What message is Microsoft sending with 'Elite'?

First let me start by saying this.

 I am a gamer and not a fanboy.  What I am about to say is just an observation from a gamers perspective.  I will still own a 360 and PS3. 

 Microsoft released the information on it's new XBOX 360 Elite.  What message is it sending?

I believe the message is very clear.  The XBOX 360 was not an Elite Console so we are now making one we consider Elite.  So all of our current customers just go a gaming console but not an Elite Console.

So what does the Elite console add.  HDMI, Larger HDD and Black Paint.  So let me get this right.  The 360 was not an Elite system so we are now adding the features that are standard on the PS3.  The PS3 has HDMI, Larger HDD and it happens to be black.  I know the paint is irrelevant here, but many have expressed how Black matches most stereo and video equipment you would purchase allowing your console to blend with your entertainment system.

The PS3 consumer is an Elite consumer, regardless of which PS3 they choose to buy.  They both have the Elite options at least by Microsoft standards.  They both have HDMI and let's be honest.  The HDD is upgradable on both systems.

Now this new 360 Elite does not have everything the PS3 has, but MS considers the addition of HDMI and a larger HDD to be Elite.  So what is the PS3?  The PS3 has all of that and WiFi built in with BluRay Drive.

You see.  MS has just made the 360 console more confusing for consumers.  You now have 3 choices and if you don't buy the Elite version, well.....  You are just not getting an Elite Console.   On the Sony camp, all of their customers are getting an Elite System.

I won't spend the time to compare the value component by component because it has already been done by 1up.com 

To add all the components missing from the 360 Elite to match the PS3 and adding the components missing in the PS3 to match the the 360 Elite.  The results showed that the 360 Elite will cost you more to match the PS3 feature by feature, but even this was not fair, because the PS3 can play BluRay games and the 360 Elite would still not be able to play games beyond the 9 Gig DVD limit.  But even with this small fact overlooked, the 360 Elite would cost more than the PS3.  I don't remember the exact numbers but the PS3 was around $100 cheaper.  This included the HDD upgrade for the PS3 to match the 120 Gig HDD of the 360E.

 Microsoft went on record to say that the PS3's larger HDD was not important and that HDMI was not important.  Why change it now?  Not only did they change their stance on this, but they even called these additional features Elite.  So is Microsoft saying that the PS3 is an Elite system and we are now trying to match it?  They did not say that, but anyone that is a gamer and not a fan boy knows that this is the case.

This is just my opinion as a Gamer.  Remember how I started this thread.  I have not purchased my PS3 or 360 yet, because I was waiting for my HDTV and several great games to be out for both systems.  Now when I decide to buy a 360, I will get the Elite version and the PS3 60 Gig version. 

I just think Microsoft sent a very clear message to all gamers (Not Fan Boys).  The 360 was not an Elite Console and we are now going to provide you with one.  It just happens to add the standard features of the PS3, but does not have all the features found in the PS3.  So if MS decided to match the PS3 next year.  The new 360 system will be called, 360 Elite 2 and have WiFi with HD-DVD standard.

Sony said that the PS3 was a 10 year investment you can count on and Microsoft has just made that statement more real than ever.  Sony did not release a console before they felt it contained everything their customer should have on an Elite Console.  The 360 obviously did not do this and if I would have purchased a 360 before this announcement, I would have been ticked off.  I always pay for the best version of any gadget or electronics equipment.  So I would have felt abandoned or deceived by Microsoft.  I would have felt terrible knowing that I did not have the Elite version of a console.

I hope you guys can see my point.  Let's game on and for those of you that waited for the 360, you now have the choice to get an Elite version.

Game On.

"Jump Off"CalmityDaunt

the message you say? that Nintendo isn't the only company who can remake game systems and make tons of money. lolMavsFan2007

[QUOTE="MavsFan2007"]the message you say? that Nintendo isn't the only company who can remake game systems and make tons of money. lolShadow_op

To me , It looks like the message from microsoft says this..

"I know some people never purchased a 360 because of a lack of hard drive and HDMI , well now we have included them in a package to make you buy one"