Xbox Elite on the way

It's nice to finally see Microsoft announce the latest addition to the Xbox 360 range - the Elite. Basically it's a black console that comes with a larger 120GB hard drive and built-in HDMI. To me it seems a natural step in the evolution (not revolution) of the console and a much better decision than either waiting a few more years to put that into a completely redesigned machine or delaying the white Xbox 360 to include it in the original design.

I am surprised at the grouching and griping from people on the Internet. Sure it would be nice to have had that available in the white Xbox 360 - or the original Xbox come to that - but manufacturers bring out the product that they can manage at the time. Some people bought a machine at launch and now feel "betrayed" and apparantly would have rather waited for this version to come out. Yeah, right.

How can these people complain about consoles being superceded when they use a PC every day that is out of date almost as soon as they buy it? It's only 2007 and my desk machines are on their 3rd operating system since the turn of the century. They have had RAM and hard disk upgrades, and the CRT monitors have all been ditched in favour of light-weight flat screens. The industry moves on because there is still so much room for more advances in technology. Same goes for consoles (and cars.. and TVs... and phones...). When you buy one of these you know that you have voluntarily cast yourself adrift from chasing the next best thing that's always out of reach just around the corner.

Why don't people just appreciate the gaming time they've had so far (and will have) with their white Xbox 360? It's sad that their life has become so impoverished just because the Elite exists and they don't have one.

Comments

• Anonymous
  May 06, 2007
  The comment has been removed
• Anonymous
  May 07, 2007
  Ah, sarcasm  :-) I was trying to highlight the need to live with the fast pace of change in the market rather than the upgradability of the Xbox 360. I expect there will be quite a market in people selling on their Xbox 360s to generate funds towards an Elite purchase. Personally its going to be a while before I have anything fancy enough for the HDMI connection to plug into.