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 world?San 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 Live?, 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: #28 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Microsoft
• Released on: 2005-12-02
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• 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

Disgraceful
This machine is an absolute disgrace. I have kept mine up to now solely because of the superb games comin out at the end of the year, but it has been a genuine horror to live with.For a device made by one of the biggest companies in the world you would have thought that some effort, time and money would have gone into making a high quality product, but no.
The fan is rediculously loud, for what it is. A lot of other machines have loud fans but this beats them all. Even with a surround sound system the infernal fan drones on in the background. Was there any attempt by microsoft to fix this problem? I severly doubt it.
The 360 is also very prone to freezing. This month alone, when I have not put more than 7 or 8 hours in to gaming, my 360 has frozen more than 8 times. Again showing that microsoft clearly minimised their effort to fix obvious problems.
On top of it all it has a tendancy to damage the game discs. So far my 360 has broken 4 games, including Gears Of war and Halo 3, and this is not a fault of mine, as I am very careful with my game discs.
I wish i could remember when I first got my 360. When i was so glad to be able to play new games and see the amazing graphics, but I can't because this digraceful piece of garbage has made we wish that I could take away the joy of playing halo, gears, bioshock etc, if it would give me back the time and money I have wasted on this god-awful machine.

Buy now !.
Just as good as the PS3 for now. Mine did break after a year but was
free to get repaired courtesy of Microsoft. (Launch Machine). It also returned with newdisk drive and motherboard so in effect a new machine plus the new heatsink. If you can afford this over the core system then its a better buy. Wireless joypad hdd chrome tray headset and remote etc etc. If you buy a new one now I should imagine you should have trouble free gaming. Plus a cheap selection of older games. Only one small negative a bit noisy.

Great, so far. Good for the price, so far.
Okay I bought an X-box with wireless controller and it's fantastic so far.

The guy in the shop said I will get the rings of death and nothing will stop it, but thinks it will happen in under 2 years, so we shall see.

My experience so far:

The fan is loud! Blimey, I thought my PC was loud but the X box beats it, but the graphics on my analogue non-hd TV are impressive, and beat the PS2 hands down. Sound is great and there is NO problem viewing text on screen.

Haven't experienced this overheating everyone keeps mentioning, but my issue is with the Red rings of death - the sales guy says Microsoft will send out a courier free of charge and replace it, but looks like the rrod is unavoidable so I've just got to accept it I guess.

I only got this X-box because the PS3 is so expensive, and that's the only reason. So far the games are fantastic and at just £159.99 - it's a great deal.

You need to know these X-box controllers eat batteries like crazy. At most you'll get 20 to 25 hours max using standard batteries - so suggest get some Duracell instead. What happens is the light on the controller will change up,down etc and that's when you replace them - it's a nightmare from that aspect of things.

But the upside is it's a great console with tons of games, and the price is pretty good. Reliability problems? Well, if they keep cropping up, then people won't buy the X-box - it's that simple, but so far I'm impressed.

At this point I'd recommend you buy it as a short-term option, until you can afford the PS3, as I got the feeling it will cost a fortune in batteries!