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What is the Difference Between Xbox 360 Models?By Len CannonSo, you've finally decided to start looking at buying an Xbox 360. Good for you, there are
on there. Halo 3, Grant Theft Auto 4, Bioshock, Madden, the list goes on. What you might not know is that there's more than one version of the same console floating around out there, and some of them have some very significant differences. Hopefully, this will set things straight and help you avoid making what might be an expensive mistake.
Are you looking for more info on the Xbox One?
What Every Xbox 360 Can Do
While this will be going over the differences between the models, you should know what every single 360 can do, regardless of what SKU it is under. Naturally, all 360s can play Xbox 360 games. And every single one of them can play DVDs and CDs as well. Plus, if you have it hooked up to your network, you can include your 360 in your Microsoft Windows network, allowing you to share media between your PC and the 360.
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Images of the Xbox 360 Slim w/ Kinect
Slim Xbox 360s Available NOW!&&&&&New Slim Xbox 360 (AKA: The 250GB elite)On Monday June 14th, 2010, Microsoft announced the new Slim Xbox 360.
The latest Xbox console looks to be a replacement for the current Elite line. Here are the differences between the Slim Xbox 360 and the Elite.The Slim 360 features built in wifi (no cables for using the internet!) while the Elite and the Arcade have noneAnother difference between the Slim 360 and the Arcade and Elite models is the hard drive.
The Slim Xbox 360 features a 250 Gig hard drive. The elite generally has a 120 Gigs while the Arcade has no hard drive.The Xbox 360 Slim is several inches smaller and thinner than either the Elite 360 or the Arcade.it features larger venting areas along the sides.
This is to help quell the 360s infamous overheating/Red Ring of Death problems. Read on for more details on all 360 models.The 360 Slim will feature one large fan instead of two small fans. This should make it run much quieter than the loud Elite and Arcade models.It will be priced at $299 and and are currently on the shelves.
If you're buying a new system, be sure to check out some of the
at the same time.&&&&Microsoft KinectMicrosoft has recently introduced information regarding the Microsoft Kinect, a motion sensor Xbox system. It will be available in November, 2010. For more information on the Kinect, More of a toy than than a classic gaming device, the hardcore gamer is likely to stick with the regular Xbox 360 hardware.The Xbox 360 Slim has a special USB port that will make it easier to use the Kienct, although all 360 systems should be able to use this deviceMicrosoft has also announced the Xbox 360 4GB Kinect Bundle.
This is a budget version of the 360.
Like the Arcade, it is priced lower but comes included with a small hard drive.
For Kinect buyers who don't already own a 360, this is one of the most popular options.It is however, expected to be a hit with families, so preorder it right now if you're interested.
If you can't decide between the Kinect and the Wii for motion gaming, .For more information on current generation 360 hardware, read on.Click thumbnail to view full-sizeSee all 5 photosSee all 5 photosBuy A Cheap Xbox 360!
Xbox 360 Essentials&&&&&&&&&&The Standard- the Xbox 360 PremiumThe original model of Xbox 360 is the Xbox 360 Premium (AKA: the 360 Pro). Providing a 20 or 60 GB hard drive which will allow you to download games, movies, music, and demos, and downloadable content providing extra content and game play to titles like Rock Band which have already been purchased.
It regularly retails for around $199, and is on par for most console prices. The current Xbox line of brand new items has switched to focus on just the Xbox 360 Elite and the Xbox 360 Arcade.
The current Pro/Premium models that can be bought new are usually refurbished.
These are old (read: used) Premium models that have had their innards replaced with less failure prone hardware.
This is a good compromise if you want to pay Xbox Arcade prices for Elite performancesThe 20 GB hard drive is relatively small, but for most purposes it is adequate although it might lead to deleting some demos or titles you've already purchased.
Don't worry though! If you've paid for it, you will always be allowed to redownload at no cost.In my experience, 60 GB of space is enough for all but the most prolific packrat.
However, if you're like me and can't stop buying new songs for hate to delete even the worst demo, you might still be filling that up as well. Even among the multiple systems, there are divisions.
The 360 Pro edition is split between three different hardware models. 360 Premium models made before September 2007These models include all of the original Xbox 360 hardware, which should make you a little bit wary of the purchase.
Well, if you follow games much at all, you probably have heard all about the Red Ring of Death. For those not in the know, it is an error (so named due to the three red lights in a circle that indicate what is going going on inside) caused by a number of internal problems, including over heating.
360 owners using the old hardware will suffer a failure rate of close to 50% while using these older models.Microsoft is well aware of the problem, and if a 360 red rings they will replace your Xbox 360 free of charge, providing shipping and customer support, but you will be without a game console for a few weeks.
Due to the need to replace the consoles so frequently, Microsoft has lost over a billion dollars in revenue.Post September 2007 Premium ModelsSome hope at last!
The newer 360 models contain the Falcon motherboard and chipset, the newest revamp to the Xbox hardware.
Significantly improved over the more failure prone machines, Xboxes made with the Falcon will only rarely have to be returned.
The danger is still there, but it is a significant improvement.Almost any new out of the box Xbox 360 will feature
the updated hardware.
However, if you are buying used from Ebay or a retail outlet that specializes in buying and reselling products such as Gamestop, be careful of the older models.
It is difficult to tell when they were made.
There are a few tricks.The first is to open up your Xbox and take a look, but that's a whole new article to itself.
What I would suggest is to take a look at the original box your system came packaged in if it is available.
Look around the SKU info, under all of the product descriptions.
If you have a 360 that came from lot 0734 or HIGHER, you're in the clear. If it is lower, then you have the original set.Post August 31 2008 Premium ModelsBeginning at the end of August, Microsoft changed their premium models to include a 60 GB version.
The 20 GB models subsequently had their prices cut by around $40 to $60.
By December, all the 20 GB models should be phased out of stores and all new 360 Premium sales will be of the 60 GB model.Other than the increase in space, there are no significant differences between the most recent 20 GB models and the 60 GB models.
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These guys might be dancing on the box, but they'll be pretty sad when they know they bought trash.
Scraping the Bottom of the Value Barrel -The Xbox 360 Arcade I can say one thing for the Xbox 360 Arcade: it is cheap. At a $199, it costs about the same as the famously affordable Nintendo Wii. But it comes as no surprise that you get what you pay for.
The package comes with a measly 256 MB hard drive, capable of holding very little data.
If you own an 360 Arcade, you will not be able to download most game demos and certainly not any movies.
At best, you will be able to download some of the smaller Xbox Live Arcade titles, but even some of those are coming in too big for the Arcade to handle now.A truly inferior product, the Arcade lacks the mutability of 360.
What makes Microsoft's product so distinct is the vast number of downloads, small independent games, and wide array of demos and other content.
Losing this makes the 360 a significantly less attractive console.
Even the multi-player experience will suffer.
While you can still play online with the Arcade, you will not be able to download any patches or new content, leaving you behind your peers. As a consolation prize, the Arcade comes with a few pack-in arcade-style games, but they're definitely not worth what you lose.
ONLY buy the Xbox Live Arcade if you never, ever, ever, ever plan on going online with your system in all the years that you will on an Xbox. Worse still, it has split the 360 market, making developers strip their games of features to be able to include content that people using the Arcade can still participate in.
It takes an especially bad console to punish even the people who didn't buy it.
Crap, I already bought an Arcade. What should I do?If you already bought an Arcade model and I just made you feel bad, I apologize.
You can always trade in your Arcade and buy one of the better models. Microsoft does offer an external Xbox 360 Hard Drive if you want to bring your gaming machine into the twenty-first century. Be warned though: it is expensive.
Costing a pricey $150,you get an extra 120 GB of space.
It might be worth picking up if you were planning to go form the Arcade to the Elite model, but if you just want to be able to play the new Halo 3 maps, your better off trading in for a Premium.In the past, Microsoft has offered deals to upgrade the Arcade with a removable hard drive and included an Xbox Live subscription deal.
It is unclear if this is still being offered.
Call Microsoft support for information.
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&Paying for Quality- The Xbox 360 EliteThe top of the line, the Xbox 360 elite comes packed in with a 120 GB hard drive.
Your 360 can fill up fast, and with this roomy bad boy, you'll never have to delete anything ever again.
At $299 dollars, it is the most pricey of the available models, but a great value.
Costing only one hundred dollars more than little brother Premium, The Elite comes with a $150 hard drive, making this a 50 dollar savings.With the Xbox Pro models being moved to the sidelines, the Xbox Elite is the very best option for gamers looking to buy a new Xbox.
The differences between the Arcade and Elite are palpable and real gamers looking to get the most out of their Xbox should focus on the premium.
With price cuts, it has become a real bargain.
Xbox 360 for sale at Amazon&&&&&&&Other ModelsThere are a few other models available, although they aren't currently on the shelves or are specialty kits. Xbox 360 Core: Part of the original launch, this was replaced by the Arcade. Like the Arcade, this is junk. In fact, it is even worse - it was shipped with no hard drive at all. If you're buying used, avoid at all costsHalo 3 Special Edition: No longer available, this was a special offer during the release of last year's hit Halo 3. Coming in a distinctive green finish, this console is otherwise similar to the Premium system still on sale. An Elite style system was announced September of 2009 to be released with Modern Warfare 2.
This will be the first Xbox 360 with 250 Gigs of memory.
It will also come with a wireless headset and two wireless controllers.
The price on this has not yet stabilized, but this limited addition console gives a clear picture of where the 360 is going in the future.The Halo Reach bundle is the first true Xbox 360 Slim bundle available.
It is also one of the hottest selling.
Check it out ASAP if you're interested.Do I even want an Xbox 360? Well, I don't know, do you? They are great systems, but they have only limited backward compatibility to original Xbox games.
The PS3 has improved greatly since was originally released and is now a solid competitor for the 360.
. Prices are dropping, and 360s are very affordable, though.
If you're looking to take up a gaming system with a great library of titles to enjoy, I would say make this your choice. Finally, this is only a quick and dirty over-view.
There are some more specific differences between editions that cover very hard-core nuts and bolts aspects of the system I didn't want to go into since this is more of a shopper's guide, and some more similar differences between newer-and-later edition models. If you have any questions not answered, leave a comment or get in touch with me and I'll see what I can do about either giving you the answer or editing it in. More Xbox Information
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More by Len CannonWant to know how to get your 360 gamepad working on the PC? What about using a Microsoft controller on your MAC? Click here to find out how to use your Xbox controller as a PC accessory.
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(2.19 sec)10 Cool Things You Can Do With ExpressionEngine - EE Developer
Recently I saw a blog post about . I thought it was really cool idea and figured I might try doing the same thing for ExpressionEngine but I am feeling a bit lazy today so here is my take: 10 Cool Things You Can Do With ExpressionEngine (Some of You Probably Are).
1) Landing Pages
One of the things many web development shops neglect is the lead generation aspect of a website.
are something that are quite easy to set up using ExpressionEngine, and they are quite an effective tool when used in conjunction with a back link strategy, or ad words campaign. Depending on the industry you would have landing pages for the different services that you provide, and then whenever that subject is mentioned you would link back to the landing page versus the homepage of your website. This gives people a very specific bit of information and action that you want them to take without having them get distracted with non-essential content.&
2) Image Gallery
Here at Blue Fish we've done several websites recently with
in them. I&m always surprised at how easy this is, especially when you use an add-on like . It allows the client to bulk upload images to an entry and specify specific bits of content and even a description for that image. You can also associate other custom fields with that entry for background regarding the images. Channel Images will take care of resizing all of the images for you and then all of you have to do is incorporate some mechanism on the front end that allows the visitor to view the image and your done. We like to use various versions of light boxes so that the viewer can click on a thumbnail and see a larger version of the image.&
3) SEO 1.0
I really don't understand why WordPress gets all of the attention when it comes to Search Engine Optimization(SEO). Because quite honestly I find that ExpressionEngine has all the same functionality and then some. It takes no time to add a custom field for your clients to add a title tag. With ExpressionEngine you can even set up conditional logic in your templates that says if the client has not entered content in the title tag custom field then you can pull in the title of the actual entry so there is always a Title Tag. This gives the client ultimate control but has a failover in case they forget.
4) SEO 1.1
And don't forget alt and title parameters for images. That's a sore spot on our own site and we are rectifying it slowly. Most of the add-ons for handling images in ExpressionEngine will allow you to specify an alt and title parameter separately so that you can get very specific with what you were sending to the visitor or Google. The main benefit that I find with ExpressionEngine over WordPress is that the workflow for all of this information can be the same as the workflow for the content versus having to specify all this stuff in different areas of the control panel.
5) Social Media Meta-tags
Most of our clients have some sort of social media strategy. Some are a little bit more organized than others (if you need help with that ), but one of the things that we try to take into consideration are the different tags that are necessary for the social media networks in order to display content properly on the social media network's website. These super-meta-tags ensure that when your clients paste a link into Facebook that they get images that are appropriate for the article that they are posting.&
on the code that is necessary for some of the different social networks. And since ExpressionEngine makes it extremely easy to add custom fields, you should be able to incorporate this in, at least, the blog articles or news articles on your clients& websites.
Are forums still a thing? Well if you have need for a forum and want tight integration with a website then you might want to consider using ExpressionEngine. ExpressionEngine allows you to not only use the membership capabilities for the forums but also brings all of those membership permissions into the main website as well. This can make for an extremely interesting set up where you have customized content on the site based on certain levels of achievement in the forms and so on. You can really do some fun things with it.
7) Multi-Site Manager
In the past I have been up front that MSM is not my favorite piece of functionality when it comes to ExpressionEngine. I think it is a specialty tool that should only be used when absolutely called for. This is not because MSM is faulty but rather because the action of linking any 2+ sites together should not be done in a flippant manner. The only time I feel this should be done is when the members information has to be shared between the two sites. But if the requirements call for it this can be an extremely powerful capability.
8) e-Commerce
I've been involved in the ExpressionEngine community for a very long time (2007-ish). So long in fact I can remember when we did not have any e-commerce solutions for EE, and now we have three! , ,
are the top dogs for adding commerce capabilities to EE. They are full featured too. They integrate with payment gateways right out of the box. They have shipping method capabilities and coupon capabilities and reporting capabilities and yada yada yada. I think you get the point. Commerce in EE, its never been stronger.
9) Backing Up Sites off server
We've not been shy about the fact that we love . This is one that I wish was included as part of ExpressionEngine core, not because I want to slight Eric in the amount of money that he receives, but rather, because I think it is important that every site have backup off server. If you have an S3 account or another web hosting account you can configure Backup Pro to push the backups it makes to those external locations. That way if something goes horribly wrong you know you have what you need in order to rebuild.
10) Security
Not sure what I should write here as you are reading an article about ExpressionEngine. EE has one of the best reputations in the CMS industry in regards to security. Since 2007, when I first got involved with the ExpressionEngine community, I have not heard of one install being hacked. That includes 18 months of working for EllisLab where I was one of a handful of people that would have direct access to that information. That does not mean that it is not hackable, it just means that the team at EllisLab takes security seriously and does everything it can to consider security first.&
You can also do simple things like changing the name of admin.php or of the system folder. Doing small things like that make it a little bit more difficult for people to hack the system as they would have to guess the custom name you have given those items. Don't forget to turn the member registrations off unless you need them. That is the one thing that I've seen people forget and when the bots find it they will fill up website with thousands of bogus memberships in a heartbeat.
So there it is. My list of 10 Cool Things You Can Do With ExpressionEngine. If you have others you want to share put them in the comments below.
by Marcus Neto
by Marcus Neto
by Marcus Neto
by Marcus Neto