xbox360 refurb vs used

[Shawn]

think it's safer to get a refurb xbox 360 with a 90 warranty or a used 360 with no warranty left but no history of problems? I can get either, both core systems for $145. Not sure if I should get one with a hard drive though. I mainly want a 360 as a media center extender, not to play games.

 

[nsafreak]

Originally posted by: Shawn
think it's safer to get a refurb xbox 360 with a 90 warranty or a used 360 with no warranty left but no history of problems? I can get either, both core systems for $145. Not sure if I should get one with a hard drive though. I mainly want a 360 as a media center extender, not to play games.

In order to use its full abilities as a media center extender you're going to want one with a hard drive. Without the hard drive you won't be able to download the update that allows you to play xvid and divx files among other things.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

I think you are covered by the RROD extention even if it's used, so you should be good. You could always get a Memory unit and just download the updates to that.

 

[nsafreak]

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
I think you are covered by the RROD extention even if it's used, so you should be good. You could always get a Memory unit and just download the updates to that.

I could be wrong but I don't think the updates will allow themselves to be downloaded anywhere but to a hard drive.

 

[CasioTech]

what's the deal with xbox having an 8gb hdd and 360 having no hdd?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Unless the core has HDMI (= Falcon) I wouldn't want either, the RRoD is just too likely to hit you.

I wonder whether the netflix streaming will require the HD for buffering?

Do you think you might ever want to rent movies from MS' own store?

One of the closeout 20GB models will cost $300 but will come with a full year warranty against DVD drive and other non-RRoD failures, it might be worth paying the extra for the warranty and the hard drive.

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: CasioTech
what's the deal with xbox having an 8gb hdd and 360 having no hdd?

The HD on the 360 is built to be removable. They make certain models with no hard drive at a lower cost. Why anyone would want one without the HD is beyond me as using proprietary memory cards is an outdated concept.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: nsafreak

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
I think you are covered by the RROD extention even if it's used, so you should be good. You could always get a Memory unit and just download the updates to that.

I could be wrong but I don't think the updates will allow themselves to be downloaded anywhere but to a hard drive.

I don't think you even need either. The updates are all stored in on-board flash. Now, game updates could be more of an issue.

And I agree with whomever said that you shouldn't do this unless it's an HDMI 360. The other ones RRoD too much.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: nsafreak

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
I think you are covered by the RROD extention even if it's used, so you should be good. You could always get a Memory unit and just download the updates to that.

I could be wrong but I don't think the updates will allow themselves to be downloaded anywhere but to a hard drive.

I don't think you even need either. The updates are all stored in on-board flash. Now, game updates could be more of an issue.

Yup. The Fall/Spring Updates and any interim system updates go to on-board flash. Game, backwards compatibility, and video codec updates require a HDD.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: CasioTech
what's the deal with xbox having an 8gb hdd and 360 having no hdd?

They made it optional, because a certain segment of the population has little or no use for the hard drive. There are actually people who still can't get broadband Internet. :Q (Aside from satellite)

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: nsafreak

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
I think you are covered by the RROD extention even if it's used, so you should be good. You could always get a Memory unit and just download the updates to that.

I could be wrong but I don't think the updates will allow themselves to be downloaded anywhere but to a hard drive.

I don't think you even need either. The updates are all stored in on-board flash. Now, game updates could be more of an issue.

Yup. The Fall/Spring Updates and any interim system updates go to on-board flash. Game, backwards compatibility, and video codec updates require a HDD.

I thought they needed the Memory unit to download it and then it would install it to onboard flash.

 

[MrPickins]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: CasioTech
what's the deal with xbox having an 8gb hdd and 360 having no hdd?

They made it optional, because a certain segment of the population has little or no use for the hard drive. There are actually people who still can't get broadband Internet. :Q (Aside from satellite)

Hard drives are good for more than DL content...

 

[CasioTech]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: CasioTech
what's the deal with xbox having an 8gb hdd and 360 having no hdd?

They made it optional, because a certain segment of the population has little or no use for the hard drive. There are actually people who still can't get broadband Internet. :Q (Aside from satellite)

yeah but why not build in a small 5-10gb hdd or memory card and then offer expansion hdd's. Even the Wii has 256mb or 512mb built in. I couldn't imagine having an xbox or ps3 with no hdd.

 

[Shawn]

I guess I'll hold off buying one then. I can't afford to spend more than $150.

 

[Shawn]

Now that the arcade is $200 I'm going to bump this thread. Is it worth getting? I think it comes with a memory card. Is that all I need to do updates?

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Shawn
Now that the arcade is $200 I'm going to bump this thread. Is it worth getting? I think it comes with a memory card. Is that all I need to do updates?

Yep. It comes with a 256MB memory card.

As I said above, all system updates are stored on the onboard system memory. Game updates will go to the memory card.

You should be able to get a 20GB HDD pretty cheap off of eBay though when you are ready.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

I'd go with the refurb since the RROD warranty is so long and it may not have the physical wear a used one has.

About the arcade dropping...
With the price of the arcade system dropping the prices of used and refurbished 360s should fall as well, but I would still go for a new one unless you find a used one for really cheap.

You could probably snag a used HDD cheap from ebay as mentioned, or from the FS/FT forums here.

 

[O2Deprived]

If you just want it as a media extender, why not just get the classic xbox and do the same thing? I just bought one and followed an online tutorial to use it with xbox media center. The console only cost me $60.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: O2Deprived
If you just want it as a media extender, why not just get the classic xbox and do the same thing? I just bought one and followed an online tutorial to use it with xbox media center. The console only cost me $60.

The original xbox doesn't support Vista Media Center.

 

[bullbert]

Originally posted by: PieIsAwesome
I'd go with the refurb since the RROD warranty is so long and it may not have the physical wear a used one has.

You sure about that? The RROD warranty will start running out very soon now. As in a couple months. Those of you who are still hanging on to a virgin Release model that even acts like it is starting to have problems, had better get it into the refurb cycle, before you have to junk it altogther and replace it with a new Arcade model.