A new Xbox 360 Elite will save you one of these, but don’t expect to find an HDMI cable in the box.

AUG. 27, 2009 • With the recently announced $299 PS3 Slim creating an unfavorable comparison with its $399 Xbox 360 Elite, Microsoft Game Studios cut the price of the console by $100, and reduced existing inventory of the Pro model to $249, and discontinued the latter. Unfortunately, Microsoft also eliminated the previously included HDMI cable from the Elite package – an accessory that usually costs around $30 at mainstream retailers.

Impact: Technically both systems now cost $300, but for Microsoft there is no getting around the fact that the PlayStation 3 is now a better deal.  The Xbox 360 does not have a Blu-ray player or HDMI cable.  Furthermore, the PS3 comes with built-in Wi-Fi capability and free online gameplay.  With the Xbox 360 online gameplay costs an extra $50 a year and the official Xbox 360 Wi-Fi adaptor costs about $100.  Of course, you still can’t play Halo on a PS3.