of course, not many people still have HDTVs and so they can not appreciate all the glory that high-resolution games can provide on big screens.
  
  Both Xbox 360 and PS3 can connect to your home network (if you have one) and be able to play video/audio/picture files from your home PCs. Microsoft has a built-in support for Windows Media XP features, while PS3 requires some sort of media server software running on your PC to be able to share media files with the console. One excellent and free media server software out there is TVersity (http://tversity.com/download/) that will allow you to share and stream to PS3 (or Xbox 360 for that matter) a huge variety of video and audio formats, residing in the PC world.
  
  Online play is better done on Xbox. Yes, it costs $40-$50 per year to play online, while on PS3 it is free. But Microsoft is dedicated to support it's network both from capacity and feature wise, resulting in, overall, more pleasant experience for both gamers and game developers, who do not have to concentrate on supporting their games network backbone. If you spend a lot of time online, consider Xbox 360 as a better buy.
  
  Finally, one aspect, that not many people pay close attention to but should is platform reliability. Microsoft's Xbox 360 was initially so poorly designed, that close to 30% of all consoles were broken within first 2 years of its existence. This resulted in huge customer dissatisfaction and forced Microsoft to offer refunds, extend it's warranty and completely redesign the system for the newer editions. PS3, so far, has avoided much negativity and looks like a more stable platform of the two.
  
  In summary, if you have to decide which platform to buy for the next generation of games, the answer is not simple. If you plan on mostly playing games (especially online), I would recommend going with Xbox 360. Microsoft has also recently implemented an excellent parental control on how much time your child can spend playing games and using the system. If you are busy parents and worry that your children will neglect studying and other activities to the detriment of playing, this is a very strong argument towards choosing Xbox 360. On the other hand, if support for Wi-Fi and Blue-Ray movies is important to you, as well as future system expandability (whatever it may be) PS3 becomes a clearer choice.
  
  Good luck with your purchase!
  
  

• Elite Bundle Still Susceptible to Red Ring of Death!

  
  By A33B0A0WTULCN8 on 2007-11-08
  Less than an hour. That's how long I got to use my new XBox 360 Elite (Value Bundle) before it shut itself off. Sure enough, I had been hit by the Red Ring of Death.
  
  Like many out there, I was clinging to the hope that this new Elite bundle would contain new hardware that would fix the problem that so many have had with their XBox 360s. So I waited and I finally bought the Elite bundle when it became available.
  
  I had suspicions as soon as I opened the box. The box itself had two seals (one sticker laid on top of another one just like it), which I found odd, particularly because some employees of game retailers have reported that instead of new packages, they just received a roll of stickers and game cases to stick inside of existing Elite packages. It is speculation on my part, but appears to have been a real possibility here. Also, although the outside box was relatively unscathed, the green plastic case that holds the two games was crushed. There were green shards of plastic in the box. (Note that the console and everything else looked to be in good condition, so I can only conclude that they actually put the case in the box damaged.)
  
  The Elite itself did not feel that warm to the touch when it shut itself down and flashed the RROD, and after an hour, I'd be shocked if it was a heat issue. Calls to Microsoft support led to a repair/exchange authorization (confused as to what they're actually going to do here...) and a promise that it'll take 5 weeks before I have a working system again. I would return it to Amazon, but fear I'll probably just get more of a bad batch, so would rather make Microsoft "fix it right." My system manufacture date was 7-20-07, so it would appear they're still putting boxes together with faulty components.
  
  It was fun while playing it, but $900/hr is not a very good rate of return on entertainment value. Buyer beware... and/or be very patient.
  
  
  UPDATE: 11/28/2007
  
  After initially deciding to pursue this through Microsoft, I decided that 4-5 weeks was way too long to get a working system, so I pursued an exchange with Amazon. (The process was very simple and they had a replacement to me in about 5 business days before I had sent the other one back, all at no cost to me.)
  
  The replacement system has been working well. I should mention that it has the same manufacture date (7/20/07) and has obviously been repackaged with the two new games. There was no damage to the game case or the box this time. The system has worked fine through some multi-hour gaming sessions, but I'm still apprehensive about the system's longevity. If this had been the first system I received, I'm sure I would be enjoying it with no reservations.
  
  On a side note, I received a box to ship my dead XBox 360 back to Microsoft for repair on the same day I received my replacement. I had cancelled the repair order the next day, but they sent the box anyway. It took over a week for the return shipping box just to get to my house -- imagine how long it would have taken if I'd sent it in for repair! Hope this system lasts as it's an absolute blast to play and I don't want to experience the full repair cycle.
  
  
• Best value of the 360's
  By A1SAHSGEVF5042 on 2007-11-09
  Ok, in response to the two negative reviews...yes, there is the possibility of the RRoD. For the record, PS3 is also experiencing the high temp failure. I, however, am now on my second Xbox 360. The first one I got on launch day, 11/22/05 and sold it recently after facing exactly ZERO problems with it. Keep your Xbox in an area that is well venelated (needs lots of airflow to keep the system cool). I have a friend that has been using the Nyko Intercooler on 2 of his 3 Xbox 360's and he's had ZERO problems with all three. If you get the intercooler make sure you pick up the EX model as the plug has been redesigned to avoid the melting issue.
  
  As for this system itself. Easiest way to do this is to consider that if you buy a Pro or Halo edition, you will then need to spend $50 on the HDMI cable (if you are going to use it). You'd save $50 if you bought the Pro, but you'd be lacking the 120gb hard drive (only has 20gb). Big deal? Lots of good downloads from themes to gamertag pics to movies (in SD and HD)so the room is very nice. If you bought the Halo console you'd be even price wise, but you'd lose out on the two games (no Holiday bundle with Halo console) and you'd still only have a 20gb hard drive.
  
  This system seems to run cooler and quieter than my launch system. I play Halo online for up to 6 hours at a time (with 5 minute breaks every hour or so) and it is still only luke warm for me. Mine is in an entertainment center behind a glass door...so I leave the door open when I play to allow airflow.
  
  The games are full versions, not trials or demos. Online play is possible and quite fun. Only comes with one controller so pick up at least one extra and I would HIGHLY recommend the rechargable battery packs (since I have gone through 3 sets of batteries in 2 weeks). Now I just recharge my battery pack every few days and I'm set.
  
  The only reason I gave this only 4 stars is because some retailers are repackaging older Elites that didn't sell (like mine is). This means no chance of a Falcon chipped Elite. The Falcon chipped units use less power supposedly, although the 360's won't really run cool until the 65nm GPU's are put into use (supposedly mid-2008).
  
  Just to follow up on this since it is in the comments, but thought I would add it here. Regarding the PS3 heat vs 360...my PS3 runs WAY hotter than my 360, but since it usually sits (along with the Wii) I don't worry too much. I actually know more people that have had to have their PS3 replaced than 360's with RRoD. And considering I know 5x the number of 360 owners...well, you come to the conclusion.
  
  
  
• THE NEWEST 360 ELITE SYSTEMS DO HAVE THE FALCON CHIPSET
  By A2Z0LQSUZ1ICZV on 2007-12-13
  I purchased a 360 elite bundle with forza & ultimate alliance and I confirmed it does have the new "falcon" chipset (new power brick with 175w power rating and 2 inductors laying flat). On my box the sticker with team and lot # was covered with a new sticker which does not have that info on it. Microsoft does this now to make sure all old versions sell and not just new ones with new chips. I purchased mine 12/10/07 and it is great! QUIETER AND COOLER! Here is a site that gives you information, and shows you how to check which version of chipset you have:
  http://forums.xbox.com/15804553/ShowPost.aspx
  
  Basically the new falcon chips ARE in the 360 elites but its kind of the luck of the draw unless you search the stores for certain lot #'s and such but again microsoft started covering up the stickers with that info.
  
  XBOX 360 OFFERS BEST OVERALL GAMING EXPERIENCE OF ALL SYSTEMS!!
  
  
• Great system with 2 free games!
  By A3GOV0OF2K4PQT on 2007-11-09
  Best system out if you are into serious gaming. I have the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii and I only play the Xbox 360 regularly. It has the best exclusives and all the multiplatform games are usually better on the 360 because of Xbox live.
  
  If you don't plan on downloading alot of movies/tv shows, then you're probably better off saving $100 and going with the Pro bundle with 2 free games.
  
  
• Warning!! Warning!! 3 red lights of death still looming
  By A24OBZJNZE6V1C on 2007-11-08
  The system burns, it will render itself useless after a while. This can happen sooner or later, it's just a matter of use and time. But it will definitely happen because of its faulty design. They have tried to correct it, but I guess they didn't do much. The best they can do now is pack them with a couple of games and hope people like you and me will make them a favor taking them off the shelves. Yeah, they have great games and lots of them, but I'm not reviewing those here. I'm talking about hardware and money, time and undesirable experiences. Do yourself a favor and stay away from this so-called "Value bundles". It's the whole lot of the remaining garbage they produced.
  
  
• AMAZING GAME SYSTEM!!!!!!!
  By A1L2J9JQJG8IT0 on 2007-11-07
  First & foremost let me say that I am avid video gamer. I own both a PS2 and an XBOX. I knew I wanted to upgrade, but I wasn't sure which sytem to get until I did a little research and saw literally hundreds of games available for the XBOX 360. Getting the ELITE bundle was a no brainer because it comes with 2 free games, plus there is a HUGE hard drive, & all necessary HDMI cables are INCLUDED!!! I was worried the included games would cheap giveaways, but I was wrong. I have been playing Marvel & Forza nonstop sice I got this system. Best of all, both games have online multiplayer capabilities & I been playing other people on XBOX LIVE online as well! If you are a gamer like me, buy this system. I promise you will not regret it.
  
  
• Buyers Remorse
  By A2MJCZFCDHVOT9 on 2007-12-18
  I ordered this last night as my Christmas present from my other half. I spent countless hours investigating the reliability of the product and tried to evaluate the chances of the new 'Falcon' configuration versus the less reliable hardware out there. When I woke up this morning I decided to cancel the order and here are my reasons why:
  
  1. For $449 a product should leave you in no doubt that you are making a worthy and sensible investment that will stand the test of time. You would not purchase a TV or Stereo that had a poor reliability image.
  
  2. Re-packing or re-selling of the less reliable hardware seemed possible. If I had received a non Falcon box I would have returned it straight away. The tactics of relabeling or covering up of this important information seemed unfair to us the consumers
  
  I went with another system that I'm not going to mention to avoid any bias accusations. I have no doubt that this is an awesome system with so many options and possibilities. However until I can be 100% that I'm getting the improved stability system it will have to wait.
  
  
  
  
• oops
  By A32LR27V9CW2IA on 2007-12-02
  It was lots of fun for the first 6 days. Not as noisy as I thought it would be. Great gameplay. Then the DVD player died. Misty Softie's turnaround time on this was 1-2 months, but Amazon kindly took it back as defective.
  
  
• I got a FALCON !!!
  By A1LE16TPGYUT1N on 2007-12-24
  I bought my XBOX 360 Elite from Best Buy. I went into the store, and like other reviewers have noticed, the sticker with the lot # was covered up with another sticker. The employee was looking at me funny because I was holding a bunch of the boxes up to the light at different angles, trying to see if I could get a glimpse of the lot #. I finally told him what I was looking for, and he said "Oh! All of these have the new processor in them." I was thinking to myself, yeah right. I asked to make sure, "you mean everyone of these has the new Falcon inside them?" and he said yes, all of the boxes with GoBig printed on them are Falcons. (And all the boxes there did have the preprinted logo on it.) I paid for the system, took it home, and held my breath as I opened the box. I went straight for the power supply, sure enough, 175 watts. I did the flashlight test to be sure, two flat inductors. I bought mine on the 21st of December. All the Premium systems there were Falcons too, the sticker was not covered up, and all of them said 175 Watts on them. I had two concerns, how loud are the fans and the drive going to be? I played Halo 3 that night, and the fans are quiet, A+ there! The DVD drive? Only slightly noisy, but not bothersome, and the game turned up to only medium volume drowned out the noise. GREAT system, glad I chose it over the PS3 (I will admit though, I might pick one of those up too when I have the funds ;)
  
  
• The Elite is superb - but don't get it from Amazon yet
  By AY0P4NES15HBW on 2008-01-09
  You should know that right now the 360 Elite is the best console money can buy - it has more games, the best controller, the best online service, and FINALLY it's free from RROD problems, since the introduction of the latest hardware revision, codenamed Falcon. You can all google to find out how to recongnize falcon chips inside the most recent 360s.
  
  Well, the thing is you I got this from Amazon on December 19th, when it was on stock after a long sold out period. Figured that they would send me the latest Elite model, since they were sold out for so long before that... To my surprise, I got an Elite manufactured on AUGUST 2006. TWO FRIGGING THOUSAND AND SIX. Its seal was void and the two games (Forza and Marvel) were put inside the box, then it was resealed. And, on top of it all, the game case was all broken inside. No need to say I returned it and bought another one at Circuit City.
  
  So, long story short, the Elite is worth every penny, BUT you should first check that it was manufactured after (and including) NOVEMBER 2007 (the power brick should eat 175w, and not 203w ou 205w). Then you should be good, cause it's the newer Falcon motherboard. So, don't get from Amazon, cause they seem to have a bunch of older Elites lying around, seals broken and game cases inserted. That's it.
  
  
• All Negative Reviews Are BS
  By A1X5SX3AAA4XJB on 2007-11-11
  Everybody who is writing a negative review is kissing Sony's A**
  
  Please stop with the hating SONY FANBOYS!
  
  
• xbox 360 elite
  By AJRL367LM8AZU on 2007-12-18
  Runs smooth and quiet, best gaming system available, the black color matches the rest of my hd entertainment system. Highly recomended if you like to download movies and game demos with 120gb of space you have plenty of room.
  
  
• Pay and Pray.....shame on Microsoft.!!
  By A30HAGYXB3WZ1E on 2007-12-29
  After my first xbox 360 died and was not covered by MSwarrenty........ I gave in and bought an elite with the new falcon chip. (only because I have alot of money invested in games and accessories. I also wanted to finish assassins creed). Hopfully this one will last longer.
  
  For all you fools out there singing praises to this new falcon chip .......Its too early to tell if it will hold up over time considering its only been out for a few months.
  
  
  I love the xbox 360 but will give one star because I had to buy two and have to pay extra for for an Elite with a chance it has increased reliability.
  
  
• Ignore the negative reviews...This is the best
  By A3CN9XNI1NZZ1K on 2007-11-16
  I have played many video game consoles in my lifetime, and none has been valued as much as the Xbox 360. The game library is enormous. This elite bundle is an amazing unprecedented value, it encompasses more than any other offering (Including the ps3 and wii.) This is the one essential set for gaming.
  
  
• Best system for next gen
  By A1X2ZGZ699UHWX on 2007-12-19
  Now my good gamers. Behold! A system that both can suck life out of Sony and do a good job at it! lol, well, actually, it just does what it needs to. Plays great games, great graphics, higher ammount of space than the premium and core, and just cooler looking.
  
  Now as for the red ring of death. I bought my Elite about 3 or 4 months ago, and i have NEVER had a single problem with it. But some people dont understand why theirs give the the RROD. Well, basically, its cause peple put the thing inside a cabnit, no circulation, or, put the back right up against the back of a wall, ect. so ya, there's two ways u could help reduce your chances of RROD.
  
  Anyway, great system, great games. good deal. highly recomend.
  
  
  
  
• Falcon with dead hard drive
  By A3NPWL5QQCZ2ON on 2008-01-19
  I just received my Xbox 360 Elite Bundle yesterday. The console works great and the games I bought separately (Gears of War & Lost Planet) look awesome in 1080p on my Samsung HDTVs.
  
  Unfortunately the hard drive is dead. The console can detect it, but I can't access it to create gamer profiles. Games are unable to save progress to it. Removing the drive and reattaching it multiple times did nothing. The console hangs for over a minute whenever I choose any action that touches the hard drive.
  
  As several others have noted, the outer package box seal was broken and not even resealed. The games were inside, but the hard green plastic box they came in was broken in two places (shards of plastic were loose inside). There were plenty of scrapes and dings on the outer box too. The plastic covering the console itself had been opened and retaped. The console seemed physically undamaged.
  
  I just scheduled a return pickup with UPS to send this back for a refund from Amazon. For those interested in the new Falcon boards, here's my info:
  
  Purchase date: Sunday Jan 13, 2008
  Arrival date: Friday Jan 18, 2008
  Manufacture date: November 8, 2007
  Power supply: 175W
  
  
• Santa Brought it Home!
  By A3CNVPWKM1PUXY on 2007-12-27
  Got an XBOX from amazon with a 10/19 build date. Has the 175 watt power supply along with 2 games. The Forza game is actually pretty good. The graphics are great! recommend.
  
  
• Misleading Description
  By A35OXB1BKYI7S9 on 2007-12-28
  I bought my elite on 12/17/2007. Product description indicates a release date of 23 Oct 2007 which lead me to believe it would have the new chipset and lower power consumption. Unit was manufactured in July and runs hot and loud. I searched high and low for what "release date" could possibly mean but found no explanation. Waiting another few months before buying online is probably best for people who want the new hardware.
  
  
• Sad...
  By A2NMIDKX4Z8HJ0 on 2007-12-28
  here i am, giving the 360 another chance with the elite version. Nope, mine broke down like all my other 360 after a week that i got it. People dont get a 360, you will not be pleased, i am trading this junk with a PS3 which by the looks is better and has great games out. Free blu-ray built in is great to.
  
  
• Received a Falcon
  By AVDFFFC6ED3FT on 2008-01-05
  Ordered about 2 weeks ago and received a Falcon. Build date of 10/16/2007, Lot# 742, 175w. So far so good. Doesn't seem to run any hotter than my PS3.
  
  
  
• Finally, The Ultimate Xbox 360 Is Here...
  By A1UFFMZWGTIPY8 on 2008-01-12
  This version of the Xbox 360 is the one that should've been the launch console. It has the HDMI port and a high-quality HDMI cable is included in the pack. Just as important is the upgraded 120GB HDD. If you download arcade games, demos, movies, map packs, and other add-ons, this is an absolute must!
  
  Furthermore, the reliability of this Xbox 360 has been dramatically improved. The new Elite consoles (and Pro consoles) contain the new Falcon motherboard. The Falcon motherboard ensures that your new Xbox will run much cooler than before.
  
  Lastly, the Xbox 360 Elite Bundle comes with two games: Forza Motorsport and Marvel Ultimate Alliance. Thus, you are getting $70 worth of games included in this pack for free! Both are great games, especially Forza Motorsport 2 (which was the Xbox 360 racing game of the year).
  
  In conclusion, i've had to change my stance. I would definitely recommend the $450 Xbox 360 Elite bundle over the $400 PS3. Yes, the PS3 is more powerful, however, the HDMI ports and 120GB HDD greatly even out the differences between the two systems. Formerly, I gave the edge to the PS3 due to the HDMI port, reliability, and the 60GB HDD. Furthermore, Xbox Live is far more superior than its PS3 counter-part. I also give the edge to the Xbox 360 due to the sheer number of good-to-excellent titles at your disposal(exclusive to the Xbox 360 are as follows):
  
  Racing Games: Forza Motorsport 2 (Xbox 360 Racing Game of the Year and IGN Editor's Choice Award), Project Gotham Racing 3 & 4 (Both IGN Editor's Choice Award), Burnout: Revenge (IGN Editor's Choice Award)
  
  Shooters: Halo 3 (Runner-up Game of the Year and IGN Editor's Choice Award), Gears of War (Game of the Year 2006 and IGN Editor's Choice Award), Bioshock (Runner-up Game of the Year and IGN Editor's Choice Award), Perfect Dark Zero, Prey (IGN Editor's Choice Award), Quake IV
  
  RPG/Adventure/Action Games: Mass Effect (RPG/Adventure Game of the Year and IGN Editor's Choice Award), Dead Rising, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition (IGN Editor's Choice Award), Crackdown, Saints Row (IGN Editor's Choice Award), Condemned: Criminal Origins (IGN Editor's Choice Award), Hitman: Blood Money, Battlestations: Midway (IGN Editor's Choice Award)
  
  Fighting Games: DOA 4 (IGN Editor's Choice Award)
  
  Strategy Games: Command & Conquer 3, Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-earth II
  
  As you can see, the Xbox 360 already has a slew of good-to-excellent award-winning exclusive games. Also, the Xbox 360 is far more than a "shooter" system, as some suggest. All-in-all, I would highly recommend the Xbox 360 Elite to anyone who has not decided on which system to buy.
  
  (Disclaimer: I'm not a "fanboy" of either Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo. I have an Xbox 360 and a PS3. I'm simply stating my opinions and experiences with the two.)
  
  
• Owned if for 1 week.....red lights of death!!!
  By A2YSDHDYQGYWJC on 2008-01-15
  I've owned this Xbox 360 Elite for ONE WEEK. I arrived the 9th of Jan, 2008 and today is the 16th of Jan, 2008. I got my first hardware failure message on the 12th of Jan. It froze on my game of Call of Duty: 4 and lost my save point. I had to unplug all connections, including the hard drive, and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then I plugged everything back in and it magically worked for 10 more minutes. Same thing again. Greeeeaaaat. My late Christmas present (Thanks honey!!!) doesn't work. Not only does this make her feel bad, but it makes me feel bad because I hate seeing her like this. She feels like she "ruined my Christmas" and just wants me to be happy. What a sweetie huh? :)
  
  Anyways, I'll be returning this Xbox 360 "Elite" to Amazon and buying a Playstation 3. Call of Duty: 4 just came out for it. Woohoo!!!
  
  
• Amazon Whare house and Amazon cutomer service
  By A10HYTETH1TXFP on 2008-06-05
  Don't buy from Amazon Wharehouse. They shipped me a open boxed Elite bundle without a controller. They advertised that it came with the controller. I called and complained and the first Indian told me to call Microsoft and buy a controller and call back with the price so that they can credit me. I did. I called back and the second Indian told me he couldn't credit me because I bought it through the Amazon Wharehouse. Then told me I had to call Microsoft and cancel my order...
  I asked for a supervisor and no one was available, they were on lunch....
  So all in all I spent the same ammount on a referb than a brand new Elite.
  
  
• Very happy customer
  By A39YNIYZB7VE5L on 2008-07-03
  I just got my 360 yesterday, and first of all, the Elite Bundle I ordered from Amazon was not repackaged in any way, shape, or form. It had the "Go Big" on it, it has the Falcon chip, and the games came factory sealed. Everything is perfect.
  
  That being said, this is an amazing piece of hardware. Everything is so seamless. Downloading demos from XBox Live is ridiculously easy. The Marketplace has an awesome selection of items ranging from original XBox games (Psychonauts!) to TV Shows to some pretty excellent Indie Arcade games.
  
  Everything you want to do, you can do it, and do it easily. For instance, I was playing Forza, and I decided I wanted some of my own music during the races. So I just loaded some music on my thumb drive from my PC, popped it in the USB port on the front of the 360, and I was good to go.
  
  The graphics are awesome, the sound is great. If I had ONE gripe, and it's not a big one, the fans on the 360 are a little loud. But if you have music going you won't even hear it.
  
  GET ONE!
  
  
• This is THE 360 to buy people!
  By AF21LZ89YQ3WL on 2007-12-10
  Ok, I have had a normal white 360 for almost 2 years and in that time it has gone back (like right now) to Microsoft twice because of the 3 red rings of death as it has become known. It is a GREAT system however it runs hot and needs 3 huge fan inside to try and keep it cool so it is LOUD. Note I said "try" because the heat is what makes the system get the 3 Red rings. The 360 Elite is night and day next to it's white counterpart, the black color looks great it is QUIET (YEAH!!!) and runs much cooler it has the huge 120gb hard drive so you can save games and download videos ect. it also has the much talked about Falcon chip set that cut down on the noise and heat.
  
  I own all of the new game systems (Wii, Ps3 ) and this is THE ONE folks the down side is the price and the extra equiptment you need to buy (wireless Internet adapter $90) You can find all the extras on ebay for much less so I would still get this system.
  
  
• fantast value for an amazing console
  By A3C1LTKWUKCDUM on 2007-12-13
  what can i say? i love my xbox 360 elite and i've no regrets about buying/owning it. the games are fantastic, the online features are amazing and unrivaled. the controller is top notch and the console just looks damn good... this is my second xbox 360 console and iuse them both, needless to say, this console is highly recommended...........five stars!!!
  
  

• Xbox 360 Wireless Controller Black
• Halo 3
• Xbox 360 Play & Charge Kit with Black Controller
• Xbox 360 Black Play & Charge Kit
• Xbox 360 Intercooler 360 - Black