Kid wants an Xbox for Christmas

[Sasqui]

9 yr old want's an xbox for Christmas. I offered my 2nd PC, but for various reasons, that didn't fly. So I'm going to be doing some shopping prior to the season rush.

Question is what model and accessories to get with it... what model, wireless, HDD capacity, optical drive, controllers etc etc etc ? I haven't a clue what's the latest rage or up coming technology, is there an Xbox 540 coming out ?

[Batou1986]

There really is only one xbox to get which is the new shiny black one with built in wifi and 250gb hdd
all you will need besides that is games
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Xbox-360...d=abcat0701001

[erocker]

Do what parents do and get him an entirely different console and say "That's what you wanted, right?" when he opens it up. (I do this with my niece and nephew all the time)

Seriously though, there's no new Xbox coming out this year, next year is doubtful as well as they just came out with Kinect (wii like motion sensing stuff).

This is the latest version: Microsoft Xbox 360 (New Design) 250 GB Hard Drive...

You may want to also get:
-another controller
-Xbox Live Membership Card (for online gaming)
-HDMI cable (if needed, it's not included)
-and of course, games.

Check at local retail outlets as they sometimes have nice bundles on sale.

[Batou1986]

You can get the kinetic version for 100 bucks more which makes it motion control like wii as well.

[CDdude55]

Don't worry about a new Xbox coming out, it won't be happening for a long while:http://www.gamespot.com/news/6211650.html

And as said, you could pick him up a nice 360 Slim, maybe an extra controller an some games. Kinect should also be coming out soon so if you want to get in on some motion control action you might want to get one of those.

There is a wide variety of bundles to pick from, so i say pick the one you can afford and that you think is best for him/her. Here's some:http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=prid-20&...ox+360&x=0&y=0

[sneekypeet]

I say box him up an Atari 2600 for giggles first, let him open that, make sure the camera is running Then hand him the Xbox360.

[Sasqui]

Originally Posted by erocker

Do what parents do and get him an entirely different console and say "That's what you wanted, right?" when he opens it up.

Well, at least I tried to sell him my second PC. He's dead set on the Xbox 360

^ thanks for the feedback. I recall seeing the "Slim" version, and the new motion sensing unit ...sounds like they're all coming out with some variant on them.

Haven't even started shopping around, will be doing that tonight.

Originally Posted by sneekypeet

I say box him up an Atari 2600 for giggles first, let him open that, make sure the camera is running Then hand him the Xbox360.

Even better! LOL.

[Techtu]

There also the limited edition "Halo Reach" xbox on sale at the moment .. obviously will help IF he's a fan of Halo

[Sasqui]

Originally Posted by Tech2

There also the limited edition "Halo Reach" xbox on sale at the moment .. obviously will help IF he's a fan of Halo

Not yet

Are any aftermarket controllers better than others... or just go with stock? This will definietly be used for multiplayer - other kids on the block.

[Techtu]

Originally Posted by Sasqui

Not yet

Are any aftermarket controllers better than others... or just go with stock? This will definietly be used for multiplayer - other kids on the block.

Meh... if your kid is around the teens then I'd suggest getting any controller he wants for himself (although if it's a surprise present that'll be a little hard to go about) but then I'd buy the cheapest kind I could find for the other kids on the block who may come round to play

[human_error]

Originally Posted by Sasqui

Not yet

Are any aftermarket controllers better than others... or just go with stock? This will definietly be used for multiplayer - other kids on the block.

Just go with stock (which i prefer - they got the controllers right first time with the 360). The new xbox you've been linked to above comes with 1 black wireless controller. You will want to buy a play and charge kit for it - basically it comes needing AA batteries which you'll have to have spares in of in case it runs out in the middle of a game unless you buy the play and charge kit which has a rechargable battery pack you use instead of AA betteries and allows you to charge the controller from the USB in the console while you use it. Just make sure you get the right colour play and charge kit (my friend has a white controller with a black play and charge kit - it looks stupid with a black battery pack in a white controller

Depending on if online multiplayer is important (will they be playing online with friends who also have xboxes?) then a wireless headset may be a good little extra - they're rechargable through USB and are nicer to use than the standard wired headset which wires into the xbox controller.

If you will use it for watching DVDs, renting from netflix or using it to play media from your PC then the xbox remote control is also pretty good.

For you if you want to use either a controller or wireless headset from the xbox in your PC then you can buy a wireless receiver for windows which lets you connect the xbox peripherals to your pc - i use the wireless headset for voice comms when online gaming on my pc.

[btarunr]

Originally Posted by CDdude55

Don't worry about a new Xbox coming out, it won't be happening for a long while:http://www.gamespot.com/news/6211650.html

Xbox360 having a 10-year lifespan doesn't mean that the next Xbox is coming in 2016. It can come tomorrow, and Xbox360 would still be sold, like Sony still sells its 10-year old PlayStation 2.

[CDdude55]

Originally Posted by btarunr

Xbox360 having a 10-year lifespan doesn't mean that the next Xbox is coming in 2016. It can come tomorrow, and Xbox360 would still be sold, like Sony still sells its 10-year old PlayStation 2.

That's true too.

[btarunr]

Originally Posted by CDdude55

That's true to.

Not true "too", but only true. You can't determine when the next generation of Xbox is coming based on what's Xbox360's market lifespan.

[Sasqui]

Originally Posted by human_error

If you will use it for watching DVDs, renting from netflix or using it to play media from your PC then the xbox remote control is also pretty good.

Someone had mentioned the Netflix. What sort of video quality through the online services? Is it Wireless G through to your ISP???

Also regarding the DVD player, is XBox supporting any type of Blu ray player? I think they started with HD DVD and Sony had BD exclusively, is that still the case?

[CDdude55]

Originally Posted by btarunr

Not true "too", but only true. You can't determine when the next generation of Xbox is coming based on what's Xbox360's market lifespan.

Ya....

[Fourstaff]

Tell him daddy's got no money, hence he will have to settle for a box with a "X" marked on it. And then offer him your second pc again

[human_error]

Originally Posted by Sasqui

Someone had mentioned the Netflix. What sort of video quality through the online services? Is it Wireless G through to your ISP???

Also regarding the DVD player, is XBox supporting any type of Blu ray player? I think they started with HD DVD and Sony had BD exclusively, is that still the case?

Sadly I'm in the UK so I can't get netflix, so i can't say much for the quality - you can rent HD films through zune here in the UK though and that's pertty darned good (not quite bluray but still enough for me).

You have a 802.11b/g/n wireless card built into the new xboxes and that connects to your wireless router (it also has ethernet if you'd rather use wires) and streams directly over the internet.

As for blurays - not going to happen with the 360, maybe not with it's successor so it is DVDs only through the DVD drive. You can play some media formats (avi, wmv and some others - not sure on mkv) over the wireless from a pc or off a usb stick and those videos can be higher quality than dvd.

[HookeyStreet]

Originally Posted by Sasqui

9 yr old want's an xbox for Christmas. I offered my 2nd PC, but for various reasons, that didn't fly. So I'm going to be doing some shopping prior to the season rush.

Question is what model and accessories to get with it... what model, wireless, HDD capacity, optical drive, controllers etc etc etc ? I haven't a clue what's the latest rage or up coming technology, is there an Xbox 540 coming out ?

No messing around, go straight for the 250GB model, also known as the Slim or S It has a 250GB HDD (obviously), WiFi 'N' and 1 or 2 wireless control pads (depending on if you get a deal or not).

[Goodman]

Originally Posted by Tech2

There also the limited edition "Halo Reach" xbox on sale at the moment .. obviously will help IF he's a fan of Halo

Read the first post?
The kid is only 9 years old & the game is rated mature (17+)

Anyway i would buy the cheapest one , beside they all can play the same games anyway unless money is no problem for you?

Beside the kid may get tired after just a few weeks & will hardly play with the Xbox anymore... well you know kids sometimes...

[Solaris17]

woah pump the brakes santa isnt real?!

[Techtu]

Originally Posted by Goodman

Read the first post?
The kid is only 9 years old & the game is rated mature (17+)

Maybe so, but it's never stopped um before. but in all fairness it depends on each owns personal parenting rules.

[Sasqui]

Originally Posted by Solaris17

woah pump the brakes santa isnt real?!

Shhhh...

[Sasqui]

Originally Posted by human_error

Sadly I'm in the UK so I can't get netflix, so i can't say much for the quality - you can rent HD films through zune here in the UK though and that's pertty darned good (not quite bluray but still enough for me).

You have a 802.11b/g/n wireless card built into the new xboxes and that connects to your wireless router (it also has ethernet if you'd rather use wires) and streams directly over the internet.

As for blurays - not going to happen with the 360, maybe not with it's successor so it is DVDs only through the DVD drive. You can play some media formats (avi, wmv and some others - not sure on mkv) over the wireless from a pc or off a usb stick and those videos can be higher quality than dvd.

Good info thanks... the plus is that BD players are cheap anyways. Still hard to beleive that MS hasn't ponied up the license fee to have them. But then again, I'm not a fan of Sony. I digress.

[Solaris17]

Originally Posted by sasqui

shhhh...

:'(