360 250GB HDD Won't Be Sold Separately

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

When Microsoft announced that a bundle including two controllers, a new game and a 360 with a 250GB HDD was "only" $399, it led many to think the days of over-priced 360 HDDs was over. It's not.

In this little demonstration video for the new console (consoles need trailers now?), Microsoft's Larry Hryb has announced that the 250GB HDD won't be sold separately.

And really, this move isn't that surprising. The 120GB HDD retails for a ridiculous $150, but if the 250GB was ever released individually, it'd either be $300+, or would drive the prices of Microsoft's other HDDs down. Neither of which are obviously that appealing for you/MS.

Source: http://kotaku.com/5360510/360-250gb-hdd-wo...sold-separately

Buuuuut, a new HDD.bin (or whatever its called) file for us to now mod in our own 250GB drives!

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

Buuuuut, a new HDD.bin (or whatever its called) file for us to now mod in our own 250GB drives!

(Y) I was going to do the 120 mod earlier this summer but just as well I waited :)

Tom W was asking me this on msn the other day after my topic and this is what I predicted they'd do too. If they can't make the price sound good they'll just avoid offering it altogether and keep it exclusive to the new Elite.

[Sethos]

"or would drive the prices of Microsoft's other HDDs down. Neither of which are obviously that appealing for you/MS."

No, driving down the prices of 360 HDDs wouldn't be appealing for the consumer ... Who the hell wrote that line?

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

"or would drive the prices of Microsoft's other HDDs down. Neither of which are obviously that appealing for you/MS."

No, driving down the prices of 360 HDDs wouldn't be appealing for the consumer ... Who the hell wrote that line?

You didn't read it correctly how Kotaku mean it :p

$300+ refers to the "you" part, the driving down of hard drive prices refers to the "MS" part.

It's worded pretty badly though, that's Kotaku for you.

(Y) I was going to do the 120 mod earlier this summer but just as well I waited :)

Tom W was asking me this on msn the other day after my topic and this is what I predicted they'd do too. If they can't make the price sound good they'll just avoid offering it altogether and keep it exclusive to the new Elite.

Yeah I'm happy with 120GB, what space you on just now, 60GB? 60GB would be pretty harsh for hard drive installs, you'll enjoy 250GB much better.

[The Teej]

(Y) I was going to do the 120 mod earlier this summer but just as well I waited :)

Tom W was asking me this on msn the other day after my topic and this is what I predicted they'd do too. If they can't make the price sound good they'll just avoid offering it altogether and keep it exclusive to the new Elite.

Do you have a tutorial on how to do this? I'd love to swap out my old 20GB for a 250GB :p

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

I do but I can't link to it, it's on a naughty site :p

But the topic has been discussed on Neowin before, you should find everything you need here...

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=661780

@AB, I'm still on my original 20GB man :p I think I might start to take advantage of installing games though. And I want something to mod! lol

[Vortex566]

Never thought about modding my drive until I read this. What a great way to get a bigger drive and not pay M$ a stupid amount for a HDD.

DM could you PM me the guide that you use?

[FiB3R]

Cheaper than my 120GB lol

Hope this will work.

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/250-GB-West...8MB-Cache-12-ms

**** you MS

[Spookie]

@AB, I'm still on my original 20GB man :p

Same, I was going to mod to 120GB this week but the mark up on the drives is lol worthy in comparison to this. I'll just wait tbh.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Cheaper than my 120GB lol

Hope this will work.

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/250-GB-West...8MB-Cache-12-ms

**** you MS

Don't but it until we find out, MS might use different 250GB drives.

@ Munky 20GB? LOLWUT? That's harsh. I don't play any 360 games without installing them to rid of the DVD drive noise.

[FiB3R]

Maybe you'll find out from me? :)

But na, I don't think I actually need it right now tbh. Maybe they'll get even cheaper?

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

20GB suits me fine for DLC/Demos/XBLA. Never ran out of space yet and the console is 4yrs old now :p

[etempest]

I do wish Ms would follow Sony's example, and be more open standard, and allow any standard 2.5 sata drive. This allows PS3 users to upgrade to any size they want, and even use SSD drive's (however SSD's are not cost effective).

[Sikh]

^ and pointless because there performance doesn't get used. I can't link to the website because I'm at work and on my phone very quickly but it was due to somekind of a restriction motherboard wise. So DO NOT get an ssd. Makes your ps3 that more expensive.

Also, can you still upgrade the hdd in the slim? I haven't seen one in person or I would know.

[Southern Patriot]

I do wish Ms would follow Sony's example, and be more open standard, and allow any standard 2.5 sata drive. This allows PS3 users to upgrade to any size they want, and even use SSD drive's (however SSD's are not cost effective).

Yeah, I have to LOL every time I see a thread about having to mod drives to get them to work with the 360. They did the same thing with their wireless headsets as well. Would it have been that hard for them to simply allow people to use standard Bluetooth headsets like Sony did?

Also, can you still upgrade the hdd in the slim? I haven't seen one in person or I would know.

According to engadget, you can:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/18/playsta...g-and-hands-on/

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

Ewww, why on earth would you want to use BT in the first place :x

[FiB3R]

Because the Aliph Jawbone II is awesome? Haven't got one, but that seems like a good enough reason to want BT

[Ironman273]

Because the Aliph Jawbone II is awesome? Haven't got one, but that seems like a good enough reason to want BT

I've got one and it's not. The noise assassin get's assassinated by wind noise. I guess not a problem gaming indoors but annoying as a phone headset.

[JustGeorge]

Seriously, WTF is making these decisions at MS cause they need beaten with a rubber hose!

Examples of a serious lack of logic by Microsoft marketing:

* MS ushers in HD era for gaming originally by making the minimum requirement 720p for all games which they have now abolished.

* They finally drop the price of they elite to remain competitive but decide no one needs HD cables.

* They decide that its time to start selling full 360 titles via download and do not announce larger HDDs to accommodate the inevitable need.

* MS finally decides to release a bigger HDD but only make it available to those buying a new console.

Other annoying problems:

* Ridiculous retail pricing on accessories (Hdds, memcards, headsets, etc.)

* Complete lack of respect for the consumer by not allowing the use of standard BT compatible devices and storage. For a company that likes to set the standards for the PC industry they sure as hell have the opposite view when it comes to consoles.

* Apathetic towards customer feedback regarding small issues like the D-Pad needing refinement.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

I've got one and it's not. The noise assassin get's assassinated by wind noise. I guess not a problem gaming indoors but annoying as a phone headset.

Well I've yet to find anyone who plays their PS3 or 360 outside :rofl:

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

DirtyLarry plays out on his balcony all the time :p

[BajiRav]

Seriously, WTF is making these decisions at MS cause they need beaten with a rubber hose!

Examples of a serious lack of logic by Microsoft marketing:

* MS ushers in HD era for gaming originally by making the minimum requirement 720p for all games which they have now abolished.

* They finally drop the price of they elite to remain competitive but decide no one needs HD cables.

* They decide that its time to start selling full 360 titles via download and do not announce larger HDDs to accommodate the inevitable need.

* MS finally decides to release a bigger HDD but only make it available to those buying a new console.

Other annoying problems:

* Ridiculous retail pricing on accessories (Hdds, memcards, headsets, etc.)

* Complete lack of respect for the consumer by not allowing the use of standard BT compatible devices and storage. For a company that likes to set the standards for the PC industry they sure as hell have the opposite view when it comes to consoles.

* Apathetic towards customer feedback regarding small issues like the D-Pad needing refinement.

I have a Elite launch console and honestly, I have never touch the component, composite, audio-dongle and ethernet cables. HDMI is the only cable I've used so far. I can see their point of dropping them but having said that not including HDMI was sheer stupidity.

They should have,

- Bundled HDMI

- bundled the dongle for optical out (or may be put an actual out on the console itself)

Edit: Ok I lied :p I probably used it once when I carried my xbox to a friend's place and did not want to remove HDMI from my super messed up cable mgmt.

[+Mystic MVC]

Hmm, all this talk of modding hard drives has renewed my interest in getting my own 120gb/250gb to mod. Must resist the urge...

[Gotenks98]

No 250 drive seperate because they are probably going to announce a 500gb or 1tb drive soon. Either way I wont be upgrading till its 500 or higher in the space.

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

^ ok now we're just dreaming :laugh: