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kryo

Join Date 05/2003

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XBOX 360 Gets Cheaper, New Dashboard, Netflix

Loads of new news from Microsoft on the console front today. First off, and most importantly (to people like me who haven't actually bought one yet, that is), yesterday they announced a $50 price cut on the 20GB model to clear stocks in preparation for a new 60GB model; some stores are even running special deals to put a machine in your hands even cheaper.

Also announced today is an upcoming overhaul to the console's dashboard system, which will have a gallery-like design and the addition of cartoon avatars (cough).

Finally, Microsoft has also made a deal with Netflix to bring streaming rentals straight to the console--no more watching movies on the computer!

I've been considering picking up a 360 for some time myself, so this is some interesting news to me. Between the price drop and talk I've seen that the hardware's heat issues are solved in newer production lines (reliability is a big concern to me), it may be worth it now. Being able to use Netflix downloads on the TV would be handy too (no more pay-per-view!). What do you guys think? Anyone else who was on the fence about getting a 360 going to go for it now?

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I had a 360, with the HD-DVD player attachment (that is now worthless). I traded it in for the PS3, which I really like a LOT better. A few points you might or might not know.

1. The price difference when the 360 and the PS3 first came out was really deceiving. The 360 was cheaper, but by the time you buy all the extra crap that the PS3 comes with standard, you spend the same, if not MORE on the 360. Not to mention the PS3 drastically dropped its price as well, actually selling the consoles at a loss.

1. Lets assume you want to play a game (after all it is a gaming console), and you want to play it online. First, you have to buy your online subscription with the 360. Its free on the PS3. Not a huge deal, its like 60 bucks a year. If you want to talk on the 360, its much easier with a wireless headset (not the one that comes with the set). Thats another 40 or 50 bucks. The PS3 is bluetooth compatible, so I was able to just use the one I already had. Also, again minor but annoying, the XBOX 360 wireless controller runs on batteries, and have to be replaced pretty often, whereas the PS3 controller is charged by a USB cord to the console (no batteries),

2. You have a 1080p TV and actually want to use it. Guess what? The 360 SAYS its 1080p, but only if you buy the 360Elite, not the standard 360 (it doesnt have a HDMI port at all). The PS3s all come with the HDMI ports, but only the X360Elite has it.

3. Mentioned it above, but also relating to #2, HD-DVD lost, so if you care about watching DVDs in true 1080p, you won't be doing it on the 360, whereas the PS3 already has the Blu-Ray. Not to mention you don't have to buy a separate attachment.

Overall I wasn't really unhappy with the 360. It had great games, mine never got the "red ring of death" or overheated. But I do have a really nice set up in my room with 1080p TV and great surround sound, and it really pissed me off I couldnt get the "full" experience since HD-DVD lost. So my choices were buying a Blu-Ray or getting a PS3, which is actually cheaper. So I traded in all my Xbox stuff and the local store and got a PS3 instead.

Just my 2 cents. Hope it helps in yo' decision!

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Just to clarify a few things that have been brought up but are wrong.

1. The price for an XBOX 360 is still cheaper than a PS3. Just cause you may have to buy something you want doesn't mean everyone else does. I bought mine and I am able to play everything I want haven't had to buy a single addon.

2. You do not in anyway have to pay to play games on line with an XBOX 360, you just need an internet connection. Not sure where that comes from.

3. It has been a while now that all XBOX 360s have an HDMI port. Not sure about the Arcade version. My Pro version has an HDMI port, so not sure where you are getting that info.

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I have a 360, and I really like it. Have had it since launch. Most of my friends and coworkers now have one too. Let us Stardockians know if you get one Kryo, and we can do some online gaming.

~C

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Lets assume you want to play a game (after all it is a gaming console), and you want to play it online. First, you have to buy your online subscription with the 360. Its free on the PS3.

My understanding is that as ProzacMan says, a LIVE subscribtion is not mandatory just to play the games. Either way, $8/mo is pretty piddly. Wired/less headset isn't a big deal to me, and I already use NiMH AA's for my Wiimotes.

Re your other points, I've only got a 720p TV and my HDMI ports are already occupied anyway (computer and HD cablebox). HDDVD/BRD is not really important to me either way.

On that note, they also announced today that Square is putting FF13 on the 360 (and looking at their site, they'd already announced SO4 for it as well), which pretty much eliminates the only reasons I'd have gotten a PS3 (Square games).

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it's actually only $50 a year, so like $4 a month.

And about the batteries for the controllers... I bought this recharge kit after about a month of replacing AAs. It comes with a rechargable battery pack, but if you want more than one, they are only $12 each.

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It's about $4.13/month for online

The big announcement for me was HDD loading, to reduce load times on games

The big announcement for many was FF13 on the 360.

HDTV and games doesn't go together that well though- it lags.

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The best thing about the XBOX 360 for me is the fact that I can make it a Media Center extender and watch all my movies and listen to all my music anywhere the XBOX 360 is connected. In fact I have been using my XBOX 360 to watch netflix watch now movies for months all you need is a plugin for media center and off you go! Woohoo!

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You can also just save up the "free month" Live sub cards you'll get in some games and use them if you want to play online. But Live is reasonably priced and works well, I'd say it's worth the money.

And really if you want a media player, by all means get a PS3. If you want something that can play a ton of great games, get a 360. And with the Netflix deal then it's a much closer race, at least for Americans.

Regarding the PS3 controller being charged via a cable - the 360 has a "play and charge kit". Yes, it's an accessory you "have" to buy to match a PS3 feature... but if the rechargeable battery for the 360 gives up the ghost you can just get a new battery, not a whole new controller. Additionally you can plug it in and the battery will recharge while you're playing. Not sure if the PS3 does that but I would imagine so.

There's also a standalone "dock" type thing where you can plug batteries in to recharge seperately, so you could have one charged and ready to go if the one in the controller runs dry. I must get one of those one day...

kryo if you're thinking of getting one and you're sure you don't need or want the HDMI connector one thing you may want to look into is a cheap 20GB model and adding a 120GB hard drive later if you decide you need or want it. It will probably prove cheaper that way and you may even get a good bundle deal on the 20GB model, perhaps with a good game?

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I already figured the 20gb model is probably what I'd get, since it's cheap

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At $349 I can easily put together a 3870 core 2 duo system wth more ram and bigger hdd then a 360 (Just gotta skimp on keyboard, mouse, fancy looking cases, etc). It would perform better then a 360 in most instances, even with the triple core proc.

Could even pay a tad more to include a 4850.

The pc obviously doesn't include a screen, as neither does the 360.

Anyone who thinks you pay more for a pc should honestly look at all their flashing lights and realize; that's where the cost goes

The PS3 is another issue. The processor itself I could never replicate at anything close to it's price. I could still come close or beat out the 360 with a cheap pc without fancy crap.

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Island Dog

Join Date 06/2003

+1046

I was watching some of the videos from E3 this morning. I'm still not sure about the new Xbox Dashboard.

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I can easily put together a 3870 core 2 duo system

I've already got a e6750+8800GT. The issue is that it can't very well play 360-exclusive games

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At $349 I can easily put together a 3870 core 2 duo system wth more ram and bigger hdd then a 360

Well that may be true, but the issue at hand isn't that he wants to buy a 360 because it's cheaper than building a PC or even that he's not going to still be a PC gamer. He wants a 360 because he wants to do some gaming on a console, and this is the one he's thinking about getting.

You can be both a PC gamer and a console gamer. Don't be so narrow-minded.

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Just to clarify a few things that have been brought up but are wrong.
1. The price for an XBOX 360 is still cheaper than a PS3. Just cause you may have to buy something you want doesn't mean everyone else does. I bought mine and I am able to play everything I want haven't had to buy a single addon.

If you read what I said, here let me help you out,

1. The price difference when the 360 and the PS3 first came out was really deceiving. The 360 was cheaper, but by the time you buy all the extra crap that the PS3 comes with standard, you spend the same, if not MORE on the 360. Not to mention the PS3 drastically dropped its price as well, actually selling the consoles at a loss.

I was simply pointing out things that others might not have known. OBVIOUSLY, you don't have to buy anything additional, everyone's situation is different. I was simply trying to point out that when you compare the 2, you need to know what your getting and not getting for the price your paying. Looking at price alone is kinda dumb.

2. You do not in anyway have to pay to play games on line with an XBOX 360, you just need an internet connection. Not sure where that comes from.

Sorry, let me clarify, if you want to pay online WITH other people, you need the gold subscription, which cost money. That's where it came from. So in some way, yes you do have to pay. And like I said, not a huge deal, it was 60 bucks or something when I bought it.

3. It has been a while now that all XBOX 360s have an HDMI port. Not sure about the Arcade version. My Pro version has an HDMI port, so not sure where you are getting that info.

Thats good to know, I was unaware of that. When I bought a 360, not the core version but the "more" expensive one (it was white) it did NOT have a HDMI. You had to buy the "Elite" (black) to get the HDMI. So if they are standard now on all the 360's, good!

I wasnt slamming the 360. I enjoyed mine, and it has great games (and quite a few more) and mine ran smoothly

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hats good to know, I was unaware of that. When I bought a 360, not the core version but the "more" expensive one (it was white) it did NOT have a HDMI. You had to buy the "Elite" (black) to get the HDMI. So if they are standard now on all the 360's, good!

yeah I bought the same version as you (Pro version) at launch. At the time, it was the best version. It has a hard drive and no HDMI ports. I've heard that they DO come with HDMI ports now, but that doesn't really help me. Also, I was kind of mad when the "Elite" version (bigger Harddrive, HDMI ports) came out so much later. I would have bought it on day one if I knew that the one I got wasn't the best version.

Oh well. I've had a lot of gaming on mine since then, my harddrive still isn't full yet, and I don't even have an HDTV yet anyway.

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I just wish they'd make it possible to use your own storage devices. I have a 20 GB model, and I have a 500 GB backup external USB drive. However, they aren't compatible. I had a Microsoft branded flash drive, and it wasn't compatible.

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Yeah it'sn true. I was just making a point that the X360 isn't that great of a deal compared to a pc or a PS3.

Now if only more of the 360 exclusives would come to pc or PS3 (

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Quoting erathoniel,

reply 16

I just wish they'd make it possible to use your own storage devices. I have a 20 GB model, and I have a 500 GB backup external USB drive. However, they aren't compatible. I had a Microsoft branded flash drive, and it wasn't compatible.

The pricing of the HDD for is really a shame. I also have a 500 GB external HDD for my PC and an unused 60 GB HDD from my laptop but I can't use them. Besides that I like the console and it compliments my PC where I only play strategy games on really well. The new dashboard looks ok to me, but I don't know what I should think of the avatars

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I know this thread is a few months old, but we were talking about the upcoming changes to the 360. Now that they're here, I made a post about it here. Check it out if you guys wanna chat about it.

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