Thinking of getting an Xbox 360. Now which one?

Gaelinic

So, I won some money recently and I'm thinking of getting a 360. I'm just confused about some of the accessories and options available through an Xbox. And, some of the stories I've read about the 360 are a little concerning. I'm new to online gaming and have several questions about the nature of the 360 and Xbox live.

I also just bought a Panasonic Plasma TH-42PZ77u that plays 1080p and an Yamaha audio receiver that passes video and audio through HDMI. The receiver does not accept audio through HDMI. I have to connect audio through 5.1 channel analog jacks, digitial optical input, or digital coaxial input.

Based on that equipment, I have a few questions:

1) Does the 360 have a way to connect video to the TV through HDMI but audio to the receiver via digital optical cable?

2) If not, then do the Xbox 360 component cables have a jack to plug a digital optical cable to the receiver like the original Xbox had?

3) Is there much difference in video quality between component cables and HDMI?

4) Besides the 120gb hard drive, what is the difference between the Pro and Elite versions?

5) Is the Elite version a good deal for what it comes with? How

6) Can the Pro version have an HDMI interface? If not, which 360 have HDMI interface?

7) Which ones come with an HDMI cable? Does the 360 use 1.3 HDMI cables? If not, then when?


8) Can the Xbox use any HDMI cable or is it a special propietary cable that plugs onlyinto the Xbox?

9) Why would I need 120gb of storage space on an Xbox? What purpose would it serve?

10) Do the new Xbox systems still have the "ring of death" or any other issues I should be made aware of? Please list them?

11) What is the difference between the 360 pro and the Halo limited edition version?

12) Can you plug in an Ipod to get music off of the 360?

13) Can I transfer movies or music purchased through the marketplace from the 360 to any external harddrive?

13) Do I need a cooling fan for one of the new 360s?

14) How much do xbox marketplace points cost? What do things cost in the marketplace?

15) How much free time on Xbox live do you get when purchasing a new 360 system?

16) How much does membership on xbox live cost?

17) What's the difference between Silver and Gold membership?

18) What's the best and cheapest way to buying a Gold membership? I've seen those Gold membership packs at the stores offering 12 months of service. Is that cheaper than buying a Gold membership over Xbox live?

19) Is it cheaper to buy one of the 12 month membership packs than one of the 3 month live cards I've seen at Target?

20) What is the benefit to buying one of those 12 month Gold memberships in the store than buying it online?

21) Do you need a Gold membership to play friends online on some of those multiplayer games?

22) What other equipment or accessories would you recommend when getting a 360?

23) Does the 360 have a loud drive when playing games?

24) Does the 360 play 1080p? If not, is Microsoft planning on realeasing a 360 that plays 1080p?

25) Can the 360 rest flat like the original Xbox? Is that a problem? I have a nice equipment cabinet and a standing 360 would not work.

26) I read a few days ago about Xbox live issues that closed it down. There was something about it not being able to handle all of the new traffic over the holidays. Is that still an issue?

27) Are there any new Xbox system being released or upgrades planned for the near future? If so, what are they and when? Why should I get one now rather than later?

28) Can the 360 play HDDVDs out of the box or do you need another piece of equipment to do that?

28) Lastly, why should I get a 360 instead of a PS3? If you think I should get a PS3, let me know why. Does the PS3 play Blu-ray out of the box or do you need to purchase something else?

Thanks for answering a newbie's questions.

Gaelinic

oleviarules

1= yes, it comes free if you get the elite, otherwise its $50 (i think)
2= yes, all the cables except the composite have the optical.
3= don't know from experience, but i'm guessing not
4= black, and see 1
5= i would say yes simply for the hard drive. maps are now about 500mb per pack, and if you have demos it can fill up the 20 gb pretty fast. plus, the elite and premium (pro) come with marvel ultimate alliance and forza in the box
6= yes, i'm pretty sure they all have HDMI port now, but only the elite comes with the cables
7= ^ and does NOT use 1.3, but rather 1.2
8= any hdmi cable will work
9= see 5 and if you want to download movies/tv shows, they can take a large chunk out of the hard drive
10= supposedly the red ring has been taken care of with new chips, motherboards, and heatsinks, but only time will tell
11= the color (i think that's it) and the halo one comes with a charge cable ($20)
12= for the most part, yes. there has been some problems with the iPod touch and either the new nanos or iPhone, i forget, but you can access all your music. you do, however, need an update from xbox live, though.
13= no, they often do more harm than good
14= 80 points = $1. arcade games $5 or $10, xbox originals $15. movie rentals $3-$6 depending on how new they are and whether they are in SD or HD
15= they may come with a free 1-week trial for gold, but not sure
16= get the $50 for a year, more cost effective. you can often find them on the weekends at circuit city or best buy for $40. keep your eyes open. also, if you buy the prepaid card, they have a bonus month.
17= silver-download stuff on marketplace
gold-play online
18= see 16 (get bonus month from a store)
19= see 16
20= see above
21= yes
22= charge cable with recharcheable battery.
23= yes
24= yes. 1080p is capable over component, vga, and hdmi. you get dvd upconversion over vga and hdmi. also, not all 1080p tvs accept 1080p over component; best bet is over hdmi
25= it goes both ways. i personally think horizontal is better than vertical.
26= so far everything has been fixed. it has never acted like that before.
27= there are no announced hardware revisions with new features.
28= you need to get the HD DVD add-on. it retails for $180. not worth it anymore because stand-alones are cheaper. the good thing about the add-on is that you can use it as a PC drive too. also, be aware of the format war
29= PS3 has Blu Ray out of the box. to me it comes down to games and Xbox Live. most would agree that the 360 has better games across the board. xbox live is also really cool; lots of my high school buddies that are all spread out over California get together online at least twice a week. it is really streamlined and straightforward.

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Bleedgreen71

3) Is there much difference in video quality between component cables and HDMI?

With my cable box their isn't and my 360 looks great with component hook ups.

4) Besides the 120gb hard drive, what is the difference between the Pro and Elite versions? The Elite Version has HDMI

5) Is the Elite version a good deal for what it comes with? if you need the hard drive space and HDMI yes...if not, maybe not but the black is awesome.

6) Can the Pro version have an HDMI interface? If not, which 360 have HDMI interface?
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1195599144147


8) Can the Xbox use any HDMI cable or is it a special propietary cable that plugs onlyinto the Xbox?
xbox specific.
9) Why would I need 120gb of storage space on an Xbox? What purpose would it serve?
alot of gaming and saves. downloads from exbox live (movies ect.)

10) Do the new Xbox systems still have the "ring of death" or any other issues I should be made aware of? Please list them?
I think its a r broad issue...but I've also heard it depends on the ship manufacturer. I don't have better details, sorry.

13) Do I need a cooling fan for one of the new 360s?
I have one and would argue it can't hurt for $20

22) What other equipment or accessories would you recommend when getting a 360?

23) Does the 360 have a loud drive when playing games?
Its not loud, but noticeable

24) Does the 360 play 1080p? If not, is Microsoft planning on realeasing a 360 that plays 1080p?
With the Elite

25) Can the 360 rest flat like the original Xbox? Is that a problem? I have a nice equipment cabinet and a standing 360 would not work.
I can lay flat, but cools better upright.

26) I read a few days ago about Xbox live issues that closed it down. There was something about it not being able to handle all of the new traffic over the holidays. Is that still an issue?
It was a major issue with the days following the release of Halo 3. not sure about since then.

27) Are there any new Xbox system being released or upgrades planned for the near future? If so, what are they and when? Why should I get one now rather than later?
No info. The press release for the Elite came only 3-4 months prior to its street date.

28) Can the 360 play HDDVDs out of the box or do you need another piece of equipment to do that?
You need the HD-DVD add on.

28) Lastly, why should I get a 360 instead of a PS3? If you think I should get a PS3, let me know why. Does the PS3 play Blu-ray out of the box or do you need to purchase something else?
If your a dedicated Gamer and want immediate game selection, the 360 has a much larger game catalog than that of the PS3. The PS3 will play Blu-ray right out of the box. If you want a high def player specifically, then get a PS3 or a Hd-dvd stand alone. The gaming on the 360 can't be beat and it will be a few more years before Sony gets a serious list of great games. Remember, no halo or gears of war on PS3.

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pjc

RE #10......from all the threads I read when my 360 got the rings is that it is a design flaw. I believe what it is is that one of the main boards is elevated off of the case. The heat causes this to warp. The newer models may not produce as much heat, but it sounds like it still has the same design flaw. If you check the red rings thread on the AVS site, the newer versions have 3 red ring failures too.

jbadamantium

1) Does the 360 have a way to connect video to the TV through HDMI but audio to the receiver via digital optical cable?
Yes, it does. This is how I used mine, and the best part is that it still sends the audio through the HDMI as well, so when I am not able to use surround sound (people are asleep or whatever) I just unmute my tv and turn off my surround.

2) If not, then do the Xbox 360 component cables have a jack to plug a digital optical cable to the receiver like the original Xbox had?
I guess this isn't really relevant because of the "if not" statement, but yes, it has that too.

3) Is there much difference in video quality between component cables and HDMI?
Can't answer this one, sorry, only ever used HDMI on mine.

4) Besides the 120gb hard drive, what is the difference between the Pro and Elite versions?
Well, when I bought mine, there was no HDMI port on the pro and the elite had a different mobo. Now I believe the only difference is the HDD and the color (black/white).


5) Is the Elite version a good deal for what it comes with?
Now since the pro has the HDMI port, I think it will come down to whether or not you really want the extra HDD space and the black box/controller. The only reason you would need so much HDD space is if you're a big downloader of the online content.

6) Can the Pro version have an HDMI interface? If not, which 360 have HDMI interface?
Yes I believe both the pro and elite have HDMI now.

7) Which ones come with an HDMI cable? Does the 360 use 1.3 HDMI cables? If not, then when?
Not sure if the pro comes with one or not, but I know that my elite did.

8) Can the Xbox use any HDMI cable or is it a special propietary cable that plugs onlyinto the Xbox?
It uses a regular HDMI cable.

9) Why would I need 120gb of storage space on an Xbox? What purpose would it serve?
As I stated before, the only reason you would need this is if you did a lot of downloading of the online content (movies/tv shows/demos).

10) Do the new Xbox systems still have the "ring of death" or any other issues I should be made aware of? Please list them?
I believe that issue has been taken care of as long as you are careful to make sure you get one of the newest models.

11) What is the difference between the 360 pro and the Halo limited edition version?
Nothing except the Halo version is ugly

12) Can you plug in an Ipod to get music off of the 360?
Yes, and the music can be played while playing games as well.

13) Can I transfer movies or music purchased through the marketplace from the 360 to any external harddrive?
No.

13) Do I need a cooling fan for one of the new 360s?
Like I said before, I'm pretty sure they fixed the overheating problems on all the newest models, and I don't believe the cooling fans did much good even on the old models.

14) How much do xbox marketplace points cost? What do things cost in the marketplace?
It's about 5 bucks per 400 points. IIRC (I'm not at my house right now) the movies go for about 800 points each.

15) How much free time on Xbox live do you get when purchasing a new 360 system?
I beileve the Elite comes with 1 month gold, and anything else only comes with silver, which means no online play, simply access to the marketplace and friends.

16) How much does membership on xbox live cost?
45 bucks for a year's service, and the prices go up slightly if you buy less time at once.

17) What's the difference between Silver and Gold membership?
No online play with silver.

18) What's the best and cheapest way to buying a Gold membership? I've seen those Gold membership packs at the stores offering 12 months of service. Is that cheaper than buying a Gold membership over Xbox live?
Same prices either way. The only difference is that if you buy the card from the store, you go home and enter the card number in on your xbox instead of just putting a credit card number in.

19) Is it cheaper to buy one of the 12 month membership packs than one of the 3 month live cards I've seen at Target?
Yes.

20) What is the benefit to buying one of those 12 month Gold memberships in the store than buying it online?
I guess the only "benefit" would be that there is no chance that it would automatically charge your credit card again. But as long as you actually pay attention it shouldn't do this without you wanting it to anyway. I will send you e-mails in advance of re-subscription.

21) Do you need a Gold membership to play friends online on some of those multiplayer games?
On all games online you need a gold membership.

22) What other equipment or accessories would you recommend when getting a 360?
I would recommend either getting a charge dock for the controller(s) or just some rechargable batteries. I got a pack of four rechargable batteries and I keep two in there at all times, so when my controller runs out I simply swap them and so on.

23) Does the 360 have a loud drive when playing games?
Not too loud, definitely not noticable while immersed in gameplay, but it is definitely no louder than the PS3.

24) Does the 360 play 1080p? If not, is Microsoft planning on realeasing a 360 that plays 1080p?
Well the thing is that the only 1080p media is HD disc content (BRD, HD-DVD). All of the games out right now are only rendered at 720p. The 360 can, however play 1080p content if the game supports it.

25) Can the 360 rest flat like the original Xbox? Is that a problem? I have a nice equipment cabinet and a standing 360 would not work.
Yes, that is how I have mine. I never set up consoles upright as it seems far too precarious a position

26) I read a few days ago about Xbox live issues that closed it down. There was something about it not being able to handle all of the new traffic over the holidays. Is that still an issue?
No, they have fixed that. After the holidays with everyone getting their new 360s, it took a big hit and went down a few times, but everything has been up and running fine ever since.


27) Are there any new Xbox system being released or upgrades planned for the near future? If so, what are they and when? Why should I get one now rather than later?
Not that I know of, and I doubt they are planning on releasing another console very soon.

28) Can the 360 play HDDVDs out of the box or do you need another piece of equipment to do that?
You will need the HD-DVD addon to do that.

28) Lastly, why should I get a 360 instead of a PS3? If you think I should get a PS3, let me know why. Does the PS3 play Blu-ray out of the box or do you need to purchase something else?
This really just comes down to personal preference and what you want. Neither console is better than the other, but each has it's own aspects that are better than the other's. If HD media is a big sell for you, you probably want to go for the PS3 as it supports BRD right out of the box so it would be the cheaper way to go. If your big thing is online play, you will definitely want to go with the 360. The PSN is by no means bad, but it's just not up to the level of sophistication and polish that XBL is, and 45 bucks a year is not a heavy payment. If you're not huge on online play and HD media will just be an extra perk and not really a pull, then it will come down to which system has the exclusives that you really want more. Check out exclusive games lists for each and decide which one has/will have more games that you will want to play.

pappylap

OP wins the most questions in a single thread award.

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Bleedgreen71

I'll second that.

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bboncorr

i read nothing in the op post simply because there was to many questions to answer, and those who know how much i type know if i'm questioning the leangth of a post then it must be to much.

simply put i would get the non elite with a HDMI and make sure it had a 175w rating before leaving the store. to do so simply open the box at the counter but first make sure to explain your reason behind such a move. then look at the power brick for a wattage rating.

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Gaelinic

Yeah, I posted my questions on several boards. I got a lot of flak for my thread. But no one was as kind as this board to answer all my questions.

Why the 175w rating on the power brick? Does that signify a newer Xbox model? Why is this newer model better?

Thanks.

Gaelinic

Gaelinic

I want to thank jbadamantium, Bleedgreen71, and oleviarules for answering all my questions.

A friend suggested I purchase an extended warranty on the 360 when I get one. However, I've read that most of the problems have been addressed and that Microsoft has extended the warranty by 3 years. What do you guys think? And, if you do think I should get an extended warranty, please tell me why.

Thanks.

Gaelinic

Bigloww

Well, that all depends.. With many of the extended warranties like BB ect, if you have a problem with your 360, you can exchange it on the spot for a NEW one. With the M$ warranty, you must send it in through them and wait (around 2-3 weeks on average) for them to repair or send you a replacement (and that replacement usually is a referb). The 2 year extended warranty (over the original 1 year) is only for the 3RRoD TMK. Other then that, you will have to pay. IMO, it is worth the piece of mind for the extra $45 or so. If you don't mind waiting a couple weeks or more for you 360 to get repaired (I can get by), not a BIG deal......

junehhan

I would highly recommend buying the extended warranty because the 3 year Microsoft warranty is only due to the 3RROD issue. Any other issue is covered by the standard 1 year parts and labour coverage. There seems to be some confusion over this as the warranty on the entire console is still 1 year, but only that particular issue being extended to 3 years. Microsoft sells a warranty for $60 which is what I would recommend. This is what I have, and will extend the warranty on your console to 3 years parts and labour, and 5 years for the 3RROD issue.

The extended warranty that stores like BB sell are also not a bad idea, except that their coverage will start from the day you buy it, and not after the original warranty expires like the Microsoft warranty does. The advantage of course is that you get a brand new system instead of a remanufactured one.

Either way, you can't go wrong as there is one heck of a gaming library to keep you busy for a while. Welcome the forums, as this is the reason why I spend most of my online browsing time here. We always argue and bicker about things, but people for the most part are more mature and willing to help each other here. We are all fanboys and you will see that from the bias in our posts, but we all like to get along here.

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gameguru1360

if you happen to have a costco nearby in your state, I would highly recommend joining them and screw BB. Costco has a 90 day return policy on most electronics, but the Xbox360/PS3 DOES NOT fall withini that policy. So as long as you have a receipt and membership, it's unlimited exchanges/returns. You can buy the bundles online and return them to the store.

BB's extended warranty actually only allows 1 exchange! I've researched all of the electronics stores near my location such as Bestbuy, Circuit City, Target, Walfart and Fry's Electronics. Nothing compares to Costco...well if there is a Sam's Club near you, I think their return policy is the same as Costco's.

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.crowbar.

yes get one from best buy or cost co or circuit city and get their warranty, the new ones do get the ring of death often (based on the xbox forums) and microsoft is slow at repair, not to mention you might get a used one back that isnt yours and is scratched all to pieces

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SOBAY310

So the new 360's are also having the same RROD problem? Now that doesn't make sense.