Microsoft's Xbox 360 Elite is here, and this version of the sleek game console offers more than just cosmetic improvements. The unit's bolstered specs--such as a 120GB hard disk drive and an HDMI 1.2 connector, perfect for today's high-def TVs--mean more room to store digital content, and a better way to view high-definition content.
Though I don't think this update of the current Xbox 360 makes sense for every gamer to upgrade to, the HDMI capability alone makes the Elite a more-appealing option if you're planning on buying your first Xbox. The new console goes on sale Sunday, April 29, and will cost $480, although some sites are charging a premium.
My first impressions of this new iteration of Microsoft's two-year-old game console are generally positive--particularly with regard to the dramatically improved integration of the optional Xbox HD DVD Player, and the improved image quality offered by HDMI (the differences are there, albeit not as striking as one might expect). For photos of the Xbox 360 Elite and its components, see our slide show.
Basic Black
The Xbox 360 Elite differs from the current Xbox 360 in ways beyond cosmetic finish. Black, however, really can be slimming--even in the context of an inanimate game console. The matte-black Xbox 360 Elite manages to look more svelte than its off-white predecessor.
Looks aren't everything, though. While I can appreciate that the Xbox 360 Elite will blend in better with the rest of my entertainment components, I'm more interested in the unit's bolstered specs and what those new features will let me do. I was also interested to see how the unit handled--especially with regard to high-definition movie playback.
A Mostly Breezy Setup
I found the initial setup of the Xbox 360 Elite a snap: Select the language and establish your Xbox Live account or migrate an existing one.
From there, you can select the High Definition Settings option for choosing the optimal audio and video for high definition.
This option is prominently displayed on the console's screen, and I applaud its inclusion since many users will use the Xbox 360 Elite on a high-definition TV. However, I found actually choosing this option a bit disappointing: It deposited me into the Console Settings panel, directly into the display settings; audio was just one of many console settings I could adjust below that. I had expected to go to a menu that unified setting the audio and video for high-def.
The menu showed my current, default setting for the display--1080i wide-screen. I next drilled two more levels down within the menu, so I could select the HDTV setting; I chose 1080p, to match the resolution of the Pioneer Elite Pro FHD-1 50-inch plasma display I was using. The menu also has an option to select screen format, but on the unit I tested, that option was grayed out.
I then moved back to adjust the audio settings, to select the digital output. The default setting here was for Dolby Digital 5.1; however, you can also choose digital stereo or Dolby Digital with WMA Pro. The on-screen display warns you that you can only get digital audio output through certain connectors--you must use an Xbox 360 Component HD, Advanced SCART, S-Video, or VGA HD AV cable to get digital output.
Strangely, though, the menu doesn't make any mention of the HDMI AV cable, despite the cable coming with the Xbox 360 Elite (that inclusion is a nice touch since the cable could be expensive). That omission also means that the unit's setup makes no mention of what kind of audio you can expect to recieve over HDMI. (I'm awaiting confirmation on what audio the Elite can support over HDMI; if it's limited to the same stated specs as within the menu options, though, that would be a major disappointment--especially considering that many HD DVD movie titles have shipped with multichannel Dolby TrueHD or Dolby Digital Plus audio tracks.)
source : www.pcworld.com
No comments:
Post a Comment