Xbox 360 Gets 250GB Standalone HDD Upgrade

By Jane McEntegart
published

Microsoft is now offering a stand-alone 250GB hard drive for users who want to upgrade their storage. Priced at $129.99, the old 120GB hard drive will reportedly be selling for just shy of a hundred bucks.

The decision to sell the HDD as a stand-alone comes as quite a surprise. Microsoft has said in the past that it would be keeping the 250GB HDD exclusive to bundles, like the ones offered for MW2 and Splinter Cell. Though it's expensive, it's good news for those who are desperate for a storage upgrade and willing to pay through the nose for it.

Just as an FYI, it seems the 120GB HDD may not be around for much longer. Joystiq cites Microsoft as saying the drive is available for $99.99 "while supplies last."

Any takers?

Jane McEntegart
36 Comments Comment from the forums
  • OvrClkr
    250Gb for 129.99$ is outrageous, my PS3 has a 320Gb Scorpio Black that was priced at 75.00$ w/ free shipping ... What MS has to do is create a side panel that will allow sata drives to be swaped, this way users that have a 360 no longer have to buy that bulky overpriced HDD. Not exactly rocket science..
    Reply
  • sliem
    Nope, hack the scorpio blue 250GB for $43 do it yourself and save $$$
    Reply
  • ncr7002
    I don't get this. Standalone 250gb hdds have been available in South America for several months now. And these are not mock ups, they are the real thing from Microsoft.
    Reply
  • jeverson
    Hmm... let's see... 250Gb for $130 or 120Gb for $100... decisions... decisions...
    Reply
  • mrddr6
    OvrClkr250Gb for 129.99$ is outrageous, my PS3 has a 320Gb Scorpio Black that was priced at 75.00$ w/ free shipping ... What MS has to do is create a side panel that will allow sata drives to be swaped, this way users that have a 360 no longer have to buy that bulky overpriced HDD. Not exactly rocket science.. But then it would be just that much more like a PC.
    Reply
  • restatement3dofted
    OvrClkr250Gb for 129.99$ is outrageous, my PS3 has a 320Gb Scorpio Black that was priced at 75.00$ w/ free shipping ... What MS has to do is create a side panel that will allow sata drives to be swaped, this way users that have a 360 no longer have to buy that bulky overpriced HDD. Not exactly rocket science..
    Why on earth would Microsoft do that? Right now, you use what Microsoft tells you to use, or run the risk of damaging your system or being banned from XBL. As a result, you pay what they tell you you're going to pay. They have no incentive to stop selling HDDs for such high prices. You might not like it (lord knows, I don't), but it makes perfect sense from the standpoint of a company trying to maximize its profits.
    Reply
  • Verrin
    I don't understand why anyone would down-vote OvrClker. Yes! Lets pay more for a drive that you can pay for, non-propitiatory-ized, for half the price! Anyone who disagrees are CLEARLY ANTI-MICROSOFT.

    Jeeze, even the 360 fans should be upset that this drive is horrifically overpriced. Sony may have done the right thing, where you can plop in any standard 2.5" drive, but that doesn't mean that we're hatin' on Xbox. 360 users deserve better, for the commitment and for the already expensive accessories and fees (LIVE) they pay. Come on, throw us a bone, Microsoft!
    Reply
  • hakesterman
    They are still way behind, I can get a 500 Gig for my PS3 and i can get it for less than that 250 Gig 360 Drive. Go PS3........

    Reply
  • restatement3dofted
    VerrinI don't understand why anyone would down-vote OvrClker. Yes! Lets pay more for a drive that you can pay for, non-propitiatory-ized, for half the price! Anyone who disagrees are CLEARLY ANTI-MICROSOFT.Jeeze, even the 360 fans should be upset that this drive is horrifically overpriced. Sony may have done the right thing, where you can plop in any standard 2.5" drive, but that doesn't mean that we're hatin' on Xbox. 360 users deserve better, for the commitment and for the already expensive accessories and fees (LIVE) they pay. Come on, throw us a bone, Microsoft!
    Until Microsoft determines that forcing proprietary hardware on users is materially impacting sales of the system and cutting into their profits, it seems unlikely that the practice will change. It sucks, but for the majority of users, the price of a hard drive upgrade isn't enough to deter them from buying the console. Moreover, I imagine that it is only a small segment of the total market that wants or needs a 250GB HDD - it might be a different story if, like the PS3, significant quantities of data were directly installed to the HDD, but right now, that's not the case.

    hakestermanThey are still way behind, I can get a 500 Gig for my PS3 and i can get it for less than that 250 Gig 360 Drive. Go PS3........
    "Behind" in terms of what? Monthly or annual console sales? Software sales? Revenue from online subscriptions? Revenue from DLC?

    A small percentage of the market might want the ability to use whatever size drive they can buy, but most users seem perfectly fine with the sizes currently available for the 360. If making larger drives available would significantly impact their profits, they would probably release larger drives.
    Reply
  • Nightskeeter
    It's so funny when 360 players get ripped off by expensive Old hardware.

    360 Elite - $399
    Wireless adapter - $90
    $10 fee to microsoft per game sold with a $60 tag on all new games.
    Now this? $129 250GB hard-drives?
    Let me guess the Flash drive they announced, Another $100
    The Crappy HD-DVD drive $100 - Although HD-DVD Failed big time, so no need to get it.
    Project Natal - At least $100+ when it comes out.

    Over 900, Not including monitor/TV!

    I just wish people would understand how much money they get pickpocketed by microsoft and they don't even care.


    Look to the far right of this page, 2 TB Caviar Green SATA HD for $169.
    Reply