Product Description

Xbox 360 represents a dramatic leap forward in high-definition gaming and entertainment experiences. Fusing powerful hardware, software, and services, Xbox 360 fully engages you in a gaming experience that is more expansive, dramatic, and lifelike, where the possibilities are limitless and your imagination knows no boundaries. The next generation is here. A merger of form and function, Xbox 360 wraps powerful technology in a sophisticated exterior. Two of the most innovative design firms in the worldSan Francisco-based Astro Studios and Osaka, Japan-based Hers Experimental Design Laboratory Inc.came together to craft a sleek, stylish system that conveys the very essence of Xbox 360. The Xbox Gamer Guide is an entertainment gateway that instantly connects you to your games, friends, music, movies, and downloadable content. Available at a touch of the Xbox Guide Button, the Xbox Gamer Guide gives you instant access to the experiences and content you want, from the gamer card of the player that just invited you to play online to new downloadable content for the game currently running. Xbox 360 lets you create your own unique system and experience. With interchangeable Xbox 360 Faces, it's easy and fun to change the appearance of your console. Switch on your system and customize the look and feel of the Xbox Gamer Guide and Xbox System Guide with unique "skins." From sleek and sophisticated to fun and funky, pick the Faces and skins that show your personality. Divided into four quadrants, the glowing Ring of Light and Xbox® Guide Button visually connect you to your games, digital media, and the world of Xbox LiveTM, the first global, unified online console games service. Featured on both the wireless and wired controllers, the Xbox Guide Button puts you in control of your experience. In addition to bringing up the Xbox Gamer Guide and the Xbox System Guide, the Xbox Guide Button lets you turn the system on and off without ever leaving the couch. Xbox Liv

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #555 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Microsoft
• Released on: 2005-12-02
• ESRB Rating: Kids to Adults
• Platform: Xbox 360
• Dimensions: 5.53" h x 15.00" w x 15.00" l, 14.84 pounds

Features

• Support for DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD-DA, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, WMA CD, MP3 CD, JPEG Photo CD
• Ability to stream media from portable music devices, digital cameras and Windows XP-based PCs
• Ability to rip music to the Xbox 360 hard drive
• Built-in Media Center Extender for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
• Interactive, full-screen 3-D visualizers High-Definition Game Support * All games supported at 16:9, 720p, and 1080i, anti-aliasing

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Xbox 360 is Microsoft's successor to the Xbox console, and is the first "next generation" games console to hit the market. It has three powerful core processors which pump out 720p/1080i output (translation: graphics look great), 16x9 cinematic aspect ratio (translation: it's sort of like the cinema), anti-aliasing for smooth textures (translation: characters look less like chimps and more like people), full surround sound and DVD playback right out of the box.

A multi media experience

Xbox 360, shown with levitating wireless controller

In comparison to the Darth Vader inspired design of the original Xbox, the Xbox 360 a thing of (near) wondrous beauty.

In addition to playing games and movies, the Xbox 360 can stream music and video from a wide variety of electronic devices, including iPods and the Sony PSP.

Get Live

The Xbox 360 offers an online gaming experience via Xbox Live. This allows you to play multi-player Xbox 360 games on the internet via your broadband connection. The service also lets you download--and save on the console's hard drive--new missions, characters and vehicles for your favourite games. You can also shout real-time abuse at your opponents using the Xbox 360 headset

Choose the package that's right for you

The Xbox 360 comes in two different packages: the deluxe package includes a wireless controller, 20GB hard drive, and a number of other accessories. Alternatively, the Core System bundle has a standard wired controller and no hard drive.

Which option is right for you will depend largely on your gaming needs--are you a fan of downloadable content? Do controller wires upset the feng shui of your living room? There are pros and cons for each option: for instance, if you do plump for the Core System you will have to buy a separate memory unit if you want to save your games. Likewise, if you opt for the deluxe version you will need a steady supply of AA batteries or a rechargeable battery pack to power the wireless controller.

The Xbox 360 is only backwards compatible with a limited number of original Xbox titles, and a hard drive is required for this function.

Customer Reviews

Xbox 360 poor quality poor back up service
Xbox 360 Console (20 GB Hard Drive)

This badly built machine only lasted six months. I boxed it back up and returned direct to xbox which is part of their warranty. They sent the console back to me aparently repaired but I am unable to tell because they returned it without the controller, power pack, and cables and when I complained the basically said tough. I have now had to replace all items myself. DO NOT buy one of these buy a PS3!!

Really good and the best of the big 3... it just breaks ALOT
The 360 is the most powerful console with the best variety of games and best independant games for a console. i.e Gears of War, Halo, Fable. The Xbox live is also the bes internet service out of the 3 and to be honest you pay for what you get which is £40 for a very good service. All the extras I have live a steering wheel, 4 wireless controllers, wireless headset, wired headset, play and charge kit all work fine at first.

Now the down side... it ALL BREAKS. I have had my xbox for 2 and a 1/4 years now so you would expect some stuff to break. However I have had my console break 3 times, play and charge kit broke after 6 months, made my TV go really wierd once, wireless headset broke after 9 months, 2 games were scratched to death by the console as well as a fair few in game messages about ... "read the disc, save the game, game error, freezing, disconnecting, overheating, unable to find downloaded content"

Xbox 360-What more could you need?
I have decided to make this a simple pros and cons review with a few tips at the end.

Pros;

1. Excellent game library and graphics.
2. Brilliant online gameplay with loads of people online.
3. Extremely easy to use.
4. Great value for money.
5. Excellent compatibility with i-pods and other mp3 players.
6. Frequent updates meaning any problems are sorted out quickly and efficiently.
7. With the NXE update coming out on November 19th,the new features and interface will be more than a match for the PS3.
8. Very easy to connect to a computer and share media, meaning that you dont need to waste your hard drive space on music and videos.
9. Very good hard drive capacity, even in the 20GB models.

Cons;

1. Very loud (though this problem is easily solved if you put it in a TV cabinet with the back removed to prevent overheating).
2. Reliability (although consoles made after October 2007 seem to have a much smaller chance of getting the red ring of death).
3. Microsoft made add-ons such as the Wi-Fi adaptor and new controllers are very overpriced.

Tips;

1. If you dont want to fork out the ridiculous 60 quid for the Wi-Fi adaptor, you can plug the Xbox 360 into your wireless enabled laptop and connect through the laptop (this is what I do and I still get an excellent connection with no lag at all). A quick search on youtube or google will find you a very simple tutorial.
2. If you want to use a HDMI cable but still want to use an amplifier, without paying 30 quid for the microsoft cable. Then buy a normal HDMI cable for about 5 pounds, pop open the case thats on the end of the standard AV cable that comes with the console and it gives you room to plug both the HDMI and the AV cables in. This gets around a deliberate con by Microsoft to force you to buy there overpriced products.
3. When you buy the console, try to get any spare controllers you might want included in a bundle, the same goes for games. I did this and it saved me 130 pounds which meant I had enough to buy a new HD TV afterwards which really helps make the graphics seem extra sharp.