Some Questions about the 360.

[mrstickball]

Machina-AX said:

Hi,


1 - I own a HD TV (42 inch, 1080p), which I use my PS3 and Wii on atm, and I will obviously want to get the most out of the 360 graphically. I already have a spare HDMI cable, so my question is: Is there any difference between the Elite and Premium consoles in respect of their HD capabilities other than that the Elite comes with a HDMI cable?

None. There's no difference between an HDMI capable Arcade, Premium, and Elite. Aside from the free HDMI Cable with the 360.

2 - Are there any other differences between the Elite and Premuim consoles other than the colour, the HDMI cable and the size of the Hard Drive?

No. The Elite is black, comes with the HDMI cable, and the 120gb HDD. That's about it. There *used* to be a difference when Prems didn't come with HDMI-Out, but since Falcon launched, all of them are HDMI capable.

3 - I will be making use of Xbox Live for arcade games, additional content and mutliplayer. I'm quite a tidy person and I like to keep my PS3 Hard Drive uncluttered. Is 20GB sufficient space for my purposes? With the PS3 20GB is pretty much enough space for me, so are the sizes of games and downloadable content on the 360 the same size, roughly, as those on the PS3?

For a few XBLA games, it'll be fine. In general, XBLA games are smaller than their PS3 counterparts due to the size limitations. The biggest games you'll find are just below 150MB, but most games are 30-100MB. More than enough space.

4 - When it comes to Xbox live I will obviously need to go Gold. Can you purchase this via the 360 online? Or do you have to buy one of those cards I see for sale in computer stores?

You can buy gold subscriptions via XBL, XBM Points, anything. You can buy it all online or offline. However, if you buy offline, such as Ebay (and other places), you can tend to get much better deals - 1600point cards go for $20 USD on XBL, but can go for $10-$15 if you look hard enough. Likewise, it's $50 USD/yr for XBL Gold purchasing via XBL, but $35-40 if you know where to look offline.

5 - When it comes to internet access I will need to have wireless access. Am I correct in assuming this is not built into the 360? If so, is the official wireless adapter thing the best option?

No 360 comes with a built-in wireless router. You can use the official one, but from what I've heard, you can just buy an el-cheapo router from the store(s) and hook it up with an ethernet cable for about 1/2 the cost.

6 - I won't be wanting to use disposable batteries. I loath wasting money on them for my Wiimote. With this in mind is the official play and charge kit my best option here? Is everything included with it that will enable me to never have to buy batteries or anything else for my controller(s)?

I use the official Play & Charge kit. I've had it for 2 years and never had to replace a battery on my wireless controller. You have multiple variations of the Play & Charge kit from various sources. Some come with 2 battery packs, and 1 charger, and are quite cheap. I am unsure of how the P&C kits are for elites (ie, the black color).

7 - To all UK 360 owners. I obviously have concerns about the RRoD, but my mind will be at ease if I have an extended warranty. What is the current standard warranty period for both the Elite and Premuim consoles? If I wanted extended coverage where would be the best place to buy it from and do MS do their own extended warranty scheme?

MS Warranty should be the same everywere: 3 years for RROD, 1 year for everything else. Unsure about extended coverage, but from what I've seen, the MS warranty covers more than most other extended warranties.

btw a buyers guide with similar Q&As would be a great addition to the game guide thread ^^

I'll put one together sometime soon.

Now Munkeh111:

And also rechargable batteries, what is the best solution? I intend to get a black controller as well, and get a quick charge kit and an extra battery for the while one, as well as a play are charge black one, though that does seem like a bit of a waste (its like £70 for the extra controller and accessories)

You could just buy 1 P&C kit, and when your not playing, plug in it. The batteries on the wireless controllers have a monstorous lifespan. I've charged my wireless controller maybe 4-5 times since I bought my 360...They last (usually) for 20-40hrs of play time. So charging it when your not playing is easy enough.