Xbox 360 Pre-Release Close Up
What to expect with Microsoft's new Xbox 360
The coming year will see the next generation of console game machines rounded out with the entries by Nintendo and Sony. But for now, just in time for the 2005 Christmas season, we'll finally see the Xbox 360. We'll take you inside the release of the console with a rundown of all the pre-release information available. This Xbox 360 release section will be packed with tips on the new console so you early adopters get the most of your new gaming system. We'll even take a look at some of the advantages to waiting until spring for your Xbox 360.
Microsoft's Xbox 360 is a hot commodity this Christmas season. Shortages were predicted by Microsoft to outstrip supply as early as October. Initial estimates saw 1.8 million Xbox 360s heading to store shelves by December. Now the estimated number of units reaching store shelves before Christmas are dropping to as few as 300,000. Launch date shortages of the next gen console isn't a new phenomena; the same troubles plagued Sony PS2 when it launched at Christmas 2000.
Manufacturers must walk a fine line getting parts made on time and while remaining as cost effective as possible. The 360's price has already been established. But because of the cutting edge technology going into the new Xbox, they're more expensive for Microsoft to produce right now- more than they will be in the near future. It's estimated that Microsoft is losing some $76 per unit on the Xbox 360. The pre-Christmas madness for the new toy started in late October when eBay auctions first appeared with price gouging pre-orders. Pre-orders for 360 sold as high as $1500 in the initial scurry.
Worth the waitXbox 360 is going to be a revolutionary gaming machine on several fronts. It will represent a first for gaming in multi-threaded hardware processing that includes a three parallel core system capable of two threads per core. Parallel games processing might not mean a lot to someone sitting at the business end of a shockwave rife in Perfect Dark Zero, but to developers it's a new set of hurdles. The initial slew of games for 360 won't take advantage of this new breakthrough in the hardware's capabilities. But soon we'll get to see if it really opens up new levels of performance as promised. The ATI graphics chip is not to be outdone- introducing firsts of its own with unified shader architecture. Throw in HDTV standard, MP3 jukebox in every game and mandatory Xbox Live participation, and you have a compelling set of new features. Together, they add up to more than just amping up the number on the original Xbox.
Xbox 360 won't recognize music purchased from Apple's iTunes.Media Center Extender is a type of front end computer for the Microsoft Windows XP Media Center (MC) server included with the Xbox 360. Acting as a media extender, you can keep your noisy server away from your main home entertainment system and run your stored media over on your MC machine through the Xbox 360. But if you plan on using your iTunes music library, think again. Remember Apple and Microsoft have long been at war. Xbox 360 won't recognize music purchased from Apple's iTunes. Microsoft is planning on a free codec download so you can play CDs ripped to iTunes.