Xbox 360 Elite Launches in North America

The third tier version of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 gaming console went on sale in North American stores yesterday.

The biggest addition to the Xbox 360 Elite is its 120 GB hard drive. That’s twice the size of the PS3’s internal capacity. The Elite console also supports high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) output, a feature missing from previous versions of the Xbox 360. The list price for the unit is around $480, which is $80 more than the 20 GB version.

TGDaily - Xbox 360 Elite Now Aavailable

The general consensus regarding the new HDMI output is that it provides a picture that is slightly superior to that from component cables, but is not worth the upgrade for existing owners. Aside from the HDMI port, the Xbox 360 Elite is almost no different in functionality of a current Xbox 360 console with the expanded hard drive. The Elite console still omits any sort of Wi-Fi feature and utilizes the same types of optical drives that give the Xbox 360 the reputation for a being a loud console.

Reliability, however, may be something Microsoft is attempting to address with the Elite. Found in a recent dissection of the new console were minor changes presumably aimed at averting the notorious Red Ring of Death that many Xbox 360 owners have experienced.

Daily Tech - Xbox 360 Elite Launches in North America