Hobbies And Interests
History
The Xbox 360 Core and the Xbox 360 Pro launched on November 22, 2005. The Core was the entry-level version. It included a wired controller and lacked a High-Definition Multimedia Interfact input. The Pro was the high-end version. It included a wireless controller, an HDMI input, an Ethernet cable and wireless headset. Eventually, the Core and Pro would be replaced by the Arcade and Elite versions, respectively. As of June 2010, the Arcade and Elite were the only two variants of the Xbox 360 still in production.
Packaging
All versions of the Xbox 360 include what you need to start playing. The Arcade, Pro and Elite all come with wireless controllers. An HDMI port is available on all versions; however, none come with an HDMI cable. The Arcade and Elite come packaged with standard AV cables (for older, non-HDTVs), while the Pro comes with both a standard AV cable and component cable (component is capable of high resolution display). The Pro and Elite also include a wireless headset that can be used for voice chat. Depending on the time of year, you can find free games packaged with the Arcade and Elite. As of June 2010, the Arcade Spring Bundle includes "Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts" and "Viva Pinata." The Elite Spring Bundle includes "Halo 3: ODST" and "Forza Motorsport 3."
Inputs
All versions of the Xbox 360 support up to four wireless controllers simultaneously. Three USB ports (two on the front, one on the back) are available on all versions. Peripherals such as the Fight Stick, Zune, wired controllers and Network Adapter use the USB ports. For wired Internet connections, an Ethernet port is available on all versions.
Memory
The Pro was the first Xbox 360 version to come packaged with an 8 GB hard drive. The Elite comes with a 120 GB hard drive, while the Arcade lacks a hard drive altogether. Hard drives are not required for the Xbox 360 to function. All versions of the Xbox 360 have a hard drive bay on the side of the console, giving you the option of installing or changing a hard drive in the future. As of April 2010, Microsoft issued an Xbox update via Xbox Live that enabled the use of USB flash drives to be used as storage devices on the Xbox 360.
Which Version is for You?
If you're a a hardcore gamer or media enthusiast, you will need a lot of storage space for saved games, demos and downloaded content. The Arcade lacks a hard drive and comes with only 512 MB of internal storage space. The casual user--someone who only plays the occasional game and has no intention of using the Xbox 360 as a media center--will not notice the lack of storage space. While not impossible to find, the Pro is out of production. The Pro also runs on older hardware that is more prone to overheating (a common problem associated with earlier Xbox 360 versions). Because you can now use USB flash drives, the extra cost associated with the Elite may not be worth it when making your decision.