Yup.  That's just what I felt for similar reasons I guess.  Unless it's the fact I'm also Scottish.  But I figure being a PC/PS3 owner for longer before getting a 360 is more likely.

Now I've had my 360 a while I'll say you do get used to most things that seem off initially.

Today my only real peeves are:

1 - batteries in the controller.  Unecessary waste of money compared to re-charging via the console as with the PS3.  Also the battery case on the underside is a pain.  I do prefer the triggers but the bumpers are too small and I find it's too designed for shooters vs other genres.  But overall it's a good controller, just with a few weak points - much the same as Dualshock, which is also a good controller with a few weak points.  Also, to be fair, I dislike the Wii controller's use of batteries as well.  Once I got used to Dualshock with in-built battery that re-charges that for me was the bar to beat, which the 360 and Wii controller don't reach.

2 - Paying for Live.  Really thought that's after years on PC/Steam.  I do think the service is better than PSN, and it is pretty cheap.  But after years on PC before any consoles it remains a peeve.

3 - non-standard hard drive.  Again, this is more due to years with PC and the fact the PS3 just uses a standard hard drive, but I do dislike knowing MS have taken the route of making me pay more for the same thing to get something proprietary.

I never quite grew to like the dash but, like your friend and perhaps most 360 users I never use it, I skip immediately to the smaller, neat little navigation console instead.

Other than those peeves I now use my 360 as easily as my PS3 or Wii and am very happy with it.

Now if the next Xbox can ditch the batteries and use a standard hard drive I'll be very happy with it.  I'll allow 'em Live as it is cheap and it is good.

It was a little longer than I'd expected once posted on the site. I hope you weren't too bored with it. ;)

I found it needs a fair bit more depth than Sports Champions, a good couple of metres (about 6 feet) if you are playing two player. For one player, it needs just a little more space. Check the official stats online as they are fairly accurate (although we needed an extra foot or two in depth than suggested online). That all said, if you have the space, and are interested, I'd go for it as it does pretty much exactly what you'll expect.

Yeah, good luck with that. I think my way -- marry a gamer first -- is far easier. :D

I'm sure I will. I've only picked up a few games so far, and several are quite old (Halo 3, Crackdown, Mass Effect, Fable II stand as clear examples of this). I'm hoping that as I pick up more recent releases I'll find a few games that truly grab me. So far, that hasn't been the case (excepting Mass Effect, but I've already completed that on PC three times, so it has a strong nostalgia factor for me, even if the 360 version is significantly worse).

I don't think that's a huge surprise. If you are buying most of your multi-plats on 360 and already have a fair chunk of history with the machine, it's bound to drag your attention away from your PS3, just as the opposite is the case for me. I'm hoping as I play it more, and get a few more games, I'll grow a stronger attachment to it. My biggest issue so far is that I've not played a single must-have exclusive yet* -- but as I'm working through the older stuff first (primarily as it's cheaper), perhaps this isn't much of a surprise.

*: Outside XBLA: Including XBLA, there have been a few games I'm very pleased I now own.

I generally avoid Betas as I find they often spoil the game when it arrives, primarily as bugs and flaws I'd hoped would be fixed very rarely are, and I'm left feeling negative towards a game that may be otherwise brilliant. Still, Gears 3 does sound like it might be a larf to try out! :D

Beyond that, yes, my wife is kinda enjoying the 360, but, as I said, the controller and her are currently not agreeing with each other. Hopefully time will resolve that.

It was a good read.  I was soorta expecting a "Holy shit, this is the most awesome gaming device, ever!" type review.  I guess the way you feel about the 360 is the way I feel about the PS3--it's a good console to own with a few unique features but not quite enough to overthrow my first HD console.  Personally, I LOVE the 360.  Also, a few of the things that you griped about can be rectified in the options screens of the games (like people joining you, uninvited).  Just putting that out there......

I had a 360 for about a year before I got a PS3.  My heart is with the 360.  Ypu had a PS3 foor a while before you got the 360.  Your heart is with the PS3.  I guess the truth (and arguably, the problem) is that the two have so much in common that whichever one you play first is the one you end up falling in love with.  The second will just feel like a "me too!" console.

Anyway, I enjoyed the read.  I respect your opinions.  Hope to see you expand on this thread in the weeks and months that follow.  You approached this console with an open mind and for that, my respect for you has grown from Saiyan to Super Saiyan!

One thing that's strange (reading the "media center" part--I'm reading the OP for the third time!) is that you can't get home videos to play on the 360.  Oddly enough, I can't get them to play on the PS3.  With a 500 GB HDD, 3 Flash drives, a Droid, and now, a friggin PC connected to the same TV as the consoles (a gift from God!) it's shocking how certain videos will play on one device and not the other.  I have no idea why that is!  Some movies only work on the PS3--some only work on the 360.  Everything works on the PC, though.

I'm not sure what you find so odd. My opinions, in most places are pretty clearly explained.

I do really dislike the UI. I find it childish, over-sized, and filled with adverts. Sure, others may love that, but I don't. I prefer streamlined UIs such as those sported by Apple, or clean UIs like the XMB, or simple ones such as Steam. I'm not a kid anymore, and prefer clean over fussy. Don't think this is a secluded issue, however; I also have issues with the PSN store, which is another example of a terrible UI (although it is much better than it once was).

As for the controller, I didn't say I hated it. I'd suggest rereading my post. I've been using the 360 controller for years and actually quite like it, at least as much as the Dualshock.

Microsoft Points I do hate, and I hate them on PC as well (where I've been using them for years). I also hate Bioware points, and the Nintendo ones, and anything similar. I prefer prices in my local currency much as Steam or the PSN provides. It's more transparent and less confusing.

And my complaints about other players online didn't feel controversial to me. What, in particular, surprised you?

As for this post being flame bait? I feel this says more about you than me. I really have very little emotional investment in either Sony or Microsoft's machines. They are gaming devices I own, and little more. Features on each appeal to me in different ways. Neither the PS3 or the 360 are perfect by a long shot, each have significant flaws as far as I'm concerned, and each have advantages. Just because some of the OP is negative doesn't mean that the positives are lessened. Do you feel the 360 is faultless? Or the PS3? Or the Wii? Each will surely appeal to different people in different ways.

I think another thread of this type in 6 months a good idea. This is a first impressions thread, after all. Much of what I initially find odd and confusing may eventually turn to love and adoration. Who knows?

As for the streaming thing: I have no streaming issues with the PS3 at all, so that fact that I had any on 360 was an immediate turn off. I'm too lazy to look into solutions as I have an alternative, if you see what I mean. If my home videos didn't work on either machine, then I'd be looking for fixes if they could be found. Or, I'd just hook one of my PCs to my TV -- which, as I think on it, is probably what I'd do if the PS3 didn't stream them. I'm lazy like that. :D

Yay! You like the font! :D

As for Dance central, it does exactly what I'd hope it did. I kinda intimated that in the Kinect section and elsewhere. the Kinect really does this sort of game well, and my wife and kids love how it works on the machine. I'd prefer if the DLC was cheaper, though. 99p is generally my limit for extra tracks, and they are more expensive than that, so we've not bought any yet.

And when do we all have time? At the weekend, after work; y'know, the normal times. We don't watch much TV beyond Doctor Who. :D

A few things:

Use PS3 Media Server as a DLNA streaming option and it does have a 360 profile for it so it you have a decent computer, it'd just convert the video and audio on the fly to a format that your 360 can handle and will play everything, the software also has the best subtitle support I've seen so far for conversions when it comes to MKV files.

Get rechargable batteries, they are both more cost effective and more eco friendly.

If the DVD is giving you that much trouble, don't stand it up, lay it down.

The 360 doesn't have as many exclusives on par with PS3 ones when it comes to core gaming, but it still has some that's worth your time if you've never had the 360 before, just do some research on the SP ones if you don't want to pay for Gold, even if you don't pay for Gold, your wife and her Dance Central is enough to keep the 360 around the house just like I gave my Mom a Wii with Wii Fit Plus and that's all she does. You just gotta hunt down the ones that might interest you.

I would recommend a Wii but with the new Nintendo piece coming out next year, it's gonna be backwards compatible to 2 gens back so I can't really say buy a Wii right now lol.....

Thanks for the back-up there. Much appreciated.

I'd add that my issue is with the points system and it's l;ack of transparency, not the prices themselves. The game prices on Live seem to be pretty good in most instances, especially since I've only been buying stuff that's discounted! :D

And, yes, it is nice to have access to more exclusives. I have a ton of good gaming ahead of me. :D