<![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive - Kotaku Comments]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive - Kotaku Comments]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I don't understand how this news post failed to mention the proprietary USB SATA adapter for transfering from your old drive. Of course that's added cost!

Last Fall I got a ton of 120GB BEVS series drives (the ones that work with TheSpecialist's unofficial XBOX 360 HDD upgrade trick) on clearance for $23.99 each inside little USB enclosures (USB powered too!). I threw one in my PS3, saved one for an XBOX 360, used a few as gifts, and shared all the others at-cost to friends and coworkers.

Yeah, I'm sure Best Buy took a hit on that clearance, but it sure does show how over-priced the $180 Microsoft option is! Hell, I can find SATA to USB adapters for pretty cheap from China (dealextreme.com), so even that's no excuse.

CZroe

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I believe even if you do the data transfer you're still effed cause of the DRM, RIGHT?????????????????????????

freespeech

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @Mujah: If you can afford it and can't live without it then your purchase is justified.

It's just that they'd sell a metric fuckton and make more money if the price was reasonable.

Billkwando

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Wow. I feel like a bit of a tool, but I still don't regret biting the bullet and getting one. I can actually store all of the extra content I have now! From the Shivering Isles to the extra GRAW2 maps to TV episodes and trailers, I download an obscene amount of things (as well as anything free I see on the XBLM).
Thirteen gigs just don't cover it.

Mujah

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @vibinvo: You're as wrong as the guy I replied to on the MTV blog, but keep on believing that.

Oh and I think you meant "digress", unless you're backing up for some reason.

Billkwando

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Just MS nickle and diming like always.

vamponymouse

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> If you have a Premium version & consider getting a 120 Gig hard drive, it's basically the same as buying the Elite version for $450. Yet, you could buy a 40 Gig PS3 for $400, and still be able to buy any kind of hard drive you wanted. One reason I don't want a 360.

dawimp523

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> that's why i own an Elite

mcool93

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I got the arcade 360 and I didnt want to buy and HDD but I needed it, then I remembered my cousin got the RRoD and he didnt plan on sending his 360 to microsoft so I got his HDD for free! :)

HELLSRIDER

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> $100 for the HDD? b*tch please.
i can get a 120GB 2.5" on newegg for $65. The special packaging is a bunch of hooey as well. If you rip one of those drives open (which i in no way suggest you do, but these guys did [www.anandtech.com]) you will find *gasp* a standard 2.5" Samsung SATA drive... wow. that must have taken work.
You know what that means kids? you can order your own HDD, use Norton Ghost to copy on the proprietary "OS" needed to boot the HDD from the xbox and shazaam! youve made a 120 GB 360 drive for about 1/3 of the cost.
way to go microsoft, next time you want to gouge people for hardware you might actually think about making it proprietary lol

Zinv

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Yeah I still got my standard hard drive and in no way will I pay $180 for 120 gigs. The pricing on this is outrageous. Doesn't look like it's dropping anytime soon though.

Pornosaur

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> One word why they cost so much ...

PROPRIETARY

Same reason they rip you off for a damn USB WiFi key!

EnigmaNemesis

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> My previous post just reminded me of getting a PS2 for my sister last Christmas (her first console).

8 MB memory card for PS2 =~ $25

WTF, I can get a 4GB USB stick for $25

/I mean, I know I could have gotten some used 3rd party stuff at gamestop on the cheap, but would you want to find used hardware in your gift box?

lordargent

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Meanwhile, 1TB desktop drives are ~$180.

/Why can't I save my games to USB sticks, since that's the only reason I have a hard drive anyway? Seems kinda sad that I can put pictures and movies and music on a USB stick and the console can read them just fine, but save my games there, noooooooo.

lordargent

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I really want one of these but refuse to pay the asking price its outrageous.

Zootalor

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> got connections into a best buy...
looked at getting one for my sister for christmas as she just has a core
they make $10 off of them.

Jamaces

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @conglomerate: You should mean someone give those engineers a raise! A software (free) encryption scheme that locks you in to Microsoft-supplied hardware - brilliance!

The 360's still sell pretty well - there's room to jack up the price even more (once real issues like RROD calm down to reasonable levels).

To all those complain': guess what - you don't have to buy them. Otherwise just suck it up, lay down your green, and zip it.

dbc

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Only really need the 20GB HDD since theres no installs required. Even with a dozen or so XBLA games and similar amount of Rock Band songs and the enormous Halo MP patch, I'm not even close to using up 20 GBs. If you bought the Core / Arcade model, then you saved less then the cost of the HD and are an idiot for buying it. So, no reason for anyone to really bother buying another / new HDD. You can buy them for half the price on eBay anyways.

KirbyMorph

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Shame they had to create proprietary hardware in fear of hacking/mods. All it ended up doing is drive up costs and down the rate of adoption by their users.

Seems like Microsoft has a long storied history of trying to protect themselves through proprietary hardware/software. Maybe someone should ask real nice or just take their DRM gun away from them before they shoot themselves in the foot again with it.

lostalaska

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @Dragonis:

That's what I wanna know! o_O

In all honestly, I ended up making the jump to the 120 gig last fall. My 20 gig just wasn't holding up to my Video Marketplace habit. Okay, so Microsoft just wants to make money? If that's the case, what's the point? They make a product, if I want product, I buy product. If not, I deal with mucking around with my own drive an voiding my warranty. There. Wasn't that easy?

IMO, I know people don't "buy" this answer, but having worked in a computer store in the past, I have to say that expensive media-grade drives would explain a lot. Cheap drives do fail quite often, and if there isn't an easy way to back them up, trouble can happen. (There are 3rd party backup devices, but the ones I've seen so far are quite flimsy...) Someone used Apple as an example of why this *can't* be true? Please. The first iPod cost 300 dollars, if not more. Most of that cost was for the drive, and that was for a mere 30 gigs. Geez, people on the internet have such short-term memories.

Finally, guys, these are analysts. Not Microsoft employees. They're only giving their best guess, which frankly is just as good as any of ours. The only difference is they get paid for their guessing, and we don't.

Policroma

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Hey GUYS! Open your eyes will YOU! The NUMBER ONE reason why MS will NOT allow consumers to use their own HDD is to prevent (minimize) MODS/HACK.

I know PS3 allows consumers to use their own HDD, but there is MUCH less reason to do so as the games for the PS3 are on BR disc and therefore almost impossible to copy for an average consumer.

Now if MS allowed for consumers to replace with their own HDD and have access to the OS and its coding - it would open up a world of hacking and piracy as ALL X360 games are DVD disc and EASILY copied for an average consumer.

However, I regress...

vibinvo

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @Fadakar: i'm sure MS wouldn't mine either they'd get another sale added to their list

Pound my tom-tom

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @gogators88: It might cost you $100 to get a HD manufacturer to make a custom case but I highly doubt it cost MS that. You know Ipods use custom HD's and look they do not cost Apple $100 each. It's bullshit, the margins are huge for everyone involved except the customer.

kingmanic

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> $100 per HDD? Who's fooling who here? There is absolutely, positively no way MS is paying $100 per HDD. But if you'll buy that, I'm sure they have a digital bridge to sell you.

Sloopydrew

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Seriously? If that's true, I'm stunned. Just at the whole sillyness of it. And no justification is not going to make me purchase one at this crazy price. I mean I expect them to charge above the price for a PC HDD but not to this extent, regardless of why.

TearsandScreams

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> just remember the mark up on electronic's is about 900% for instance I buy a car charger from att for $30 bucks it only cost them 2 dollars to buy it from the manufacturer. Super Markup uppercut!!!

oneasianthug

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Why does everyone always seem so suprised when a company does something with the sole intent of making money?

Dragonis

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> The price likely has more to do with the fact that its not really a hdd,its basically just a giant memory card.

xIvSlowDeath420

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> This would mean that a built in HDD (non removable) would cost them less to produce and would not add a full $180 onto their price tag of the console.

This also means that MS was operating at a huge loss when they sold the stand-alone 20GB HDD for $100 and are now putting themselves underwater by selling it at $59.99. It isn't as if the extra 100GB really adds to the cost at all.

brandonf

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> The $180 price tag on the 120gig drive is what lead me to end up just grabbing an elite last fall. Totally worth the extra $100 for the 120gig and the HD cables.

On my drive DLC for GRAW2, Gears, and Lost Planet alone is 4 gigs. I have another 5 gigs of demos on the system, and 3 gigs worth of trailers and XBLA game. Currently my drive is sitting at 95.6 gigs left with everything that is on it. And I have no doubt that the GTA IV DLC is going to take a decent chunk of that if some of the rumors are true.

In all honesty, that is a pretty damn expensive. Especially since you can grab a 320gig SATA for $70 off of Newegg.com. Hopefully, MS will notice this folly and follow in Sony's lead next console generation. Though I won't hold my breath on that!

MantisDragon

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Hmm, I cannot decide whether this is an example of another shitty Microsoft design decision or lies so horrid Bill Gates has no teeth left. At the end of the day it doesn't really matter why they cost what they do, just that it's too high.

Replica23

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> This is why the Wii only uses USB and SD. Of course, that's not the best solution in the world either.

Apreche

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @TKWarrior: Actually, I'm pretty sure there are plenty of SATA to eSATA adapters for the PS3, complete with fancy faceplate replacements. Yes, it's still an external HDD, but you get to use a commodity 3.5" SATA drive like an internal one.

Jazhuis

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I will never buy one of the 120gb HDDs for $180.

Never.

PhoenixSS

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @TouchMyBox: Thanks man! I'll have to look into this when looking to upgrade the drive.

TKWarrior

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I sure love my $90 dollar 250gb HDD for my ps3.

tsukasa1288

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @kylo4: Well, when I searched google for "2 gb usb memory", I got these results:

Shopping results for 2 gb usb memory
Verbatim 2GB USB Store n Go Pink $39.99 - OfficeMax
SMART Modular Technologies SG-USBFD20 ... $46.09 - PROVANTAGE
ACP-EP Memory 2GB USB 2.0 Rubberized ... $34.99 - Walgreens.com

So... not $10. It's more. Then, when I searched for "512 mb usb memory", I got these results:

Shopping results for 512 mb usb memory
Swiss Army 512 MB USB Flash Memory ... $135.98 - QVC, Inc.
ACP-EP Memory 512MB USB 2.0 Mobile ... $19.99 - Walgreens.com
Promotional Metropolitan 512 MB USB ... $24.83 - Motivators.com

Also more than $10.

Then I searched for "xbox 360 512 mb memory" and got these results:

Shopping results for xbox 360 512 mb memory
Microsoft 9Z400001 Xbox 360 512 MB ... $49.96 - QVC, Inc.
Microsoft Xbox 360 512MB Memory Unit $39.99 - Newegg.com
Microsoft Corporation 512 MB Memory Unit ... $49.99 - Dell

I think the differences can be explained through market inefficiency due to less demand for Xbox memory units vs USB memory units and competition from a bunch of manufacturers making USB memory units and not that many (only Microsoft maybe) making Xbox memory units.

Similarly, I'm seeing USB wireless memory adapters for between $50 and $70, which excludes crazy sale prices that come around once in a short while. So $100 is more than that, but it's not ridiculously more. Or maybe it is. I just don't consider it a big deal.

teeth7

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @Roflcopter_Down: Wants you to follow HIM!: That was the worst meme insertion I've seen in a while outside of 4chan. NB: I still laughed... :/

Personally it makes more sense to me to buy a new 360 (elite or something) than buy a larger new HD.
That way at least I get nice shiny new chipset and HDMI port with my big new hard drive.

Jekht

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> There is no fucking way microsoft pays $100 for a hard drive which consumers can buy off the shelf at their local computer store for $70... For those not aware, you can buy a western digital BEVS series hard drive and plop that into the 360's hard drive enclosure (which is nothing more than plastic and one single sata cable) you just need to drop a couple files on that drive and partition it correctly, which is practically no work at all. Microsoft probably buys these things in bulk at $55-$60 a pop and then place them in the enclosure which costs $0.50 - $1.00 and then runs a program on them which partitions the drive correctly. Is microsoft trying to tell me that it costs them roughly $40 to partition a hard drive? hell, best buy's geek squad will do that for less, and they rape you up the ass for that kind of stuff.

TouchMyBox

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @SpadeAce: You did not read, did you?

Grive

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @Knight-Zero: @BenKenobi88:
750GB?
1TB?
'In' your PS3?
Yeah, I can quickly lookup Newegg.com and throw prices out there too. But your PS3 would have to look like this: [kotaku.com] (ewww) Or you are using an external HDD with a slow ass USB conenction. Otherwise you're talking BS. Nobody makes a 2.5" drive at those sizes, only 3.5" drives (even 500GB 2.5" drives are rare).

In either case it would make more sense to stream your media from your PC or NAS. I'm happy with 60GB in my PS3 for now. I do wish there was a way to easily upgrade the 360 drive, though. The prices for the upgrades are robbery!

TKWarrior

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I read all the info, and took a moment to absorb it. While I believe they know what they're talking about, I still refuse to believe MS pays $100 for that hard drive.

And if they do pay $100 for it, well then eff them for being stupid enough to think paying $100 a piece was a good idea. They deserve to have those damned things sit on store shelves.

What The Geek

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I have 5 MEGS of space on my 360 due to DLC and expansions, and I have to delete my old saves in Bioshock to continue making new ones.

That said, I need the bigger HDD and I can afford $180, but I still refuse to pay it. The drive is grossly overpriced, especially since they want you to buy DLC.

If they were smart, they'd reduce the price to increase the install base, but chances are M$ assumed that if you have enough $$ to partake in the luxury or DLC they might as well fleece you for a couple more bucks. After all, you can afford it, right?

Billkwando

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> All that plus the damn hard drive is of bad quality. It takes eternity to read whatever is on my 20 Gig HDD (or should I say 14 Gig). It's just so ridiculous.

Padder

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I have one and I'm glad I do, as long as I don't think about the cost much. If MS wants the 360 to be more of the media center they envision or even the multiple demo center they need to drop the price.

inajeep

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> You pay $100 for the HDD, Microsoft? I fart in your general direction.

Black_Ops_19

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> 80% markup???

Yep, sounds about right.

Pixelantes Anonymous

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I don't have any opinion on what Microsoft claims is true or not, just offering what has been said.

Personally, I think it's very possible that Microsoft may have spent extra money buying media grade drives with extra electronics and high MTBF, if only for the fact that a drive failure on the 360 which has no backup method would be catastrophic. Time will tell...

@Mega-Driven: Believe it or not, media grade drives are sold for use in devices with continual read and write activities like DVR's. You can use a regular drive with no problem, but who knows how long it will last. To use your analogy, it's like ripping all your mp3's, listening to them, then deleting them all and ripping them again week after week for years. If you're not using the video marketplace, this point might be moot.

aka Bitter

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @Indy_aka_Rex: "Here's an idea microsoft: Make the casing hollow and LET US PUT OUR OWN FUCKING HDDs IN THEM!"

Same idea I had over a year ago. Sell the case to me for 40 bucks. Yeah it would still be over priced and MS would still be bending me over. But at least this time they would be using some lube.

CaptCaveman

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @Mr_Ed: Well first off, people who replaced there hard drives (including myself) looked up the technical requirements which is part of the PS3 Manual.

Second, your PS3 nor the HDD Drive itself will break or has an effect while playing games, installing etc etc. for using a cheap HDD. My friend changed his 60GB 7200RPM with his old 80GB 5400RPM that came with his laptop, since launch, and its still working great for him so far...

kingme

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Even though I hate the pricing, I'm going to have to suck up the money and get the 120GB since I'm down to 2GB. I don't even have enough space to watch HD movies. >.<

TwilightSea

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> and that is why i love my ps3 more...lol bigger hard drives!! then again, I only use my 360 for rock band and guitar hero DLC so i dont really worry much about disc space

kingme

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Boy do I feel sorry for 360 owners....I just bought a 1TB drive for 180. That's 10 times the storage for same price. GeezuZ Crhist!!!! Talk about getting Fudd UP!!

karateka

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> i really doubt it needs software to run. casnt you put your own hard drive in a 20gb case? so there cant be anything special going on.

Victor-Ward

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I need the extra space. But yeah, the price is a little much.

IanC

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> For the 3 months my housemate couldn't be bothered sending his PS3 in for blu-ray drive repair we used it for multimedia purposes. Download a new ep of Soth Park? Chuck it on USB, plug into PS3 port, watch on 50 inch Plasma. Very quick and easy. @Mr_Ed: If someone replaces a quality product with an inferior product I can't see why they aren't to blame? Everyone I know who has replaced their PS# HD has looked at the stats of the HD before changing it and realised they need as good if not better to make their PS3 as good if not better. Pretty simple stuff.

el_rezzo

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @D00mM4r1n3: The thing is most Xbox Originals aren't rare so you can pick them up for $10 at an EB or even a CashConverters. I grabbed Psychonauts for $5 at my local EB just to see if it was any different on Xbox. They still haven't made digital distribution worthwhile, especially when games like Splinter Cell take up 4 gig or so.

el_rezzo

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> That impossible to breach packaging is worth it's weight in gold..
I just bought a half a terabyte for $200 (that's crappy aussie dollars too) so I don't understand why I should get a bigger hard-drive for my 360. I want more Arcade games but it's the price that stops me here. We don't get Video Marketplace (it's not important anyway as downloading is prevalent) so my 20gig is looking good.

el_rezzo

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @FullyShadow: Is the elite still $100 more than the premium?

If so, that's not quite as outrageous as the 120GB by itself, but $100 bucks for 100GB is still a complete rip-off.

73mike

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Microsoft is just playing it smart!

They know that consumers don't care about having hard drives present in their systems and that it's just a passing fad. Microsoft knows where the future of data storage is heading and that future is in memory cards...

Microsoft and memory cards, the wave of the future...

Ganglor

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> - The HDD must be coloured and shaped to fit inside the specially-designed housing that ensures only your 360 can use the unit. That's more extra expenditure.

ABSOLUTE RUBBISH. IT'S A 2.5" SATA HDD.

People it is perfectly possible to upgrade the HDD in the 360 yourself.

I retail 120GB laptop drive costs about £30/$60 and then all you need are a few common tools.

f0cus

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I simply traded in a bunch of games to lessen the impact of the cost of the drive. Having a 120GB drive is pretty much mandatory if you want to buy more than 2 Xbox Original games and rent HD movies.

D00mM4r1n3

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I'm glad I have a PS3. It is refreshingly open as far as consoles go. Being able to whip out the HDD, or plugin some random USB mouse / keyboard, or bluetooth device is liberating. Being able to rip DVDs, encode them as DIVX or MP4 and download them to the PS3's HDD is just awesome.

DrXym

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I'll completely agree that the price is OTT. But Microsoft are a business, and thus of course they try and make money.

That said, anyone who thinks Sony got it right with adding any HDD is kidding themselves.

As numerous posters here have proved, people wont go for the best drives, they'll go for the cheapest. That means transfer rates suffer, and they'll probably run too hot. HDDs vary in quality, and as with most things in life, those drives are cheap for a reason.

I'll wager the further we get into this generation, the more PS3s will suffer due to cheap drives (HDDs failing, games taking ages to install, games going slowly, etc)

Mr_Ed

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Add me to the "I call bullshit" brigade. All the extra factors they mention will add to the cost, but they'll always be the same regardless of the size of the drive. So in the two 1/2 years since the 360 launched the price of drives have fallen and the original price of the 20gig should easily get us an 80/120 gig drive (and that's being nice to MS).

It's just greed, they bought a batch of 20gig drives on the cheap and are trying to make as much as possible from them. Luckily retailers get bored of holding the stock and mark them down; got my 120gig for half price.

noboard

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> It should be 59.99

Orionsaint

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> It's a simple matter of economics, people. That 80 dollar profit the blog post mentioned easily vanishes into implicit costs of not only the drive, but the 360 division as a whole. Retailers need money to pay their employees, supplies need money to make the product accessible, and Microsoft could damn well use the money to continue expanding their Xbox division. Obviously Microsoft is viewing securing the 360 platform as more valuable than hard drive sales, or else they would lower the price. You should be thanking them instead of whining.

Steel_Slacker

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I don't buy this specially shaped stuff, hackers have opened the thing and swapped drives before, i think we would have heard if it was physically shaped differently from regular drives.

Milkham

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Are all 360 accessories like that? Mad and all?

*goes to check 120gb HDD and comes back with bruises* -_O

xXSlayer77Xx

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Microsoft brand Choice®

1. Strip out accessories
2. Sell to customer in proprietary enclosure at marked up price
3. Profit!

Barnolde

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> MS has some crazy anti-hack thingy in that HDD unit, which may contribute to the price, because I have yet to hear someone make a working unit that can be upgraded to any capacity HDD.

But I guess that's what happens when you release a new console before HDD prices drop. Considering the capacity and price of hard drives back when 360 was being developed, $100 for a 20GB notebook drive was pretty competitive.

boopadoo

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> If I remember correctly every 360 Hard drive sold includes a fat fee that MS has to pay to nvidia for Backwards compatability.

Sort of like how the IR dongle for the Xbox for DVD playback cost as much as it did because you were basically buying a license to decode DVDs.

Nitsuj116

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> its too expensive but kotaku quoting mtv news is the lol.

Sonovius

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> So...... a $40 HDD + Putting it in a plastic case = a $120 HDD?

Yea, I'll have to go with NO.

Trailnutz

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Hey MS, try taking a Sony route and using a laptop HDD. Simple.

Yamster

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> MS didn't get to be the hugely rich company they are today by paying $100 per harddrive.

dowingba

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @FullyShadow: Probably OVER 9000!!1

Roflcopter_Down: Wants you to follow HIM!

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> The price is not stopping me from buying a HDD, it's the fact that the extra space is totally unnessesary for me.

I'm nowhere near filling the standard HDD with DLC (I delete demos, doesn't everyone?) and the video marketplace is redundant for me because a) My Xbox is not in my lounge and b) I can drive to Blockbuster and back quiker than I can download a movie.

IronsUK

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I don't think it's fair to call it greed. The Core/Arcade was probably sold at a loss for some time if not still, they offset that loss via the memory card or HDD which they know people will pick up at some point and yield them a huge profit.

I find the cost insulting and it's a mark against them as far as me choosing MS over Sony. What I'd probably appreciate more is if the Elite's premium price allowed user upgrades so you wouldn't be looking forward to stumping up another premium price for a hard drive upgrade when MS starts really hammering content at us all.

Jelster

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> bullshit. This is the richest company in the world if anyone is forgetting... they did get so giant, cutting prices and passing down the saving to the people.

Maybe they can cut the demos and OS and then they can save that part of the costs... or putting that money into better designer with some background in flammability...

VakeroRokero

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Whether we think it's overpriced or not, apparently Microsoft is selling enough of them to not need a price reduction.

...right?

Big World

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I bought the 360 with no HDD because I thought the extra cost for the HDD was ridiculous.

Phazon

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Could you than explain why their 512 MB memory cards are $70? Or the Wi-Fi adapter $100? Considering the fact that for $10 you can buy a 2GB USB stick and for $70 a Wireless N Router, I call bullshit on this and attribute it to greed.

kylo4

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Considering Microsoft probably buys these by the boatload from the original manufacturer, it's say to say it doesn't cost them anywhere NEAR what you'd buy a normal 2.5 HDD at retail.

Installing the OS costs money ? News to me.

A 'custom' plastic shell costs more than 20 cents ? No.

It's over priced, period.

jynxycat

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @aka Bitter: A "media" grade hard drive? Wow, I hope I have one, so the ones and zeros that make up my mp3 collection stay as pristine as the ones and zeros that make up my work files on my old "reg'lar" grade hard disk.

BS man.

Mega-Driven

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I call bullshit. The only reason they're so ridiculously priced is spelled G-R-E-E-D.

That's all there's to it

thinred

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> don't forget it's laptop sized.

nyaz

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> ...Just how the hell does that thing cost 100$ to produce? Even with the things listed above.

Seiru

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> REDFACE??????

Darthvinder

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @freakout:
Cool your jets Billy Blaze.

I think he was referring to the M$'s price markup as bullshit, not the story itself or its credibility.

VishusBurn

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> If they just made the HDDs bigger, the price wouldn't be so ridiculous (since most of the cost comes from factors that won't increase in price if the HDD has a larger capacity).

A 500GB drive for example (means I could store all my Xvid/Divx media on the 360) would be justifiable if they keep other factors the same..

Passa

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> In the UK it costs like 160 quid. Thats like $240 dollars. What a bloody rip off.

flukielukie

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> It wouldn't be so bad if the $80 were on top of a SERIOUSLY beefy drive.

Like, $80 on top of a 1TB drive would be something I'd probably purchase. I could live with that cost premium.

DannoHung

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @Y2Jason: But, but, on the xbox.com wireless accessories page it says "Xbox 360 is the only console that's wireless ready, right out of the box!" Seriously, that $99 wireless network adapter can walk right off a cliff.

It also says "Loose the clutter of cables." Way to go, guys.

Wolfers

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> 320GB? 750GB? Makes me wonder what you do with all the disc space. I would more than understand it on PCs, but we are talking about consoles (and I dont have any problem with the 20GB disc shipped wih Premium)

uzivatel

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @Dave Silva: Cheers mate, words out of muzzle right there.

I know it's MS, they aren't known for there 'openness' Even more when they have you by the brass balls with potential banning from the xbl. But COME ON!

I mean, simple little things that would make it less like a system your fighting, and more like a system you own would go along way. Little things like downloading music and potentially files from a flash drive would be nice.

How about just simply using a flash drive as an extra HD? you know, something we can take around and not that shit awful transfer pack NO ONE USES.

Come on MS, if I have any issues with you, it's you and your locks.

huginn

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @LittleBigPlaneteer: Christ, you're an ignorant git. ISuppli may be off by a few dollars (in either direction). But one look at pretty much any computer store anywhere on the frickin' planet will confirm their estimate on the price of the base HDD. Then $5 for colouring and packing, plus a small markup for the packager.

Hardly "the biggest load of bullshit ever". Take a chill pill, you big sheila.

freakout

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> It's perfectly ok for Nintendo to make shit-tons of money for their junk but not microsoft?

How much do these Wii-Wheels cost to make again?

thought so.

interstate78

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @AryzonaBay: Haha, can't believe that's something I didn't think of.

Now if ONLY iSuppli would conduct an investigation into what the hell makes the Xbox 360 Wireless Adaptor the most expensive damn a/b/g wireless card in the world!!
*Disclaimer* Please do not correct me if I am wrong :)

☆Y2Jason☆

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @aka Bitter:

SATA drives can be hot-swapped by default, and they're the de facto standard.

Koztah

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> An extra 10 seconds to put part of an OS on a hard drive = what, pennies?

A factory pumping out everything needed for the hard drives aesthetics = not $20 per hard drive either (assuming the 120GB HDD itself is $80, which for them, it probably isn't).

And $80 profit? Seems a tad steep. Although I guess that's reasonable seeing as how no one is buying them.

Mit

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Color tuning? wtf? The hard drives are inside an opaque plastic casing, who cares what color they are?

Giolon

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> ouch

Grimmjow Jeagerjaques

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @Dave Silva:
"Your friend committed fraud"
He sure did, but the same could be said about Microsoft's pricing of the HDD in the first place. (Ba-Da-Cha)

@AryzonaBay:
Seriously thou. The old Buy-switch-return routine is fraud (Legal-wise worse than theft), lets hope your friend used cash and didn't use a real ID.

VishusBurn

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @Dave Silva: Amen!

parasiteartist

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I won't pay that price. I will just keep on deleting arcade games when I need to download a move. :)

parasiteartist

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> will someone PLEASE slap MS and Nintendo engineers?!

conglomerate

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @AryzonaBay: Your friend committed fraud and I hope he gets thrown in jail one day.

Kitsune Sniper

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Sure Microsoft can charge whatever they want. Here's another perspective:

I have a Premium 360 with the 20GB HDD. I'm running out of room so I've pretty much stopped buying XBLA games. I'm also not downloading any of the Xbox Originals that I might otherwise.

I don't like deleting stuff and besides, most of it is map packs and the like which I still use.

Infinitum

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> The HD isn't the only accessory that M$ overprices. Once they get anything proprietary (memory cards, etc.)and have you locked into the 360, they don't care about how many they sell, just maximizing revenue. They probably couldn't care less that a lot of people would have use for a larger HD, if they can make 435 billion off of 3 overpriced units (exaggerated, but you get the point). I just can't believe anything that claims to rationalize these ridiculous prices other than greed.

RonJeremy4Pres

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> A friend of mine bought the 120GB drive from Wal-Mart, transferred data from the 20GB, returned the package, transfer cable, cd etc. with the 20GB. Even though both drives have clear visual differences - 20GB just says "HDD" while 120GB says "120GB HDD", they took it back anyway and refunded his money.

AryzonaBay

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Whatev. I can buy a 320GB HDD for my PS3 for $120, SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

Sailorcancer

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I do love my 1 TB hard drive for $140.

BenKenobi88

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @Doshu: Let me rephrase that: They don't have a right to charge what they do because of losses (as another poster sort of insinuated). This was the point that I was trying to make.

I agree that, as a company, Microsoft has the right to charge whatever they want.

sugardeath

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @aka Bitter:
My comment died?
Anyway:
I used to hot-swap IDE harddrives (windows pooped on itself, linux handled it fine; still, it's not recommended but is doable). SATA harddrive hot-swappability is defined in the specifications. I highly doubt that MS is using IDE harddrives, based on when the 360 was released. They can shove it.

sugardeath

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @cybereality: I game on my 320 GIG PS3 that I only paid taxes for. Bought the HDD myself, paid only taxes for the system. Radio Contests rock. (I'd have bought a system anyway)

Amazon_Chris

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @sugardeath: they don't have a right (and actually never would in any circumstance) to charge so much for the harddrive.

They have every right to charge what they like for it. Same as Sony had every right to charge what they liked for the PS3 and Nintendo have every right to charge what they like for the Wii (and even *gasp* make a profit on it). However, you also have every right to not buy their products if you don't think they're good value for money.

That's the way capitalism works.

Doshu

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @aka Bitter:
I used to hot-swap IDE harddrives all the time back in the day (not recommended, but possible; I only got it to work in Linux, Windows shat on itself). SATA harddrives are hot-swappable by design (it's part of the SATA specifications). Microsoft is full of crap.

sugardeath

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> What I love is how people complain about being locked into proprietary hardware and cry about how they can buy an HDD for the PC for so cheap. Here's a thought, maybe you should game on the PC too. You can customize any piece of hardware you want. Or you could keep paying Microsoft top dollar for their BlackBox and bitch about it.

cybereality

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @sugardeath:
keep throwing*

sugardeath

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I recall someone from Microsoft stating that part of the extra cost is that the drives are media grade and contain extra electronics to allow hot swapping...

aka Bitter

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @AverageJoes:
So Microsoft losing buckets of money makes it right for them to charge customers buckets of money? Sorry, but your comment is pointless. If Microsoft is losing tons of money on their gaming division then they need to a) get out, b) make better decisions, or c) keep through their tons of money from other divisions at it.

Since they refuse to do A or B and are currently doing C, they don't have a right (and actually never would in any circumstance) to charge so much for the harddrive.

sugardeath

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @Knight-Zero: Yo u don't have a 360 dumbass.

Knight-Zero

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @DARTH_TIGRIS: So has anybody used a Sata to hack the PS3, which would vindicate what MS is doing?

People have used external HDDs and Linux on the PS3 to make "backups" of their games. The limiting factor atm is the cost of Blu-ray burners and media.

@ecto311: What good is tons of space on the ps3 when you dont have games to play on it?

Welcome to 2006!
Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.

@syl1985: o backwards - but the console is pretty old now - the next xbox will have a normal sata ii HDD fer sure.

How do you figure that? If they keep going with their current trends, the 720 won't have discs at all and you'll need to download all your games just before playing them.

The only reason removing the HDD from the XBox isn't Microsoft's biggest mistake with the 360, is rushing to market with a crappy (and poorly tested) design trumps it.

Doshu

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @=O: Maybe because it's a lot cheaper and easier to burn standard DVDs than Blu-Ray discs...
has little to do with the HDD.

relic1980

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @Seiven: 10 GB? That's lower than the one it shipped with.

Amazon_Chris

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Really? MS pays $100 for a 20 gig (about?)? BS since I can get a 20 gig laptop drive for next to nothing now.

Amazon_Chris

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> why has MS screwed its users once again? I have a 10GB HDD that I slapped right into my PS3 and loaded Linux on it too...this is one thing MS could learn from Sony...now onto the MILLION things that Sony can learn from MS this round...

Seiven

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Once again people assume that retailer's are more than happy to sell product for free.

If this product truely costs MS 100 dollar to make, and retail probably pays 115-125 at wholesale costs, with the rest of the mark-up going to the retailer and not MS. Thus leaving MS with around 15 to 25 dollars in profit.

Why people still go on about the retail industry basically selling everything for free and all profit just going to MS, is beyond me.

gogators88

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Oh look my ps3 has 750 of space and it only cost me 120 dollars on sale... look at my overpriced 360 HDD... *CRY*

Knight-Zero

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> well, if you can sell your old HDD for $80 (which is very possible), and can get one for $150, I'd say go for it.

This is one time buying used, is definately not a moral dilema. see.g.a.f.

theALLseeingEYE

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> So...they can't bargain to cut the price? I call BS.

KingBroly

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> So it's to bleed the consumer dry of money? I could of told you that.

Thorax

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I agree, it is totally overpriced. I bought a Core unit (shaddap ^_^) back in April of 06 (still running yup), then after they (Gamecrazy) got them in stock a couple of weeks later I did a trade/buy deal on a 20GB ($50 or so in trade, the rest cash) version. Was pretty startled when I put it in and found that about 7GB was taken up already, plus demos and movies (which, for the most part, was watched then deleted). If MS wants to sell more of these things, they clearly have to find a way to bring the price down. After 2 and a half years surely the materials don't cost as much.

relic1980

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Will there be no end to the exploitation of the video game devotees?

pABSO

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @ecto311: I hope you get Witzy's hammer for living in 2006 still. Fucktard.

AverageJoes

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I think most people in this thread are discounting the insane amounts of money MS has lost on their gaming division even with their moving around projected costs.

AverageJoes

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> In other words, it's proprietary so they can charge whatever they want. The part which costs Microsoft the most is making it customized so only the Xbox 360 can use it. So, really, they've jacked up the price to make the product more inconvenient for the consumer. This is one the things I absolutely hate about almost anything which is proprietary. It always hurts the consumer.

sariah

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Like I said before; I can care less how much money a company wastes to make a product...if it's overpriced, they better be prepared to take a loss.

Darkest Daze

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @ecto311:

What?? The PS3 has no games to play?

OMG I had no idea, thanks for educating us about it! I'm going to put my money on your advice!

rrghy

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Or alternatively, MS could have been not stupid. And gone with non-proprietary HDD's.

KakashiDX

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Until I have a HDD large enough to fit them I will continue to not buy the xbox originals from XBL marketplace along with other DLC content I don't have room to keep. Which makes me a very sad panda because I really want to play Ninja Gaiden and Psychonauts.

QuasarSquirrel

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @Indy_aka_Rex: totally. Not only that, I'm sure they could sell it for at least $50. For the 'HDD enclosure with 360 OS install' or something. This will ONLY market to people who know what to do. They would still have their mass market (read:parents) $180 HDD.

This at least SEMI-pleases the entire demographic. I mean, the 360 coming with totally swappable HDD would be best, but I don't see that happening.

Would it be possible (next gen) to have like a built in HDD or something for OS, and on new swapped in HDD from user, auto-install proper OS and everythin?

kosikutioner

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Biggest load of bullshit ever. Are people really swallowing this?

LittleBigPlaneteer

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> so... the ps3 can run linux and any hard drive... the 360 uses only their own OS and HDDs... except, people regularly pirate 360 games and, as far as i've ever heard, ps3 does not. thats just a bad excuse.

=O

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Mine just came with my Elite after I traded in my old repaired launch 360.

If you think about the price of the HDD, it's a great value. Shame that the HDD is actually way overpriced.

Inverse Logic

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> If the casing's the issue, it'd make sense why there's such a huge price difference between the 20GB HDD ($100) and the 120GB HDD ($180), despite the difference in size.
The cheapest 40GB 2.5" drive (no 20GBs there...) on Newegg is $46, and the cheapest 120GB 2.5" drive is $63.

BPMΣ

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Don't forget the middleman fees.

Retailers make very little on consoles, but a bundle on accessories.

So I'd expect the HDD to have a hefty markup attached to it like all other accessories.

string_theory

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @Callidux:

The internal HDD is swappable. I have a core 20GB but replaced it with a 160GB one a little over a year ago.

SG79

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @ecto311: Hoho! I see what you did there! Very clever!

ShirtGuyDom

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> What good is tons of space on the ps3 when you dont have games to play on it?

ecto311

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Well, this sucks, but honestly, it's way too late to change anything related to the hard-drive on the 360. Maybe they will go back to a normal HD on the 720. One can only hope.

CatPope

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @Fareo: There's also issues of people hacking in CoD4 with the use of external hard drives.

Not saying either way is wrong, but there are consequences both ways.

Callidux

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Definitely doesn't justif

sir_carrot

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Definitely doesn't justify the crap-head price.

They need to produce a cheaper version for these to sell and for the whole 'xbox originals' thing to sell...

And while they're at it, they should put some effort into the lazy xbox originals releases.

sir_carrot

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I purchased a 320G for my ps3 for $150

gamerholic

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @SpadeAce: Even @ 100-120$ its over priced. HDDs are so cheap now. Just looking on newegg and on the first page of hard drives alone i saw a 320GB Sata drive for 70$.

Detre

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @Jutah_F8: lol imagine how much a 200hdd xbox edition would cost! :P

FullyShadow

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> At least I've never heard of a HDD breaking down for unknown reasons.

e30b27

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I can get a 200GB hard drive for my PS3, for less than a $100!!

Jutah_F8

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> So has anybody used a Sata to hack the PS3, which would vindicate what MS is doing? Or is this all just fear mongering on their part?

DARTH_TIGRIS

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Hmmm...unless they have a very bad supplier who does not cut them a bulk discount, I don't buy that it costs them that much per drive.

The fact that you can get drives around that physical size and storage capacity for cheap online or in physical retail stores debunks it. $100-120 is the money mark for MS if they want to sell larger drives to consumers.

SpadeAce

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @Fadakar: i agree with you on that one!

FullyShadow

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> go sony for being smart and just using normal hard drive.

Fareo

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> $80? Ouch.

John-irl

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> BS. Such value added services probably cost less that a few dollars over the cost of the hard drive itself. It and the likes of controllers and other add ons which cost next to nothing to make are nothing but profit subsidize to hold up the loss made on the hardware.

On this front I score Sony over MS for allowing me to future proof their console and upgrade the HDD however and whenever I choose.

Jelster

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> This is not new news to me. Of course I had to real proof to back it up until now, but I always assumed the reason was because of the casing. This is my opinion where they went wrong with the hdds (not including the option of not having one). If they let you use any hdd then people wouldn't mind as much, but the real kicker, most people aren't computer savvy so they would actually buy one that ms puts out on the shelves which would cost more because of the xbox title on the packaging. MS would have made the same amount of money because those who know enough about computers know that 180 for a 120 gig hdd is way too much to even be worth adding extra memory on your xbox

madbassman39

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I got my 20gig used at gamestop for 60 bucks, still expensive, but much cheaper than the price tag for a new one.
I just did a search and it seems they don't have any of the 120gigs refurbed, lame.

DefHamster

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> That's such bullshit. It's a totally unnecessary peripheral. They could've done like Sony did with the PS3 and just make any 2.5" drive work. They could still have shipped units without a hard drive (even though all SKUs should have). I understand they were trying to have an offering at a lower price point, but it means the games and consumers suffer. I can't imagine needing a hard drive enough to pay $180 for it.

Likwit

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> I haven't even filled my 20 Gb even with over 50 rock band tracks, arcade games, saves, demos, etc.

BlackPawn

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> Came with my system, but at $180 I'll avoid it like the black plague. Make it $100 and it'll be considerable, but at $80 and below, now you got a deal.

Trowble (XBL/PSN)

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> So backwards - but the console is pretty old now - the next xbox will have a normal sata ii HDD fer sure.

syl1985

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]> @Indy_aka_Rex: Hackers would love that.... so would I :P

okenny :) ...building bridges (to hide under)

]]> <![CDATA[Why 360 HDDs Are So Ridiculously Expensive]]>