So I finally bought 360. Those of you without broadband, might want to upgrade. :) I planned on getting it sometime during the summer due to madden and ncaa coming out in July and August. So how is it? Very impressive. The original xbox users will recall how you never had to go to the dashboard. But with 360, the dashboard is essentially the focus of the console. The 360 dashboard is finally utilizing all of its features that the xbox should have (and could have) done. Things like downloading HD trailers, game demos, mp3 player/digital camera support, streaming content from media center pcs, and access to things like mtv overdrive and much more. Although, I'm not sure how to delete the stuff I download to the HD just yet. lol. It still seems like the downloadable content is a work in progress to see what people like. Who knows, maybe Microsoft will eventually offer the ability to download full HD movies. I sure as hell would be interested in that. It is basically what a modded xbox with Xbox Media Center already was. Except this time Microsoft took all of those features and included it in the console right out of the box. I didn't think the 360 could do this much so easily. Had I not already seen XBMC for the original xbox, I would be absolutely blown away.

Of course the games look great too. But that is to be expected, finally we can wow at games on consoles again. When I read about how "tightly integrated" xbox live was with the console it didn't quite sink in until you use it. You pretty much can't do anything unless you have a live account. Rightfully so though, no more having to create a profile for each friggin game and all your stats are under one name. Why didn't they think of this sooner? The wireless controllers are also worth mentioning because they do make a huge difference.

To further sweeten the deal is a little unknown app called Transcode 360. It adds the ability to stream more types of videos off your PC, making the Xbox 360 Media Center stream just about any video off your computer. The only catch is that you have to be running Windows XP Media Center edition.

As far as ps3 vs 360. . .I would expect games to be similar looking, perhaps look a bit better on ps3 than xbox. But what I would really like to know is how ps3 can top this. I mean honestly, it can stream just about anything to your tv (when you install transcode that is). And this is with no modchips! I honestly see no way ps3 stands a chance unless they somehow mimic the way 360 is a media center. Coming out a full year after 360 better have something up its sleeve or they are in for a hard uphill climb. Think people will pay 100 to 200 dollars more just for a blu-ray drive and HDMI? I sure hope thats not all of the perks? Or maybe they think just popping in a game and playing it with some online features is good enough?

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