| I finally gave into the "evils" of Microsoft | | | | favourites sites from your PC? That way you |
| and invested in their Next Generation | | | | don't have to type your just browse a list |
| console. Why. the delay in ps3 coupled with | | | | and update as you wish.The limitation of |
| the delay in Ghost Recon on PC. The more | | | | media extender to just music and images is a |
| reviews I read, the more it convinced me that | | | | sadly lacking. They should provide some way |
| 360 was made up of excellent hardware that | | | | of copying video to and from the 360.The |
| was finally being used. So I blew up my | | | | ability to benchmark your machine to insure |
| credit card, pissed off my wife and invested | | | | it is running 3 cores etc etc. A simple |
| in more computer hardware that I may not | | | | benchmark app would do the trick.Support for |
| need. But hell I work at it, so keeping up to | | | | more formats like Divx, mpeg4 etc. I Know |
| date with all technology is my job (or so I | | | | Microsoft is saving money by not including |
| keep telling myself).First impressions: As | | | | these codecs. But imagine using a PC that |
| you install the 360 the first thing that hits | | | | would only play WMV movies?High |
| you, is the physical weight of the machine. | | | | Definition:The image quality on a standard TV |
| Small but weights much the same as a concrete | | | | is good, but to make full use you really need |
| block.The desktop and configuration of the | | | | a High Definition television. the 360 has |
| systems immediately shows you there is so | | | | become the "killer app" for high def tv's; |
| much more to this machine than simple game | | | | meaning more high def tv's are being sold |
| play. It feels like a simplified computer | | | | now, purely to use with the 360. Think 32 "" |
| (but in a good way). No messing about with | | | | + screen on your PC and you get an idea of |
| patches and upgrades. You logon to Xbox live | | | | the difference it will make (and you can also |
| and it tells you when you need to upgrade. | | | | plug your pc into one).DVD player:The movie |
| Easy to navigate, ability to jump in an out | | | | player is very impressive player all brands |
| of games easily.Loading times are also very | | | | of DVD's without a hitch. Easy to manage |
| impressive. I expected to be starring at the | | | | interface and excellent image/sound (this is |
| screen during my first run of war fighter and | | | | also a progressive scan unit for improved |
| was very pleasantly surprised.Xbox live is | | | | image quality). Only pity, no multi region |
| the ace in Microsoft's deck. Their killer app | | | | support.Tips:Did you want to download |
| for the machine. Think of it as their | | | | different Xbox live content? Go to system and |
| internet in the internet. It is free to just | | | | change you locale to American and log out/on |
| use. But you have to upgrade to gold (and | | | | to Xbox live and away you go (you also need |
| pay) to play games online and get hold of | | | | an email address with mail address in that |
| some downloads. But ALL games will have an | | | | location) . Different demos and trailers.Xbox |
| online mode. Meaning you will get more value | | | | Live arcade:A strange addiction indeed. The |
| and a different experience. Microsoft have | | | | ability to play older arcade games that use |
| also insisted on achievement sin all the | | | | little or none of the power of the worlds |
| games.The more you achieve the better you | | | | most powerful console. But, it works. |
| rating and points (rating can also be | | | | Allowing you to play exact arcade emulations |
| improved by visits, friend, helping, messages | | | | such as joust, gauntlet etc adds another |
| etc). Basically they want you to play and get | | | | dimension to your 360. My four year just |
| involved and will reward you for such. Nice | | | | loves playing Marble Blast on live.Online |
| ideas. Getting people to play more of what | | | | Play:I have tried many multiplayer games on |
| they paid for - rather than the modern | | | | the PC platform and mixed enjoyment has been |
| obsession of owning more and not actually | | | | had. Get a good server and all is well. but |
| using, is a good one.(as these games aren't | | | | often or not you waste time looking and |
| cheap - 75 euro for war fighter!!!).This page | | | | waiting for a "none lagging" game. So far I |
| will be updated, the more I get to actually | | | | have only tried (briefly) advanced warfighter |
| use the system. (oh to have free time).I will | | | | online. A quick half hour game using a |
| be sticking simple no B.S. reviews here, of | | | | headset with some blokes from the UK. Was it |
| the games that interest me on the 360 | | | | any good. Amazing! Great game, very little |
| platform. The physical build is impressive, | | | | lag, no time wasting just simple game |
| although the size of the power supply is | | | | selection and a couple of minutes wait and |
| staggering. Simple little things impress: The | | | | away you go. Voice over IP works well: no |
| size of the wireless controller: perfect. The | | | | silly button presses, just talk.Although a |
| 360 button on the controller, brings you back | | | | strange experience allowing everyone hear you |
| to the "desktop", as well as powering on/off | | | | shout at yourself when you get killed |
| the machine (a simple feature I know, but | | | | (usually swear words in disgust). But will |
| works).The more I mess around with this | | | | have to try it again as this single game |
| machine, the more I like it. It seems that | | | | ranked as one of the best gaming experiences |
| playing a game now that does effect you score | | | | I have had on any platform.....Wish |
| rating or unlock achievements is less of a, | | | | List:*Give us a browser and means to copy |
| well achievement.I have downloaded a lot of | | | | Favourite bookmarks from PC to the |
| demos such as fight night 3 and Battlefield | | | | 360.*Ability to stream and play Divx (and |
| modern combat (very impressive, with no lag | | | | other supported codecs).*Some way of playing |
| in sight).Updates: A few weeks of usageI | | | | multi region DVD's: but why of why does this |
| signed up for xbox live gold: 60.00 for 12 | | | | even still exist?*MORE Xbox Live content: |
| months unlimited use. The amount of media and | | | | trailers, tv programs, shorts etc etc. The |
| the ability to download clips and demos, | | | | announcements of future possible releases are |
| means you really need this to make full use | | | | exciting: but need to start happening soon, |
| of the machine.Also from what I can tell, | | | | to be imbedded and in place before Ps3 and |
| people are playing games to just build up | | | | the Sony machine gets into motion. Perhaps a |
| their game score: offline play (even single | | | | nice partnership with apple and quick time |
| player) is just the same these days if you | | | | would do the trick.Conclusion:Well how do I |
| don't improve your rating as a result.Very | | | | feel about the 360 six weeks after purchase? |
| clever option. Actually, it is quite amazing | | | | To be honest, very, very impressed. Excellent |
| how much time you actually spend browsing, | | | | build quality, fantastic interface. Wealth of |
| downloading and playing with items in Xbox | | | | multimedia and gaming options. Xbox live is |
| live.Extending the experience: Media CentreI | | | | great. Software updates that show they |
| built a Windows Media Centre 2005 (repaired | | | | actually listen to the users (all those |
| an old fried motherboard). And tested the | | | | features that you wanted in or removed |
| interface between this the 360. Amazed to see | | | | appeared in the June update. But what about |
| you get the full Media centre console on the | | | | the games: what it was built for?Online play |
| 360 when you have a machine to connect to | | | | with the head set is excellent. Easy to jump |
| (across you network). You can only stream | | | | in and out of "friend" games. Achievements |
| video in WMV format at present. But you can | | | | and game score is a master stroke. Gaming |
| find an app on the web that will allow you to | | | | without these feature feels a little |
| convert divx to wmv on the fly.Tested | | | | pointless now. I have played games such as |
| streaming video, images and music from one | | | | Advanced Warfighter, Table Tennis, |
| side of the house to the other. Easy to | | | | Battlefield 2, Top spin 2, Dead or alive 4 |
| config and use and impressive interface/image | | | | and to be fair, have had some of THE best |
| quality.Basically transform you 360 into much | | | | gaming experiences I have had on any system |
| more that a gaming machine. You can do music | | | | (and I have been playing since the days of |
| and images only connecting to extender on an | | | | zx-81: yes I'm and old fart).The future |
| XP machine. But to make full use you need | | | | releases also look VERY bright. Gears of War, |
| windows media centre 2005.Combining the power | | | | Dead Rising and Lost World to name a few, all |
| of the 360, with Xbox live and the media | | | | look amazing. Incredible to see how quickly |
| centre options; Sony really have their work | | | | developers and getting these type of results |
| cut out for them. As there is so much more to | | | | considering how new this system is. Perhaps |
| Microsoft's machine than playing games.In | | | | it is testament to how good a platform it is |
| all, a great "home entertainment system". | | | | to develop for. Also Xbox live anywhere looks |
| Great for gaming, online play is easy and | | | | very interesting indeed (allow 360 and pc |
| solid, god support for music, images and | | | | users to play and use Xbox live together: as |
| other media (particularly is you own a media | | | | well as mobile device options).Without Xbox |
| centre PC). Only downside: just don't be | | | | live the 360 is an amazing piece of kit. |
| surprised when you are using your gaming | | | | Combined with the Xbox live option it is |
| console for a lot more than just games.What I | | | | indeed the killer app of the next generation |
| would have liked to see:The biggest omission | | | | consoles.My advice?To borrow their own catch |
| is the ability to browse web pages. Granted, | | | | phrase. Jump in, you'll have a ball and hats |
| doing such with a controller or remote with | | | | off to those you developed this machine. I |
| an on screen keyboard would have been a pain. | | | | for one am glad you did. THE single most |
| But considering the experience is dependant | | | | impressive piece of hardware I have EVER |
| on you already owning a PC (to get full | | | | purchased.Wrote a full review with images at: |
| potential), why not have the option of a 360 | | | | manager with Bsc in computing, who writes |
| browser and the ability to sync your | | | | screenplays and studying Msc. |