Shopping for an Xbox 360

[TsunamiWombat]

Right, this isn't an invitation for a console debate. I'm probably going to buy a 360 sometime this year, and i'm looking at the middle ground model (the one with the 60 gb harddrive blahblah), but here's my question.

Fundamentally, what is the difference? I'm probably not going to play my games on Multiplate much, if ever, my only concern is downloadble content and updates- IF I hook my 360 up to my cable. What exactly is the Hard Drive USED for. If i'm just a singleplayer, casual gamer, can I get away with buying the far cheaper "Arcade" model at $199? Do I need that Xbox Live Silver account to download updates, etc? Help me out here.

 

[meatloaf231]

Buy the middle one. You don't need that much hard drive space, 20gb has been fine for me. Whatever you do, don't buy the Arcade.

 

[shatnershaman]

Xbox live Silver will get you updates/movies/demos/videos/everything except online play and Netflix.

The hard drive is used for saves/updates/movies/demos/videos and you can load the disc straight onto it (need disc in drive does not spin and loads faster). If these are not what you want you can have saves/updates/a few XBLA game on the mem stick of arcade.

What do you mean by your cable? Like TV or internet.

 

[Dommyboy]

I am not sure if you need an account to download updates but you need an account to download other things. You can just sign your profile up for free and you get 1 month of Xboxlive Gold for free.

 

[stompy]

I bought the 20GB Xbox 360, and it's served me for all my gaming needs. I don't believe that, in order to use Xbox Live (silver or gold), you need a hard drive. I suggest having a look around the Xbox webpage about hard drives and Xbox Live.

Regardless, enjoy your purchase.

 

[sneakypenguin]

do not buy arcade, buy the pro it has 60 GB it's BC and it has HDMI if you have a hdtv. elite is a waste of money unless you go crazy with downloads. All xbox's have silver membership with them so you get all the updates etc. Gold gets you all the demos, online play, betas, all that jazz that i so enjoy.

 

[shatnershaman]

I am not sure if you need an account to download updates but you need an account to download other things. You can just sign your profile up for free and you get 1 month of Xboxlive Gold for free.

You do need a silver account but that happens when you first connect to da interwebz. You can actually make up to 7 accounts that will have a month free. I'm on my 3rd (only use when visit someone for a while with internet.)

do not buy arcade, buy the pro it has 60 GB it's BC and it has HDMI if you have a hdtv. elite is a waste of money unless you go crazy with downloads.

All the Xbox 360s have HDMI.

 

[TsunamiWombat]

When I say cable, I mean my Internet- both are run through the same actually, it's bundled. Depending on what kind of jack the Xbox uses I may just be able to remove the cable from my tv and plug it into my 360 for online stuff, or from my modem...

So I need a harddrive to save, eh?

 

[shatnershaman]

When I say cable, I mean my Internet- both are run through the same actually, it's bundled. Depending on what kind of jack the Xbox uses I may just be able to remove the cable from my tv and plug it into my 360 for online stuff, or from my modem...

So I need a harddrive to save, eh?

Xbox has 1 standard ethernet port.

No the 256MB memory card with the arcade can hold lots of saves (a save is 128KB-4MB)

 

[Aries_Split]

When I say cable, I mean my Internet- both are run through the same actually, it's bundled. Depending on what kind of jack the Xbox uses I may just be able to remove the cable from my tv and plug it into my 360 for online stuff, or from my modem...

So I need a harddrive to save, eh?

Xbox has 1 standard ethernet port.

No the 256MB memory card with the arcade can hold lots of saves (a save is 128KB-4MB)

I dunno Shat, If your like me, and you make each individual save individual, that is, you don't overwrite, you use up space fast.

 

[TsunamiWombat]

Okay, what about the hookup to the telly? Currently my Ps2 has the (i'm assuming) standard (red plug audio white plug mono yellow plug video input). Do I have to buy seperate adapters to manage that, or does the system come with all the cables i'll need?

As for the Ethernet port... fundamentally, what you'd find on a modem connecting it to your PC? Good.

 

[Dommyboy]

So I need a harddrive to save, eh?

Not if you have a memory card, which is what the Xbox360 arcade comes with though it won't save much else.

 

[shatnershaman]

Okay, what about the hookup to the telly? Currently my Ps2 has the (i'm assuming) standard (red plug audio white plug mono yellow plug video input). Do I have to buy seperate adapters to manage that, or does the system come with all the cables i'll need?

As for the Ethernet port... fundamentally, what you'd find on a modem connecting it to your PC? Good.

The system comes with a six prong cable. All 6 together is for HDTV (move the selector (on the thing) to HDTV) and it is component. Use only the red,white and yellow (and have it set to TV) and you have the regular one. If its an HDTV you can buy an HDMI cable.

Looks like this:

I dunno Shat, If your like me, and you make each individual save individual, that is, you don't overwrite, you use up space fast.

I can see if you have many RPG/Sports games but the "Action" games never go above a MB.

 

[TsunamiWombat]

Are the wirlesss controllers rubbish?

 

[shatnershaman]

Are the wirlesss controllers rubbish?

No, works perfect no lag or anything good battery life although recharges are worth the investment. Wired isn't worth it unless its for a extra controller/for your PC.

 

[Aries_Split]

Are the wirlesss controllers rubbish?

Yes.

To an extent.

To be honest, my current controller is this.

It even has Sixaxis and vibration functionality.

 

[shatnershaman]

Are the wirlesss controllers rubbish?

Yes.

To an extent.

To be honest, my current controller is this.

Could you maybe expand why the controller you have to modded your PS3 one (or ordered it...) for is rubbish.

 

[Aries_Split]

Are the wirlesss controllers rubbish?

Yes.

To an extent.

To be honest, my current controller is this.

Could you maybe expand why the controller you have to modded your PS3 one (or ordered it...) for is rubbish.

That sentence hurt my brain.

Coherence please. I'll let it slide this time though.

 

[TsunamiWombat]

Sweetly enough, Xbox.com had a handy Wizard that provided step by step instructions that would allow me to hook my Xbox up through my modem. It come with the Ethernet cable?

Oh, and about how long on average is the battery life? Two AA's doesn't sound too bad really.

 

[shatnershaman]

Sweetly enough, Xbox.com had a handy Wizard that provided step by step instructions that would allow me to hook my Xbox up through my modem. It come with the Ethernet cable?

Oh, and about how long on average is the battery life? Two AA's doesn't sound too bad really.

Yes but its kind of short. (2M approx.)

20-40 hours (depends on the batteries).