Why?
Back order?
component shortages?
quality problems?
Any idea ?

I'm asking because I decide to buy one after christmas, and now there is no elite available.

I think that they're building stock back up. To be quite honest, I don't think I have seen anything other than the arcade anywhere since christmas

But they are missing an entire month of selling oportunity, Why such a big error?

Microsoft says 360 Elite is just so hot right now, no SKU changes planned

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http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/01/m...no-sku-change/

Microsoft says 360 Elite is just so hot right now, no SKU changes planned

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/01/m...no-sku-change/

What it means no SKU changes?

I only know there is no available elite in stores. How can it be, The entire month of January without consoles.

What it means no SKU changes?

I only know there is no available elite in stores. How can it be, The entire month of January without consoles.

there were rumors of an even higher model than the elite coming out, with maybe an HDDVD drive internally, but it was all rumor.

There are Elites out there.
Not many, and not necessarily in all the big B&M stores (I've seen them here and there over the last month) but you can find them if you go looking, especially online. Buy.com had them this week for a while (limit 5 per customer); they lasted a bit.

As for why the shortage, simple: MS miscalculated the demand for the higher-end SKU. Seems folks have gotten used to the idea of $500-600 consoles that <XXXXXX> so the Elite looks like a steal.
Add in that there appears to be a migration of PC gamers to consoles who, in typical PC gamer fashion, go for the higher-spec configuration, and you get a temporary shortage.

Suggestion:

If you don't absolutely need a Black 360, consider that the 120GB HDD can be had for around $150 and the Arcade 360 for $279. Do the math. Unless you need the audio-out dongle, you could be gaming right now instead of wonderin6 when the slow-boat from China gets in. ;-)

Just saying...

I've been waiting since before Xmas for my local BB to get more Elites. Sound drops out on mine after playing for a while.

maybe MS is throwing in the towel...................

maybe MS is throwing in the towel...................

yea, i can hear it now....

"Although we have a clear lead in every category you can imagine, we at microsoft have decided to bow out of the console gaming market.

We'd like to thank all of our supporters and our weak competition, we came into this knowing we could rule the market, just as the PC does, and well...

I told you so."

None to be found here since right after xmas. I actually ordered mine through Amazon and was in my hands in less than a week. It was a Falcon by the way Lot #743.

Why?
Back order?

Possibly. I guess M$ miscalculated the demand for this SKU? Apparently a lot of people are looking for this instead of the lower-end models. Heck! I even persuaded many fellow gamers I met in stores to switch to an Elite last year! :D I'm gladded I bought one before the holiday seasons.


component shortages?


Elite uses the same components found on the other SKUs, Falcon or not. 120GB drives are readily available unless WD (WD is the OEM drive provider, right?) discountinued their 120GB 2.5" SATA production.


quality problems?


Since Elite uses the same components and designs found on others it will "inherit" any issue found on the other SKU.


I'm asking because I decide to buy one after christmas, and now there is no elite available.

Don't know about the situations in the US but up here in Canada I have seen it once in a while in B&M stores in the Ottawa area.

maybe MS is throwing in the towel...................


Yup!
MS just announced it:
"We made an average of $80 per console sold over the last quarter and, without price cuts, can easily sell at least 8 million over the next calendar year, resulting in $700+ million dollars worth of profit. This is clearly not what we intended for the XBOX line so, after investing $16 billion to get to this point, we're going to walk away from this $4 billion-a-year business and hand it all on platter to the lagging competition because they are such a *swell* bunch of guys."

"Also, we really intended to announce this April 1st, but since the cat is already out of the bag..."

No, guy; the 360 is not going away.
It is going to be a fixed part of the gaming landscape for the next 5 years.
Like it or not, it is here to stay.
(If nothing else, it is needed to host Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3...)

Now, a more recent rumor is that MS is that MS is looking to drop prices on the Arcade (duh, like that's a secret, right?) and come out with an Elite with a bigger HDD at a lower price. New lineup at $249, $299, and $399. Strictly a rumor of course, but it makes more sense than investing $16 billion to climb a steep mountain and then walking away after reaching the peak.

Also, Toys R Us frequently has the HD's on sale. The 20gig is often half price. I have even seen the 120 gig for cheaper. One of those and an arcade would work. I think the arcade has hdmi right?

Also, Toys R Us frequently has the HD's on sale. The 20gig is often half price. I have even seen the 120 gig for cheaper. One of those and an arcade would work. I think the arcade has hdmi right?

Yes all of the current 360 models have HDMI.

i think they just cleared out the elites with free games. i beleive the new ones dont have games now. i also think one of there manufacturers( winstron?) dropped producing the 360. maybe a hiccup until others ramp up production.

Ya, I thought they were phasing out the holiday bundle, so I'd expect a new game-less Elite. I think Sony is doing the same thing with it's Spiderman 3/Motorstorm pack-ins.