Hmmm...well, you can get an HDD on ebay for about $50-$60, and shipping would be...hmm...i'm not sure...it's pretty heavy, so i'd guess maybe between $30 and $50? So right there you're looking at $200. Not a bad price for a core system, but I get the feeling there are going to be some great deals on the 360 near Christmas time, but it's your call.