Unpacking the Xbox 360

Um, we, uh, might not be blogging for a few days. Something really important has, um, come up. Super important stuff. Family stuff, you know? Thanks for understanding.

[The KzA @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Why is the adapter as big as the unit?

[J. Fishy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Fine shove it in our face. Lol just kidding. Can't wait to get mine!

[Tabfugnic @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I have a... food... in the oven!

[James @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

lol

[thane @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

daaaaaaaaaang.

[James @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Do you have any games to play on it?

[ela2 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Lucky Bastards

[thegreentrilby @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Lucky!
/Napoleon

[thegreentrilby @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Oh, and why does it say "E" on the box? Does the X360 come with a game?

[Lectoid @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I can't find info on it anywhere. What kind of audio output does this have? I think I see 6 RCA cables, guessing 3 for component, 2 for L/R, and I am hoping the last 1 is for Digital Audio. In an unpacking video I saw, I noticed the back of the connector had what looked like a Toslink (Optical) output. Anyone have any insight?

[Mack Swift @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Slobber, drool, drool, and more drool. Slobber again.

Oops, better not get that monster sized PSU wet with drool; looks like it could explode and take half my house.

[James @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

maybe the E is for the built-in interface? kinda dumb to rate the interface... but possible i suppose.

[Alan Strangis @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

#7:

The "E" looks like the E=Rated for Everyone, not that I own any games with such a mamby pamby rating. ;)

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I hope that headset is stronger than the old model.

[James @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

#11
7 wasnt asking what the E meant... he was asking if that implied a game was included.

[Kaz @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I wonder how long until we see these pictures on eBay...

[Peter Rojas @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

It doesn't come with any games, the "E" is a rating for the console and the interface.

[Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

The power adapter is huge because it has to power a tricore 3ghz processor and a 500mhz ATI graphics card. Neither of those components is low power component. It's the same problem that a desktop replacement laptop power adapter has. It has to be able to provide the power to run the machine. The PS3 will either have a huge power brick or it will be a larger machine. The Revolution seems to be the only power conscious system so it might not be so bad. I realize it's kindof ugly, but if it was in the machine the machine might have more cooling issues and it would be larger(which was a huge complaint about the original Xbox.

[JGEMBERTON @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Doesn't it come pre-loaded with game demos or hexic or something like that? Maybe that's what the "E" is for.

[Alan Strangis @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Thanks Peter...

I shoulda been more clear in my reply that the rating system applies to the console. ;)

[Paul @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

It comes with an Xbox Live Arcade game. Hexic HD I think.

I bet that's what the E is for.

[Eric @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

It comes with Hexic on the harddrive, that might be E is for.

[Josh @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Yes the "E" would be the included content on the hard drive. Has some various HD videos on it and what not.

[stickman @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

The A/V output cable has 3 for component (HD) video, 2 for L/R stereo audio and 1 for composite video. There is also a optical digital audio out port on that big connector, but you have to have your own optical cable. I know this because I have scowered the net to find this out so I know if I need to get an extra cable on Tuesday when I pick mine up! I do not have an HDTV (yet). :)

[asher69 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

So... Am I the only one who thinks they spent all their design pennies on the unit itself? 'Cause that box looks like a retarded monkey with a carnival-style 'spinning paint' art set put it together. Not knocking the xBox, mind you, but the packaging is seriously sub par considering the sweetness that was the 'black box o'Doom' of the original.

I'm wondering, though, if they'll be all reactionary like they were 3 months after the first one released and deep cut the prices to try and get 'em off the store shelves. Great as this thing may be, I can't see shelling $400 for anything with the paltry list of games currently available. Got burned with that torch the first time around. Maybe when my box nears the end of its one year warranty I'll trade it up.

Damn... does this mean I have to turn in my 'consumer whore' membership card? :

[Aaron Jabbari @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

HTF did you get one so early!!! *grumble* Stupid inside connections... *grumble*

[Peter Rojas @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Just checked, it does come pre-loaded with Hexic, which is rated "E".

[Adam @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

God, it's going to suck going back to a wired headset.

[JoeyCrack @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Lectoid: the audio adapter (not included - WTF!) is optical digital. And the E on the box could be for the free silver Live package? maybe?

[gasher @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

asher69 it's box... Why the hell do you care what the packaging looks like? Just wierd I thought, not a flame... just odd... you are a very odd little boy...

[DamnYous @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Gimme my console. I can't wait any more!

[Richard @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Re: #23. by asher69

I'm not sure about everyone else but I don't have a problem with the box looking not very good. After all, you buy it for the product and that is what will sit in the sitting room - not some box which will be thrown in a cupboard and forgotten about until you move house.

Seriously, if this is all you can complain about then Microsoft appear to have done a good job.

[Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I think he's worried about the box for the 3yrs and under kids that like the box more then the item itself :b Then it may play as a problem.
I just don't see why the power adapter is a big complaint, it's going to be behind the stand/ table/ TVunit anyway.
I think it's goo that they give u the remote w/ the 360, rather then go out to buy a $30 remote/adapter to play SOME dvd's...

[aptmunich @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Not forgetting the ugly-as-sin design for the harddrive-helmet...

[noname @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Nice. Did you know there are many people that have had 360's in their homes for a few weeks now? I know someone who's had one for a while. Then he broke it, and got a new one. Lucky guy. But, I'm not a 360 fan, unfortunately, heh.

[Tucker @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I took a look at the connectors myself this morning at a unit presentation. The back of where the a/v connector plugs into the system has an optical out, as Lectoid mentioned. I asked about HDMI/DVI and as usual was met with the same stares I'd have gotten if I'd removed my head and thrown it around the room. I'm glad that during the "era of high definition" still fewer than 3% of the population actually understands what High Definition is.

And if Gotham (yes, the release version) is running at 720p, then I'm fifteen feet tall. Not to mention some of the worst aliasing I've ever seen.

[vectorbug @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Nice floor =)

[DW @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

To #9:
The cable has hookups for Component Video and RCA audio (note the red/white audio cables). The extra yellow cable is for composite video, not digital coax audio. And there is indeed a jack on the cable for a toslink optical audio cable.

[atomoverride @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

nothing I havent seen when I opened my box 2 weeks ago. hope you guys have a good holiday.

[megabusa @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

(to the kaz) cuz it takes about the whole north sea atlantic power reserves to run it lol) you lucky buggers

[Dale @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Absolutely the box matters. Details, baby. This looks like a rushed hack job.

Plus: I hate it that they only ship with one controller. El Cheapo, and certainly doesn't send the vibe that it is actually "fun" to play with people in the same room. I wasn't going to buy one anyway.

You can have it.

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Am I the only one who wouldn't mind the console look like a stereo component and have it stack-able with the rest of my equipment? I mean if the controllers are going to be wireless then why not?

[ozzzy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Does the wireless controller come with a rechargable battery pack and cord or do we need to buy AA batteries at launch just to play?

I don't see the power cord or battery in the picture. If not, there goes another $20.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/x/xbox360playchargekit/

[Jordan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

What kind of display are you using with the Xbox 360?

I am so far impressed with the 360. I had a chance to play Call of Duty the other day, and I am now finding it hard to contain myself but I must wait for PS3.

I also totally agree with Tucker the idea of bringing out a HD game system w/out DVI or HDMI just seems plain stupid at this point....Why Microsoft Why?

[Kadath @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

The cables look like they all terminate into plugs that go right into the sockets on your display. What are those of us who are going to connect these to projectors 25 feet away supposed to use?

[jrat @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I just peed alittle....

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

#39, since when has a console ever come with a second controller?

[sracer @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

#42, probably because of the expense to provide HDMI on the console and the relatively small percentage of HDTV sets that support HDMI.

Or... there will be an optional HDMI cable... at an additional cost. ;)

[Will @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I agree with 38. What difference does the aesthetics make? I don't care what the console looks like. I care what's on my HDTV.

[Jonny @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

As far as HD goes i have heard there will be an optional HDMI cable, plus VGA if you have a monitor/TV that can do 1:1 pixel mapping with the 360.