amd2001

Anonymous quotes, eh? You're starting to make the National Enquirer look credible with this garbage. Then you go on to disparage a site that actually quotes a source in your update. Can you say backassward?

You want the bottom line.... If you're buying a next gen console not called the Wii you're going to pay... a lot.

Consider my situation; I contemplated waiting for the PS3, but for several reasons I ended up buying the 360. So, I walk out the door with a Core Sys, GRAW, and a memory card. The most I was willing to spend, but I'd still be able to play online-- which is most important to me. So that's over $400 right there.

Now a couple of weeks after I buy the GRAW a $15 expansion pack comes out. But for me it's not just $15. The only way I could enjoy that is by buying the $100 hard drive. Hmm.

So I don't have the hard drive. No biggie-- I can still play online. I just find it funny that they charge this $15 for new maps and weapons when the online experience has such glaring problems; ranked games are a joke-- way too glitched, voicechat is useless(enjoy hearing heavy breathing then you'll love it), and finding games is just a chore. Yet here comes Ubisoft with their perfume on a pig.

One of the things I was looking forward to was an improved NEXT GEN online experience. Yet I find it sorely lacking. Is Xbox live going to be worth the $50 a year? The demos and such seem like they'll be fun, but again I'll have to buy the $100, overly expensive, grossly undersized 20 gig hard drive. Oh joy. And how about the fact that despite paying a monthly fee they still feel as though it's ok to jam Advertisements down your throat. I'm paying for Nacho Libre ads... COOL.

All in all by the end of the year I'll have spent around $550 - 600 on this thing(having only bought one game). Both Microsoft and Sony are squarely aimed at your wallet. And they aren't afraid to use unfriendly, borderline deceptive tactics to gain your cash. Just as a site like Joystiq is willing to use borderline journalism to gain readership and stir controversy.

Buyer beware.

As a new 360 owner I have to ask; what's the deal with all the advertising? Paying a monthly fee and still having products shoved down your throat. Ugh.

PS- I get the same error message as you, #1.

Do you have a TV that supports 1080p? Do you already own an ethernet bridge?
Well there you go. You just saved $100 by buying the stripped down version. Now quit yer bitching about the price.

Who the hell was going to hook up two HDTV's anyway? I suppose if your name is Chatswell von Rockefeller III it might be something you consider, but for the average consumer this was never on the radar screen.

7 controllers-- how did this ever make any sense-- 4 makes sense, 6 makes sense, but 7. Whatever, I have enough leeches trying to get at my haze already.

What would the advantage of three ethernet ports? Not trying to be a smartass-- I just can't think of any.

Built in Wi-Fi certainly will be missed on the cheaper model, but then again I've already spent $60 on an ethernet bridge. So that's chill.

So you got your "scoop" from Variety. Hilarious.

These are gonna be in every dorm room and every trendy hipster condo from coast to coast.

Good things come to those that wait. Withholding info is only making people who want the PS3 want it more. Of course all you three pump chumps would have any clue that anticipation can make the completion all that much better. You guys are hilarious.

You guys are hilarious with the way you bicker about these companies.

Looks cool to me. Better than carrying a map. Sure it's not GPS, but it's not that a big deal having to punch in an address. If I went to Japan and it translated into English I'd definitely buy a copy.