All games in high-definition; excellent user-friendly Dashboard interface; built-in support for wireless controllers; excellent online gaming and communications via Xbox Live; backward compatible with many (but not all) original Xbox titles; doubles as superior digital media hub and Windows Media extender; $399 Xbox 360 bundle includes key accessories.

The bad

First wave of Xbox 360 games is somewhat anemic; noisy exhaust fan; no built-in wireless networking; only three USB ports; no built-in support for next-gen HD movie discs; no DVI or HDMI output; doesn't upscale DVDs to HD resolution; gigantic oversize power supply.

The bottom line

The Xbox 360 delivers the power and performance of a high-end gaming PC, including impressive digital media and networking features--but it will take several months to amass a roster of must-have    next-gen games

Review

Console and PC gamers have long been divided into two camps. Sure, there are those of us who play on multiple platforms, but hard-core PC gamers tend to be, well, hard-core PC gamers and eschew "mainstream" console games, while committed console gamers can sometimes be heard bashing PC gamers as elitist nerds. While there's nothing wrong with drawing your own distinction, what's clear--at least for the moment, anyway--is that Microsoft's Xbox 360 makes the line between PC and console gaming a lot fuzzier. Yes, this is a console, with game controllers and A/V cables that are designed to interface with your TV--preferably of the HD variety--but Microsoft has essentially packed a high-end PC gaming rig into a relatively small box that fits into any A/V rack or cabinet. That the Xbox 360 also has a user interface that rivals TiVo's in terms of slick presentation and ease of use, plus a host of digital media and networking features, helps elevate the already-good Xbox experience to a whole new level. Naturally, the 360 is not without its flaws, and since many of the launch titles are simply rehashes of their PC or console counterparts, we'll have to wait another year or so before we get to see what game developers can truly accomplish. By then, Sony should be ready to counter with its next-gen powerhouse, the Playstation 3. Whether it will be better is anybody's guess. But all we can say is that Sony better hurry because the Xbox 360 will be a hard temptation for gamers to resist for too long, even priced at $399.