Xbox 360 sets a new pace for digital entertainment. More than just a cutting-edge game system, Xbox 360 also integrates high-definition video, DVDmovie playback, digital music, photos, and online connectivity into one sleek, small tower, and in the process puts true Next-Gen power right at your fingertips.
Xbox 360, shown with wireless controller, is a sleek, customizable gaming and entertainment system
Under the Hood Xbox 360 is much smaller than its predecessor--it measures approximately 3.3 by 12.2 by 10.2 inches and weighs 7.7 lbs. It's powered by custom IBM PowerPC-based CPU with three symmetrical cores each running at 3.2 GHz. It also carries a custom ATI graphics processor loaded with 10 MB of embedded DRAM, 48-way parallel floating-point dynamically scheduled shader pipelines and Unified shader architecture. This is powerful enough to draw 500 million triangles per second. In other words, it makes for great looking games in standard TV definition, and even better thanks to built-in support for HDTV 1080i televisions. It also supports the widescreen 16:9 format.
The unit has a 12x dual-layer DVD-ROM drive, which plays both the game media and progressive-scan DVD movies right out of the box. For game-save and media storage, users can choose between the detachable and upgradeable 60GB hard drive, or a separately sold 64MB flash Memory Unit. Along with storing files, the hard drive will make the Xbox 360 backward-compatible with part of the existing Xbox game library.
Control your Gameplay Xbox 360 uses a refined button layout for its controllers. Back and Start buttons sit at the center of the controller and between them is a new Xbox Guide button, which instantly takes the user to the Xbox 360 user interface. From there, they can check for friends online, access personal digital content like photos and songs, and more. The black and white buttons of the first Xbox controllers have been replaced with new shoulder buttons placed above the left and right triggers. Xbox 360 can accommodate up to four wireless controllers and has three USB 2.0 slots to use for wired controllers or for streaming your digital media from digital cameras, MP3 players, and any Windows XP-based PC. Microsoft has also created a video-conferencing camera, sold separately, that will work with the system.
Xbox 360 can manage your games, your online friends, and your personal digital library
The Media Experience All Xbox 360 titles can be played in either standard or high-definition resolution in 16:9 widescreen, with anti-aliasing for smoother graphics. Game designers will be able to take advantage of the system's multi-channel surround sound. The Xbox 360's digitalmedia allows users to supplement any game's music from tracks in their own personal library.
Go Live A built-in Ethernet port allows users to connect their system to a broadband connection for access to Xbox Live. The Xbox Live Silver Membership included with the console lets anyone create a Gamertag and gamer card to express your online identity, chat live with voice chat, and connect to the Xbox Live Marketplace to buy expansions, maps, and other digital items for your games. You can also update to a Xbox Live Gold Membership at anytime for even more benefits. The separately sold wireless adapter supports the common 802.11a, -b, and -g standards.
What's in the Box?
Xbox 360 console
60GB detachable hard drive
Wireless controller
Xbox Live headset
Standard AV cable
Ethernet cable
Detachable faceplate
Xbox Live Silver membership
LEGO Indiana Jones Game
Kung Fu Panda Game
REVIEW
What more could you want? This was definitely one of the best purchases I have ever made in my life. You get 60gb, which is just the perfect amount, and two fun games for just 300! Good luck finding a Wii with no hard drive for under 300!
The Xbox 360 Arcade System gives you immediate access to the Next-Gen power of high-definition video, DVD movie playback, digital music, photos, online connectivity and of course the great gameplay that Xbox 360 is renowned for, while ensuring that you retain the flexibility to choose additional features to customize your system to your specific needs.
Xbox 360 Arcade bundle with included accessories
Under the Hood of Xbox 360 Xbox 360 is much smaller than its predecessor--it measures approximately 3.3 by 12.2 by 10.2 inches and weighs 7.7 lbs. It's powered by custom IBM PowerPC-based CPU with three symmetrical cores each running at 3.2 GHz. It also carries a custom ATI graphics processor with 10 MB of embedded DRAM. This is powerful enough to draw 500 million triangles per second. In other words, it makes for great looking games on standard TVs, and even better looking ones on HDTV sets thanks to built-in support for HDTV (720p/1080i/1080p) resolutions.
The unit has a 12x dual-layer DVD-ROM drive, which plays both the game media and progressive-scan DVD movies right out of the box. For game-save and media storage, Xbox 360 Arcade System userscan choose to stick with the Memory Unit included with the bundle, or upgrade to either the detachable 20GB hard drive or the 120 GB hard drive (both sold separately). Along with storing files, the hard drive will make the Xbox 360 backward-compatible with a large part of the existing Xbox game library.
Control your Gameplay The Xbox 360 Arcade System comes with one Xbox 360 Wireless Controller with rumble. Xbox 360 uses a refined button layout for its controllers. Back and Start buttons sit at the center of the controller and between them is a new Xbox Guide button, which instantly takes the user to the Xbox 360 user "Dashboard" interface. From there, they can check for friends online, access personal digital content like photos songs, and more. The black and white buttons of the first Xbox controllers have been replaced with new shoulder buttons placed above the left and right triggers. The Xbox 360 can accommodate up to four wireless controllers and has three USB 2.0 slots to use for wired controllers or for streaming your digital media from digital cameras, MP3 players, and any Windows XP-based PC. Microsoft has alsocreated a video-conferencing camera, sold separately, that will work with the system.
The Media Experience All Xbox 360 titles can be played in either standard or high-definition resolution in 16:9 widescreen, with anti-aliasing for smoother graphics. Game designers will be able to take advantage of the system's multi-channel surround sound. The Xbox 360's digital media allows users to supplement any game's music from tracks in their own personal library. Five titles are bundled on a single disc included with the Xbox 360 Arcade System. These are:
Feeding Frenzy
Luxor 2
Boom Boom Rocket
Pac-Man Championship Edition
Uno
Go LIVE Xbox 360's built-in Ethernet port allows users to connect their system to the Xbox LIVE service via their broadband connection. Utilize the free Xbox LIVE Silver Membership included with your console or upgrade to a Gold Membership to create a Gamertag and gamer card to express your online identity, chat live with voice chat (separately sold headset required), and connect to Xbox LIVE Marketplace to download free and premium expansions, maps, game demos, movies, TV shows and other digital content. The separatelysold wireless network adapter supports the common 802.11a, -b, and -g standards.
What's in the box
Xbox 360 console (without hard drive)
256 MB Memory Unit
Wireless controller
Xbox LIVE Silver membership
Composite AV cable
5 Arcade LIVE titles (included on disc): Feeding Frenzy, Luxor 2, Boom Boom Rocket, Pac-Man Championship Edition, Uno
Sega Superstars Tennis Game
REVIEW
The Always Entertaining 360 for a steal! I bought this bundle because Im broke, which is the beautiful part because after my first 360 gave me the red ring treatment I sold it for a ps2. The whole time I wanted another 360 but did;nt have the clams to shell out for a new one. But then Microsoft showed some class and presented the Arcade Holiday Bundle. It's the same 360 with a new format and layout (in the dashboard and live segments). The only thing that sucks about this is that there's no hard drive with it!, I would've rather had a wired controller and a 360 w/hard drive (at least the old 20gig one) but hey, what can you do about it. It's a big step up from the original base models, that only came with the wired controller, this one is a giver. For 199 you get a free wireless 360 pad, a 256mb memory card, (which can only hold memory for like 2 games)and a free month of XBOX Live Gold. What a steal! I did'nt really bother to play the included games too much, because I think personally that Wii Sports' version of tennis is a lot more mature, Sega superstars tennis is for 4 year olds and no one above that age. Period. The arcade games suck too, but it was a nice gesture from a greedy corporation, I mean monopoly, like microsoft. Buy it if you are poor like me and cant afford the one with the hard drive, but if you can get the one with the hard drive. Or you could buy this one and just buy a hard drive from ebay for 35 dollars. It's up to you. At least with this one you'll still have money for some games. Well im gonna get back to playing GTA4, buy this!
Amazon.com ReviewTake the power and flexibility of a dedicated computer gaming system and combine it with the easy-to-use, instant-on format of a high-end console system and what do you get? Well, if you also add in DVD playback ability and broadband Internet connectivity, you get Xbox.
The advanced components inside Xbox make it the undisputed powerhouse among current game consoles. A 733 MHz Intel main processor and 233 MHz graphics processor from industry leader nVidia deliver photorealistic graphics in real time. A cavernous hard drive stores saved games and characters, making flimsy memory sticks obsolete. The built-in Ethernet port enables super-fast multiplayer online gaming over a broadband Internet connection. Four game controller ports allow you and three of your buddies to play at the same time, or you can use them for other peripherals such as gamepads, light guns, and who knows what else?
But Xbox has more going for it than fancy innards. The Xbox's Windows-based operating system is a breeze to program on, earning it grateful accolades from Electronic Arts, Infogrames, THQ, and other game producers. The less time developers spend struggling with the operating system means the more time they spend tweaking gameplay, which ultimately results in better games. And games are what it's all about.
Well, games and the fun of owning a green-glowing game console that looks like it came from Darth Vader's living room.--Mike Fehlauer
The Xbox Video Game System with Controller S includes the Xbox console, the popular "S" style Microsoft controller, and all necessary cables. A DVD kit (sold separately) is required to access DVD playback ability.
REVIEW
Nightmare It's been one month since I bought this item but I haven't received it yet. I placed a claim so, I'm waiting for the answer now.
Using optimized technology, the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller lets you enjoy a 30-foot range and up to 40 hours of life on two AA batteries?and when they run low, you're given ample warning so you can connect a Play & Charge cable for uninterrupted play. Plug the Xbox 360 Headset into the controller for full duplex voice communication: a wireless first. With quick access to Xbox 360 features including DVDs, music, pictures, and more, along with the ability to support four wireless controllers simultaneously, gamers can experience wireless freedom, precision, high quality, and performance for endless gameplay. Experience easy Vibration Control with a simple On or Off setting to match your personal preference The Xbox Guide Button at the center of the controller gives you quick access to all your favorite Xbox 360 system activities, such as watching movies, listening to music, contacting friends on Xbox Live, and customizing your gaming experiences. Easily jump to the Xbox Gamer Guide or Xbox Live Marketplace.
REVIEW
Good, But... when it was sent to me i was a little bit surprised that it didn't come with a chargeable battery pack, or cord for charging it. It did though come with a pack to put batteries in, but didn't come with any batteries. I think that it would have been nice if the person would have told me that there was no chargable battery pack as i had to spend 10 dollars extra to get one which is 1/3 the price of the product. Otherwise good sale.
Amazon.comXbox 360 sets a new pace for digital entertainment. More than just a cutting-edge game system, Xbox 360 also integrates high-definition video, DVD movie playback, digital music, photos, and online connectivity into one sleek, small tower, and in the process puts true Next-Gen power right at your fingertips.
Xbox 360, shown with wireless controller, is a sleek, customizable gaming and entertainment system
Under the Hood Xbox 360 is much smaller than its predecessor--it measures approximately 3.3 by 12.2 by 10.2 inches and weighs 7.7 lbs. It's powered by custom IBM PowerPC-based CPU with three symmetrical cores each running at 3.2 GHz. It also carries a custom ATI graphics processor loaded with 10 MB of embedded DRAM, 48-way parallel floating-point dynamically scheduled shader pipelines and Unified shader architecture. This is powerful enough to draw 500 million triangles per second. In other words, it makes for great looking games in standard TV definition, and even better thanks to built-in support for HDTV 1080i televisions. It also supports the widescreen 16:9 format.
The unit has a 12x dual-layer DVD-ROM drive, which plays both the game media and progressive-scan DVD movies right out of the box. For game-save and media storage, users can choose between the detachable and upgradeable 20GB hard drive, or a separately sold 64MB flash Memory Unit. Along with storing files, the hard drive will make the Xbox 360 backward-compatible with part of the existing Xbox game library.
Control your Gameplay Xbox 360 uses a refined button layout for its controllers. Back and Start buttons sit at the center of the controller andbetween them is a new Xbox Guide button, which instantly takes the user to the Xbox 360 user interface. From there, they can check for friends online, access personal digital content like photos and songs, and more. The black and white buttons of the first Xbox controllers have been replaced with new shoulder buttons placed above the left and right triggers. Xbox 360 can accommodate up to four wireless controllers and has three USB 2.0 slots to use for wired controllers or for streaming your digital media from digital cameras, MP3 players, and any Windows XP-based PC. Microsoft has also created a video-conferencing camera, sold separately, that will work with the system.
Xbox 360 can manage your games, your online friends, and your personal digital library
The Media Experience All Xbox 360 titles can be played in either standard or high-definition resolution in 16:9 widescreen, with anti-aliasing for smoother graphics. Game designers will be able to take advantage of the system's multi-channel surround sound. The Xbox 360's digital media allows users to supplement any game's music from tracks in their own personal library.
Go Live A built-in Ethernet port allows users to connect their system to a broadband connection for access to Xbox Live. The Xbox Live Silver Membership included with the console lets anyone create a Gamertag and gamer card to express your online identity, chat live with voice chat, and connect to the Xbox Live Marketplace to buy expansions, maps, and other digital items for your games. You can also update to a Xbox Live Gold Membership at anytime for even more benefits. The separately sold wireless adapter supports the common 802.11a, -b, and -g standards.
What's in the Box?
Xbox 360 console
20GB detachable hard drive
Wireless controller
Xbox Live headset
Standard AV cable
Ethernet cable
Detachable faceplate
Xbox Live Silver membership
REVIEW
Great System The x-box 360 works great and they mail overseas which is nice for us troops.
With this Xbox 360 Live Gold Card you'll get a year's access to Xbox Live - the place where gaming, entertainment, and competition converge. With features like intelligent matchmaking, leagues, ladders and tournaments, you'll have an incredible online gaming experience. Best of all, you can renew at your pace, without charges to your credit card.
REVIEW
This is 70% what makes the Xbox 360 so fun! I've been on live since day one, my kids love it and I love it, this is just too much fun.
For those of you who don't know what this is, this membership allows you to play online against other people, you can add players to your friends list or if you have friends with a live account, you can add them too. This will make your gaming experience that much better since there's no A.I. that compares or even comes close to playing against real people.
For those of you who have a Netflix account, now you can stream a good number of movies directly to your Xbox 360 and watch them on TV.
If you like competitive gaming, this is a must have!
Xbox 360 sets a new pace for digital entertainment. More than just a cutting-edge game system, Xbox 360 also integrates high-definition video, DVD movie playback, digital music, photos, and online connectivity into one sleek, small tower.
Under the Hood
Xbox 360, shown with wireless controller, is a sleek, customizable gaming and entertainment system
Xbox 360 is much smaller than its predecessor--it measures approximately 3.3 by 12.2 by 10.2 inches and weighs 7.7 lbs. It's powered by custom IBM PowerPC-based CPU with three symmetrical cores each running at 3.2 GHz. It also carries a custom ATI graphics processor 10 MB of embedded DRAM. This is powerful enough to draw 500 million triangles per second. In other words, it makes for great looking games in standard TV definition, and even better thanks to built-in support for HDTV 1080i televisions. It also supports the widescreen 16:9 format.
The unit has a 12x dual-layer DVD-ROM drive, which plays both the game media and progressive-scan DVD movies right out of the box. For game-save and media storage this console package includes a 120GB hard drive. Along with storing files, the hard drive will make the Xbox 360 backward-compatible with part of the existing Xbox game library.
Control your Gameplay Xbox 360 uses a refined button layout for its controllers. Back and Start buttons sit at the center of the controller and between them is a new Xbox Guide button, which instantly takes the user to the Xbox 360 user interface. From there, they can check for friends online, access personal digital content like photos and songs, and more. The black and white buttons of the first Xbox controllers have been replaced with new shoulder buttons placed above the left and right triggers. Xbox 360 can accommodate up to four wireless controllers and has three USB 2.0 slots to use for wired controllers or for streaming your digital media from digital cameras, MP3 players, and any Windows XP-based PC. Microsoft has also created a video-conferencing camera, sold separately, that will work with the system.
Xbox360 shown with the ultimate gaming package
The Media Experience
All Xbox 360 titles can be played in either standard or high-definition resolution in 16:9 widescreen, with anti-aliasing for smoother graphics. Game designers will be able to take advantage of the system's multi-channel surround sound. The Xbox 360's digital media allows users to supplement any game's music from tracks in their own personal library.
Go Live
A built-in Ethernet port allows users to connect their system to a broadband connection for access to the new Xbox Live Silver. The included service lets anyone create a Gamertag and gamer card to express your online identity, chat live with voice chat, and connect to the Xbox Live Marketplace to buy expansions, maps, and other digital items for your games. The subscription service Xbox Live Gold adds to that online competition, game stats, and video chat/messaging. The separately sold wireless adapter supports the common 802.11a, -b, and -g standards.
What's in the Box?
Xbox 360 Elite console (black)
120GB hard drive
Wireless Controller (black)
Xbox Live Headset (black)
HDMI port
HDMI cable
Xbox Live Silver membership
One-month subscription to Xbox Live Gold
LEGO Indiana Jones Game
Kung Fu Panda Game
REVIEW
the best gaming system, but the least reliable I have owned the the 360 premium for about a year and half. It is the white version that has the 20GB hard drive and does not have HDMI hookup. If I was buying today I would purchase the elite version, because I prefer the slick black color and I'd want the 120GB hard drive and the HDMI hookup. My sister has purchased this bundle here. The two games enclosed are kids games and they suck. It is not worth paying extra for the bundle to get the games, however I believe it was the same price to buy the system without.
The xbox 360 is the best gaming system. The nintendo wii is stillusing old school standard definition graphics and features almost nothing but kids games. The playstation 3 features a superior cell processor, better reliability, and plays blue ray discs, making it a worthwhile buy. However, it is more expensive and continues to suffer from a lack of games.
My 360 suffered the red ring of death, and had to be sent in. I received it back in about a month, and have not had that problem since. However the did not fix the disc drive problem. My unit frequently suffers from disc read errors causing the games to freeze, on every game I've have played. The newer units are supposedly using a new chip and disc drive to cut down on reliability issues, but failure rates are still much higher then competing systems.
You can find periodic coupons for use at DELL online to save anywhere from 50 to 100 dollars of the system.
Designed for versatility and ease, the Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter enhances your Xbox 360 experience in the digital home, seamlessly synchronizing with the Xbox 360 system. You can easily transfer videos and music to your Xbox 360 system from your Media Center PC, chat with your friends, play games via Xbox Live, and more - all without the clutter of wires.
REVIEW
Defective- Be careful I'll admit it works beautifully and easily-- when it works, that is.
Before you purchase this, do an online search in google or something and check out the problems people have with this.
After one year of buying this, it stopped working. It simply stopped working. I looked online to see if maybe there is a way to fix this. I was amazed at how many people also had the same problem as me. For such a price, one would expect this adapter to last a little bit longer than one year.
An alternative to this adapter is to buy an easy access point and an ethernet cable. That should cost less than half the price of this adapter.
Some people are lucky I guess, but I was not. Do some research first, though.
Amazon.com Xbox 360 sets a new pace for digital entertainment. More than just a cutting-edge game system, Xbox 360 also integrates high-definition video, DVD movie playback, digital music, photos, and online connectivity into one sleek, small tower, and in the process puts true Next-Gen power right at your fingertips.
Xbox 360, shown with wireless controller, is a sleek, customizable gaming and entertainment system
Under the Hood Xbox 360 is much smaller than its predecessor--it measures approximately 3.3 by 12.2 by 10.2 inches and weighs 7.7 lbs. It's powered by custom IBM PowerPC-based CPU with three symmetrical cores each running at 3.2 GHz. It also carries a custom ATI graphics processor loaded with 10 MB of embedded DRAM, 48-way parallel floating-point dynamically scheduled shader pipelines and Unified shader architecture. This is powerful enough to draw 500 million triangles per second. In other words, it makes for great looking games in standard TV definition, and even better thanks to built-in support for HDTV 1080i televisions. It also supports the widescreen 16:9 format.
The unit has a 12x dual-layer DVD-ROM drive, which plays both the game media and progressive-scan DVD movies right out of the box. For game-save and media storage, users can choose between the detachable and upgradeable 60GB hard drive, or a separately sold 64MB flash Memory Unit. Along with storing files, the hard drive will make the Xbox 360 backward-compatible with part of the existing Xbox game library.
Control your Gameplay Xbox 360 uses a refined button layout for its controllers. Back and Start buttons sit at the center of the controller and between them is a new Xbox Guide button, which instantly takes the user to the Xbox 360 user interface. From there, they can check for friends online, access personal digital content like photos and songs, and more. The black and white buttons of the first Xbox controllers have been replaced with new shoulder buttons placed above the left and right triggers. Xbox 360 can accommodate up to four wireless controllers and has three USB 2.0 slots to use for wired controllers or for streaming your digital media from digital cameras, MP3 players, and any Windows XP-based PC. Microsoft has also created a video-conferencing camera, sold separately, that will work with the system.
Xbox 360 can manage your games, your online friends, and your personal digital library
The Media Experience All Xbox 360 titles can be played in either standard or high-definition resolution in 16:9 widescreen, with anti-aliasing for smoother graphics. Game designers will be able to take advantage of the system's multi-channel surround sound. The Xbox 360's digital media allows users to supplement any game's music from tracks in their own personal library.
Go Live A built-in Ethernet port allows users to connect their system to a broadband connection for access to Xbox Live. The Xbox Live Silver Membership included with the console lets anyone create a Gamertag and gamer card to express your online identity, chat live with voice chat, and connect to the Xbox Live Marketplace to buy expansions, maps, and other digital items for your games. You can also update to a Xbox Live Gold Membership at anytime for even more benefits. The separately sold wireless adapter supports the common 802.11a, -b, and -g standards.
What's in the Box?
Xbox 360 console
60GB detachable hard drive
Wireless controller
Xbox Live headset
Standard AV cable
Ethernet cable
Detachable faceplate
Xbox Live Silver membership
REVIEW
Solid What's to say? The games are good, the wireless controller is comfortable, the unit itself and the power adapter block that come with it are ginormous, it's an energy hog... but if you like the games and want Microsoft to subsidize your gaming hardware, it's well worth getting.
From the manufacturerIntroducing Xbox 360 Elite, the premier Xbox 360 console package that includes a massive 120GB hard drive, a HDMI port and a premium black finish. Xbox 360 Elite also includes a black wireless controller and black Xbox LIVE headset. Xbox 360 Elite has enough space for a whole library of Xbox LIVE Arcade games as well as downloadable high-definition TV shows, movies, music, and more available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Features:
Xbox 360 Elite console: The console is equipped with a premium black finish and an HDMI port and like all Xbox 360 systems, comes with three powerful core processors, 16:9 cinematic aspect ratio, anti-aliasing for smooth textures, full surround sound, HDMI cable and DVD playback with upscaling capabilities right out of the box.
Xbox 360 120GB hard drive: The huge 120GB detachable hard drive allows gamers to save their games and store television shows, movies, music, pictures, trailers, extra game levels, demos and other content available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Also sold separately.
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (black): The sleek black finish of this high-performance wireless controller matches the style of the Elite Console. It has a range of up to 30 feet and a battery life of 30 hours on two AA batteries. Also sold separately.
Xbox 360 headset (black): Now available in black, the headset lets you strategize while playing together online or trade taunts with your opponents. You can also send voice messages to friends on Xbox LIVE.
Xbox 360 HDMI cable: New to Xbox 360, HDMI lets you get HD video (up to 1080p) and multichannel surround sound, all from one cable.
Xbox LIVE Silver Membership: With this, gamers can chat with friends online, collect achievements and gamerscores, send and receive voice and text messages, and access Xbox LIVE Marketplace content such as game demos, HD movies and TV, as well as the best in downloadable games from Xbox LIVE Arcade.
One-month subscription to Xbox LIVE Gold: An Xbox LIVE Gold Membership provides a complete online entertainment experience. Subscribe to this premium service and engage in competitive online multiplayer matches, tailor your matchmaking via feedback and accomplishments, chat with more than one person at a time, and take advantage of unique privileges in Xbox LIVE Marketplace and Xbox LIVE Arcade.
REVIEW
Wait for the Jasper! This is my third XB360. I had two 20GB versions and recently upgraded to this Elite model. My first console died (RROD) and was promptly replaced by the retailer (Amazon). My second console lasted fourteen months before it died (again, the dreaded RROD). Microsoft repaired it free of charge. However, it did not have HDMI output, so I sold it after Microsoft returned it to me. I bought this Elite last month (October, 2008) to have the bigger drive, but more importantly, to be able to use HDMI.
The XB360 offers a lot of entertainment. I do not play first-person shooters, but I do enjoy Japanese-made games like Eternal Sonata and Soul Calibur IV. I also purchase and download various digital content from the Marketplace. Being a member of Netflix, I look forward to being able to stream video content directly to my XBox. The latter feature will become available next week to users who have a Gold membership with XBox Live. You have to purchase a Gold membership in order to be able to use this feature. For me, this will be worth it. I love movies and being able to stream the video to my console will be a blessing. Just bear in mind that you need a FAST internet connection for this service to work for you.
Why did I make the choice to pay extra for this bundle? Because of the 120GB HD and the included HDMI cable. The Pro and the Arcade packages do not include an HDMI cable. I recommend this package to you if you purchase a lot of digital content from the Marketplace. The extra hard drive space is a blessing. The included HDMI cable also comes in handy if you have an HDTV. Now, having said that, most people will probably be happy with the Pro bundle. The Pro bundle is fine if all you want to do is save games and download movies (the movies "expire", so you will have no reason to keep it on your hard drive). I don't really recommend the Arcade though, since it does not come with a hard drive. In my view, you need that hard drive to fully enjoy what this console has to offer.
The newest XBox consoles are being made with a new motherboard and chipset, called the Jasper. Supposedly, this new design is less likely to suffer from the dreaded RROD (Red Ring of Death), which is basically the common term for hardware failure. The Jaspers are designed to operate at a lower temperature and therefore, will have less tendency to overheat. The Jaspersare also designed to be more energy efficient, using less power than the previous models. And, I have read, that they are also quieter. Perhaps the disc drive has been improved, and also because cooler operation means that the fans do not have to spin as fast.
Unfortunately for me, my console came with the older Falcon chipset. My console was manufactured back in February 2008! Basically, my console was already 8-months old when it came to me, brand new! My advice to you is to wait until the supply of the Falcon consoles have dried up before you purchase an XBox. As you know by now, the XBox 360 is notorious for having one of the highest failure rates in a modern consumer electronics product. If you were to purchase an XBox today, the chances are that you will get one with a Falcon chip, not the newer Jasper. Jasper production supposedly started two months ago. But as you know, most retailers will try to move out old inventory first (FIFO, in accounting terms for those of us who have taken an accounting class in college!). If you want to be reasonably assured of a reliable console, my suggestion is to wait until Spring. Also, you might increase your chances of getting a Jasper if you buy the other bundles (Pro and Arcade), as they seem to be selling faster than the Elite. The faster an SKU is selling, the higher the likelihood that all of the Falcon units have been sold off.
XBox 360 or PS3? I recommend getting both. If you are serious about playing video games, you really should have both. I'm planning to get a Wii as soon as they become available here at Amazon.
What if you could only have one, which should you get?
The XBox, if you subscribe to Netflix, you don't mind paying for a Gold membership at XBox Live, and you have a fast internet connection. Also, if you like first-person shooters. The XBox has a bigger library of games at the moment, having had a one year head start on the PS3.
The PS3, if you have an HDTV and would like to experience Blu-Ray. By the way, Netflix do rent out DVDs in the Blu-Ray format if you like getting your movies through the mail. The PS3, admittedly, is a more reliable console and not likely to suffer from hardware failure. So if you do not have the patience to deal with tech support people, you might want to go with this route.
I cannot comment on the Wii since I have no experience with it. But it is selling like hot cakes. Nintendo must be doing something right!
In any case, I recommend the XBox 360 Elite to anyone who needs the hard drive space and HDMI connectivity. Also, the all-black design helps the console blend in better with your typical audio/video set up, in terms of aesthetics.
