Any downside to 2 xbox 360s on the same network (or other suggestions)

[swbsam]

I'm guessing the immediate issue is going to be with my xbox live gold account - I'll probably need 2 accounts, right? Especially since I want to stream netflix (though never both at the same time, that's overkill!).

I'd like the 2nd xbox mostly for the following:

1. Media center extender, including "live" tv
2. Playback of xvids and other pretty low bitrate video (I only download shows I can't get here in the U.S., BBC content, etc.)
3. Watch Netflix
4. Hulu through playon
5. We're getting rid of cableTV and will use OTA via HDhomerun to our media server
My wife and I are almost always in the same room at the same time, and I never watch movies without her, if that makes a difference.

I considered getting an AppleTV+ boxee for the above but liveTV wouldn't be an option on that.

Any other options, sub-$250, for what I want to do?

 

[Queasy]

Nope, no downside.

Your options are to just swap the HDD from one 360 to the other or get a memory card, move your profile to it, and then move the memory card from one 360 to the other as you need it.

 

[Kabob]

I thought someone mentioned just yesterday that Netflix was was tied to a specific console, sould swapping the HDD and sharing a Live account still work?

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: kabob983
I thought someone mentioned just yesterday that Netflix was was tied to a specific console, sould swapping the HDD and sharing a Live account still work?

Yep. You may have to activate Netflix on the 2nd console but it works. I do it.

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: Queasy
Nope, no downside.

Your options are to just swap the HDD from one 360 to the other or get a memory card, move your profile to it, and then move the memory card from one 360 to the other as you need it.

Is there any way for it to be a more permanent solution, without swapping hard drives or memory cards?

I'm trying to be as wife friendly as possible - I currently have a full blown media center in the bedroom and, while my wife is a good sport, I can tell that she gets annoyed that sometimes we can't just "WATCH TV."

I want to move the the xbox because it just works, know what I mean?

 

[Kabob]

I suppose you could get 2 HDD's and load the same profile on both, just making sure they're not on at the same time.

Or you could get a dog and train it to remove the HDD from one Xbox, take it to the other, insert it, and power it on. Now THAT would be a good dog!

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: swbsam

Originally posted by: Queasy
Nope, no downside.

Your options are to just swap the HDD from one 360 to the other or get a memory card, move your profile to it, and then move the memory card from one 360 to the other as you need it.

Is there any way for it to be a more permanent solution, without swapping hard drives or memory cards?

I'm trying to be as wife friendly as possible - I currently have a full blown media center in the bedroom and, while my wife is a good sport, I can tell that she gets annoyed that sometimes we can't just "WATCH TV."

I want to move the the xbox because it just works, know what I mean?

I think the only more permanent solution would be to get two Live Gold accounts and two Netflix accounts.

 

[Kabob]

Oh, you want to be able to watch Netflix on both boxes? Then yeah, you probably need to go the Queasy route. For some reason I thought the Netflix was only on one.

 

[swbsam]

I just spoke to an xbox customer service rep - supposedly you just need to log off of one console and log into the other, swapping hds shouldnt be necessary. Looks like i'll find out this weekend for sure!

Thanks

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: swbsam
I just spoke to an xbox customer service rep - supposedly you just need to log off of one console and log into the other, swapping hds shouldnt be necessary. Looks like i'll find out this weekend for sure!

Thanks

The reason I said to swap HDDs is because that is what your profile is on (that or a memory card). You'd have to do a Recover Gamertag each time you moved from one console to the next and that takes a good 5+ minutes.

 

[Kabob]

Honestly if you talked to an Xbox customer service rep then the truth is still unknown. If you do have two HDD's I suppose it's possible but if it's true that your Netflix account is tied to a console serial # then that part won't work...

 

[Queasy]

Hmm, from Netflix's Terms & Conditions:

The number of personal computers or devices that can be used for simultaneous viewing varies according to your plan size: 1-disc plans may watch on one device at a time, 2-disc plans on up to two devices at the same time, 3-disc plans on up to three devices, and plans with four or more discs on up to four devices simultaneously.

I'm betting that a console plus a Live Gold account = 1 device.

 

[Yreka]

Originally posted by: swbsam

Originally posted by: Queasy
Nope, no downside.

Your options are to just swap the HDD from one 360 to the other or get a memory card, move your profile to it, and then move the memory card from one 360 to the other as you need it.

Is there any way for it to be a more permanent solution, without swapping hard drives or memory cards?

I'm trying to be as wife friendly as possible - I currently have a full blown media center in the bedroom and, while my wife is a good sport, I can tell that she gets annoyed that sometimes we can't just "WATCH TV."

I want to move the the xbox because it just works, know what I mean?

We do the memory card swap at my house.. Just keep your profile on there, and move it back and forth. My wife knows, the "thingie" has to be plugged into the xbox for the movies to work, so that part isnt too bad..

The part that sucks beyond all belief is when you sink down into the couch, or climb into bed with your remote, and releaize your profile is in the other xbox downstairs/upstairs.

 

[tatteredpotato]

Keep in mind you COULD have network issues using 2 Xboxs doing the same thing on the same network. We had 3 Xboxs up here, and for awhile when any two would try to play together, one would get booted due to some NAT issues. A better router seemed to fix that though.

 

[Joemonkey]

Couldn't you install playon on your computer and stream netflix to both xbox's? Like you said, probably not both at the same time, but you only put your netflix info into the playon software then it is available to any xbox's, PS3, etc. on your network. Quick $40 fix