XBox 360, maybe a better choice?

[TBSN]

So I was thinking about building a computer, which was pretty expensive, and I thought of another possible alternative.

I'm going to be living at home this summer, and we've got a Sony hd lcd tv. I thought since the main things I would be using my computer for would be gaming and doing video editing and graphics, I could just get an Xbox elite, which can also play HDDVDs I think without the extra drive, and has HDMI. The video editing I can do on a family computer which my parents use for photography work and video editing. Then, after working for a while during break (before I go back to college), I can get a computer and hopefully Vista will have been more widely accepted and we see some DX10 games, etc, etc. Hmmmmm....

Of course, this kind of depends on whether or not you can get a keyboard and mouse for xbox to play the FPS games, especially because PC LIVE will have PC players against xbox live players in newer games. I think. Anyway, I like keyboards. With the media capabilties of the xbox and newer consoles it's kind of necessary to have a keyboard as well, I think.

Anyways, any advice?

 

[adairusmc]

The xbox elite does not play HD-DVD's, you still need the external drive for that.

 

[Matt2]

Originally posted by: TBSN
So I was thinking about building a computer, which was pretty expensive, and I thought of another possible alternative.

I'm going to be living at home this summer, and we've got a Sony hd lcd tv. I thought since the main things I would be using my computer for would be gaming and doing video editing and graphics, I could just get an Xbox elite, which can also play HDDVDs I think without the extra drive, and has HDMI. The video editing I can do on a family computer which my parents use for photography work and video editing. Then, after working for a while during break (before I go back to college), I can get a computer and hopefully Vista will have been more widely accepted and we see some DX10 games, etc, etc. Hmmmmm....

Of course, this kind of depends on whether or not you can get a keyboard and mouse for xbox to play the FPS games, especially because PC LIVE will have PC players against xbox live players in newer games. I think. Anyway, I like keyboards. With the media capabilties of the xbox and newer consoles it's kind of necessary to have a keyboard as well, I think.

Anyways, any advice?

AFAIK, the elite will not include it's own HD-DVD player. Stupid move by MS.

You posted this question in the wrong place if you want an unbiased answer. Personally, I think an Xbox360 Premium with the HD-DVD player is the way to go. Save yourself a bunch of money and enjoy the xbox.

There is no KB+M support however. Take it from me though, I am a life long PC gamer. You will get used to the controller, even for FPS games. It's clumsy at first, but I feel I'm almost as accurate with the controller as I am with the KB+M. Plus it makes for much more realistic firefights when playing online. I find online play much more enjoyable when everyone can't land a headshot from a mile away with an assualt rifle a la every PC game invented.

 

[EvanAdams]

Why get the elete? Do you need the extra hard drive space? Do you really think you will download that much off of live?

Why not get a pro w/20gb and use the rest for a gamefly sub or games. HDMI is not necessarily better than Component; it just carries audio. Do they even have any open HDMI ports? Our Pioneer Elete is now full between our HR20 and DVD player.

And on the con side, make sure to look at release schedules. Right now, in my book, all the 360 games I'm interested in have been pushed back to August 07 thus I'm leaning towards a comp upgrade if I can swing it.

Also remember that the xbox is SO much better when back at school to play with friends. Nothing better than fun n beers at 2am.

 

[TBSN]

Alright, thanks for the sound advice! I now remember reading that the xbox360 needed another drive to play HDDVDs. There's always PS3 to consider as well, because I believe it plays BlueRay out of the box, and it can support a keyboard and mouse (Can anyone confirm that? And if it does support KB/M, do the games support it?).

I don't know how much PS3 currently *costs* though, I'd have to look into that, not to mention I don't know even know what games are out for either of the systems...

Thanks

Oh, btw when Microsoft launches "PC Live" it will enable the newer game like Halo 2 to be played online on PC vs Xbox Live players...

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: EvanAdams
Why get the elete? Do you need the extra hard drive space? Do you really think you will download that much off of live?

Why not get a pro w/20gb and use the rest for a gamefly sub or games. HDMI is not necessarily better than Component; it just carries audio. Do they even have any open HDMI ports? Our Pioneer Elete is now full between our HR20 and DVD player.

And on the con side, make sure to look at release schedules. Right now, in my book, all the 360 games I'm interested in have been pushed back to August 07 thus I'm leaning towards a comp upgrade if I can swing it.

Also remember that the xbox is SO much better when back at school to play with friends. Nothing better than fun n beers at 2am.

i'd go for the current premium 360....those have the BenQ DVD drives dont they? (i think the elite goes back to some other make) anyway the BenQ drives are very quiet.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: TBSN
Alright, thanks for the sound advice! I now remember reading that the xbox360 needed another drive to play HDDVDs. There's always PS3 to consider as well, because I believe it plays BlueRay out of the box, and it can support a keyboard and mouse (Can anyone confirm that?). I don't know how much it currently *costs* though, I'd have to look into that, not to mention I don't know even know what games are out for either of the systems.

Oh, btw when Microsoft launches "PC Live" it will enable the newer game like Halo 2 to be played online on PC vs Xbox Live players...

both consoles support KB and M for text input....but it ends there, you cannot play any games on them with the KB + M. you must use the controllers.

trust me, you will get used to it. 360's controller really is very good and after a week or so it becomes very easy to be quick, smooth and fluent in FPS games, granted the games do employ a little bit of auto aiming, and sniping can be abit finicky but on the whole its really not that bad.... hell even CnC3 on the 360 is quite nice with the controller.

who'd a thunk it eh?

 

[hardwareking]

PS3 supports keyboard and mouse for web browsing and chatting
The 360 does the same minus web browsing
Halo 2 will be the first game to feature PC live and more will come

My suggestion is Xbox 360 premium + HD-DVD player or XBOX 360 Elite + HD-DVD player
PS3 aint a good option IMO since it doesn't even come with HDMI/Component cables in the box and not many games out now and it costs more than the elite and the pro
The elite comes with HDMI and Component cables in the box
and the 360 has a far bigger game library

 

[Matt2]

Originally posted by: otispunkmeyer

Originally posted by: TBSN
Alright, thanks for the sound advice! I now remember reading that the xbox360 needed another drive to play HDDVDs. There's always PS3 to consider as well, because I believe it plays BlueRay out of the box, and it can support a keyboard and mouse (Can anyone confirm that?). I don't know how much it currently *costs* though, I'd have to look into that, not to mention I don't know even know what games are out for either of the systems.

Oh, btw when Microsoft launches "PC Live" it will enable the newer game like Halo 2 to be played online on PC vs Xbox Live players...

both consoles support KB and M for text input....but it ends there, you cannot play any games on them with the KB + M. you must use the controllers.

trust me, you will get used to it. 360's controller really is very good and after a week or so it becomes very easy to be quick, smooth and fluent in FPS games, granted the games do employ a little bit of auto aiming, and sniping can be abit finicky but on the whole its really not that bad.... hell even CnC3 on the 360 is quite nice with the controller.

who'd a thunk it eh?

Finally! Someone who agrees with me that a console controller can actually not be that bad!

Keep it down though, if someone screams herecy we're gonna be in big trouble.

 

[TBSN]

Hmm, so neither of the consoles support kb/m for actual games, just for media stuff. I totally agree that a console controller can be just as good, I just happen to prefer a kb/m, plus it makes media and web browsing easier.

The deciding factors are really going to be
1) Can I live with gaming without a mouse and a keyboard?!
2) What games are out, and which consoles games am I more interested in? (more games on Xbox, but games like Metalgear to come out only on PS3...)
3)Cost. Does Xbox+HD-DVD player = PS3 in price? Which is more expensive?

And maybe I should consider the fact that I'll inevitably be picking sides on the BluRay/ HD-DVD war.

 

[TBSN]

Controllers may be good, but I don't think I can live without a keyboard/mouse for FPS. Plus there are way too many PC games that I want to play... I guess I'll just build a comp instead, so much for HD movie watching!

 

[happy medium]

360, Keyboard ,mouse adapter here

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/peripherals/...oardmouse-adapter-in-action-223963.php

 

[Jules]

Originally posted by: Matt2

Originally posted by: TBSN
So I was thinking about building a computer, which was pretty expensive, and I thought of another possible alternative.

I'm going to be living at home this summer, and we've got a Sony hd lcd tv. I thought since the main things I would be using my computer for would be gaming and doing video editing and graphics, I could just get an Xbox elite, which can also play HDDVDs I think without the extra drive, and has HDMI. The video editing I can do on a family computer which my parents use for photography work and video editing. Then, after working for a while during break (before I go back to college), I can get a computer and hopefully Vista will have been more widely accepted and we see some DX10 games, etc, etc. Hmmmmm....

Of course, this kind of depends on whether or not you can get a keyboard and mouse for xbox to play the FPS games, especially because PC LIVE will have PC players against xbox live players in newer games. I think. Anyway, I like keyboards. With the media capabilties of the xbox and newer consoles it's kind of necessary to have a keyboard as well, I think.

Anyways, any advice?

AFAIK, the elite will not include it's own HD-DVD player. Stupid move by MS.

Nope smart move. if it came with a HD DVD drive it would cost even more.

 

[Aikouka]

I think you'd only complain about the controller in a FPS if you're used to a keyboard and mouse in FPS games. I hate playing FPS games on my XBOX 360 right now, because I simply can't stand being handicapped by controls that technically the ability to "fix" is there (i.e. I can plug a keyboard in, why can't I use it)! I'm pretty decent when it comes to PC FPS games, so getting killed in horribly noobish ways in console FPS games because I simply cannot react like I would on a PC is frustrating to say the least.

 

[AmdInside]

Although I own all three consoles, I still play most of my games on my PC. It is just more enjoyable for me with the exception of some games to play on my PC. Also, I just hate the thought of paying $60 per game whereas I can get several great titles for PC for around $20-$30. And new titles quickly drop in price whereas on consoles, you have to wait around a year for the prices to drop.

 

[TBSN]

Originally posted by: Aikouka
I think you'd only complain about the controller in a FPS if you're used to a keyboard and mouse in FPS games. I hate playing FPS games on my XBOX 360 right now, because I simply can't stand being handicapped by controls that technically the ability to "fix" is there (i.e. I can plug a keyboard in, why can't I use it)! I'm pretty decent when it comes to PC FPS games, so getting killed in horribly noobish ways in console FPS games because I simply cannot react like I would on a PC is frustrating to say the least.

Originally posted by: AmdInside
Although I own all three consoles, I still play most of my games on my PC. It is just more enjoyable for me with the exception of some games to play on my PC. Also, I just hate the thought of paying $60 per game whereas I can get several great titles for PC for around $20-$30. And new titles quickly drop in price whereas on consoles, you have to wait around a year for the prices to drop.

OK, I think both these posts have made me realize, unfortunately, that I'd be much happier with a PC. Oh well, I guess I've been a pc person since the beginning....