Microsoft Xbox 360 Core System White Console

I've been hearing that the XBox 360s are starting to come back into stores and you can get on waitlists for them, so this review will assume that you're interested in buying a used one in a little while because they'll be dirt cheap rather than a new or used one now because you can't wait for the 360.

Anyway, I've had an XBox for about a year and 5 months. And if I had my choice of an XBox, PS2, or Gamecube with an equivalent value in games I'd definitely still go with the XBox. (I've played my friend's PS2 and Gamecube every now and then.) I'm 23, so a Gamecube is out of the question, since all its games are only interesting to little kids. As for the PS2, the XBox definitely stacks up favorably against it technologically.

The graphics are very noticeably better on the XBox versions of the same game. The hard drive helps the performance and avoids the awkwardness and price of memory cards, although I do own an XBox memory card. It's very easy to use, but used ones are very rare and not all games let you transfer your saves to the card. The standard controllers are very well-designed and fit an adult hand a lot better than the PS2's, and there are plenty of third-party controllers available. I have a dirt cheap one -- it works more than adequately. I don't have any experience with the Ethernet connection. I should also note that XBox games tend to sell cheaper than their PS2 equivalents used, both retail and on eBay. And I much prefer my XBox-only games to the ones available for multiple systems. (I don't have much experience with the Halos, but I adore the Dead or Alive games.)

That being said, there is one major problem: the DVD drive. My original XBox I bought used and the DVD drive worked about 15% of the time. I bought a new DVD drive, and this one worked at most 20% of the time. However, I got a brand new DVD drive again, but this time made sure it was a Philips one, instead of Thomson, who makes most drives. The new drive works flawlessly. My friend has an XBox, too (with a Thomson drive), and the DVD drive works about 96% of the time for games, but we have real problems with movies. (They have a lot of problems with read errors and skipping, and the XBox can't handle other regions' DVDs while even my $30 DVD player that I bought 3 months before the XBox is region-free.) He had to buy a standalone DVD player instead. It's a good idea not to buy the remote in the first place.

Anyway, if you have decent money, just get a full-version 360 as it's backwards-compatible, but if you can't afford one of the next-generation systems when they come out, the original XBox is certainly the product of choice.