Xbox 360 Console Includes 20GB Hard Drive Reviews

• Good system, but not perfect.

  
  By A17QSMSDCPLTN8 on 2007-08-28
  Let me start by saying that I purchased my Xbox 360 two weeks ago from Amazon on this very page. Unlike some previous posters, I am writing about my experience on the product that this review is linked to.
  
  I would also like to add that I am in no way biased towards any particular console. In fact, this is my first console, I strongly dislike Microsoft, and am writing this review on a computer that is running Debian Etch (aka GNU/Linux).
  
  Before I launch into my review it would probably be helpful to potential buyers if I describe my experience buying from Amazon and the shipping service. But since this is not a review of Amazon or UPS this is FYI and is not taken into consideration in my 4-star rating of the Xbox 360.
  
  Buying from Amazon:
  + They were one of the first retailers to differentiate the new HDMI version and had it available long before my local stores even knew it existed.
  + I ordered around 3pm PDT on Monday and UPS had it at my door 9am Tuesday.
  - Trying to add a VGA cable or game to the order resulted in an extra day before the console would ship. So I ended up ordering them from some good eggs on another website.
  
  UPS Shipping:
  + They delivered on time, about 17 hours from pick up to delivery at my house.
  + No damage what so ever, even though some people report getting multiple damaged consoles.
  
  Now onto my impressions of the Xbox 360. Keep in mind that prior to this I held the view that PC gaming was superior and consoles lacked the power or storage to produce a gaming experience on par with the PC. I never did understand why 4 guys loved playing 007 multiplayer in one quadrant of a fuzzy TV screen (N64 I think it was) when a PC had higher resolution and each person got their own screen.
  
  Xbox 360 Marketplace:
  The marketplace allows users to download demos and game trailers/videos of upcoming games as well as previous releases. Contrary to what I expected, the demos download quite quickly in spite of often being 1GB in size. My guess is that the download speed is at least 400 KB/sec. There are also TV shows and movies that you can purchase, but that's not something I want to buy. All of this (except the content you have to buy) is free and doesn't require the Gold membership. I particularly enjoy being able to browse the list of demos, select several to download, and soon after can sample the game play of a wide variety of games. The simplicity and ease of the demo system is far superior to tracking down and trying PC demos.
  
  Xbox Live:
  OK, I'll be honest, it sucks that I have to pay for the ability to play online. But if you shop around you can get the 12+1 month cards for $40, reducing the cost to around $3 a month.
  But the rest of the Live system I love. I especially like how it all integrates into the "my xbox" part of the Live website. From either in game or on PC I can see if my friends are online, what they are playing, send and receive text messages, and compare game stats. Maybe I didn't make that clear; I can be at work and message friends in-game from my PC. I think that is pretty cool.
  If both me and a friend are using an Xbox 360 we can also send voice messages or even join a voice chat room. The sound quality is not on par with Ventrillo and the VOX-only mics can be annoying, though there is a mute switch.
  
  Xbox 360 Games:
  I know, the Xbox 360 has more games out than the Wii or PS3. But it is foolish to think that these systems will not catch up. So my criteria of choosing a system included looking at the kind of games that came out for the Xbox, Gamecube, and PS2. I also looked over the Call of Duty 3 reviews as this game was released on all of the previously mentioned consoles except the Gamecube.
  My monitor is a 4:3 aspect ratio so I am at a resolution of 1024x768. This allows me to see some HD picture quality but certainly not the 1080i that almost all of my games support. But even at this lower resolution many games blow me away with the picture quality combined with good frame rates. This gamer is tired of $1000+ computer upgrades every year or two just to be able to enjoy a similar gaming experience on a PC.
  The Xbox 360 games have achievement points for accomplishing certain tasks in the game. They are addictive little things and you find yourself comparing scores (via Xbox Live) with your friends and trying to outdo each other. It's so fun that I have a hard time playing old Xbox hits as I get no points from these games.
  
  Xbox 360 System:
  I find the load times to be lengthy compared to a PC (this is to be expected as a PC game is on a hard drive) and the whir of the continually spinning DVD drive to be negatives. I am told by a coworker that the DVD drive is quieter now than on the older Xbox 360s, but still louder than we would like. But in all honesty I can't even really hear it over movies and games.
  The wireless controllers are impressive. I am tickled that I can power on or off my Xbox 360 from the controller. And should I leave it on, the controller will power its self off after 10 minutes. The controllers also have the connector for the voice chat headset, allowing you to still be mostly wireless while you play and chat.
  I think not including wireless and an HD DVD player by default is a good thing. Why should I pay for hardware I don't want to use? I don't have an HDMI display yet so I didn't buy the Elite system. I have CAT-5 handy so no need to pay for wireless. And here in a few weeks I might decide to buy the HD DVD player, or maybe I won't. I HAVE A CHOICE!
  Some people complain that rechargeable batteries were not included by default. I'm glad they were not and that the controllers were designed to fit AA batteries. I already have rechargeable alkaline batteries that work just fine (1.5 volts, not 1.2 like NiMH or NiCad). No need to pay for a proprietary battery and charging system that only adds more clutter. And a huge bonus that I can toss in normal alkaline AA cells should I ever fail to have a recharged battery ready.
  
  Conclusion:
  The Xbox 360 is a decent gaming system. It has been plagued by more than average hardware problems but those seem to be being addressed and handled well. It is too soon to say if my console will ever die on me. But if it does I will RMA it and still consider this a 4-star system.
  
  It is up YOU, the purchaser, to determine which console you should buy. As an electrical engineer I love the hardware in the PS3. But as a gamer I have to look at the whole gaming experience. And I think the Xbox 360 is a great system that most people will enjoy.
  
  

• NOT the new 65nm!!

  
  By A2SWSQTATYKT0C on 2007-08-13
  At this time, the new revision with HDMI is NOT, I repeat, NOT the new Falcon chipset with 65nm, which would lead to less heat and supposedly less Red Ring of Doom. It has the same innards as Xbox 360 Elite, except the smaller hard drive; it's a Zephyr. This revision however does have quieter BenQ drive.
  
  If you are thinking about buying an Xbox, wait for the Falcon chipset which should be out in 2-3 months.
  
  

• Blown away by this system

  
  By A3PGIRULVPBJ1 on 2007-08-27
  Let me start by saying that I own 2 Wiis and love that system. I bought the 360 after the price drop and because it has HDMI and an extra heat sink. Plus with the 3 year warranty there really is very little risk. I ordered it from Amazon Prime for overnight on Friday (1.99) and it came by noon on Friday.
  
  I have now played it over 20 hours and am blown away by the system. I did not even buy a game, yet spent hours playing some of the literally 99 demos they offer of full 360 games (such as Bioshock and Madden 08). Plus I played many other demos for the games in Live Arcade (every arcade game has a demo). I loved Geometry Wars and bought it for 5 bucks. I also downloaded a HD version of 300 (4.50) and an episode of Star Trek (2.00). I have never had so much fun with a system before without even buying a game.
  
  As for the system, it works perfectly and the fan makes virtually no sound. I was agonized over whether to buy now or wait for the 65nm chip and am so glad I took the plunge. The warranty makes it easy. I cannot imagine not having this system.
  
  

• Very disappointing

  
  By A15YPDES3OEE1Q on 2008-01-05
  My kids received this as a Christmas gift from my in-laws. Took it out of the box, plugged it in, and it immediately froze up. Restarted it and it seemed fine, but then froze up repeatedly. We followed all of the advice on the support website, and finally called tech support. They advised us to mail it back and it would be 2-3 weeks for repair. When I took it to my local UPS store, the guy there said he sees about 12 per week being returned for repair, with some people saying it takes 2-3 months, not weeks. I am sorry that my in-laws wasted their money on this piece of @#$$%! I would never buy or recommend an xBox 360 to anyone because of this experience.
  
  

• Im on my fourth 360

  
  By A120DE65Y5X1BH on 2007-09-22
  Ok let me start off saying that I was an early buyer. I bought one of the first x-box 360's when it came out and the HD drive and the wireless adapter. After spending over 1k I have had to RMA x-box 5 times and I am currently on my fourth machine. The system plays games great while it is working and the interface is awesome... If you want online gameplay xbox live is the place to be. But the hardward has many many issues... First they have major heat issues... After my second unit I bought a notebook cooling pad with two 120mm fans to assist in cooling the system. Second the DVD drive scratches games and will fail from time to time. The systems were also designed to where when they get hot the solder gets this and breaks and you get a red ring of death. This is why xbox has moved the systems warranty from 90 days to 3 years. They have been very good to me and I have not had to pay for shipping or any system replacements so far but as I said... I am on my fourth system and I am getting tired of dealing with faulty hardware. I also have a PS3 and I love it... have not had one problem with the hardware yet... Knock on wood.
  
  
• Overpriced
  By A3DS23W27K0HU0 on 2007-11-11
  An 80GB PS3 = $500.
  A comparably equipped 360 = $700 with only a 20GB HD.
  
  That's:
  $350 for the console;
  $180 for the HD-DVD external drive, PS3 Hi-Def Blu-Ray is built in;
  $100 for the Wi-Fi add-on, PS3 is built in;
  $50 for a year of Live, PS3 is free forever;
  $20 for a controller charger, PS3 is built in;
  Xbox360 has a 20GB Hard Drive, PS3 is 80GB;
  
  Who says an Xbox is cheaper?
  
  
• Inherently Unstable
  By A2GQEIMQLJYJME on 2008-05-19
  I've had my 360 for about a year. I have not played it heavily since I have a full time job and I have to pay bills. About a week and a half ago, it croaked on me. When I went to turn it on, I got the "red ring of death." I've been talking to other gamers and have found that this is a very common problem. Some are even saying that the failure rate is as high as 33 percent. I made sure that my 360 was well ventilated, but that didn't help. I had it on a milk crate with a revolving room fan blowing on it whenever I played. I did everything right from the start, and it still went belly up.
  
  It's true that they upped their warranty to three years, but what are we supposed to do after that? All of my other systems have lasted longer than three years. The bottom line is that the XBox 360 is inherently unstable. It's unreliability makes it a poor choice for a game console. It is a poorly constructed product that is characterized by its inferiority. If 33% of current Xboxes are already dead or dying, what are the chances of this system actually making it to the five year mark? I wish I would have bought a PS3. The PS3 is a more reliable and powerful system. It also has free online capabilities. It doesn't have as wide of a selection of games, but this is just the beginning of the next generation of gaming. Gears of War isn't that big of a deal when the three red rings are flashing. It becomes a very expensive paperweight. Microsoft has made a huge error with the 360 and I made a huge error when I bought it. In their rush to be the first console on the market, they forgot to make a machine that actually works. Do not waste you money on this. PS3 is a superior choice.
  
  
  UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  This is my second review for this product. After my Xbox red ringed, I called Microsoft and they sent me a 360 "coffin" with a shipping label. I packed my 360 up and took it to the UPS. I was pleasantly suprised when my newly repaired console arrived just a few weeks after I sent it off. Last night, I picked it up at the UPS office. When I got home, I got ready to play a little Call of Duty 4. I'll never forget the instant that I pushed the button. I couldn't believe it when my system showed me the three red rings......right out of the box. I kept turning it on and off and finally saw some green. I actually played for about ten minutes, and then it stopped. The screen went totally blank.... and when I looked up at my console.... there they were..... the dreaded "red rings of death." I sent it in for repairs and Microsoft didn't even bother to fix it.
  
  This is extremely disappointing to me. The Xbox 360 console is a total disaster. I can not think of a worse system.... ever. The Atari Jaguar was a failure, but at least it worked. At least you could reliably play the one cool game on the system (Aliens vs. Predator). The original Nintendos wore out after a while. Remember blowing on your cartridges to get them to work? At least you could fiddle with it and get some kind of response every now and then.
  
  The failure rates of the 360 are astronomical. This is bad. Really bad. I don't appreciate the way that Microsoft has conducted their business. I don't appreciate having my money and my time wasted. I can't even sell it at a decent price anymore. Since so many people are getting rid of them, the price on used 360 consoles has gone down considerably.
  
  This is turning out to be a PR disaster for Microsoft. The 360 is giving Microsoft a really bad name. It looks like they've got a real problem on their hands and its not going away anytime soon. The only hope for current 360 owners is a class action lawsuit that would enable us to reclaim some of the money that we've wasted on this shamefully shoddy hardware.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Failed to meet most basic of requirements- run.
  By A3MJ4L2QQUNVAZ on 2007-10-10
  I've always tried to stay out of the Microsoft wars; Bill Gates ushered in the modern era v. MS is the devil, even though I always felt that Gates deserved his props. I'm not a big gamer or particularly tech savvy, but liked my old x-box enough to upgrade, based in part on something I read somewhere that said something about the 360 being backward compatible. Well, it isn't. Sure, you can download a patch from xbox that makes the 360 BC for some games, or pay for MS to mail you a DVD with the patch. But I wasn't able to play any of the regular x-box games when I took the console out of the box. I tried downloading the patch and so far haven't been able to successfully. I'm not going to pay for MS to mail me one because I think it's up to them to release a product that can be used by the consumer. Who does that kind of thing? Here's your new car! If you go to our website, you can order an engine to make it run! Very very lame.
  
  I became...disenchanted...with the console, won't buy any 360 games because I don't want to become even more invested in a product whose creators don't seem to value the consumer. I'll buy a PS somewhere down the line. For me, the x-box 360 has been nothing more than a really expensive DVD player.
  
  Added Feb. 21, 2008- It just gets better and better. The xbox doesn't support blue-ray technology so in a short while I won't be able to use it as a DVD player, either. Bill Gates, I want my money back.
  
  Added Aug. 11, 2008 - None of this matters because my xbox has died.
  
  
• unreliable system, 3 dead systems, stay far away fromt his one!!
  By AOVS68MTR42NX on 2007-09-01
  Bought one, it died in 2 months, took it back had to purchase "another warranty" died 5 months later. 3rd times a charm? Bought "another warranty" Lasted 7 months.
  
  Things I noticed, loud DVD drive, all three scratched my disc at some point and over heated a lot, and the fans are loud.
  
  3 systems not one could make it a year.
  
  Went back to best buy, they had 7! Returned that day sitting behind them while I was in line I was like wow. They said we will give you store credit to get what you want, THANK THE LORD! To be rid of this thing it's a nightmare.
  
  Did a little research online Microsoft is paying 1.2 Billion in Repairs for these things 33% Failure rate, Wish I was told this when I bought it!
  
  Tried the PS3, not one problem, works as if it should and this time I did some research before I bought it, great features high quality Blue Ray player and most importantly it has less than a 1% failure rate. The 360 had a bigger library sure that will change with time PS3 hasn't been out a year even, what's the point of having a bigger library if your system doesn't work. Very Very Very satisfied with the PS3.
  
  As an average customer\gamer,
  
  MS= you got a lot to learn about hardware manufacturing obviously, your system is a night mare stay away from it!
  
  SONY= Great strong product
  
  Lesson Learned go PS3
  
  
  
• Dead within a year
  By AVY4I0R5ASUEB on 2008-02-22
  What a horrible experience! The console just died on me after just a year. Microsoft's technical support website is horrible, requiring you to first create a Microsoft Passport account before you can even register a warranty repair claim (that's when the website is actually up). The website does not process the warranty returns correctly either. I am still waiting for the pre-paid box to arrive. Horrible experience!!! Don't buy one of these things. Just get a PS3 and know that the games will arrive for it.
  
  
• Great....when it actually WORKS
  By A35AEEEFLYYI9L on 2007-09-24
  I've had just about every Nintendo and PlayStation console that was put out since about 1989 and I've NEVER had ANY problems with THEM freezing the games up and constantly needing to be re-started. the graphics on the xBox games are admittedly awesome and the games are very fun....when you can actually play them. The only thing I hate about xBox is how many times it is ALWAYS freezing up whenever I want to play a game. We got a brand new game recently for xBox and it hasn't left the console since we first took it out of the package and put it in the console and yet it freezes up quite frequently. The disc is BRAND NEW so my guess is that this is faulty hardware. I tried playing the game today and the xBox froze no less than FIFTEEN times in ONE HOUR of playing. I get tired of having to re-start the game and re-play up to the point where the game froze. It's not surprising that something made by Micro$4it doesn't work. I don't think I'll be buying any future consoles from them unless they get the bugs out and make something that actually WORKS.
  
  
  
• Good luck to ya!
  By A287N0E7E2IV5C on 2008-01-19
  I am a "never buy the extended warranty" kind of guy, but I bought it for my 360 for Christmas 2006 based on the initial reports of hardware failures. So here I am a little over a year later, and the console is dead with the red ring of death. Thank goodness for buying the extended warranty, I will be attempting to return it and get a PS3. Failing that, the extended MS warranty for this hardware failure should cover me. However, will I buy another Microsoft gaming console? Nope, never again.
  
  My 360 is freestanding vertically, with plenty of air circulation and it still croaked after 12 months of light use. That's pretty pathetic hardware design.
  
  So, are you feeling lucky? Did MS really do enough to improve the heat dissipation and fix any solder composition issues? I wouldn't take a chance with my money.
  
  3/28/08 update - Replacement unit from microsoft dead after 5 days and maybe 2 hours of use. Pathetic. My motto has now become "anything but microsoft".
  
  
• BURNT OUT WITHIN MONTH
  By A1LZ9057KJNQGD on 2008-02-19
  I don't know what we could have possibly did wrong, but ours seems to have burnt out within a month. Still waiting to hear from XBOX what they can do about it!
  
  
• To the hardware designers: my home theater has some standards
  By A2DSCI7F0200LG on 2008-03-12
  The two powerhouses of this console generation are vying for a spot as end-all entertainment hardware for the personal home theater. I gave both platforms a try and found blatant lapses in design integrity with the Xbox that bothered me enough to sell it at a loss and get a PS3. Here are some parting words for the Xbox and Xbox design team that I've just posted on craigslist:
  
  * If you are going to be a part of my A/V setup, you have no right to be so incredibly loud. Not only did Microsoft fail to secure a consistently quiet optical drive manufacturer, they didn't bother engineering any auto-thermostat controls for the fans. Their solution, even after transitioning to a cooler chipset, is to blast the fans as high as possible - all the time, for the entire duration of the Xbox's life. So it matters not whether you have it on a cold tile floor, inside an actively ventilated cabinet rack or mounted in a freezer, it won't wise up to the circumstances and just dumbly works itself to death trying to disperse its exhaust. Fans only get louder with age and dust accumulation, and MS thought it prudent to start each of their consoles off at an already unacceptable volume.
  
  * If you want a spot in my home theater rack, please don't bring along the biggest AC adapter I've ever seen included with a piece of consumer electronics. MS even took the time to design the gargantuan and grotesque adapter in such a manner that it doesn't resemble the Xbox hardware at all, a seemingly devious deception to distract you from the fact that it's the Xbox's baggage.
  
  * Next time you revise the hardware, actually test out the possible home theater configurations. Want to send video to your TV by HDMI and sound directly to your receiver by optical? No. The provided and ONLY breakout cable that provides optical completely obscures the HDMI port.
  
  * Yes, Xbox, you have some really decent games but I can't help but think that the console is simply disposable. Your reliability is awful, there's no indication that you're here to stay for more than a few years before Xbox 720, or that you will live long enough for me to show off the ancient visuals and control schemes to the son I may have in the next fifteen years. I like my electronics with confidence, and you exude little of it.
  
  
• BUYER BEWARE!
  By A2XSQVAZ8UUY7G on 2008-03-14
  I have owned my Xbox 360 for a year now and am having a problem with the console cd tray. The tray is stuck and simply will not come out. Upon further looking into the problem online and through friends I have learned that 1 out of every 3 xbox 360 consoles will suffer a major problem within a year. The 1st and most common problem being that the console just scratches up and destroys every cd you insert, the 2nd most common is that the console just shuts down and just dies, and lastly my CD tray problem. I suppose I should be somewhat greatful that I have the less damaging of the 3 problems but all in all whatever problem you may encounter will just result in a 300 dollar waste of money. Microsoft has been very well aware of these problems since the launch of the system over 3 years ago and has done little to nothing to improve the quality of the system. Also lets not forget that the xbox 360 is the only game console where you have to pay a yearly fee to play online AND the only game console that will not allow any business besides their own to make repairs. This means that you will have to pay about 30 dollars to ship a broken system back to the company and in addition to that a average repair fee of about 50 dollars so not only are they producing a cheap quality system they may also be profitng from it. Just incase you wont take my word on these problems just try googgling it yourself.
  
  
• Save your money...and your sanity!
  By A10I89XVGQKITN on 2007-08-19
  It's a shame, but the current cycle in the never ending console wars looks to be an all-around bust. You've got the Wii, with it's innovative controller but sadly lacking line-up of games (all of their best are *surprise* Mario based sequels) and no high-def support. Then you've got the PS3, which almost seems like an afterthought on Sony's part. Not only does it not have any games worth a hoot, but the system is grossly overpriced (for the average consumer anyway), still has a weak online service (but at least it's free), and generally feels like some sort of afterbirth that Sony let schlep out just so they could throw their hat into the current generation of gaming systems. In essence: their support of the PS3 thus far has been lackluster at best.
  
  Then you have the 360...
  
  Let's get one thing straight before the flamers start going off: I LOVED THIS CONSOLE. The 360 offered everything the other two systems didn't: The full support of Microsoft, a good line-up of games--with some outstanding looking titles coming this holiday season (Bioshock, PGR4, Halo 3 just to name a few), a super cool and highly addictive achievement system, a nicely set-up online service, HD support, reasonable price. and so on... But all of that is moot, because:
  
  What is the point in owning a system that has a greater than 50% failure rate.
  
  Let's face facts, folks: The Xbox 360 is a lemon. It is a nightmarish time bomb in a plastic shell that is just waiting to explode. I have owned two of these pathetic pieces of hardware, and both have completely died on me. One lasted eight months (and the merchant that sold it too me graciously allowed me to return the defective thing) and the replacement I purchased today was Dead On Arrival. Yep, the thing was useless right out of the box. I called Microsoft, and they wanted me to send the unit in for service (brand new--haven't played one game, not to mention not even being able to boot up the menu) and I told them NO WAY. They actually had the gal to tell me that there was no other option. Let me put it to you this way: How would you like to buy a brand new car, have it break the moment you inserted the key, and then the salesman tell you the vehicle needed to be serviced before you could use it. Would you agree to this absurdity, or would you demand a replacement? Well my friends, I was told that this unit would have to be serviced. The reason: Because my new system's failure had nothing to do with the infamous Red Ring of Death.
  
  That's right: THE THREE YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY COVERS FAILURES WHEN YOU GET THE RROD. That is the only condition that will get your lemon replaced with, well...another lemon. And don't get too excited about the though of three year "protection" from the RROD, either. I've read posts on several forums where people are on their fifth and sixth refurb'd units sent to them from Microsoft all because of the RROD problem.
  
  Take my advice, and the advice of all the others in here that have had the same experiences with this sad piece of equipment:
  
  AVOID THE XBOX 360 AT ALL COSTS! Let Microsoft know how you feel about this piece of junk by making them feel it where it counts: In their pocket books!
  
  
• New Hardware Revision Delivers
  By A26S6DWAUWW424 on 2007-08-11
  The new HDMI enabled Xbox 360 is quieter and runs much cooler and has built-in HDMI. You wont have to worry about the red ring of death anymore with this model. Finally the 360 hardware has caught up with its AMAZING software lineup.
  
  It took over a year and a half but now you can buy a 360 with a huge piece of mind.
  
  
• Cheaply made and questionably designed
  By A3NI09VS6I5EJS on 2007-09-18
  First I will breifly make a distinction between the 360 as a system and the 360 as a game library. The game library is better then 2 stars, probably around 3 stars. There are a few good temporarly 360 exclusive games such as gears of war and viva pinata along with a number of multi platform games (COD3, bioshock ect) mixed with a lot of bad ones. I don't know if it's that the xbox 360 is inexpensive to develop for or what but the only systems that get as many stinkers as the 360 are usually portable (GBA, DS, ect). The big weakness of the 360 game library is an almost complete lack of quality exclusives. The 360 runs on very similar archatecture to a normal windows PC and as a result almost every 360 game is either simultaniously on the PC (bioshock) or released for the PC within a year or so (Gears of War). The only reason to even consider a 360 is if you fit two criterea A) you do not have a PS3 or gaming quality PC and B) you are impatient to get the few "timed exclusives" such as gears of war without the year wait to get a superior PC version. As it stands the only good 360 or original xbox game I can think of that wasn't ported elsewhere is dead rising. You can bet anything Halo 3 will be ported, the first 2 certainly were and microsoft is really trying to get the games for windows thing off the ground so.... If you want true exclusives look to the Wii and Playstations. Neither Sony nor Nintendo has any stake in the Windows market and as such are far more hesitant to let their exclusives go to the PC so if you want to play God of War, Metal Gear, Mario, Zelda or others the same wait for the PC version addage isn't true.
  
  As far as the system goes I cannot describe how bad it is. I give it 2 stars only because of the game library. This is the worst console I have ever owned with the sole exception of the SEGA CD addon. The NES, SNES, Genesis, PS1, PS2, PS3, Saturn, Dreamcast, TG16, Neo Geo, and even the original XBOX were all better made then this thing. I have a "new" HDMI xbox 360 (the one listed here) because my original 360 died for a 3rd time and I'm hardly a heavy 360 user. I've played it for maybe a few hundred hours over the past year but it keeps breaking inexplicably.
  
  The 360 sounds like its an airplane taking off when its on, it overheats badly and often, the loading times are really bad and the overall construction cannot be described as anything other then shoddy. Overall the 360 has a 33% failure rate which is amazing high for any electronic device. Can you immagine any other device where a 33% failure rate is ok. Microsoft must have absolutely no QC department. As far as I can tell the current HDMI Xbox 360 hasn't fixed any of the problems my original 360 had and I'm guessing I'll see a red ring where the green should be soon enough. Also on the subject of cheap there is no built in wireless requiring a 100 dollar adapter, it cannot use 3rd party hard drives like the PS3 can so you can't put a 200 GB 2.5 drive in it for less then 100 dollars instead you must buy the microsoft drive which is extremely overpriced. You really need more then 20GB if you want to use downloaded content at all since over 12 GBs of the very limited 20GB hard drive are wasted by inefficient system software leaving you with the same ammount of space as the original Xbox. Additinally the storage media is very small relative to the demands of todays games leaving the 360 in the same spot the Dreamcast was in last generation with DVD storage which won't be able to hold the types of textures needed to stay current in 2-3 years. Already some Xbox 360 games such as blue dragon are up to 3 discs which precludes fully explorable worlds (since a lot of content can only be accessed via one disc or the other)
  
  Some people can look past the poor construction and drastic limitations for the short term software choices. I made that mistake when I bought the 360 soon after release. If you own all other systems and don't have a quality PC owning it makes sense but I for one have never been more disapointed in an electronic device I've purchased.
  
  
• Great system, terrible quality!
  By AW4ZR3T63NCP0 on 2007-09-25
  I'm on my 2nd system due to the infamous 3 blinking red lights which is a very common problem with these systems. 1st time around, I was without my Xbox360 for over a month. It was a warranty repair, which Microsoft extended because all their hardware is junk. Got the new system, worked for a few days, and bingo! Same problem. Microsoft tech support are not helpful at all, rude and very hard to understand. Shame, the games are great.
  
  
• Glad I bought the extra warranty
  By ABRBSD8ZGL1FS on 2007-10-07
  We bought the XBox 360 for a Christmas present for my son last year. By Easter it was freezing up during multi-player games and within another month it was freezing up constantly. Then came the green lines which grew. Luckily I had purchased a store warranty and it was returned. My son bought a Playstation 3.
  
  
• Do NOT buy this!
  By A1QIEN54RSFRIO on 2007-12-13
  I bought my very first xbox 360 back in June of 2006. I opened the box plugged it in and played for about 20 minutes when suddenly it stopped working. I took it back and received another one. This one worked well for about 6 or seven months until one day out of nowhere the dreaded "red ring of death" happened. I called xbox support and they sent me a box to ship it off for repairs. After about a month my 360 was returned to me and everything seemed to be working great. Six months later once again the "red ring of death" paid me a visit. Once again I called Xbox support and was on hold for over 30 minutes and got to experience the joy of an automated message telling me that due to the "red ring" they had extended there waranty on the 360 to three years of coverage. I was pretty upset having to go through all of this yet once again but I figured they know they have a problem and are trying to fix it with the new waranty. So again after about a month I got my 360 back. For several months it worked just fine, then all of a sudden it started freezing at the loading screens. Once again I called Xbox support, this time I was just about infuriated that this had happened to me yet again. I talked to their support person(that could barely speak English) and they told me that since the "red ring" hadn't occured I was going to have to pay $99 to have my 360 fixed. I have spent well over 2 thousand dollars on games, xbox live, and xbox live content and how am I repaid for my troubles? I'm told I have to pay even more money on a product that is obviously very flawed. I feel betrayed and now am stuck with a system I cannot use. As soon as I can save up the cash I am buying a PS3. Skip this piece of junk and spend your money on a product you can actually use!
  
  
• RED RINGS OF DEATH !!!!!!!
  By A8XT5RUQG74TE on 2008-01-31
  i waited two years after launch to buy one of these. Why? Because of all the horrible news about the Red Rings of Death. Surely by waiting I thought the system would be reliable.... NOPE!! At 5 months old, it died today. Never stood it up on its side, never let the air vents get blocked, etc.
  I am truly sorry I bought this pile of garbage.
  Failure rates for these systems are reportedly 33%.
  
  I have owned many systems, all of which still work perfect:
  PS2 since 2001
  PS1 since 1997
  SNES since 1994
  NES since whenever it lauched
  DC, 3DO, GBA, DS, Turbo express, etc,etc
  
  This is my first system to every break, through no fault of my own. I just want to get the thing repaired, and I'm selling it ASAP.
  I spent some time on the phone with customer service. The guy joked with me about the number of calls he gets every week about this exact issue.
  He also told me that the PS3 is the most reliable system of the current three out. I guess I'm going back to sony.
  Sorry, but 5 months for $400 is just NOT worth it. Not to mention what Ive spent on games.
  
  
• Xbox 360 was a waste of my money on so many different levels!
  By A2NK666XX4WG50 on 2008-02-18
  I've never owned a game system before and decided to purchase the Xbox 360 (with hard drive) as my first and ONLY gaming system. I purchased the console in December 2006 as a Christmas gift to myself and within six (6) months (by May 2007) my console started giving me trouble. These red lights started flashing - in three of the four quadrants, and after consultation with customer support and following the steps outlined by them, I was told I had to return the system to them for repair. Luckily for me it was still under warranty.
  
  It is all fine and dandy that the product was under warranty and I did not have to pay to repair it, but I'm from the Caribbean, Barbados to be exact, and shipping from Barbados to the US to have my console fixed was US$60. In the end they could not repair the console and sent me a replacement unit - "free" of cost.
  
  I received the replacement unit in July of 2007, had to pay US$100 to have the item shipped back to Barbados. The unit worked well for another few months and I was very contented with my gaming experience. NFL Madden '07 and Top Spin2 are favorites of mine.
  
  In February of 2008 I experienced a different problem - the screen started to freeze. I e-mailed customer support and they sent me a string of e-mails as to how to maintain the harddrive, deleting user profiles and creating new ones and then an all too familiar problem arose - this replacement unit showed me three red lights! And like before I was told I would have to send my system to them for repair.
  
  "Luckily for me", as I received the replacement unit in July, the warranty for the console is July 2008 and as such I won't have to pay for the unit to be repaired, but I will again have to pay shipping to have my item sent to the States and pay again to have it returned to me.
  
  When I contacted customer support and expressed the expense relating to me having to have my unit repaired (not due to any fault of mine) it was brushed aside and communicated to me that if the prescribed steps to fix my console did not work I would have to send it for them to repair.
  
  To me this is totally unacceptable! I purchased a game console in good faith and after colletively spending thousands of dollars in both gaming system and games (which can only be played on the Xbox 360)I feel as if I have been cheated and robbed. What would the point be in having the unit sent for repair for them to send me a replacement unit or if possible, fix and return the currently destroyed unit. It would make more sense to cut my losses now and never purchase a Microsoft gaming product EVER again! If I continue at this rate there will come a time the product is no longer under warranty and I'll have to pay for repairs to the system.
  
  I'm an extremely disappointed customer. Money does not grow on trees and I work hard for my money. If Microsoft is unable to produce an experience for customers to enjoy without hassle of repairs and maintenance, which is due to no fault of mine, they should pull out of the market. I will now detail the moneys I have LOST, as a result of Microsoft and their Xbox 360 (prices quoted in US$)
  
  Xbox 360 Console $600.00
  One (1) wireless control 37.99
  NFL Madden '07 game 48.99
  Top Spin 2 33.88
  2006 FIFA World Cup 23.04
  Splinter Cell 59.99
  Ghost Recon - Advanced Warrior 59.99
  Smackdown vs Raw 2007 59.99
  Shipping to send unit to States for repair 120.11
  Shipping to have unit returned 211.00
  Local shipping, handling, duties on games & wireless
  control purchased 57.00
  ----------
  Total monies spent relating to Xbox 360 US$ 1,311.98
  ----------
  
  Now you can see why the Xbox 360 has been a waste of my money. Based on the experiences stated above I am unable to give this product more that one (1) star out of five (5).
  
  
  Dissapointed, frustrated customer who can't believe he was duped into investing over US$1,300 in a gaming system which doesn't work!
  
  R. Sparrock
  Bridgetown, Barbados
  
  Xbox 360 Console Includes 20GB Hard Drive (with HDMI)
  
  
• The Worst Game Console Ever
  By ABQ1AFKBYMOAF on 2008-03-30
  I bought this game console on initial launch back in 2006, worked for 7 months, got the ring of death, send it back to MS, oct 07 got a refurbished model which was not mine, my wireless controller did not work, sent my controller back for exchange for wired controller, lost of 20.00 now my rechargeable batteries are useless, lost 20.00 sitting around gathering dust + recharger 10.00 and wireless adapter 100.00 xbox live 50.00 Dec 07 (only 3 mo.) total of 200.00 extra. Finally craped out on me recently March 08. MS should be 3 yr warranty, but denied me because this time it was not the 3 rings of death. e74 error code this time. I'm getting PS3 next time. Now im stuck with all these accessories. DO NOT BUY XBOX 360.
  
  
• Xbox 360 complaint
  By A2OZ85LYXTMTD5 on 2008-06-23
  I am writing to complain about the quality of the Xbox 360 hardware. As of two months ago the only issues I had with my Xbox 360 was the frequent and unpredictable disk read errors that would happen during game play. About 2 months ago upon turning on my 360 I received the Red Ring of Death. I was very pleased with the customer service from the initial phone call to the arrival of my replacement 360. With this new 360, new issues arrived. Instead of the frequent and unpredictable disk read errors, I have infrequent system locking problems. Yesterday while playing GTA4 my 360 made this loud sound and the screen went black. I turn the console off then back on again to find out now it has an "Unplayable Disc" inside it. It turns out that every variation of a disc that I have from a basic music CD to a movie DVD is unplayable. I read through Xbox 360 FAQ's to address my issue, and tried its fix actions to no avail. The last action that the FAQ told me to take was to turn my console in for repairs. I attempted to do so online but it told me to call the Xbox 1800 number. I called the 1800 number and spoke to a gentleman by the name of Joseph. He politely informed me to call back in 48 hours due to system problems. Here are my issues. This will be my second Xbox 360 in a two months time span that needs repairing. If the support lines computers are having issues I would think they would be calling me back instead of the other way around. Lastly I paid $400 for my Xbox 360. The one thing that I would expect from a device costing this much, would be that it would be able to complete its main function of playing video games flawlessly. I can honestly say I can not in good conscience recommend this console to anyone looking for a gaming device.
  
  
• DO NOT BUY!!!!
  By A12SS13MNKW11H on 2007-10-17
  This gaming system has a 33% failure rate! Mine died in 11 mos. What good is a system with some really great games - if you have nothing to play it on!
  
  
• Gaming system is terrible!
  By A2BHHXRND137EW on 2008-02-15
  My son saved up his Christmas and birthday money to buy this system. He played on it for about 6 weeks when we had to send it back to have it repaired due to the fan being extremely loud. We received a refurbished system a month later, however about another month later the noise in the system came back. We mailed it back to be fixed in the middle of Dec. '07. It's now the middle of Feb. '08 and we still don't have it back. We've had multiple conversations with a variety of support techs and supervisors to no avail. Yesterday in yet another conversation with a supervisor we discovered that they have lost our gaming system and are unwilling to do anything about it. I would strongly recommend you looking into something other than the XBOX 360 if you're looking for a gaming system.
  
  
• BE WARNED
  By A1NU33GN9KCWL0 on 2008-03-04
  I would like to warn anyone considering purchasing any version of XBOX 360.DONT DO IT.....We purchased one for our boys 9 and 13 as a Christmas present and now 2 months later it is GONE. We had to ship it back to Microsoft. It started freezing up and the ring of lights on the power button was flashing. We called XBOX support and they said it had to come back for repair. THE UNIT WAS ONLY 2 MONTH OLD and at a price of 400 plus the games and accesories I find that absurb. Our kids are so disappointed and We are beside ourselves! We have since learned that most people we know that have owned a 360 have had to send it back at some point for repair. In the past few weeks I have learned of 5 more people that I know personally and 15 more friends of friends who have had this happen !!!!! UNBELIEVABLE PS: this repair takes 4-6 weeks
  I find this totally unacceptable I would suggest as PS3 or a Wii instead. I don't see any benefit to this console- IT seems like rip off if you ask me.
  The other consoles especially PS 3 play the same games so why buy this? I wish I hadn't!
  
  
• Better piece of hardware
  By A2KCAVE00CSBPE on 2007-08-12
  This Xbox 360 has the same motherboard as the 360 Elite it will not overheat as much as the older models so it is pretty good.
  Overall the hardware is good now and the games are amazing .
  
  
  
• 3 red lights problem is real
  By A3DFEC6X4VCUZ2 on 2007-09-30
  When other people talked about the 3 red lights problem on this console (xbox360), I thought it was someone else's problem due to ventilation, bad luck, and so on. Reading some reviews here, I see some people doubting on who's having this problem on their consoles. Unfortunately I got the same problem 2 months ago after 7 months of life. Luckily, I'm going to the USA on october/2007 and hope MS support can help solving it.
  
  By the way, when it works, its graphics and sounds are fantastic. I rated just 1 star for how nuch fun I had with this console because it's not fun at all spending USD400 to buy the premium version and see your money scaping through your hands.
  
  

• Xbox 360 Wireless Controller
• Xbox 360 Play & Charge Kit
• Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter
• Xbox 360 Live 12 Month Gold Card plus 1 Month Bonus
• Xbox 360 Wireless Controller Black