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Xbox 360 Console (20 GB Hard Drive)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 controllerIn 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. ... Read More » |
Average User Rating: 80% (473 Reviews) | |
| 5 / 5 | Things I didn't know
A. Brown "btony2" (Newcastle, England) - 8 January 2007 Based on the reviews here and hearsay from friends I bought an XBox 360 for the family. I thought I would post my thoughts since I discovered things about the XBox that I didn't know before buying it. Everything good that has been said here is true, and none of the negative comments were. So in no particular order for existing comment comparison :- 1. The graphics are absolutely fantastic. Even on a normal Telly, but since we bought a Philips 26F791D HDMI it is truly staggering. Especially on ordinary DVDs, (the 1080i upscaling is very good). 2. We have had no crashes, freezes or any trouble at all. 3. The wireless is very simple to setup, and once sorted is a dooddle at connecting after startup. Stuff I didn't know before buying (and it's not all good) :- 1. It has the noisiest fan of any game station we have ever owned. It is plain LOUD and is frankly annoying when watching a DVD, gameplay is usually loud in our house anyway so you don't notice it. 2. It runs hot so you cannot enclose it completely. But we have to some extent making the noise from (1) less annoying. 3. The external power supply transformer is HUGE, and heavy, so you need a big hole to get the XBox 360, it's transformer and clear air for cooling when you are locating it. 4. The wireless controllers use 2 AA batteries in a simple clip pod underneath, so you do not need a play and charge unit per controller if you already have an AA re-charger and some rechargeable batteries. (This is definitely a cheaper option in the UK.) 5. The HDTV connection is not a HDMI connection. It uses the Red/Green/Blue PR/Pf/.. and Red/White AL/AR connection scheme so make sure your TV has that or you need new cables (more expense). 6. Some games (TopSpin etc) require PAL-60 to be set, but the XBox comes with PAL-50 by default, and in HDTV mode the PAL menu is not visible so you cannot change it unless you switch back to normal viewing. (I just saved you 2 hours of messing about - you assume it's you, or some menu setting, at least I did, before trying to get help - we used the support line and it was excellent). Despite my last 6 comments, which are for your information, our household is thrilled with the 360 and I would heartily recommend it, hence 5 stars.... Read Full Review » |
| 1 / 5 | Deeply disappointing
Experienced Gamer (UK) - 24 April 2006 If you are reading this review it means you are interested in buying an xbox 360 but wondering if it will live up to the hype. The short answer is - If you have money to burn go ahead, to the rest of us; avoid this machine like the plague. Scanning through the numerous other reviews (mostly positive) I am shocked at how the negative reviews appear to get a large and negative reader reception, although I have a few ideas why. This concerns me because anyone with a decent level of intelligence will always (I hope) give reading priority to negative reviews first because they highlight any potential problems a buyer may find themselves in using the product. Trial by one side only is pure folly. Let me give you a list of reasons why this machine is to be ignored: 1. Game data is not installed onto the hard drive as they are on PCs so there is a loud and constant hissing as the DVD drive is spinning like crazy to try and achieve the required data transfer rate. Reading off DVD will never be as quick as reading off HD. 2. This causes unacceptable loading times, the manufacturer claims of "this and that component has a performance of so many Gigabits per second" soon start to be questioned in the mind. Loading times should be 5 seconds max not 30 seconds+. 3. xbox 360 console is prone to crashing. I have personally had many "Disc unreadable errors" in mid game, and also more recently; screen freezes, both causing loss of play progress. Internet forum discussion boards confirm that this is typical and I question the quality of the design and communication between components used. There are other problems that people have reported such as consoles scratching game discs. I have read people claim that this console was released unfinished; to gain an early tactical lead on PS3, I wouldn't be surprised if it is true. 4. If you want to see how badly the xbox 360 performs, go and play the very similarly over hyped Oblivion. You will see graphics that are much worse artistically than a lot of the games on the now ancient PS2; and technically it looks as though someone has "collaged" the visuals together; PC graphics up to half way up the screen, then 25% flat semi-defined graphics, and at the top SNES style low palate mountains with "finger smudge" trees. Hardly next generation right? There is also popping in the far distance and (I can't forgive this) popping and drawing-in in the mid distance. There is also staggering as the machine try's to keep up with your movements on screen again due to reading off disc slowdown. 5. Games are being released at such a low rate that I wouldn't be surprised if this indicates that most developers are waiting for the PS3. The little number of games that are available now are all unimpressive and are flawed in one way or another. Graphically PC players have been used to these so called HD graphics for many many years. Xbox 360 has not yet offered anything "next gen" and I doubt it will get the chance to because.... 6. When PS3 comes out, expect developer support for xbox 360 to die out (from a low level anyway); xbox 360 will become the home of American Football and rubbish Street Fighter wannabes like Tekken. All the best games will appear on Playstation and Nintendo machines as is currently the case. xbox 360 will mainly be ignored apart from the odd decent multi-platform release. 7. Core console pack lacks memory stick and no VGA cable or HDTV cable, so real cost is more than £210 to run it, Premium pack lacks controller recharge pack and has no VGA cable so more than £280 to get set up properly. MS did this on purpose to hide "real cost"? 8. Games are way too expensive, between £40-£50 depending on where you shop. The same game on PC costs £25-£28, so between approx £12-£25 more expensive to buy xbox 360 game is unreasonable for what they represent. Are MS offsetting the cost of selling the console by fixing game prices? 9. No keyboard (let alone mouse) supplied or available (backs up rushed release rumor?), how is this good for online activity? Using the pop-up dashboard virtual keyboard is not much easier or quicker than texting on a mobile phone and you cannot type as "fast as you speak", which is needed on some online games such as Final Fantasy 11 in order to confer real time tactics and info between team-mates. I'm not sure but I think dashboard cannot be displayed while playing anyway and using the headset leads to dialect and cultural problems as well as other potential abuses. Shock horror. 10. The controller is the best designed part of the setup (which is shameful if you think about it), but even this has problems. If you need to play any game that involves holding the Left or Right trigger a lot (such as Burnout Revenge) you will soon wish the designers had reduced the force needed to keep these buttons pressed. Did they think people would only play 1 hour a day on this machine? Some coined the original xbox as a "poor mans PC" and my experience thus far has lead me to the feeling that the Xbox 360 had failed to be a machine of the future, of years to come, and sadly (because I bought one....) looks like it is destined to take up the reputation and prestige (or lack thereof) of its predecessor. My advices to PC gamers - avoid this machine and spend your £200-£300 on upgrades; I gravely wish I had. And to the rest I would advise to wait for the PS3, I can't wait to trade this junk in for it. So if you still want to buy an xbox 360 I don't understand your mentality, and I don't think I want to try either. ... Read Full Review » |
| 5 / 5 | You don't need an HDTV, if you have a PC monitor, buy the VGA cable!
S. Kerracher - 8 October 2006 This machine is awesome. You can download demos, I have had no overheating, it's fast and the graphics are AMAZING. I currently have around 20 demos on this thing, and have bought 3 full games, Ghost Recon, Fight Night Round 3 and Saint's Row, all are very good, especially Ghost Recon. I am posting this review to inform people that they DON'T need a HDTV to enjoy the 360 in HD. If you have a spare PC monitor, or buy one (preferably a widescreen one which now you can get for £140) you can enjoy HD! You just need the official VGA cable which is available here on Amazon. You can then chose the resolution to output from your 360 and can enjoy full HD graphics without spending a fortune on a HDTV. ... Read Full Review » |
| 5 / 5 | Xbox 360
Chris Barr - 25 August 2005 Hi, I couldnt help noticing that many people writing reviews are saying that the xbox 360s wireless controllers are not going to have rechargeable batteries. In a recent conference,Bill Gates presented a review of the new Xbox and he specificly said that the new controller will be rechargeable, So, I would sell your Xbox and games sooner rather than later (if you are going to that is...) because the second that the xbox 360 comes onto shelves, your Xbox consoles value will steeply decline. Thanks for reading this review! Chris |
| 1 / 5 | ABSOLUTELY APPALLING!!
Robert Hutton - 3 July 2007 I bought an Xbox 360 console! Also, like a good mug, I paid for a 3 year extended warranty. Saly, my machine kept overheating and crashing even though it was placed in front of a fan and a cool window. It was so hot, I couldn't touch the metal pin from the power cable!! So, I bought a Nyko Intercooler. Sadly, my 360 developed the 3 rings of death after 4 weeks. I tried to unplug the cables, but the 360 had become so ridiculously hot, that the intercooler had melted and stuck itself to the 360!!! So, I called Microsoft's customer support. They informed me that the 360 was void of the warranty and they refused to repair it as I'd used a third party item. I'd only bought the said intercooler due to the 360's inherant fault and the fact I wanted to preserve my system!!! Even better, was the fact they wouldn't refund my void extended warranty cost of £59.99 that didn't kick in until 11 months time. So, I'd infact wasted just shy of £340.00! I must say, I wish Microsoft all the bad luck in the World! Cheers Bill, you monopolising scumbag! You've had 2 YEARS(!!) to sort this overheating issue out and you stil haven't bothered!! Wowzers!!... Read Full Review » |
RRP
£339.99
Release Date
2 December 2005
Price Range
£144.99 - £194.99