Xbox 360 - A Low Cost Media Extender?
With recent announcements about the Playstation and next generation Xbox it looks like prices have been marked down on Xbox360s in the last 48 hours.
Infact both Amazon.com and Walmart.com have the Xbox 360 Arcade Spring 2010 Bundle
(with base console, 1 controller, and 2 games) with a $50 gift card for $149. I guess you could basically say you can get an Xbox360 for about $100.
Last night while I was doing some grocery shopping at my local Super Target I found it also had the Xbox 360 Spring Arcade Bundle, but for $130 + a $50 Target gift card. I decided to go ahead and grab one. If you back out the $50 Target giftcard (which is just as good as cash for me) I basically got a Xbox360 for $80 + tax. Add a $20 Xbox360 remote and you have a $100 media device.
The Xbox360 could be used :
1) As a media extender for a Windows Media Center box elsewhere in your home. You could use it as a device to stream tv or recorded shows from a media center system to another room.
2) As a internet device for Netflix. Have a NetFlix account? If you connect the Xbox360 to your internet connection you can use your Netflix account to stream movies/tv shows to any TV.
3) Recent reports suggest Hulu support is coming out for Xbox360.
I figure my wife and I use our new Xbox 360 so we can watch some recorded TV in our bedroom. All we will need is to add a network connection in the bedroom.
Any other uses for a $100 Xbox 360 other than playing games?
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Comments (5)
Wow, that is a great deal on the Xbox. I have been using my Xbox as a media streamer for quite some time now. It is especially nice when you have saved content (mp3's or TV shows) somewhere on your network (NAS or another computer).
Posted by Ian | June 18, 2010 1:13 PM
I use my xbox more for media than I do for games. You can already watch Hulu on xbox using a piece of PC software called PlayOn. Basically does real time transcoding. I don't know what they charge for PlayOn now, but when I bought it, it was a $15 lifetime registration fee. Definitely worth the purchase.
For network connection, you might consider powerline adapters. I've found wireless to be intermittent when trying to watch HD programming on xbox, and I didn't want to run ethernet cable to my living room. They're not cheap, but usually work really well.
Posted by Kevin | June 18, 2010 4:32 PM
Just don't waste anymore money on video games. I like the idea of using the XBox for internet and film usage, but I kinda outgrew video games in college.
Posted by Joe | June 21, 2010 10:25 PM
I'm not a gamer, but I think the PS3 is a better investment. If you have HD, you're getting one of the cheaper blu-ray players on the market, in addition to having internet browsing capabilities, media management and netflix. The price has dropped significantly and it's become a bargain.
Posted by Chuck Jones | June 24, 2010 12:56 PM
Thanks to Kevin for the information on PlayOn. I've been able to set up a Wii to support this, and it does very well with Hulu, Netflix, and several other channels.
Posted by Timbo | July 5, 2010 7:29 PM