XBOX 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft, and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles. The integrated Xbox Live service allows players to compete online and download content such as arcade games, game demos, trailers, TV shows, and movies.
The Xbox 360 was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detailed launch and game information divulged later that month at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). The console sold out completely at the release in all regions except in Japan,[3][4][5] and, as of January 5, 2009, 28 million units have been sold worldwide according to Microsoft.[1] The Xbox 360 is available in three configurations: the "Arcade", the "Xbox 360", and the "Elite" console, each with its own selection of accessories.
XBOX 360 Reviews
* Hardware reviews
* > Games console reviews
* > Microsoft Xbox 360
high-powered games console (06/12/2005)
Microsoft Xbox 360 Photograph
Blurring the lines between computing and console gaming more than ever, the Xbox 360 is far more than a games machine. Some may cynically observe that it's a device that's allowed Microsoft to bring all manner of non-gaming, Microsoft-branded services and media functions into the living room (replete with tie-ins to Windows Media Center Edition and XP, naturally), but there's still no denying it's a capable beast.
Initial observations are that it's slightly smaller than the original Xbox, and heavier. The huge power pack takes us back to the days of the Spectrum +3 - and then some! - and the controller is far better than it looked on paper.
We should point out that it's the Full edition we're looking at here, replete with in-built 20GB hard drive and wireless controller. A 'Core' edition is available without these and a couple of other items for £70 less. There doesn't seem much point in opting for that, though, as a hard drive is pretty much a necessity here. That said, you can add a drive later, and with the various USB ports there's significant upgrade potential.
After a solid weekend with the machine, several pros and cons emerge. Certainly the power packed inside is immense: Call Of Duty 2 was playing easily as well on the Xbox 360 as it had done on our test PC the week before, and looking the business too.
We'd also managed, with consummate ease, to get the Xbox 360 connected to a network. We tried both wired and wireless connections and in both cases we were up, running and taking advantage of a shared broadband connection in little time at all.
And that sums the Xbox 360 up to an extent. The things it does well, it does exceptionally well. Its interface is clean, it's as simple as you'd expect to set up, and we even managed to buy and download a small game from Xbox Live Arcade in a matter of minutes. Smashing stuff.
Sadly, our boxed review copy of Project Gotham Racing 3 exposed a flaw or two. Namely, the machine kept crashing. Now we couldn't replicate the Web-reported cases of the machine overheating (although given the cooling system inside, we were inclined to give the machine a little space), but when a launch title crashed four times in the first hour after being taken from a previously shrink-wrapped box, we weren't impressed.
In fact the launch line-up looked better on paper than it appears in reality. Perfect Dark Zero was a slight disappointment, Kameo we didn't warm to at all, and ironically it was a PC game that we'd played the month before that we enjoyed the most. That said, in spite of the hype, it's rarely the launch line-up that defines a console, and we expect lots of better games in 2006.
Other mild grumbles? We can see that 20GB hard disk filling up quickly for anyone who uses the online functions, and we wonder long term whether a DVD drive will be ample (perhaps Microsoft is looking for upgrade sales there). And it would be nice if a console manufacturer could one day make enough units to satisfy demand from the start.
Yet the Xbox 360 is a strong and important console, with plenty up its sleeve. Clearly technically superior to the Xbox and PS2, its real challenge is still cloaked in a degree of secrecy, with Sony's PS3 still months away at the time of writing. Thus we can only conclude that in the Xbox 360, Microsoft has delivered an astonishingly competent machine at a price that - if you tried to replicate the technology in a PC - looks an absolute bargain.icrosoft - Xbox 360 review
* Hardware reviews
* > Games console reviews
* > Microsoft Xbox 360
high-powered games console (06/12/2005)
Microsoft Xbox 360 Photograph
Blurring the lines between computing and console gaming more than ever, the Xbox 360 is far more than a games machine. Some may cynically observe that it's a device that's allowed Microsoft to bring all manner of non-gaming, Microsoft-branded services and media functions into the living room (replete with tie-ins to Windows Media Center Edition and XP, naturally), but there's still no denying it's a capable beast.
Initial observations are that it's slightly smaller than the original Xbox, and heavier. The huge power pack takes us back to the days of the Spectrum +3 - and then some! - and the controller is far better than it looked on paper.
We should point out that it's the Full edition we're looking at here, replete with in-built 20GB hard drive and wireless controller. A 'Core' edition is available without these and a couple of other items for £70 less. There doesn't seem much point in opting for that, though, as a hard drive is pretty much a necessity here. That said, you can add a drive later, and with the various USB ports there's significant upgrade potential.
After a solid weekend with the machine, several pros and cons emerge. Certainly the power packed inside is immense: Call Of Duty 2 was playing easily as well on the Xbox 360 as it had done on our test PC the week before, and looking the business too.
We'd also managed, with consummate ease, to get the Xbox 360 connected to a network. We tried both wired and wireless connections and in both cases we were up, running and taking advantage of a shared broadband connection in little time at all.
And that sums the Xbox 360 up to an extent. The things it does well, it does exceptionally well. Its interface is clean, it's as simple as you'd expect to set up, and we even managed to buy and download a small game from Xbox Live Arcade in a matter of minutes. Smashing stuff.
Sadly, our boxed review copy of Project Gotham Racing 3 exposed a flaw or two. Namely, the machine kept crashing. Now we couldn't replicate the Web-reported cases of the machine overheating (although given the cooling system inside, we were inclined to give the machine a little space), but when a launch title crashed four times in the first hour after being taken from a previously shrink-wrapped box, we weren't impressed.
In fact the launch line-up looked better on paper than it appears in reality. Perfect Dark Zero was a slight disappointment, Kameo we didn't warm to at all, and ironically it was a PC game that we'd played the month before that we enjoyed the most. That said, in spite of the hype, it's rarely the launch line-up that defines a console, and we expect lots of better games in 2006.
Other mild grumbles? We can see that 20GB hard disk filling up quickly for anyone who uses the online functions, and we wonder long term whether a DVD drive will be ample (perhaps Microsoft is looking for upgrade sales there). And it would be nice if a console manufacturer could one day make enough units to satisfy demand from the start.
Yet the Xbox 360 is a strong and important console, with plenty up its sleeve. Clearly technically superior to the Xbox and PS2, its real challenge is still cloaked in a degree of secrecy, with Sony's PS3 still months away at the time of writing. Thus we can only conclude that in the Xbox 360, Microsoft has delivered an astonishingly competent machine at a price that - if you tried to replicate the technology in a PC - looks an absolute bargain.
Product summary
The good: Superior selection of games, including several console-exclusive titles; all games in high-definition; easy-to-use Dashboard interface; excellent online gaming and communications via Xbox Live; plays hundreds of (but not all) original Xbox titles; doubles as a superior digital media hub and Windows Media Center extender; online Marketplace allows for easy purchases of downloadable full-scale games, mini-games, movies, and TV shows; latest version offers HDMI output with 1080p support.
The bad: Early versions of the console prone to "red ring of death" system crash; noisy exhaust fan and DVD drive; gigantic oversize power supply; no built-in wireless networking or flash media reader; DVD playback has substandard video quality; support for next-gen HD DVD movies requires a bulky external accessory; 20GB hard drive fills up very quickly; online gaming requires a paid subscription to Xbox Live.
The bottom line: With its extensive digital media features, a superior online service, and an excellent game library, the Xbox 360 remains the game console to beat.
Product Description: Xbox 360 - Game console ; Media Type: DVD-ROM ; Processor: 1 x IBM PowerPC 3 cores 3.2 GHz
* Manufacturer: Microsoft Corp.
* Part Number:B4J-00001
General
* Name Xbox 360
* Type Game console
* Compatibility MS Windows XP Media Center compatible
* Height 3.25 in
* Weight 9.9 lbs
Game Console
* Color Support Color
* Media Type DVD-ROM
Processor
* Type IBM PowerPC 3 cores 3.2 GHz
* Installed Qty 1
* Floating Point Performance 1000 GFLOPS
Memory / Storage
* RAM Installed ( Max ) 512 MB ( 512 MB ) GDDR3 SDRAM - Integrated
* Cache Memory 1 MB
* Storage DVD-ROM 12x - Tray
* Hard Disk Drive Yes
* HDD Capacity 20 GB
Video
* Video Output ATI Xbox 360 - 256-bit - 2D/3D graphics acceleration
* Fill Rate 500 million triangles/sec
* Video Memory Installed ( Max ) Video adapter memory - 10 MB - Integrated
* Max Resolution (external) 1920 x 1080
Audio
* Sound Output Mode 16-bit / Surround Sound
* Max Sample Rate 48 KHz
Input Device
* Type Game pad - External
* Connectivity Technology Wireless
Connections
* Connector Type 1 x AV cable port , 3 x USB 2.0 , 1 x Ethernet ( RJ-45 )
* Expansion Slots Total (Free) 2 ( 2 ) x Memory
Miscellaneous
* Included Accessories Xbox Live headset , Wireless controller , Component HD AV cable , Ethernet network cable , 20GB external hard drive
Power
* Power Device Power supply - Internal
* Battery None
alaTest collected and analysed 9 user reviews of the Microsoft Xbox 360 from cnet.com.au. The average user rating from cnet.com.au is 98 out of 100.
Quotes
Xbox 360
FIRST OF ALL, ALL YOU PEOPLE THAT HATE THE XBOX SYSTEMS, IF YOU HATE IT SO MUCH Y COMMENT ON IT, SECOND COMPUTERS IF THEY REALLY ARE HIGH END THEN THE...
Xbox 360
By FAR the BEST gaming device/console ever made. - Graphics - Poorly made console - so many stories of consoles breaking down! Its like the 360 has a...
Xbox 360
i have all systems and i like the wii is my favourite. Wii is fun and entertaining with titles such as RE4 and SSBB, Ps3 is my HD experience and X360 ...
Xbox 360
Its awesome! great companion good game play, online gaming is awesome and price is way to low compared to PS3 nothing really, but looks might have to...
alaTest collected and analysed 1 user reviews of the Microsoft Xbox 360 from asia.cnet.com. The average user rating from asia.cnet.com is 90 out of 100.
Quotes
xbox 360 is gonna blow thee heck out of ps3!
xbox 360 may not have as good graphics as the ps3 or that blu ray disc crap, but it does have great graphics. but whatever happened to great games, no...
alaTest collected and analysed 930 user reviews of the Microsoft Xbox 360 from bestbuy.com. The average user rating from bestbuy.com is 89 out of 100.
Quotes
The New Xbox live is Awesome!!!!
"I recently bought a PS3 for the Blu-Ray functionality and even considered selling my 360, but quickly abandoned that notion as soon as xbox launched ...
Great product
"Although other computer wireless adapters are cheaper by a tiny bit, they are cheesy/ghetto looking. The 360 adapter is great i believe, you get what...
Decent product but not at all the only solution
"its a good product but too many people are spendin 100 bucks they dont need to spend when they have the solution at home to get wireless on 360 if y...
Best Xbox 360 accessory...when used w/i its limits
"Obviously there are mixed reviews about this item. I have used my wireless adapter in a few different situations and it has shined in most of them. I...
alaTest collected and analysed 1 user reviews of the Microsoft Xbox 360 from cameraworld.com. The average user rating from cameraworld.com is 100 out of 100.
Quotes
Great buy fast setup no problems
I use this with my xbox 360 b/c it is not near my computer. It is easy to setup and allows me to enjoy my xbox 360 in my living room with my big scree...
alaTest collected and analysed 45 user reviews of the Microsoft Xbox 360 from digitaltrends.com. The average user rating from digitaltrends.com is 68 out of 100.
Quotes
RRD
I bought my Xbox 360 from Best Buy with their two year warranty and I have to say the Xbox sucks I have had 5 of them now due to the RRD This is ridic...
Nice Job Microsoft
I love my 360. Every one has complained about the RRD. I personally have never had this problem. Why? You need to keep it cool. Place it on a hard sur...
Should have bought the other one
I was very excited to get the xbox 360, but after having problems like I did with the first Xbox, and having to send it back to be repaired, and then ...
Xbox live is great, not the actual box
Everything you are allowed to do with the Xbox is great, customization, super graphics, online play is super fun, the live marketplace is nice too but...
alaTest collected and analysed 35 user reviews of the Microsoft Xbox 360 from newegg.com. The average user rating from newegg.com is 84 out of 100.
Quotes
Microsoft Xbox 360 Pro with HDMI 20 GB Hard drive White - Retail
Worth it. Quick delivery service as always. 1 Red blinking light after 6 months of use, Microsoft's fault anyways, other than that none.
Microsoft Xbox 360 Pro with HDMI 20 GB Hard drive White - Retail
Umm.. it's a game console. what's there to say? Now my son never comes out of his room...or maybe that's a pro.. idk
Microsoft Xbox 360 Pro with HDMI 20 GB Hard drive White - Retail
some people on youtube said that there packing was awful but mine was packed very well. i guess the people just got very unlucky. works great, nothin...
Love the 360
If your a big online gamer this is for you. I would only get the ps3 for watching blue ray and thats it Great Games! sweet controller design, xbox li...
alaTest collected and analysed 281 user reviews of the Microsoft Xbox 360 from shopping.yahoo.com. The average user rating from shopping.yahoo.com is 82 out of 100.
Quotes
Crappy console
This is an o.k. game console but you have to worry about it overheating. I'm sure you've heard of the red ring of death. It's a waste of m...
LOL Xbox
LOL xbox fan boys, I went through 6, yes 6 xbox systems. I recommend this system to anyone who enjoys packaging boxes, spending time at FedEx or USPS ...
Over rated
The most important factor in deciding if you want to make this purchase is the understanding that there is a good chance the Console will break. The &...
Better Value Than The PS 3
Fantastic system. On par with or beats the PS 3 in every way and not nearly as expensive. One version is even $50 less than the WII, and with 3 of the...
Average Rating
alaTest collected and analysed 5 user reviews of the Microsoft Xbox 360 from walmart.com. The average user rating from walmart.com is 72 out of 100.
Quotes
An all around solid HD
If you just need a HD that will enable you to get online, download a decent amount of arcade games, a TON of save files, and a few movies this is for ...
Great Buy
This harddrive is a great value, it gives you all the space you need for the gaming experience you need
BAD...
its good for 1-3 yrs after that it'll need to be replaced, trust me
useful if you didn't buy the premium or elite pack
if you bought the arcade or core set instead of premium or elite, then the hard drive is a must. Unless you don't have a computer or internet and only...