Xbox 360 By The Gpt Reviewer By The_GPT_Reviewer on Jan 16, 2008 - Updated Oct 15, 2011

A lot has been said about this system, and it's clear from my rating that I fall on the side of those who love it. Rather than go through a general review that you've probably read a thousand times, I'd rather address some specific points.

First: the reliability issue. Much has been made of the "Red Ring of Death," and the 360's tendency to fail. I've owned this system for 2+ years and never had a single problem. Neither has anyone else I know. I'm not doubting the failures exist, but I'm inclined to think they occur because of user abuse rather than cheap craftsmanship. If you leave a system on for a week without proper ventilation, it's probably going to break.

Second: Xbox Live. Until you use this, you can't appreciate how remarkable this service is. Yes it costs about $50 for the year, but it's worth every penny. Friends who have never played a game online are able to navigate it like a pro almost immediately. Uptime is generally pretty good, and many games just aren't the same without it. No other system can touch the functionality of Xbox Live.

Finally, the games. The two games in the Pro bundle are actually really good. After you tire of those, you'll find the biggest game catalog outside of Playstation 2. If you want it, it's on Xbox 360.