Digital Home Thoughts: Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender Reviewed

"Yes, it was pretty damn cold in line yesterday morning, but it was arguably worth it, and we're talking mostly about the media-centric features of XBOX 360. Here's a closer first look at all the action, and we have to say right up front that Microsoft is neither kidding, nor over-positioning, when they say this isn't just a game box. Especially if you own a Media Center Edition PC, XBOX 360 is a must-have companion."

A quick review with lots of screenshots - I was hoping to get something similar done, but have been fighting with rebuilding two separate PCs instead and running into a lot of problems along the way. Overall, I'm quite impressed with the Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender, though I wish it was quieter. I put up with the noise from the original Xbox because it was technology almost five years old, but I really expected more from the Xbox 360. It's not horrible by any means, but it's not impressively quiet either, and that's saying something. One comment I read in the blogosphere said that the Xbox 360 in Media Extender mode was about as loud as a VCR. The only way I can see that being possible is it the VCR in question was powered by hamster running on a wheel.