Xbox 360 Reviews

Everything Else — December 10, 2009 at 18:55 — no comments

With its extensive digital media features, a superior online service, and an excellent game library, the Xbox 360 remains the game console to beat.

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.

Video and audio specs
The guts of the Xbox 360 comprise what is, for all intents and purposes, a very powerful computer. The customized IBM PowerPC CPU boasts three processing cores running at 3.2GHz each. We could go on and on about the detailed specifications of the system, but for the sake of comprehension, we’ll hold that back. What you really need to know about the Xbox 360 in terms of performance though, is its ability to output HD graphics. Every single Xbox 360 game has been designed to output at a minimum of 720p, and–if your TV supports it–they can be upscaled to 1080i or 1080p (just choose your preferred resolution on the console’s settings page). HD output is available via the included component video cable, or you can supply your own HDMI cable instead. Alternately, you can pick up VGA video adapters from Microsoft ($40) or Joytech ($20), which let you connect to HDTVs and PC monitors that offer a standard 15-pin VGA/RGB connector.

Design
When laid horizontally, the 8.8-pound Xbox 360 is 12.15 inches wide, 3.27 inches high, and 10.15 inches deep, and it’s actually slightly smaller than the original Xbox, which also weighed in at 8.8 pounds. Unlike the original, the Xbox 360 can be propped up in a vertical position and, as you’re probably aware, can be customized with interchangeable faceplates that cost as much as $20. Custom faceplates aside, it’s worth pointing out that the beige color of the system tends to clash with the silver and black of typical AV components.

Tags: xbox 360 accessories, xbox 360 console, xbox 360 game, xbox 360 games, xbox 360 pro bundle