Xbox 360 newbie...

[ThunderPants73]

Hi Guys,

My mate has just let me borrow his 360 and this will be the first time I've ever used one (PS3 for me). Do you have to have a Live account to be able to update the software? He has never used the 360 to play avi files (he never reads instruction manuals so he didn't even know he COULD), but me being the inquisitive sort, I immediately plugged in one of my external hard drives and found my avi files but a message came up telling me that I needed to sign into Xbox Live in order to download an update, I know that M$ is a poor struggling company that has very little money, but do they really expect you to pay for a Live account in order to get software updates?
Also while I'm droning on, does the Xbox really have a better selection of games than the PS3? and do you think they will ever get their fingers out of their arses and make it play Blu?

[Hom3r]

You may be able to update with a SILVER account, this won't let you play online games.

The best video formats for the Xbox are WMA & MP4.

Both consoles have games that are exclusive to them, but I would say that the number of games available for each console are the same, but the PS3 may have more because it has been about longer.

A Blu-Ray is coming to the Xbox it will replace the internal DVD, and I would guess that an external one will come soon after.

[Stuart]

It's worth remembering that both MS and Apple (while apparently active members of the Blu Ray forum) have said they don't believe the future of HD is with any disc based medium.

---------- Post added at 14:41 ---------- Previous post was at 14:40 ----------

Originally Posted by ThunderPants73

Hi Guys,

My mate has just let me borrow his 360 and this will be the first time I've ever used one (PS3 for me). Do you have to have a Live account to be able to update the software? He has never used the 360 to play avi files (he never reads instruction manuals so he didn't even know he COULD), but me being the inquisitive sort, I immediately plugged in one of my external hard drives and found my avi files but a message came up telling me that I needed to sign into Xbox Live in order to download an update, I know that M$ is a poor struggling company that has very little money, but do they really expect you to pay for a Live account in order to get software updates?
Also while I'm droning on, does the Xbox really have a better selection of games than the PS3? and do you think they will ever get their fingers out of their arses and make it play Blu?

No, as noted above, you can use a Silver account to download updates and other things from XB Live. You just can't play games online unless you pay.

[Matt D]

Originally Posted by ThunderPants73

Hi Guys,

My mate has just let me borrow his 360 and this will be the first time I've ever used one (PS3 for me). Do you have to have a Live account to be able to update the software? He has never used the 360 to play avi files (he never reads instruction manuals so he didn't even know he COULD), but me being the inquisitive sort, I immediately plugged in one of my external hard drives and found my avi files but a message came up telling me that I needed to sign into Xbox Live in order to download an update, I know that M$ is a poor struggling company that has very little money, but do they really expect you to pay for a Live account in order to get software updates?
Also while I'm droning on, does the Xbox really have a better selection of games than the PS3? and do you think they will ever get their fingers out of their arses and make it play Blu?

You need a Live account to update via the console, but you can just use a Silver (free) account - you don't need a Gold one.

Alternatively, you can download the update via your PC, whack it on a memory stick, & use that to update the 360. I can't find a direct download link though for the latest update.

360 video formats:

http://support.xbox.com/support/en/u...aybackFAQ.aspx

I have both consoles, & I think the selection of exclusive games on each is fairly equal.

Originally Posted by Hom3r

You may be able to update with a SILVER account, this won't let you play online games.

The best video formats for the Xbox are WMA & MP4.

Both consoles have games that are exclusive to them, but I would say that the number of games available for each console are the same, but the PS3 may have more because it has been about longer.

A Blu-Ray is coming to the Xbox it will replace the internal DVD, and I would guess that an external one will come soon after.

[ WMA is an audio format . ]

The 360 has been out longer than the PS3.

A Blu-ray drive is not coming to the 360. There have been rumours, every now & then, but they have never been confirmed.

Replacing the internal drive on the 360 with a BD drive would make it more expensive, & is also not necessary. As Stuart said, MS don't see physical formats as the future. They're into downloads. If they gave the 360 a BD drive, it would be for movies only & not games (as making games come out on BD would immediately screw over anyone with a non-BD 360), & it's not worth doing it just for that.

[ThunderPants73]

Thanks guys, a lot of info there. x

[Hom3r]

I meant WMV. Honest

I honestly thought the the PS3 was older,

[Matt D]

The 360 launched in North America in November 2005, and launched in Europe & Japan in December 2005.

The PS3 launched in North America & Japan in November 2006, and launched in Europe in March 2007.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

A Blu-Ray is coming to the Xbox it will replace the internal DVD, and I would guess that an external one will come soon after.

They have the ability to do one now. All they need is a USB external BDrom (probably with custom firmware), a licence to distribute BluRay players and to write the software.

USB BDroms are here now.

While Sony may make it difficult for MS to obtain the licence, based on the fact that they allowed both the original xbox and 360 to play DVDs, I don't think they would try too hard to stop MS.

Finally, in terms of software, well, MS are the largest software company on the planet. I'm certain it wouldn't be too difficult for them to find someone to write a BluRay player for the 360 if they wanted. It certainly would not take the number of years since the first rumoured BluRay player for the Xbox.

In the meantime, they have spent a lot of money on video streaming services for the 360, which they may not get back if they release a BD drive.

So, in short, I don't think we will ever see a BD drive for the Xbox.

[icestar2]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

They have the ability to do one now. All they need is a USB external BDrom (probably with custom firmware), a licence to distribute BluRay players and to write the software.

USB BDroms are here now.

While Sony may make it difficult for MS to obtain the licence, based on the fact that they allowed both the original xbox and 360 to play DVDs, I don't think they would try too hard to stop MS.

Finally, in terms of software, well, MS are the largest software company on the planet. I'm certain it wouldn't be too difficult for them to find someone to write a BluRay player for the 360 if they wanted. It certainly would not take the number of years since the first rumoured BluRay player for the Xbox.

In the meantime, they have spent a lot of money on video streaming services for the 360, which they may not get back if they release a BD drive.

So, in short, I don't think we will ever see a BD drive for the Xbox.

All true Stuart, Add to that the failure of the HD-DVD Drive(Not M$ fault) and the fact they have out right said on several diffrent occasions that there will be no Blu-Ray drive for the Xbox360 then I think your conclusions are spot on.

I'm not sure production costs against adopt rate would be benificial anyway tbh.

[ThunderPants73]

I really don't fancy downloading a HD film on my 10mb line...... hopefully discs will be around for a while yet, at least until everyone has fast, reliable broadband....ha....haha....hahaha.