Xbox Shopping in UK

[x0ny]

I'm planning on buying an Xbox360, but I'm not sure which one to get. I don't want to spend too much, 160GBP is my budget including a game or two. I'm willing to buy secondhand.

I've been looking around and a brand new 120GB Elite costs 150 to 160GBP, there's also a cheaper Arcade version but it has a tiny hard drive, either 256mb or 512mb, I think there's also a 4GB version but they seem quite rare now.

I have an 80GB PS3, and even with installing every game I own(19, + 29 demos and downloaded games) I still have 12GB left.

My questions are:
1) If they're releasing Xbox's with tiny hard drives, does that mean you don't have to install a game to play it?
2) Or do they expect you to supply your own external hard drive?
3) Do you recommend installing a game before playing?
4) What's the life expectancy of an Xbox nowadays?

Thanking you in advance.

 

[Palademon]

Don't buy an arcade, they don't have enough memory.
I recommend an elite.
You cna install a game but it takes about 5GB, but does help with a few games.
I've had my xbox for 2 years, it has died once and it wasn't even red ring of death, and it was free to fix. Mine is not permanently dead yet. Newer xboxes should last even longer.

 

[Eagle Est1986]

I don't think there's any mandatory installs with the 360, though some games run much better installed, especially the newer ones. I had a 20gb one and that wasn't enough space for me, that was before installing was even an option, I've now got 120gb which does the job nicely, I don't have to manage memory space very often but then I don't use my 360 that often.
At least with the PS3 it's easier and cheaper to upgrade your hard drive and to pretty much whatever size you want. With the 360, it's better to go with a bigger size from the start.

 

[IBlackKiteI]

1, Nah Xbox is different, installation is optional, but if you do you get significantly decreased load times.

2, It may be cheaper to get the Arcade and a 60 or so Gig hard drive, I cant remember the sizes, but what the hell are you going to do with 120GB on an Xbox Elite?
Seems a bit overkill to me.

3, No, not really unless you have a big hard drive, a few seconds off load time isnt really worth 6 Gigs taken off your hard drive.

4, Depends, I've had mine for about...2 years and no problems other than the disc reader temporarily refusing to read every now and then, but thats fairly recent.
Although a lot of friends of mine have had problems, namely the 'Red Ring of Death', but they kinda treated their boxes like crap and the defaults were covered under warranty.
In short treat it well and it should treat you well.

 

[Chicaine]

Might wanna ask around and see if anyone you know is upgrading this christmas, a brothers friend is selling his elite for £40 because he's getting a slim

If not, i know gamestation match prices on games but it might be worth seeing if they do it on consoles too, i've always had good experiences with them

Also from what i've heard installing games to the hd makes them run smoother with shorter loading times etc

 

[EmzOLV]

Might wanna ask around and see if anyone you know is upgrading this christmas, a brothers friend is selling his elite for £40 because he's getting a slim

Pretty much this. If you're lucky, I've given my ex 7 more days to come get his crap out of my house, and if he hasn't I'm getting rid of it all. Then you can pocket yourself a MW2 Elite console.

[sub]I couldn't do that actually, that's quite mean of me[/sub]

And I'd definitely go for something like an Elite if I were you. My Arcade lasted all of 5 minutes in terms of space and when I got my Elite, it was just tonnes better.

I got excited when I saw this post, thought there was some meet up and we're all going xbox shopping. I'll put my coat away now.

 

[De-Moti]

Stay the hell away from the ones with next to no memory.
I learned this the hard way.