i really want an xbox 360 after playin on my mates but im really poor at the moment. I was wanderin that if i buy a core then get the hardrive wen i can, how different it would be to the premium - (other than wired controller headset and HD wires). Is that it?
ant thoughts?
cheers!

[butleri]

Don't forget the biggest difference of them all - the premium has a CHROME disc tray - you cant upgrade that at a later date!

Seriously though it does work out much better value for money if you could get a premium straight off

[Indiana Jones]

Yea you are definitely better off waiting until you have abit more cash then getting the premium.

yeah agree cause the core looks ugly compared to the premium, also the core has like a lid air vence which u lift off to put a hard drive in, my premium already came with the hard drive already attached to the 360 when i brought new i dident have to lift a vence lid of the 360 to attach the hard drive, so the p[remium 360 dosent have a vence lid to click back on that the core has.

[pixelpixel]

I have just done a price check via game (I know I could shop around) just a quick test. Like for like as in how much would it be to buy the parts in your own time.

Core
Xbox 360 Core System - £199.99
Xbox 360 Hard Drive - £69.99
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller - £32.99
+ no game. Could get a selected one for a few pennies at the time but this would also be available on the premium!

Price - £302.97

Premium - with Project Gotham Racing 3 and 2 Wireless Controllers - £299.99
I belive I have seen this for £279.99 on play you maybe could find it even cheaper!

So for value if you want the harddrive ect the premium wins

[Kahled]

Originally Posted by gorillamanjac

i really want an xbox 360 after playin on my mates but im really poor at the moment. I was wanderin that if i buy a core then get the hardrive wen i can, how different it would be to the premium - (other than wired controller headset and HD wires). Is that it?
ant thoughts?
cheers!

At the end of the day, as has been demonstrated, the Premium package represents better value.

However the Core route is still a viable starting place. I had to do that very route myself after being one of the people caught out by Amazon and the launch problems, in the end I was very glad of just being able to get the core. It took a month or two before I could get the HDD after that.

Looks can be subjective as I find the Core tray to be better looking than the Premium one, at least then the console looks uniform.. but very much a personal and minor difference. The vent you remove to put the disk in place simply lifts off the side of the unit and is no problem whatsoever, just plug the HDD in afterwards - seriously no issue there.

With a Core though you would also need to purchase either a VGA or component cable if you want to connect to some manner of HD display rather than SD (I believe the Premium pack still includes the component cable for HD displays as well - anyone?). Another essential/additional purchase is a memory card for game saves if you do not have the HDD.

So yes, it works... it's fine if you are running to a budget and over time you can build up the machine to Premium spec as and when. But it has to be said that the HDD adds so damn much to the 360 (I still think it should be standard and fixed as per the original) that it is worth waiting possibly that bit longer to get the Premium pack for that reason alone (no point in buying Core + HDD as the price comes out at Premium plus games).

Still it means, if you got the Core, you can be all 'oooh' and 'aaaah' over the gaming experience at first... then a bit later you get the HDD and can be all 'oooh' and 'aaaah' again heh.

Core is a bit like a bank loan in a way... you can get what you want but at the end of the day its going to cost you more in the long run.

Hope that helps.

[featherhall]

a bit of a dilema my friend. however , alot depends as well on

a) if you have a HD Screen
b) if you intend going on Live and using it (downloading etc) then you need a Hard Drive (memory card may be ok for saves but as soon as you get the HD its kind of a waste)

At the end of the day, upgrading can be expensive (HD Component leads / Wireless Controller / Hard Drive). .but if getting the Core is the only way you can see yourself getting one and dont want to wait (after all you need games as well (££££) to play it on) then go for it.

I was in GAME yesterday, and listened with interest at the salesman selling the Premium to a couple. They will mix and match titles if pressed in bundles, and may include an additional controller instead of a game etc etc). If you dont fancy the titles given then argue for ones you do, and they will give in. Cant remember the prices, but they were pretty good given the quality of titles on offer (recent releases).

I'd imagine that they will be flying off the shelves this xmas, given the PS3 has been delayed and needs a 2nd mortgage to buy. possible shortages in the future ?