Microsoft Xbox 360

Design

When laid horizontally, the 4kg Xbox 360 measures 308 x 83 x 257.8mm, making it slightly smaller than the original Xbox. Unlike the original, the Xbox 360 can be propped up in a vertical position and, as you're probably aware, can be customized with interchangeable faceplates. Custom faceplates aside, it's worth pointing out that the beige color of the system tends to clash with the silver and black of typical modern A/V components.

One of the reasons Microsoft was able to keep down the 360's weight is that instead of building a standard, desktop-style hard drive into the unit itself, it's gone with a smaller--and more expensive--laptop-style hard drive that's detachable from the main unit. However, unlike the PS3, which accepts any standard 2.5-inch laptop drive, the 360's drive is encased in a proprietary snap-on module. You can upgrade to a larger 120GB model--but if you're already interested in that much storage, save some money and just pick up the 120GB Xbox 360 Elite instead.

As part of the S$499 (US$359.20) bundle, you'll also get a wireless controller. While the 360 has built-in wireless capabilities, it's only for controllers, not Wi-Fi. Each Xbox 360 console can support as many as four wireless controllers. A green LED on both the 360 itself and the controller indicates exactly which controllers (one through four) are connected. This is also the case if you are playing with a mixture of wireless and wired controllers easily notifying who has which controller. All in all, we really like the design of the controllers. They're a slight upgrade from those that came with the original Xbox and they're now available in several colors, including pink, blue, and black.

On the front of the unit, you'll find two USB ports hidden behind a hinged door in the faceplate, as well as two memory card slots that let you take saved games and other content on-the-go. Those USB ports are where you'll plug in any wired controllers and other USB accessories that will become available. You also have the option to use the USB ports to connect a digital camera, MP3 players, or even your iPod or Sony PSP. Many USB keyboards are compatible, but, for the most part, they are strictly relegated to communication and data entry functions, not gameplay. For easier data entry, consider instead the Xbox 360 Messenger Kit, a small keyboard accessory that snaps onto the controller.

The 360 sports an infrared port (IR) on the front panel, which lets you use compatible remote controls--including nearly any universal remote--without the need for an external dongle. Furthermore, you can power the console on and off and open the disc tray with a remote or a controller--another convenient improvement over the old Xbox. By contrast, the PS3 lacks standard IR, which limits it to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi control only.

In the past the Xbox 360 had two noticeable design quirks: A large, oversized power supply and high amount of noise coming from the system, which is often attributed to the loud exhaust fan and the DVD drive. While the power supply is still one of the largest we've seen (the PS3 doesn't even include one), most home theater setups allow for it to be tucked away neatly out of sight. Newer models show that the system also seems to run quieter--although not whisper quiet--now that all new Xbox models run on the a smaller 65nm processor, which supposedly doesn't produce as much heat and doesn't require the fan to run as fast.

Furthermore, Microsoft plans to address the loud noise issue from the DVD drives in its upcoming autumn 2008 update by offering the ability to install games to the hard drive, which hopefully will reduce load times and drive noise.

Tags: Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Xbox 360, Wireless, cable

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