CONFIRMED: Online portal now offering free 512MB memory card or $20 20GB HDD to allow 360 core buyers to download Xbox Live update; NXE video-sharing postponed.
“While we expect the majority of consumers to download the New Xbox Experience without a problem, a small percentage of Xbox 360 owners do not have enough memory to accommodate the update,” a Microsoft representative told GameSpot in a statement. “To help ensure all Xbox Live members are able to download the New Xbox Experience and enjoy its new features, Microsoft will be offering storage solutions to the Xbox LIVE community. We are not sharing details of this offering yet. Be sure to check Xbox.com for more details in the coming weeks.”
[UPDATE] Just hours after speaking with GameSpot, Microsoft launched the official “Xbox 360 Memory Upgrade Program Website.” The Xbox.com page leading to the site strongly urges 360 owners who haven’t bought a hard drive to do so, and saying a hard drive is necessary to “enjoy everything the new Xbox Experience has to offer.” (Emphasis added.) It also advises those with full hard drives to “either clear some space by deleting unused saved content, or see if you’re eligible for a special memory upgrade offer.”
What exactly is this “special memory upgrade offer”? Those visiting the Xbox 360 Memory Upgrade Program Web site can find out by entering their 360 hardware ID and serial number, found via the dashboard (system > console settings > console info).
[UPDATE 2] After obtaining a Core 360 unit manufactured in 2005, GameSpot accessed the Upgrade site, which gives qualifying console owners two “limited time offers”: a refurbished 20GB HDD for $19.99 bundled with a three-month Xbox Live Gold subscription, or a free 512MB Xbox 360 Memory Unit. The site heavily pushes the hard drive option, warning that merely grabbing the gratis memory unit “will not allow you to participate in some of the new Xbox 360 experiences” mentioned above. The offers are not consistent, however, as an attempt with a second Core unit (also bought in late 2005) only brought up the $20 HDD/3-month XBL option.
full article:
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6199343.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=hot-stories&tag=hot-stories;story;3
free hard drive? time to check…