A great way of getting your HD collection started cheaply (Microsoft Xbox 360 HD DVD)

Member Name: Touring

Product:	Microsoft Xbox 360 HD DVD
Date:	28/08/08 (45 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: many HD dvds can be found for less than the price of the cinema

Disadvantages: the format is not in use anymore so no new releases

Right so we all know by now that HD DVD is pretty much gone. blu Ray has won and Sony are loving it. However there is still space on my shelf for this, Microsoft Xbox 360 HD DVD Drive.

I picked mine up only 3 days ago after finding out that they were being sold in my local Toys R Us for £20. I know some people have managed to get better deals but these are actually getting quite rare due to such low prices. And for that price as a temporary source of HD movies you really cant go wrong.

The DVD drive itself, from the time I have had it is awesome. The minute the universal logo loads up on a HD dvd you know youve made the right choice with your £20. The drive comes bundled with a full remote control as well which is awesome as this on its own can often cost at least £15 if not £20. The remote is great and is backlit. One nice feature is that the remote has channel up and down as well as volume up and down controls that you can use on your tv if you scan or find the right codes for the remote (see microsoft website) You can even use the remote to turn not only your 360 on and off but your tv too. The only annoying thing is that the open tray button will only work with the main xbox and not the HD add on.

The actual drive itself requires its own power and then plugs into a USB port on your xbox, however it does have 2 USB ports on there so once you have plugged it in you actually gain one port.

As far as the actual performance goes with this it is amazing. I have only watched a couple of films using it and I am already impressed. I own a PS3 and have a tried a couple of blu rays and although I am only on a 720p 32 inch samsung screen I can see no difference between the two.

The best part about the HD drive is that it is a great way to get some HD quality films at a really low price. There are quite a few HD dvds that are currently available on the hmv website from only £3. And as a friend pointed out there have been plenty of films that I have paid a fiver to see for them to turn out to be rubbish so I have taken this advice and since brought a few films just to see what they are like.

All in all if you can find one and want a temporary HD solution till blu rays really start coming down in price a bit more then you should look no further.

Oh yeah and one awesome feature of this drive is that while you are watching a film you can bring up the menu while it still plays in the background and it just appears down the side much in the same way the mini dashboard does with usual use of the 360.

Summary: a cheap way of starting a HD collection but the format has already been burried

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