The Elites prepare for launch

Microsoft is about to release news on the latest version of the Xbox 360. More and more news begins to surface and from people that have the ears of Microsoft too. Its harder and harder for those to respond with its not official or this will be another April Fools joke.

Dean Takahashi writes for the Mercury News and wrote the books Opening the Xbox and Xbox 360 Uncloaked and is someone that has the contact with key players at Microsoft. So when he released his latest story about the Xbox 360 Elite, I think we all should take note that this is coming and is for real.

The Xbox 360 Elite is an improvement on the current versions and should help boost sales of the Xbox 360. Coming out in a limited cycle and for only $80 more than the current version. It should do quite well and if it had the cooler 65nm processor, it would be a slam dunk for Microsoft. Here is what we should expect from the Elite.

• The Elite will be limited quantities only; that may be as much or as little as a couple hundred thousand.
• The case, controller, and Live headset will all be black. It will have all new packaging.
• Elite will cost $479, and will be a 3rd SKU; it will be sold alongside Premium and Core packs.
• Eventually Elite hardware (in white plastics) will take the role of the Xbox Premium. That is to say, after the Elite is launched and sold out, future Xbox Premiums will have 120GB / HDMI.
• We do not yet know exactly when 120GB / HDMI will become the standard for Premium, but it is loosely estimated to be late summer or fall.
• Elite models run cooler than normal 360s, but they are not yet confirmed to have 65nm chips.
• Prices may remain the same with the 120GB / HDMI hardware upgrade in the Premium Xbox, but we may still see a price cut on the line when 65nm chips start shipping.
• The HD DVD drive will not be internal or bundled -- Microsoft never did or nor does not currently have plans to put an HD DVD drive in the 360.
• There are no current plans to integrate WiFi into the Elite or future Premiums (although that can always change).

Part of me wants to go ahead and get an Elite, but at the same time I'm thinking I should hold of just a bit and wait for the cooler 65nm processor. The new processor could help cut costs and will keep the Xbox cooler and keep crashing down and the need to send it off for repairs. No matter what, good things are coming between now and the end of the year.