Features and Design
For those who've ignored the pre-launch marketing blitz – including an MTV special hosted by Elijah Wood, journalistic rendezvous in Amsterdam, and on-site appearances by Bill Gates – here's a quick recap on the tech specs.
The console features a unique IBM PowerPC-based CPU unit complete with three 3.2 Ghz cores, each sporting two hardware threads. Also included in every device: A custom 500Mhz ATI graphics processor capable of supporting 48 pixel shader pipelines and pushing four times as many polygons as the original Xbox. All systems further feature an impressive 512MB of RAM. In English, rough calculations reveal the Xbox 360 to be anywhere between eight and ten times as powerful as its predecessor.
But the machine's true promise lies in its potential to homogenize the way we all enjoy digital entertainment experiences.
Craving high-definition, cinema-quality content? Look no further: All games are 720p minimum and optimized for 16:9 widescreen viewing. (Note: Options for switching into 1080i are also offered). Even on the low end, you'll still enjoy 480p visuals. Can't stand most current titles' piddling audio output? No sweat – virtually every piece of compatible software's designed to support Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.
Online gaming? Check. Streaming video? Yep. Custom playlist plotting, instant messaging, photo album features, connectivity with USB-compatible devices, and options for purchasing content on-demand? That's a big 10-4. Ready to accept an Ethernet cable, 20GB hard drive, 802.11a/b/g wireless networking adapter or cordless controller with equal ease, models are obviously manufactured with **** gamers' and gadget freaks' every need in mind.
Still, the facts, figures and feature lists don't tell the whole story. In the end, any console – even the most functionally versatile – is ultimately defined by the hands-on experience. And, for that matter, the caliber of content users can expect from it.
Which, ironically, is where Xbox 360 differs from all digital diversions that have come before: A scant few hundred dollars essentially buys you not a children's toy or passing amusement, but honest-to-goodness high-end PC.
Fitting the all-white or "chill," as designers call its frosty iPod-esque color, system into any entertainment center is easy enough. Capable of resting on its side or standing vertically on end – although, seriously, why bother – the unit's smaller, albeit just barely than its boxy, black forerunner. Measuring 3.3 (H) by 12.2 (W) by 10.2 (D) inches and weighing in at 7.7 lbs as opposed to Xbox's 8.8 pound girth, it's a slightly more attractive acquisition in terms of pure aesthetics. Then again, face it – cream isn't exactly a hue that fits instinctively with most home theater setups.
Detachable faceplates, available in blue, silver, and woodgrain (each priced at $19.99) are also available for sake of system individualization. A dazzling array of further patterns and designs from Microsoft and its partners will be on offer soon too. We'll take a disaffected stance on the topic; whether the option of popping off your console's front and tricking it out with painted-on flames or looping swirls adds any value is entirely subjective.
Two memory card slots are present on the front of the machine. Ditto for a pair of USB ports hidden behind a hinged flap, through which you can connect to and communicate with MP3 players, PDAs, digital cameras, laptops and other portable gadgets. (Another, primarily intended for use with the wireless networking adapter, which clips right on, can be found around back.)
Oh, and lest we forget, given that this is a next-gen console and all: The front-mounted ports are also used for attaching controllers. Connection buttons and an infrared port also make it easy to synchronize with wireless gamepads and remote controls in seconds flat.
Good news for couch potatoes too. You needn't use the gigantic O-shaped button (a ring of light around which coincidentally designates which of one to four controllers are connected) on the Xbox 360's front to turn the unit on/off either. Powering it up or down can also be accomplished directly from the controller: Simply hold down the big X button in the center of the gamepad for a few seconds.
The only other major item worth mentioning in terms of physical/spatial details is the power supply itself. Holy crap – the thing's so big and heavy you could use it to brain a cat. Systems seem to generate a lot of heat while in use as well, so be careful what you've got stacked on top of them. Although, in fairness, we've yet to see scorch marks on our desk (or assault the neighbors' kitty) so take such impressions with a grain of salt.
