Customer Reviews

Xbox 360 Pro 60GB Console

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(24)

 

 

I purchased this Xbox from amazon, they shipped me a console with the old Falcon chipset and a manufacturer date of early 2008. BE WARNED THE "NEWEST VERSION" tag IS FALSE. I called amazon, and they shipped me a replacement which was also a old Falcon chipset still manufactured in early 2008. Just so it is clear, if you order this from Amazon you are NOT GETTING THE NEW VERSION despite how it is listed here. This version "The falcon chipset" is prone to the red ring of death error, and I would reccomend you stay away from it and go buy a console from a physical store. After talking with amazon, it was evident they did not understand the difference between the chipsets and didn't understand that what they were selling was not the newest version by any means. The customer service individual i spoke with assured me they would remove the "Newest Version" tag after I pointed out the error, but chances are that it will not be removed.

Here is how to identify which version you are getting:

The Box has a small rectangular cut out, where you can (with some slight manipulation) make out two peices of information. 1) manufacturing date and 2) voltage. While yes, you can estimate which version you got by the manufacturing date the voltage/amperage is the easiest. This number is found right above the "Made in china" found within the left portion that rectangular cut out. Xenon and Zephyr models have 12v and 16.5A. it looks like this on the box (12V...16.5A). The Falcon and Opus versions have 12v...14.2A. Keep in mind, from my experience and research all of these models are prone to RROD, and run harder and hotter than the "newest version". The newest version coined "jasper" can be recognized because while it too has 12v, it's amperage is at 12.1A.

In short:
12v...16.5A :not jasper
12v...14.2A :not jasper
12v...12.1A : JASPER, the newest version.

EDIT: this review is no longer relevant, I will leave it here for posterity.

Things to note about this product:

-The Jasper units that came out in early 09 seem to be greatly improved. I have had mine since Jan. 3rd of 09 and it has not once died on me or given me ANY issues and that is with heavy use. I ran a stress test when I first got it and had mine running a game for 50 hours non-stop and it didn't even heat up. It was STILL shooting out cool air at the 50 hour mark. (Was working on an achievement in Tales of Vesperia that required you to play for x amount of hours so killed 2 birds with 1 stone here)

Added 2010- All current consoles being sold should now be Jaspers (the new ones that, from personal experience, I can say are greatly improved over all previous models) If you want to make absolutely sure, though, there are plenty of ways to confirm you have a Jasper, gaming trend had an explanation up (with pictures) just Google "gaming trend jasper" and it should be the first link saying something like: "Purchasing a 360? How to tell if it's a Jasper unit"

So in summary, while older versions of the 360 suffered the RROD I have personally not experienced it with the new Jasper and this is based on owning it for over a year now. All in all I am happy with my purchase. It's a much more solid system with the improvements, the price drop was also nice. The graphics are great as you'd expect from a next gen console. If you are concerned with failure rates of 360 just make sure you get a Jasper and TAKE CARE OF IT! (Can't stress that enough) Provide plenty of open air around the console, don't let it get dusty, etc. Like I said, I can't stress this stuff enough. I always find it a bit amusing when people horribly abuse their consoles (accidentally drop them, smack them if they're loading too slow, keep them in dusty or hot areas, block off airflow to all sides, don't dust them off, etc) then blame the manufacturer when it fails on them. I take -real- good care of mine, in fact my friend commented the other day about how my over 1 yr old 360 still looked brand new. Either way, have fun with your purchase! :)

Cons: It wasn't free, and neither is Xbox live but 40-50 dollars a year isn't too horrible.

Just picked up the new 60gb sku of the Xbox 360 and have a few things to report. My main reason for getting this was mainly due to getting the RRoD on my first 360 (which was purchased when Gears of War came out). Microsoft, of course, sent me a replacement unit in March of 2008. However, the replacement ended up sounding worse than my original. The fan was louder. The disc drive was louder. I heard all kinds of weird chirps and whirs coming out of it, which was very distracting and irritating. Needless to say, I was not pleased.

I began hearing about the new mother boards and power supplies being shipped with the newer sku's and started to get intrigued. Could Microsoft finally be solving the dreaded RRoD problem? Supposedly, the newer mother boards included a smaller, 65nm chipset that produced less heat and required the fans to spin slower (hence less noise and overheating). Many of you have probably heard of the Falcon chipset or the Jasper chipset. Well, I can't really tell which one my unit has, but I can tell you there are some improvements.

The new 60gb 360 has the 175 watt power supply. It is smaller and lighter than the original power brick. The console does run a little quieter and cooler. I would not say that it runs whisper quiet, but it's not nearly as loud as my original or replacement unit. The disc drive runs a little quieter as well. According to the label, my unit was manufactured in June of 2008, so I assume it has the Falcon chipset in it. If anyone has more information about these chipsets, please enlighten me.

It comes with an HDMI port, which I really like. I will say that after I connected the console to my TV, the image seemed a lot brighter than with component cables. I had to turn down the brightness on my TV, but it looked fine then.

The console comes preloaded with several demos, including Pac-man, Geometry Wars, and several others I can't remember. It has a full version of Hexic installed. After I transferred my game saves and gamer profile, I had about 45gb of storage left on the hard drive. Plenty of room for other demos and whatnot.

Getting it connected to Xbox Live took no time at all. Set up was straight forward and easy. I certainly hope that this sku stands the test of time (at least until the Xbox 720 comes out). So far, I like what I see.

I have owned the Xbox 360 since its launch. I have also owned the PS3 for over a year. I now feel I have had enough experience with both consoles to do a fair comparison of their relative strengths and weaknesses. What follows is my review of the Xbox 360.

Pros: price, game selection, graphics, online support, controller, multi-media functionality, user interface, backwards compatibility.

Cons: expensive hard drives, reliability issues.

Price:
With the recent price drop, the Xbox 360 is now the most affordable next-gen console on the market. The arcade bundle is only $199, which means it costs $50 less than the Wii. This is amazing because the Wii doesn't offer nearly the same performance or features as the 360. As a game console, the 360 is the best value out there at the moment.

Game library:
The Xbox 360 has an unparalleled line-up of exclusives and multi-platform games. There are more than 600 games available for the Xbox 360, while only around 180 for the PS3 and 275 for the Wii (according to the Oct. 08 issue of GamePro). This means that the 360 has substantially more games than the other two consoles combined. What's more, the 360 continues to get more third-party exclusives than the PS3; games like Left 4 Dead, Velvet Assassin, Ninja Blade, and a number of Japanese RPGs continue to find an exclusive home on the Xbox 360. Game consoles are first and foremost designed for playing games, and in this area the 360 really excels.

The Xbox 360 also shows several clear advantages when it comes to multi-platform games. Most notably, multi-platform games still tend to look and/or perform better on the 360. Many people claim that the PS3 versions of multi-platform games are finally starting to catch up to their 360 counterparts, but that hasn't been my experience. I have compared dozens of recent multi-platform games on the two consoles (one of my geeky little hobbies), and in the majority of cases the 360 versions performed better. Even in the worst cases, the 360 versions at least equaled the PS3 versions. It's also worth pointing out that every multi-platform game on the 360 supports achievements and custom soundtracks, while only a few on the PS3 do.

Performance and graphics:
Many people have been misled into believing that the PS3 is the more powerful console, but this simply isn't true. The Xbox 360 has a more powerful and flexible GPU, better memory configuration, fewer bottlenecks, faster disc read speed, a more efficient (for actual game code) general purpose tri-core CPU, and better tool support. It is effectively the most powerful console, plain and simple. Developers know this, and so does anybody else with enough technical background to understand what the comparisons are. Leading software gurus like John Carmack have said as much, yet the myth that the PS3 is the more powerful console continues to live on in the minds of many people.

Online Support:
Simply put, Xbox 360 offers the best online service available on any console. Sure, Xbox LIVE might require a subscription fee, but in this case you truly get what you pay for. PSN covers most of the basics, but LIVE offers many additional features that really do make the online experience that much better. You can get a 13 month subscription card here on Amazon for $39 (that's 3 dollars a month), and that gives you access to what nearly everyone agrees is the standard-setter for online gaming.

Controller:
This category in particular is going to come down to personal preference. I really like the PS3 controller, but I do feel that the 360 has the better controller overall. The buttons are responsive, the rumble is strong, the analogue sticks are precise, and the ergonomic design makes the controller the most comfortable I have ever used.

Multi-media functionality:
This is one area where I feel the PS3, with its Blu-ray capabilities, has an edge. That said, the Xbox 360 is a very capable multi-media device in its own right. Both consoles allow you to listen to music, view photos, and watch videos and movies. The Xbox 360's video download service offers a larger selection of movies and tv shows than the PS3's service at the moment, but the flip side is that the PS3 is the only console that can play Blu-ray movies. Next month, however, the 360 is getting Netflix integration, which will allow us to stream thousands of movies directly to our TVs. All things considered, the PS3 wins this category, but not by as wide a margin as some might imagine.

User interface:
The Xbox 360 dashboard is feature rich and easy to navigate. However, the current interface is going to be replaced next month by a completely redesigned and more feature-laden interface. New features include avatars, full game installs, 8 person parties, community games, and a nicer looking, more intuitive dashboard. The PS3 is also due to get an upgrade next month in the form of `Home', but that isn't specifically an upgrade of the user interface (XMB), so it isn't directly comparable. For now, I will say that I think both consoles have very nice user interfaces, but I prefer the 360's interface a little more.

Backwards compatibility:
The Xbox 360 plays hundreds of original Xbox games. On the other hand, none of the current PS3 models offer backwards compatibility with PS2 games. They do, however, play PS1 games. I would have never expected this, but the way things have turned out the Xbox 360 actually offers better backwards compatibility with last generation games than the currently available PS3s.

Cost of hard drives:
There are no two ways about it, the 360 hard drives are expensive. Microsoft decided to go with proprietary hard drives presumably in order to have them work with the slim design of the 360, but this also makes producing them more costly. The standard 2.5" drives the PS3 uses are much more affordable. That said, if you search around, you can get a 20GB Xbox 360 drive for about $30. So in the bigger picture this isn't too big of a deal.

Reliability issues:
Much has been made of the dreaded RROD that has affected a number of Xbox 360s. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to get down to the solid facts of the matter. The problem absolutely is real, but at the same time it has almost certainly been greatly exaggerated by dishonest people who wish to hurt the reputation of the console. My console did experience the RROD, but many of my friends have had no problems whatsoever. Furthermore, I think Microsoft has handled the problem pretty well by offering a three year warranty to cover any possible hardware failures.

Remember, also, that the PS2 suffered similar hardware failures due to faulty disc drive lasers. That time, though, Sony had to be sued before they would acknowledge and take care of the problem. This generation there have, likewise, been reports of bricked PS3s, disc drive failures, and other PS3 hardware problems. I am sure these problems aren't as common, but they are happening. Not only does Microsoft offer a 3 year warranty to cover any hardware failures you might experience, but they have also taken measures to prevent newer models from having those problems in the first place. By all accounts, the newer chipsets are smaller, quieter, cooler, and much more reliable.

Conclusion:
I am very impressed by how many things Microsoft has done right with the Xbox 360 this generation. Sure, the hardware issue that some of us have experienced is a bit of a downer, but weighed against the overwhelmingly large number of positives, it doesn't come close to souring the experience. The Xbox 360 is not only the most affordable console, but it is also the most powerful, has the largest and most varied game library, the best online service, and the best looking multi-platform games. What I have learned about these consoles I have learned from my personal experience with them, and I am telling you sincerely that you can't go wrong with the Xbox 360.

I ordered this system on October 4th and received a console manufactured in June of this year. This is not the newest hardware as Amazon claims.

Amazon, I know the new 360s, I've used the new 360s, new 360s have 12.1 voltage, Amazon this is not the newest 360 model. The 360 that I recieved was not the newest model, it was a Falcon board, not the new Jasper board. Just something to know. So far, no issues and the system works great but i'm not even sure that some of the offers included with the system are still applicable because it is clearly one of the first 60GB units that was put out to market especially since it has a giant "Now with 60GB Hard drive" label on the front of the box.

Like Michael Kinney in his review, I don't know if they ran out of Falcon console, because I got mine on July 16th and it IS a JASPER ((adapter says 150W output and amp output is 12.1V).
I have nothing to wory about, in the first day with the console I have played for 8 hours consecutively and it was just warm.

At this point I would vote no stars.
I have had my 360 several years now.It has always been picky about playing DVD's.It has never been abused or over-used.
Last spring I had the "red ring of death" happen.
They let me send back the unit(minus the hard drive) and they replaced it with a new one for free.It took about a month.I was given a month online play for free,but I don't play on line...And the new console would not read or pick up my old controller,I had to go buy a new controller....so thanks for nothing Microsoft.
Now here it is 8 months later or so and I have the "red ring of death" AGAIN.This time the warranty does not cover fixing it.I heard it might run about $150 to fix sending it back through microsoft again.
I WAS xbox loyal.But I don't think I can buy one or the next generation again.My faith has been lost.If I had produced such faulty merchandise I would have been bankrupt by now and been sued repeatedly.
Very unhappy.
Microsoft not standing behind it's faulty products and abandoning it's customers.
Meanwhile,I have a Super Nintendo and a Nintendo 64 from 1993 and 1996 respectively that my kids play daily and have never had a problem with them.And maybe they aren't as technical and full of the moving parts as the xbox....but THEY work!
I even have my working Atari from 1980 that works fine to this day.
Bad Xbox .... Bad Microsoft

I bought this console as part of Amazon's promotion where you put in $[...] in trade credit and get an extra $[...] toward a console purchase. After subtracting additional savings from various sources, I ended up paying less than $[...] for the console itself. Which is good because after shelling out for all the accessories I needed, the total ended up being well over $[...]. It's a decent enough product, but before you go paying top dollar consider a few things that you might need.

- Xbox 360 Live Gold membership. The system comes with a free Silver membership. But the bottom line is if you want to use the Netflix service or play games online, then you'll need the Gold. If you get it through Amazon it's around $[...], which is cheaper than through Xbox. (This might be a no-brainer, but in case you're unaware, you can only use the Neflix service if you have a current subscription to one of Netflix's unlimited plans. I'm not including this as a hidden cost since I feel that Xbox is pretty straight forward about that in their marketing.)

- Xbox 360 wireless adapter. If you have a wireless network to which you want to connect your system, then you need this adapter. No way around it. It'll cost you around $[...].

- Xbox 360 rechargable battery pack and wireless adapter. Hey, your Xbox comes with a wireless controller. Want to actually be able to recharge it? Prices varied a lot on this one, so I'm rounding it out to an average of $[...].

- Xbox 360 headset adapter. The 360 comes with a headset that is pretty bad. If you already have a headset that you want to use with the system, then you have to purchase this adapter. Begining to see a pattern? It'll cost you around $[...].

- Xbox 360 wireless controller. Yes, you'll probably want a 2nd controller. Pony up and toss another $[...] into the Microsoft jar.

And there you have it. The console that keeps giving . . . as long as you keep paying. To their credit, they do include an HDMI cable with the system. I just thought that the average consumer should be aware that if they're buying this system for it's full retail price, the total could be considerably higher than is advertised.

For the product itself, I have to say that I'm pretty happy with it. The Netflix service is so far the best thing about it. I have way more movies in my watch instantly queue than I thought I would. The exclusive game titles I've played so far are decent. Gears of War 2, Left 4 Dead, Fable II. I wasn't blown away by them like I thought I'd be. Better than average, less than great. I play a lot of games (I currently own every console on the market) and I'm a little jaded about what makes a great game. The library of downloadable games and add-on content, however, is truly impressive. The prices are more than fair, and the amount of new and classic games available should be more than anyone could ask for. Everything from Pac Man and Doom up to the recent Braid and The Maw.

My final 2 cents is that this console is a little too pricey as is. However, if you get a deal like I did, or it goes on sale, then it's definitely a worthwhile purchase.

FREE FREE FREE!

UPDATE: It took a few weeks with the (free) shipping, but Microsoft did REPLACE MY BROKEN XBOX 360. (There was a disclaimer that came with the returned XBOX that this was a replacement, not my own unit repaired. I imagine it was someone else's that they refurbished, although I do not know this for sure.) Please read the details in my original review below to find out if you're eligible, and what steps you need to take.

PROS: This is a great video game console, with a built-in 60mb hard-drive (for memory), with which you can play an excellent variety of games, play CDs and DVDs, and though which you can download streaming media (e.g., films) from companies such as Netflix. One can play with friends at home, or with a network of online players (although there is an annual membership fee for some online play). Once you get used to them, the controllers handle well (I recommend those without wires). Set-up is easy, although those of you with Hi-Def TV might want to buy Hi-Def wires (that go from the XBOX 360 to the TV) to take advantage of the better resolution. There's just one little problem, and that is a major CON:

A Major CON: The XBOX 360 has an extremely high failure rate!!!

Usually, these are the older (pre-2009) models. A large number of these (more than 30%, according to soem reports) had hardware malfunctions, often resulting in total breakdown. On the front of the console (around the button that turns on the XBOX360, one would often see: 1. Three red blinking lights (see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/907534 ), or 2. One red blinking light with "E-74" showing on the TV screen (or whatever monitor you use). See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/941377

The Good News. If you are thinking of replacing your broken XBOX 360 only because you have one of these errors, you probably won't need to do so. In fact, you can probably replace it for FREE (including shipping to and from Microsoft).
Previously you had no recourse after the one-year Microsoft warranty; however, Microsoft has apparently seen the light(s).
Please read this April 2009 piece for a a good, brief overview, including some text from Microsoft on how to proceed:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=4152

Here are the rules, as I understand them (please email me if you have different or more complete information; those with qualifying broken X-boxes should have the best information available!

1. Only the flaws described above are covered, either the three flashing red lights, or the one glashing light with the
E-74 message--no other "E" numbers will do, and

2. You are within three years of the date of purchase. Essentially, Microsoft has extended their one-year warranty for an ADDITIONAL two years, but only for these two types of errors. Many gamers registered their consoles when they made their user profile for online play; others may have sent back a registration card; still others may have some additional proof of purchase. Also, your XBOX has a serial number on the back; it is possible (although you will have to check with Microsoft) that this is somehow sufficient to identify the date of purchase, and

3. You did not open up the XBOX (and I mean opening it so that you can see the internal hardware, not just removing the external hard drive or the face plate on the front side of the box), nor did you hire someone to open up the XBOX. There are lots of YOUTUBE videos instructing people how to take them apart and do a self-repair... Generally NOT a good idea.

If you qualify (I'll give you the site to check a few lines down), you will get free two-way shipping and free repair. This is far superior to buying another simply for replacement purposes, or paying a third party (oops, and there goes your Microsoft warranty!) $90.00 and up (with possible shipping charges and a very short repair warranty) for a repair.
Here are the rules, as I understand them (please email me if you have different or more complete information).

How to Get to the Microsoft Repair Site.

1. Go to http://support.xbox.com/support/en/us/nxe/LiveIDSignIn.aspx?redirectUrl=http://support.xbox.com/support/en/us/nxe/registerdevice.aspx?step=repair

2. Sign into Windows Live ID--generally your hotmail account if you use hotmail email. If you don't have a WIndows ID, you can obtainone here.

3. Complete the Registration Form. Make sure you note what kind of problem you have (for a free repair, it must be one of the two listed above).

4. If all goes well, you will be directed to a site where you can either print-out a free shipping label, or have one mailed to you. THe print-out option usually did not work for me, and I had to wait about 5 days to receive one in the mail. The site also gives you packing instructions (e.g., do not pack any wires, controllers, cushion the XBOX, remove the hard drive (this is easier than it sounds).

5. IF all does not go well, call customer support at the following:
Toll free: (800) 4MY-XBOX
Direct dial: (425) 635-7180
Hearing impaired (TDD device): (866) 740-9269 or (425) 635-7102

I found customer service friendly, patient, and informative.

ONE MORE THING. If you already paid Microsoft to fix one of these hardware flaws, Microsoft will reimburse you (it was somewhere around $119) BUT ONLY IF YOU CONTACT THEM BY NOVEMBER 1, 2009. That's right, not even two weeks from now, and that is why this is being posted before I receive my (hopefully) repaired XBOX.

"Microsoft will refund to customers the amount paid for an out of warranty repair due to a general hardware failure associated with the e74 error message. Those customers should automatically receive the refund within 4-12 weeks, and no additional action by customers should be necessary. However, if a customer has not received a refund by July 1, 2009, the customer should visit www.xbox.com/support before November 1, 2009 for information on how to place a claim. All refund claims must be received on or before November 1, 2009."

As far as I know this has not been extended past November 1, 2009. YOu might want to call Microsoft XBOX 360 support as soon as you can for details on repair reimbusement. Toll free: (800) 4MY-XBOX.

If you read any comments that state all this is false, be forewarned that there are many companies making money by repairing XBOXs with these errors; they could lose quite a bit of potential revenue if QUALIFYING XBOX 360 consoles are returned to Microsoft for a free repair. OF course, any corrections or additions are very welcome; I'm not a tech. person, just someone who recently went through this experience. Thank you, and best of luck!