XBOX 360 IS NOT IN SHORT SUPPLY

We've all heard the buzz of the Playstation 3 and the Nintendo Wii but can you actually get a hold of one? Probably not and neither could we here at technobabble.

You may be surprised to know that the Wii and the PS3 are NOT the only next-gen consoles out there. Microsoft has a very capable system of the their own. By now you know we are talking about the xbox 360.

Now when we go for hardware here at technobabble we don't go for the cheap we get the best out there. Saying this we opted for the "pro" version of the 360 with the 20GB hard drive thus giving the console the ability to play older XBOX games (with a quick emulator download from xbox live). Our particular 360 also came with "Project Gotham Racing", wireless controller, and a headset. We also purchased the game "Kameo".

As a new person to the whole online maketplace idea that Microsoft has with it's xbox "live" system I can't see how online services could be handled any better than Microsoft has designed theirs. The only thing that I would like to see is built-in wireless connectivity. My 360 in particular is no-where near an internet connection in my house (I live in a 120 year old house obviously never wired with network cable so I use a wireless connection). Other than no wireless connectivity hooking up hardware-wise is easy. It's truly plug and play (unless you have a special set-up like static IP's or something of the such).

Games load extremely fast. I was impressed how the load time was even improved for the emulated xbox games.

The firmware OS design is amazing. The blades as they have been called are a great design and extremely easy to navigate.

Time will tell but Microsoft has made a winning console in my book.

UPDATE:

I've had some time to check out the console further and man does it have its strengths and weaknesses.

From the beginning people have been complaining about the heat that comes from the 360. I have to agree about the heat. It actually heats the my office are hear at technobabble to a point where I could actually close the furnace vent in the room. Mind you that's only when the 360 is playing an actual 360 game. When you're playing XBOX games, browsing the 360 menus, or listening to music it doesn't seem to kick out as much heat. The worst part about the heat is that not only does the console release a heck-load of heat so does the "power brick" (as it has been termed).

The Second thing I would like to comment about is the the fan noise. Crap this thing is loud. Again the fans are only loud when the console is playing an actual 360 game.

The way Microsoft seems to being pointing for this console is to make a media hub for the home. Where it stands right now that would be impossible until they can fix the heat and noise problem. It simply isn't quiet or cool enough for a home-theatre setting.