360 HD DVD Drive: Out Now

The Xbox360's HD DVD peripheral hits UK stores today

Posted by Staff
Microsoft's belated HD-DVD kit; largely impressive or just large?
Microsoft's belated HD-DVD kit; largely impressive or just large?
Microsoft’s Xbox 360 HD DVD drive has hit store shelves today for the princely sum of £129.99.

With stand-alone HD DVD players typically retailing at close to £400, if you were to buy a 360 console and treat yourself to the DVD kit as well, you’d still only find yourself paying £409.98. That is also 15 quid less than a Blu-Ray equipped PS3 (when/if it gets here).

We’re predicting 360 bundles including the player before the PS3 UK launch. It’ll probably be at a lower price-point than the two bought separately, putting further distance between Sony and Microsoft price-wise. Let us know whether you think this is savvy business or mournful desperation in the forum below.

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Comments

SPInGSPOnG 1 Dec 2006 16:06
1/6
"Further distance"

I can't see how a 3-box system for £15 less is any distance.

I'd rather pay the extra £15 and get it all in one. Hell, I'd rather pay an extra £100 and get it all in one. The 360's power brick (and it's actually as big as a brick) is bad enough without an external drive cluttering the place up.


king skins 1 Dec 2006 16:13
2/6
And quieter to, but remember MS and not trying to push a DVD format on your they are offering you the choice ;)

So where is the DVI or HDMI cables for the 360...?
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Hypnotoad 4 Dec 2006 00:31
3/6
3 box? It's still only a 2 box purchase (the power supply can hardly be factored into this, please).

What if Bluray ends up being the failing format - far to early to call but they are definately running in second place right now. You'd have paid $x more for usless hardware. MS are giving comsumers the option, for less.

Also, the 360's power supply is large, but it's about 1/3 the size of an actual 'brick' so try not to let missinformation fuel your arguments.
SPInGSPOnG 4 Dec 2006 07:46
4/6
Hypnotoad wrote:
3 box? It's still only a 2 box purchase (the power supply can hardly be factored into this, please).

I never mentioned the word purchase. I was clearly talking about the number of boxes littering my lounge. I even use the term "cluttering the place up" to give it the necessary context.

Also, the 360's power supply is large, but it's about 1/3 the size of an actual 'brick'

The average UK house-brick is 215mm long. The Xbox power supply is 210. A brick is 60mm high, an XBox 360 supply is 56mm.

The power supply is narrower than a brick, but only by 25%.

So while you may imagine the Xbox adaptor to be 1/3 the size of a house brick, the fact is, lying about your lounge, it takes up pretty much the same amount of space.

so try not to let missinformation fuel your arguments.

I didn't. How about you try not to let blind fan-boyism fuel yours?

theone 6 Dec 2006 03:31
5/6
haha, first of all stop being so panicative about a stupid brick!!

also you actually know the size of the power supply (even wasting your time measuring it) which means you own an xbox.

your going on about the big power supply and the seperate drive cluttering up the space, do u actually play games or just spend hours rearanging all your little accessories under your tv tying the cables in little pink bows!!!

besides the ps3 is still bigger than the xbox (least u can buy one)

stop this ridiculous argument and i'm not taking sides here but i have at least played a 360 and is very good and fun, which is the important thing!!!

ta

p.s. a uk average standard brick is actually only 65mm high, but can vary in size depending to your specification requirements. ;P
tyrion 6 Dec 2006 08:19
6/6
theone wrote:
besides the ps3 is still bigger than the xbox (least u can buy one)

Slightly bigger if you don't include the 360's power brick, but considerably smaller if you do. Even more so if you include the 360's HD-DVD add on, which was the point of this thread after all.

Having the power brick internal to the PS3 makes a slimline, or at least reduced size, version a no brainer later on. Having seen the take apart pictures on the web, I can't see much else in there that gives it the bulk other than the power brick and the cooling system. Move the brick external and reduce the heat output of the Cell and RSX and you could have a small PS3 quite easily.
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