Rumor: New Xbox 360 Elite SKU Coming?
Over the past month there have been a few posts out there about people having a hard time finding Xbox 360s at stores. It has gotten to the point that Microsoft actually addressed the issue with a 12 minute interview of the new Xbox boss Don Mattrick by Major Nelson. The gist of the 360 shortage they say is a lack of anticipation for the holiday and post holiday demand for the Xbox 360.
If you don't read Bill Harris' blog Dubious Quality, then you really should. In his two latest console posts he talks about what possible reasons there is a console shortage and also comments on the Mattrick interview. He boils it down to two possibilities: 1) There are still major hardware issues or 2) There is a new SKU coming down the pike. He argues that Microsoft could be limiting the number of 360 manufactured until the hardware issues are resolved because everyone manufactured is a potential customer return. If it is a new SKU then Microsoft will want to dry the market to sell off all of the old models before shipping a new SKU.
The rumor that never seems to die is the possible Xbox 360 with an internal HD-DVD drive. Really I don't expect this to happen ever since the Warner Bros. Home Video defection but what if Microsoft was planning to show this model off at CES? Imagine an Elite Xbox 360 with a built in HD-DVD player for $449 coming to the US in mid February '08? I have seen some Pros in stores but not one Elite since the holidays. Unless Microsoft is planning to kill off the Elite I think Microsoft has or had some big plans for this model. Unfortunately we may never know what was going to happen. Putting out an HD-DVD capable Xbox 360 right now seems stupid. Maybe when the Elite was first announced it could have turned the tide towards HD-DVD but now it would be like showing up to a party after everyone has gone home.
dubiousquality - console-post-of-week-hmm
dubiousquality - console-post-of-week
majornelson - show-267-the-one-with-don-mattrick
Where is the Elite?
engadget - microsoft-says-360-elite-is-just-so-hot-right-now-no-sku-change
engadget - 360-to-get-built-in-hd-dvd-drive-in-late-2008
If you don't read Bill Harris' blog Dubious Quality, then you really should. In his two latest console posts he talks about what possible reasons there is a console shortage and also comments on the Mattrick interview. He boils it down to two possibilities: 1) There are still major hardware issues or 2) There is a new SKU coming down the pike. He argues that Microsoft could be limiting the number of 360 manufactured until the hardware issues are resolved because everyone manufactured is a potential customer return. If it is a new SKU then Microsoft will want to dry the market to sell off all of the old models before shipping a new SKU.
The rumor that never seems to die is the possible Xbox 360 with an internal HD-DVD drive. Really I don't expect this to happen ever since the Warner Bros. Home Video defection but what if Microsoft was planning to show this model off at CES? Imagine an Elite Xbox 360 with a built in HD-DVD player for $449 coming to the US in mid February '08? I have seen some Pros in stores but not one Elite since the holidays. Unless Microsoft is planning to kill off the Elite I think Microsoft has or had some big plans for this model. Unfortunately we may never know what was going to happen. Putting out an HD-DVD capable Xbox 360 right now seems stupid. Maybe when the Elite was first announced it could have turned the tide towards HD-DVD but now it would be like showing up to a party after everyone has gone home.
dubiousquality - console-post-of-week-hmm
dubiousquality - console-post-of-week
majornelson - show-267-the-one-with-don-mattrick
Where is the Elite?
engadget - microsoft-says-360-elite-is-just-so-hot-right-now-no-sku-change
engadget - 360-to-get-built-in-hd-dvd-drive-in-late-2008
Comments