The good: All games for the Xbox 360 are in high-definition, as is the excellent, user-friendly Dashboard interface. There's built-in support for wireless controllers and excellent online gaming, content downloads, and communications via Xbox Live. The console is not only backward compatible with many (but not all) original Xbox titles, but it also doubles as a superior digital media hub and Windows Media extender. The system's online Marketplace allows easy purchases of mini-games, movies, and TV shows.

The bad: The list of truly impressive next-gen games remains small. The console has some design flaws: a noisy exhaust fan, a gigantic oversized power supply, no built-in wireless networking, only three USB ports, and no DVI or HDMI output. The DVD player is rather substandard, and support for next-gen HD-DVD movies requires a bulky external accessory. Additionally, the system's customary 20GB hard drive can't store a lot of high-definition downloadable content. Online gaming requires a paid subscription to Xbox Live.

The bottom line: The Xbox 360 delivers the power and performance of a high-end gaming PC, including impressive digital media and networking features.

*(September 2008 Update)* I stated on an earlier update you should wait a bit, well the 360's new price cut has now arrived! £30 has been knocked off each system making the Arcade £129.99, Premium (60GB) £169.99 and the Elite is now £229.99.

(August 2008 update)* Microsoft have released the 60GB premium xbox 360, this will replace the 20GB model and is the same price RRP £199 so its a real bargain! This means over the next few months the 20GB model is going to be sold off cheap untill the stock has run out, you can find some really good deals eg.. xbox 360 20GB console 2 official wireless pads and 2 games for £179! You might want to wait though as there is going to be a price cut sometime between now and christmas (September is predicted) across the whole range, Arcade, Premium and the Elite models.

*(UPDATE)* Most 360's fitted with an HDMI output (Late 2007 - 2008 onwards Elite, Premium & Arcade models) have been internally redesigned to try to stop the red light failure happening.

I have owned an Xbox 360 from launch and I am on my third due to them becoming faulty. Here is some information I wish I had known! My advice to anyone purchasing a 360 is to get one manufactured late 2007 onwards and this is for two reasons..

1.early Xbox's were much more prone to crash's and the widely known "red ring of death" which indicated hardware failure and a costly bill to get it repaired if not under warranty. This problem featured on BBC's Watchdog. Recently Microsoft have extended the warranty to three years for any problems relating to the red ring of death which is reasurring.

2.Microsoft have used 3 different dvd/cd drives, this can be determined by the look of the disc tray (do a google search). All models manufactured after jan 2007 were using the third drive which according to internet sources is not just much quieter (the 360 suffers from a very loud combination of the disc drive and fans) but apparently also smoothes out loading times.

Problems aside its excellent, it is truly next generation, the graphics are outstanding, the control pads are a dream and the whole package, wireless pad, xbox live, headset, dvd player and hard drive all combine to give you more than a console has offered before at a very reasonable price. Thinking back to xbox 1 initial £300 price tag and Nintendo N64 were £250, so with inflation and what you get 360's are a bargain at £280.
There is much speculation of a 360 Elite pack coming out (around end of april), the Xbox 360 & pad being black (looks sweet check it out on the internet in a google search) Its hard drive will dwarf the premium's 20GB harddrive at 120GB! also the xbox will have an HDMI output included.
(*UPDATE*) Now released ,The Elite is an excellent update of the 360!
Inline with the release of this is speculation of a price drop so maybe you should wait and see what happens and save a bit of cash, but do get one, trust me they are a quality piece of kit with an ever growing collection of superb games.
I hope this review was helpful to someone, all the best Jake (PJMCCLARNON)

Gears of War - Wow, amazing gameplay and addictive and the media centre extender - I now have a 360 in my bedroom just for that!

Buy it if you have the cash, you won't regret it.

So my nephew says to me Uncle Dan I want a 360 after playing on mine, well as is usually the case I cant say no to him but his mum says 'too expensive get him something else' but what do you do go on ebay find a Xbox 360 and 200 quid later merry christmas now all Ive got to do is buy him some games!!
The 360 is a great console xbox live is immense fun me and him are gonna be able to play halo 3 online for hours together and its all worth it for his face on christmas morning......................