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Xbox 360 Elite

Xbox 360 Buying Guide 

 

Overview

After a messy 2005 launch and a noted history of product shortages and hardware malfunctions, Microsoft's Xbox 360  appears to have finally come into its own. Now sold in three different SKUs at distinct price points, and with a monumental dashboard update in the works (made available over Xbox Live ), the 360 should fulfil just about any gamer, from the casual to the hardcore. Sporting a sleek white or black matte finish, the sturdy console comes equipped with network and hi-definition capability right out of the box, as well as a wireless controller for a complete and immersive gaming experience. Combined with the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote  and a Windows Media Center  enabled PC, users can stream pictures, music and video from their computer to their television across any home network at the press of a button. Customizable Xbox 360 Faceplates,  available in many colors and styles, let gamers add a personal touch to their console.

 

Xbox 360 Hardware Configurations

  • Matte white finish on console and included wireless controller.
  • Included 256 MB memory unit and composite cables (SD).
  • HDMI port for hi-definition gaming (cable not included).
  • Xbox Live  Gold trial membership (1 month).
  • Bundled with Xbox Live Arcace Compilation disc: Boom Boom Rocket, Feeding Frenzy, Luxor 2, Pac-Man Championship Edition and Uno.
  • Marketed towards casual gamers who take advantage of the many "pick up and play" titles available on Xbox Live Arcade.
  • Lack of hard drive means there is little space available to take advantage of other Live features; downloadable movies, game demoes and trailers, themes and gamer pictures.
  • Suggested retail price:  £159.99
  • Matte white finish on console and included wireless controller.
  • Included 60 GB hard drive, wired headset, hybrid component/composite cables (HD/SD) and Ethernet cable.
  • Hi-definition HDMI port (cable not included).
  • Xbox Live  Gold trial membership (1 month).
  • Bundled with Hexic HD.
  • Middle of the road feature-set for buyers not up to the high price tag of the Elite.
  • Included headset and Ethernet cable means gamers can message, chat with and challenge their friends over Xbox Live.
  • HD ready right out of the box.
  • Large storage space means plenty of room for HD and downloadable content from the Xbox Live Marketplace.
  • Lack of bundled HDMI cable and increased hard disk space may disappoint some videophiles.
  • Suggested retail price: £199.99
  • Matte black finish on console and included wireless controller.
  • Included 120 GB hard drive, wired headset (also black), hybrid component/composite cables (HD/SD), digital/analogue audio dongle and ethernet cable.
  • Hi-definition HDM port with bundled HDMI cable.
  • Xbox Live  Gold trial membership (1 month).
  • Bundled with Hexic HD.
  • The creme de la creme of 360 bundles. Included HDMI and digital audio cables ensure the best sound and picture quality possible.
  • 120 GB hard drive provides ample space for high-definition video, stored music and even original Xbox  games provided over XBL.
  • Suggested retail price: £259.99

Buyer Beware

Since the Xbox 360's  launch, the console has suffered from an unusually high failure rate. The "General Hardware Failure" error code, also known as the "Red Ring of Death" (named for the three red lights that flash on the console in such a scenario) has proven to be the proverbial thorn in the sides of console owners. High temperatures inside the console cause the solder on the mainboard to corrode and break down; the results of this are hardware freezes, disc-reader errors, static-y sound and, eventually, the Red Ring of Death. Due to the number of consumer complaints, Microsoft increased their warranty from one to three years for all 360s suffering from this error. Additionally, many owners reported cases of the console scratching the underside of game discs, rendering them unplayable. Changes in the hardware and construction of the Xbox 360 have reduced the failure rate significantly but have my no means eliminated it.

Xbox 360 Accessories

Xbox 360 Wireless Headset 

Xbox 360 Wireless Controller 

Xbox 360 Quick Charge Kit 

Xbox Live Vision Camera 

For more snazzy accessories, take a peek at ShopWiki's Xbox 360 Accessory Guide.

 

Hit Xbox 360 Games

Halo 3 

Gears of War 

Grand Theft Auto IV 

Bioshock 

Rock Band 

 For more, you can also check out ShopWiki's Xbox 360 Game Guide.

 

External Links

  • Xbox.com: Microsoft's official page for all things Xbox. Get the latest updates on games, Xbox Live Arcade releases, downloadable content and more.
  • Wikipedia - Xbox 360: A user-generated guide to the guts of the console. Contains technical specifications, sales information and development history.
  • PlanetXbox360.com: The fanliest of fan sites; news, rumours and reviews await your hungry, Microsoft-loving gaze.