Check slickdeals and Dell. Just missed out on the deal for the Elite for less than $200 after rebate.

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=256899&t=1570773&highlight=360

There is a $50 rebate now, that ends on the 5th. Here is the elite which after Bing cashback can be $180

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=256899&t=1585408&highlight=elite

 

I got the red ring of death on 2 xbox's in a row.... so I switched to Playstation 3. LOL.

 

if you can wait a bit you can get a deal on the bundle that comes with Cod MW:2. It comes with a couple controllers and a 250 gig hard drive.
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/press/2009/0915-mw2.htm

 

This bundle can be had for $350 at some places according to CAG iirc.


There is a holiday elite bundle I think which should be out now that comes with Pure and Lego Batman.

 

indeed, it is at Newegg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16868105026

 

there was only one big "batch" that had the problem, and microsoft fixes it for free if you ship it to them. if you do the fix one time, you won't have the problem again. if you buy another xbox from the store, you have a greater chance of experiencing it again. ;)

i sent my xbox to microsoft (they paid for shipping both ways), and i got it back a week later fixed and haven't had a problem since.

OP - you can also buy an xbox 360 arcade (without the hard drive) for quite a bit less on deals, then buy a hard drive on craigslist or ebay (many are unloading their old drives for upgraded ones) and create your own elite for a lot less money. :up: