Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite

Some people believe playing games is the only reason to buy a gaming console. In the case of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 (www.xbox.com), they couldn’t be more wrong. Beyond stellar gameplay, the Xbox 360 is one device that enables instant access to HD movies, music, friends, and more. (To learn more about connectivity possibilities such as these in your home, read “Link It Up” on page 36.) Add in the ability to wirelessly stream personal and online media over a home network, and it’s easy to understand why millions of people have made the Xbox 360 their home theater’s gaming and entertainment hub.

Game On

Although the console is capable of much more, if you were to only ever use the Xbox 360 for gaming, you would be in great hands. Both the Xbox 360 Arcade ($199.99; 256MB storage) and Xbox 360 Elite ($299.99; 120GB storage) support Xbox 360 game titles in true HD quality (up to 1,920 x 1,080 with an HDMI cable), while the Elite also adds support for over 300 original Xbox titles. Both consoles include an Xbox Live Silver membership, giving you free game demos and add-ons; voice and text chatting; avatars; and access to new, retro, independent, and on-demand games for purchase in the Xbox Live Game Marketplace. An Xbox 360 Gold subscription ($49.99 annually) adds in multiplayer online gaming, video chatting, photo sharing, and early access to new game demos and exclusive discounts.

A World Of Entertainment

Equally as impressive as the Xbox 360’s gaming prowess is its multimedia muscle. Through Zune On Xbox Live, you can rent and buy HD movies in 1080p, 5.1-surround sound quality straight from the console for instant streaming. You can also download and watch your movie purchases later on your PC and Zune HD. With Xbox Live Party, meanwhile, Live Gold subscribers can chat with up to seven friends in different locations while watching a movie. Live Gold members can also stream thousands of Netflix (www.netflix.com) movies and TV shows, play millions of songs from preset and customized Last.fm (www.lastfm.com) radio stations, and stay up-to-date on friends’ Facebook (www.facebook.com) and Twitter (www.twitter.com) statuses all from the Xbox 360 dashboard.

Make A Connection

One of the Xbox 360’s best but more unheralded features is its ability to stream media stored on a PC with Windows Media Center support over a wired or wireless home network to your home theater. This includes streaming PC-stored Zune media; Internet TV shows; and songs, photos, and videos from your personal library.

It’s Your Call

The problem with owning an Xbox 360 isn’t having enough choices; it’s what to do first. Whether it’s fragging enemies online with friends, taking in a romantic comedy in HD with your husband, queuing up a party soundtrack, or streaming vacation videos from the office PC to your living room, the Xbox 360 has you covered and then some.