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Even though I'm still waiting for the Xbox 360 to get back from it's latest trip 'back home' for repair/replacement, there's still some things to talk about regarding that box and it's competition from the big S company, the PS3.  Some things that bug me a bit about both.  Or, well, at least bug me a big about one side and leave me scratching my head a bit about the other.

On the side that really bugs me there's the big M company from Seattle, or should I saw Redmond, Washington (state).  They make the Xbox 360 and put it out there with a tiny little hard drive.  I've complained about the same in the past and while most men hate hearing it, thinking it, or even saying it, there are times when size definitely matters (though women may say that would be, uh, all the time, but that's a different story).  As an example, the Xbox 360 systems that came with hard drives from day 1, those Premium systems, shipped with fairly tiny and quick to fill up 20GB (that would be 20 gigabyte) drives.  Download a few demos at nearly 1GB each, and in some cases more, or download some add-on content to go with a game or two, and you start filling the drive up fast.  20GB just doesn't stretch very far really.  Better 20GB than zero storage, and certainly better to have the 20GB drive than have to spend $50 (give or take) to buy a memory card that stored a whoppin' 64MB (that would be megabytes, not gigabytes), but still....

On the other side, there was Sony who released their PS3 systems initially with a 20GB model (if memory serves) and also a 60GB model.  In the case of the 20GB model, there were some features left out of the box, in addition to the smaller drive, that made the box a bit more cost effective for Sony but didn't really cripple the box for the buyers.  In the case of the 60GB model, well there was 60GB and to this point with the system not really that much compelling content that a user feels really pushed into thinking about getting an even bigger drive to use on the system.  Basically, Sony's Playstation Network, and the available content on same, and their entire library of games and all of the storage that they use fit fairly easily for an average user on even that older 20GB model.

Sony has since retired that 20GB model, and has retired the 60GB model too.  Both of those retired because they were more expensive to make and Sony is trying to focus on building Playstation 3 hardware that plays Playstation 3 software and not worry about playing older games (Playstation and PS2 hardware).  Sony kept some emulation and backwards compatibility in the PS3 in the 80GB units, but has also come out with a new 40GB 'budget' model that doesn't include any backwards compatibility and has seen a few other corners trimmed back a bit to make the box less expensive to build and sell.

Here's the thing though - in all of these PS3 models, there is nothing that precludes the end-user from replacing the hard drive in the system.  In fact it's a well documented process.  Documented by Sony themselves.  Get the right type of drive (laptop hard drive type) and meet the necessary specs (fairly easily done) and the upgrade is -- I am told -- a piece of cake.  Very easily done, using 'commercial, off the shelf' parts.  Stuff that can be had cheaply via eBay, ordered through vendors listed at http://www.pricewatch.com or NewEgg, TigerDirect or wherever you can get the best deal from.

Microsoft, on the other hand, oh you bastages from Microsoft!!! Curse you, you plagues of the gaming community.  Microsoft figured out -- after hordes of complaints from people like me -- that 20GB just isn't enough.  Especially if they want to be in the video-on-demand business, and downloadable game business via the Xbox Live marketplace.  20GB fills too easily and customers hate deleting old stuff to make room for new.  We fear that we will lose the ability to get the old stuff, and lose it permanently.  We keep it around just in case we might want to play it, or use it, or demo it, etc.  So, Microsoft came out with a big drive.  Much bigger.  120GB.  Ah, spacious, roomy, comfortable.  But not cheap.  Not cheap at all.  $180 plus tax.  Oh, I can't forget to mention that includes the special transfer cable that is needed to move the content from the old drive to a new one.  That does add a little value back in there.  Maybe $5 - $10 worth.  Pshaaaawww!

So, we see Microsoft basically giving the finger to their users, charging them $180 for a drive and cable (and housing for the drive) that probably cost them all of $65 - $75 in parts, plus some packing materials and literature that might tack on another $5 or so in costs vs. Sony who doesn't even bother selling replacement drives and instead just documents the processes related to replacing the drive so you can use the cheapest equipment possible.

So friggin' backwards.  So bass ackwards.

I'd love to get more room on my Xbox 360.  Heck, I've been very tempted to see about exchanging/trading in my current Xbox 360 (or selling it used and using the money to offset the cost of a new box) to get one of the 'Elite' models which *includes* the 120GB drive with it from day one.  I don't really need anything else that the Elite offers, but the idea of getting that larger harddrive really does appeal to me.  And the thought of getting that drive at a cost of $180 does not.  For that much I could certainly sell of my existing Xbox 360 and get an Elite model and probably still make a few $$ in the deal.

Thanks for nuthin' Microsoft.  Thanks for nuthin' at all.

And Sony, well, thanks for being flexible, even though I continue to let my poor PS3 sit idle and unplayed.  Not even to play movies on.  It just sits there covered up with a cloth so it doesn't get dusty.  Just no games that appeal to me really, and no achievement system, few friends playing at the same times I might play on the box, etc.  On the movie side, I'm still not a big fan of Blu-ray and would still prefer to see HD-DVD win that war or at least keep both formats in the marketplace to help keep competition and lower prices.