Xbox 360 250GB Holiday Value Bundle (OLD MODEL)

I will start off by admitting that I never purchased an original xbox and was a big fan of the Playstation consoles. I did purchase my first xbox 360 on release day. I was loyal to Playstation for a while, but the controller is better, the the games are better, live is better, and the entertainment side was developed and added quicker. It didn't take very long to make it my console of choice. Originally, the xbox was just the best gaming device out there and I now have 4 xbox 360s which I use on a regular basis.I use the xbox a number of different ways.First of all, it is the console I turn to when playing games and xbox live works really well for online gaming.The controller is comfortable (when compared to the PlayStation 3 Dualshock 3 Wireless Controller (Black)). I have never had controller connection issues like I had with the PS3. The PS3 is based on bluetooth connectivity technology which is nice for finding/using headsets, keyboards, etc to connect to the PS3, but it doesn't as well as the RF based xbox 360 controller.I am an ATT U-Verse subscriber and have dropped my $7/month rental of the U-Verse TV receiver. Instead I use my xbox as my ATT U-Verse TV receiver. The only issue I have found with the xbox 360 acting as my U-Verse receiver is the "40 second advance" button doesn't work. You can also use the xbox as a Verizon Fios TV receiver.I also stream videos from the internet on my xbox 360. Netflix, Hulu, HBO to Go, MLB.TV, Youtube, Crackle and more can be played on the console. I use Netflix and Crackle on a regular basis. I tired Hulu Plus on a free trial and although I didn't find a need for the service personally and canceled my service, it worked flawlessly.you can rent or buy movies through the zune marketplace or services such as Vongo or Cinemanow.You can listen to internet radio through the xbox with last.fm or you could download music to your xbox's hard drive and listen to it that way.The xbox 360 can also be used as a windows media center extension which works really well and I can stream movies, photos, or music from my Windows Media Center computer.One of the nicer things is I can use/set up a Logitech Universal Programmable Remote Control to work with my xbox 360, which I can't do with my PS3 unless I buy a separate adapter.If you still have the need to watch DVDs, your xbox will play them as well.Xbox Live is $60/year, but it isn't hard to find codes on sale for $40 or $50 and even at the $60 price point, it is worth it.The Xbox would do well to add BluRay capability, but with everything going digital and being licensed by Sony, I don't see that happening. Also, the console lacks Amazon Prime video support. Microsoft is constantly adding streaming content and it would help to get apps such as TBS, Comedy Central, NBC and obviously Amazon Prime. It wouldn't surprise me if Microsoft isn't already working on that.The Xbox 360 is a great all around device. It does a lot of things well and several things really well. It doesn't have the content of a Roku or Apple TV; it doesn't have the music of pandora or SiriusXM; it doesn't have BluRay, but it does have the best gaming, TV service, streaming video and they are constantly adding more content.The price is becoming more and more reasonable for what it does.

I really do love this console, and while I haven't really gotten into Fable 3 I absolutely loved Halo:Reach. If you're a fan of the Fable games I'm sure you'll be glad it's in there, but so far I haven't really played it much! I know some people are bothered by the fact that Halo is a download, but I liked having the download. I've gotten quite a lot of use out of it, and with the 250GB you clearly have the room for it. It comes with the controller (with batteries!), a headset, the two games, the 3 months of Xbox Live, and the console. Also, the cords are there, but if you decide to do HDMI you have to get a whole new AV cord set-up and of course the HDMI cord. I didn't realize this until after I'd bought it and noticed it has a blocker so you can't put the cord in. Not that it should hinder you from buying this, but more of a warning for people like me that weren't aware of this before hand :)One thing I've found with the console is that it's not really great with actual disks. It gets extremely hot, the whole Xbox makes such loud noises you actually worry, and you need to be very careful when the disk is in the tray. It's best to have the console laying on it's side when you're using a disk, and you should NOT move it when it's in. It can easily scratch your games! Be sure to set it on a table or something like it (no carpet!).This whole bundle is a great start-up, and I'm very glad I made the purchase.

I own a PS3 and I am happy with it. I wasn't going to get a Xbox 360 until this bundle came along. I mostly got it for the included Halo Reach and the new Xbox 360 Slim console, which doesn't seem to have the overheating issue or Red Light of Death that older Xbox 360 consoles had.Pros:-Comes with a 250GB hard drive. This is necessary to play games smoothly. Installing the game to the hard drive makes the Xbox 360 run quieter and cooler.- Built-in Wi-Fi. You no longer have to buy an adapter to connect wirelessly. It's built into the system.- Built-in Kinect port. This Xbox 360 Slim has a special port just for the Kinect so you don't have to buy an adapter.- 3 Free Months of Xbox Live Gold. Xbox Live is the reason to get the Xbox 360. Its extensive online service is more user-friendly than PSN, but you will have to pay $60 a year after your 3 months are up (Amazon has some deals to get a Xbox Live membership around $45-50) for it.- Halo Reach (downloadable token). There is no physical disc. Instead, they give you a code that you download from the Xbox Marketplace to your hard drive.- Fable 3. It's an RPG game. Not my kind of game, but if you enjoy role-playing, you might like it.- Official Xbox headset. It's a mono headset, which means there's only one earpad to hear voice from. It works fairly well, but I have the Astro A40s so I don't use it.Cons:- Have to pay to play online.- Does tend to get hot when playing from the disc.- Fans run much louder than the PS3.To summarize, this is a great bundle for someone who doesn't have a xbox 360 or would like to have both systems. If you already have a xbox 360, there's really no reason to get this one. Most Xbox 360 owners will probably already have Halo Reach and Fable 3 isn't really a console seller. Now, I can game with friends on both the PS3 and Xbox 360 with ease.Also, I purchased the One-day shipping (which was $10 bucks for me) and it really did come the next day, just in case you were wondering about pushing your delivery date up.