Xbox 360 Elite or not so Elite. HDMI or Component cable??

Not much in it really the only reall advantage is that the Elite will let you oupput a 1080p signal as where the component max is 1080i. The picture is slightly sharper due to the digital conection over the analog of the component or vga. The main advantage of the elite over the standard 360 is the larger hard drive allthough this can be purchased seperatly and used on your exsisting console. Oh incase you did not know all normal 360's sold will soon have HDMI also.

I own both, and a Wii come to that but never understand the average PS3 owners arguement of PS3 is better because it has HDMI. To enjoy HD you do not need a HDMI conection, the only true advantage of the HNDI over component or VGA is the fact it is a digital conection cutting out the digital-analog-digital process and it can carry 1080p as where component has a max of 1080i (vga supports 1080p).
My Brother works in the games industry for a large developer and each machine has its pro's and cons, and both systems have great games, any PS3 owner that says GEARS OF WAR is rubbish is definatly eating sour grapes, like wise any 360 owner who would not like to see METAL GEAR SOLID on the 360. Currently he has a title in dev for both systems and honestly the 360 version is superior to the PS3 proving as with AV equipment it is not allways superior spec on paper that counts. Also all 360 console in production now will have HDMI as standard except the core unit.
There is more than enough room for all 3 consoles out there, so does that make the Wii rubbish as you put it because it is not even HD?

Technically there's not much in it - both PS3 and the 360 use slightly different iterations of multi-core PowerPC processors of G5 mac fame - and if you doubt me, go check it out - Microsoft's xbox 360 development lab was Apple's biggest single order of G5 Mac Pro's. The chips are really only different in name.

Plus you can now get a 360 with HDMI if you want it. The only current advantage the PS3 has is the Blu Ray drive and if Blu Ray doesnt win the format war, thats going to be an interesting relic, plus PS3's are WAY overpriced and look like a blast back to the 80's.

That said, 360's have had HUGE reliability problems - I thought after a year I'd dodged the bullet (should have known better) but this week joined everyone else I know who owns one in sending it back to have its red ring of death fixed.

And to finish off the argument - who could have predicted that Nintendo would pop out of the darkness and wipe the floor with both Microsoft and Sony? Yes they have before you argue - and I'm a die hard 360 fan.

I have had my 360 since it came out almost 2 years ago and never had any problems with it and mine gets battered by my kids so I must be one of the luck ones. Good news for those whos 360 do show the RED RING OF DEATH is that Microsoft have extended their warrantry to 3 years on all 360s so if it does go caput you will not have to pay a penny and if you have had to pay to have yours fixed they will refund your money. Now who says that Bill Gates does not care??
PS 26TH SEPTEMBER - HALO 3!!!!! BRING IT ON!!!!

I too own all 3 consoles and am happy with all of them, I've had my 360 for around 18 months and never had any problems so I can't really moan about reliability as it has been perfect for me.

In response to Damien Buckley, I don't think the PS3 is overpriced compared to the 360 when you think it comes with wifi built in (£60 extra on the 360), an extra controller (£30 extra on the 360) which are rechargable (£15 extra on the 360 per controller), a Blu Ray player (£150 for HDDVD on the 360) and free online gaming (£40 on the 360 per year) not to mention the 2 free games. Thats £295 extra on top of the price of the xbox console to bring it up to the package that the PS3 gives, so really you could say the PS3 is cheaper. and yes I do use and want all those extras and have bought all except the HDDVD for the 360, XBox live I've now bought twice.

At the moment I use the PS3 more but thats only because I've only had it a couple of months, I'll be back on the 360 soon because I like the achievment points, it makes games last longer. The Wii is great but not much of a 1 player console, I only really use it when my friends are round for Wii sports or Mario party, although Tiger Woods is good too.

You'll note I didnt knock the PS3 though the slow sales would suggest that although you may be prepared to pay and hard core gamers dont find it expensive - most average punters think that the PS3 is too high for a games console. Either way, if you're happy with it, thats great - I dont particularly favour either - I got a 360 as I had an Xbox before and got it with a mobile phone deal! Rock on Halo 3.

In my opinion Microsoft has made a big mistake in not including it's HDDVD player in the new Elite. I don't really see the point of the Elite especially as Microsoft hasnt released it's TV and movie service in the UK and plans to do so are not forthcoming. I find the 20gb HDD more than enough at the mo.

 By the way, once Halo 3 goes online we should have a few What Hi Fi Forum deathmatches. Up for it?..if you dare...

Oh yes bring it on!!!! lets get whathifi clan and kick butt!

It has been rumored microsoft have been holding out to bring out an xbox 360 ultimate which could have all the items to match the ps3 hardware meaning in-built HD-DVD drive.

Does the elite support DTS? anybody? I have never brought my consoles based on game titles, but hardware capabilities e.g: xbox over ps2 for having a hard drive, even though it was a peripheral for it when launched, but never released. The xbox gave me a hard drive so no memory card space to worry about, custom soundtracks, DTS/DD and xbox live downlaods. I have hung out for a 360 until the 65nm CPU is mainstream and hopefully a codec upgrade for DTS master audio & true Dolby (even though it's inferior).