The 2nd trip for Microsoft is a shaky, but successful one
Written: Sep 10 '06 (Updated Sep 11 '06)
Product Rating:
Pros: XBox Live, link up with your PC, upload music to play in game
Cons: System is prone to overheating, sudden and unexplainable melting of processor, breaks too easily
The Bottom Line: The XBox 360 does have a few overheating issues, but not enough to avoid looking into this system. A plethora of features, and a decent library greets the buyer.
weatherbee1982's Full Review: Microsoft Xbox 360 Pro (60 GB) Console
Design (25%): 6
Features (20%): 8
Performance (25%): 9
Gaming Diversity (20%): 6
Customer Service (10%): 10
Overall: 7.6
Since the start of video game consoles way back in the early 1980's, we have all become dependable on the fact that systems are reliable, able to play the games that we enjoy and have those extra features that are useful. Later on, when PC's came into play, gamers became divided into those who enjoyed PC games, those who enjoyed console games and those who enjoyed both without any preference for either.
Having been personally involved in gaming since the Super Nintendo days, the author came to rely on systems being as durable as the SNES and rarely prone to breaking down. Hence, with great disappointment, the Playstation era really lowered the standards and expectation of what the future held in video game systems. Sega and Nintendo still pulled through with durability and reliability with their respective Dreamcast and Nintendo64, but Sony dominated and Sega bowed out of the video game console market.
Hence, entered Microsoft. With the entrance of Microsoft into the video game world, the three way battle for dominance continued with a newcomer who had a great deal of money behind them. Bill Gates' company is well known for computer software, with Microsoft Windows, but how well received would they be with their entrance of the Microsoft XBox? When they beat out Nintendo's Gamecube, but placed a distant 2nd behind Sony's Playstation 2, a new strategy was hatched and Microsoft was the one to force the hand of the video game market.
The Microsoft XBox 360 is the first release in the now current generation of video game consoles. Despite Sony's efforts to state that "the next generation starts with the Playstation 3," it is quite clear that with delays and problems concerning the Playstation 3, Microsoft now asserted a chance in ruling this market as well. So how does Microsoft's new system stack up, after it's November 2005 release? The author has been an owner of this system since April 2006, and really did not wish to review this system until at least the 2nd generation games came out to give a fair and impartial review.
Design
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The XBox 360 is not exactly a small, or light system. It checks in at a hefty 8.8 pounds, and is 12.15 inches wide, 3.27 inches high and 10.25 inches deep. When compared to the first XBox, this is only slightly (emphasis on the word slightly) smaller. This places the XBox 360 as the 2nd largest next generation (or current generation depending on your perspective) system behind the Playstation 3. Much like the Playstation 2, and unlike the XBox, the XBox 360 can be propped up vertically, in case one does not have the horizontal space necessary to place this system.
Despite such a large size, it is this author's opinion that either the space was not used efficiently or the system needs to be given more breathing room. The XBox 360 is prone to overheating and in this author's experience, the processor completely melted once resulting in a complete replacement. This issue has already been addressed by Microsoft partially by replacing the processor in future systems, but it is the fact that current and past systems that have to deal with this problem that really brings down the score. Customer service was nice in dealing with this problem, and that will be further elaborated later in this review.
The power brick.... yes, brick. The XBox 360 comes with a power brick that is larger than any that is likely to have ever been seen past or present for any video game console (including most any Nintendo system of days past). This, too, is also prone to overheating, thus resulting in a shutdown of your system. The solution would be to suspend this thing in mid air, in order to allow your room temperature to cool the thing. However, one really should not have to do this when playing the system, which really puts a crimp on a game if it shuts down due to the power brick's overheating problems.
Despite the fact that the system is prone to overheating, you will hear the exhaust fans working quite hard to push the heat out. These things are not so loud that it will ruin your concentration, but if you are playing a DVD movie, this may become a slight problem. So take this advice into consideration if you do not have a DVD player of your own, and plan to use the XBox 360 as one.
With those complaints stated, there have been a few novelties and improvements that Microsoft has made over the XBox that deserves acknowledgement. First and foremost is the way a system can be turned on. One can do so through the use of a remote control, or even better, a button conveniently centered on the wireless or wired controller. This idea is really nice, because if you have left a game in the console from a prior session, you can just take your wireless/wired controller and get going, without have to get up and turn on the system. We are all naturally couch potatoes when we play our consoles, so we should at least be comfortable in the way we turn on our systems as well.
From the time you turn on your system, you are introduced to a panel type setup. You can do things ranging from opening your disc tray, to surfing the XBox Live area for the latest demos, to linking up with your Windows Media Center PC to obtain your songs. This feature is a novel one, and really makes navigation much easier and straightforward for the usre. If you already have a game inserted, you won't see this screen, but instead will be taken straight into your game. However, if you hit the same center button on your controller that turns on your system, you will have a mini-panel appear on the screen. This mini-panel will allow you to nearly do all the functions necessary, while in game. This is very innovative, and Microsoft deserves cudos for this one.
Features
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The XBox 360 can be purchased by way of two bundles. One is called the "Core Console" and the other is called the "Premium Console." The difference between the two is what comes bundled within the box, and the price. The "Core Console" can be purchased for $299.99 (9/2006 pricing) and comes with the console, a single wired controller, and a standard composite A/V cable. The "Premium Console" can be purchased for $399.99 (9/2006 pricing) and comes with the console, a wireless game controller, a communications headset for Xbox Live, a component A/V cable, an Ethernet networking cable, and--most important--a snap-on 20GB hard drive. It is the author's suggestion that if you purchase the system, get the "Premium Console," because all the extra components that you receive with it will easily save you around $100 to $125 over if you had purchased the "Core Console" and purchased everything mentioned separately.
This console was ready for the HDTV era, and it shows. As mentioned earlier, if you purchased the "Premium Console," you will receive a component A/V cable. You could also purchase VGA cables that will allow you to play the system through your computer's monitor. The available HD modes with this console are 480p, 720i, 720p and 1080i. This system will neither include an HDMI connector nor an option for 1080p. However, considering that most of these options are rather expensive and novelty features, one would be hard pressed to be disappointed to go without them. Also, the VGA cable that can be obtained is rather PC friendly, so it makes it quite easy to hook up your system to the necessary monitor that you'd intend to use for up to 1024x768 resolution.
Since the author plays this video game console through a 7.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound system, it would be hoped that such a feature would be supported. It is supported in spades, and boy does it sound wonderful! It is great that such features are becoming standard now with video game consoles, as it is a joy to hear the roar of a Motorcycle as near life-like as possible.
Another ability of this system is the ability to connect to a Windows Media Player enabled PC. Also, through the use of USB ports, the XBox 360 becomes a very useful media source that allows you to view your pictures, play your favorite songs (in game even!), stream between your PC and XBox 360 these media formats and a movie if you so wish. This makes it quite convenient for you if you do not wish to go through the hassle of placing a massive amount of music into your XBox 360 hard drive, but still wish to play it. This helps with Microsoft's vision of making the XBox 360 the center piece of your entertainment center.
Lastly, XBox live is what helped make the original XBox a success. It makes a huge return onto the XBox 360, with games now taking full advantage of this feature as best as possible. The XBox Marketplace is a place that allows you to purchase game content for games or for your console itself, with a current exchange of roughly 1,500 points per $30. This feature, the author feels, can be subject to abuse, and has been seen through Chromehounds and Project Gotham Racing 3. It is unfortunate that one has to pay for the subscription online, versus what the Playstation 3 has to offer (which will be free), in addition to paying for additional game content (some of which is at rip off prices). So this is one that deserves a point taken from design features.
Performance
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First, the specs.
Хboх 360 System Performance
Custom IBM PowerPC-based CPU
* 3 symmetrical cores running at 3.2 GHz each
* 2 hardware threads per core; 6 hardware threads total
* 1 VMX-128 vector unit per core; 3 total
* 128 VMX-128 registers per hardware thread
* 1 MB L2 cache
* 22.4 GB/s memory interface bus bandwidth
* 256 GB/s memory bandwidth to EDRAM
* 21.6 GB/s front-side bus
Overall System Floating-Point Performance
* 1 TFLOP
Storage
* Detachable and upgradeable 20 GB hard drive
* 12X dual-layer DVD-ROM
* Memory unit support starting at 64 MB
I/O
* Support for up to 4 wireless game controllers
* 3 USB 2.0 ports
* 2 memory unit slots
Optimized for Online
* Instant, out-of-the-box access to Xbox Live features, including Xbox Live Marketplace for downloadable content, Gamer Profile for digital identity and voice chat to talk to friends while playing games, watching movies or listening to music
* Built in Ethernet Port
* Wi-Fi Ready: 802.11 A, B and G
* Video Camera Ready
Digital Media Support
* 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
* Stream media from portable music devices, digital cameras, Windows XP PCs
* Rip music to Xbox 360 hard drive
* Custom playlists in every game
* Windows Media Center Extender built in
* Interactive, full screen 3D visualizers
HD Game Support
* All games supported at 16:9, 720p and 1080i, anti-aliasing
* Standard definition and high definition video output supported
If one could understand half of what is stated up there, then you are a technical genius and deserve a lot of praise. In laymans terms, what this means is that this is a powerful piece of hardware (2nd to the Playstation 3). On screen, this system has pushed out some pretty impressive graphics while performing multiple functions in the background. The pure ability to play soundtracks in game would usually drag down performance of some normal PC's.
The lack of a built in Wi-Fi card, and the fact that all DVD playback is 480p, really is a slight downer on the XBox 360. These sorts of items are a last generation thing, and should have been resolved already. However, everything else makes up for this lack with respect to the system, and a Wi-Fi card (not essentially Microsoft's either) can be purchased to play the XBox 360 through a Wi-Fi network.
Gaming Diversity
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Currently in the 2nd generation of games, this is where the XBox 360 is lacking. There are PLENTY of First Person Shooters with this system, which appeals to the audience that attracted many to the original XBox in the first place. However, as you can see from the list below, there are not many Role-Playing Games, fighting games, strategy games, etc. that would appeal to a broader audience.
When the author's system broke down in June of 2006, a call was placed to the customer service center. The lady who answered the phone was professional and kind, promptly responding to the concerns of the author. A box was immediately mailed out to retrieve the broken XBox 360, and was received 3 days after the repair center sent it. The system was returned, again through 3 day shipping paid for by Microsoft, and a replacement system was sent within 2 days after they received it. All in all, the replacement cycle is 11 business days. Also, Microsoft will restart the warrenty from the day that you receive the replacement system.
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