Setup & Install

Immediately after removing all of the plastic wrap, you will see Microsoft's consistent branding and marketing in each and every piece. The trademarked "Chill" white color is, well, awesome. I think they intentionally made the power supply look and feel as big as the original Xbox (maybe a little exaggeration, but not much). The limited edition Xbox 360 Media Remote is wrapped with 2 AA batteries, as is the wireless controller. For those eager to setup their Xbox without reading the manual, be sure to remove the plastic film from 3 locations. The remote control IR, the Xbox 360 Console's DVD/CD tray and the top of the HDD logo'd hard drive. (at the time of this writing, failure to remove the film from the DVD/CD tray has resulted in some problems for users). I too didn't notice the film, and the tray attempted to open, but I didn't encounter any problems as I responded immediately by removing the film. Nothing like the smell of brand new electronics...mmmm...mmmm.

Microsoft's Xbox 360 start up trailer flashes across the screen, with the sound passing through all 5 speakers. The receiver recognizes the Dolby Digital 5.1 surround as it lights up the lights on the receiver.  We have audio and video. It sounds great, and it looks even better.

After closing the glass doors on the TV stand, silencing the Xbox 360, I sit back with my wireless controller and begin to absorb the quality of the UI presented to me as the first screen appears for the system setup.

The final stages of setup will separate you from silver and gold. Xbox Live Silver and Gold that is. Be prepared to enter your Microsoft Passport (www.passport.com) to create a gamertag. If you are a current Xbox 1 Live subscriber, and you have already connected your Xbox Gamertag to your Passport (www.xbox.com/myxbox), Microsoft will seamlessly convert your Xbox 1 Live account to the new Xbox Live Gold membership. If you are connected to a broadband connection, and don't have a previous Xbox Live account, you will offered to purchase a subscription. If you are not interested paying for Gold member benefits, you will be prompted to join the Silver (free membership), and connect your Gamertag to your Passport. Don't worry, if you don't have a Passport, Microsoft will gladly walk you through the steps to do so right on your Xbox 360. How convenient huh?

After you have chosen your future of Xbox Live gaming, you press your green "A" button on the "OK", the next generation of gaming starts impressively with pizzazz. Enter the "Blades" of the Xbox 360 Dashboard.

PAL Specific

As I have already mentioned, we also have SCART over here, this is better than S-Video quality, but lower than Component Video, its kind of an in-between and is not high-definition compatible but it does give the best possible picture on a TV that can only support RGB SCART and nothing better. When running your Xbox 360 on RGB SCART you will notice some improvement over the original Xbox's graphics, but it won't grab you half as much as it would do on a full High-Definition screen.

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