http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/05/the-second-xbox-360-revealed-codename-zephyr/

I think the word for those of us who bought the unit they launched is “sucker”.

Tip: if using encryption, use 13-character WEP password instead of 26-character WEP in hex - same encyrption strength but damn lot easier to remember and enter via controller!

I’m extremely surprised as Conor (above earlier post) that you can’t play games in either PAL 50 or 60 modes, correct?? How do you mean you can’t play the games? *very puzzled*

Conor, when you insert a game it says it requires the console to be set to PAL 60 and won´t go any further. On trying to set it to PAL 60, the screen goes grey for 10 seconds and then reverts to PAL 50. Square 1.

maybe if you hook up 360 to broadband, use xbox live enabled profile and see if it updates when you insert the game and hopefully hopefully it might resolve.

I wanted to try that Conor but the WLAN adapter isn´t working!!!

my previous TV has multiple SCART sockets but only one has RGB which xbox worked well in one and not the other. Hope this helps.

That is certainly something which didn´t occur to me to try. Thanks Conor, I´ll give that a shot when we get home.

Should have gone for a Wii

Des, I would have gone for a Wii if it had a usable optical drive. I know the DVD drives are not expensive but we have enough units under the TV already (and cables) without adding more. I wanted one unit which could do games and DVDs.

Des * Mrs Des have the wii since 23rd and we are just about to roll it out to the boys..once we train them in strapping on the wiiremote..

I’m extremely surprised as Conor (above earlier post) that you can’t play games in either PAL 50 or 60 modes, correct?? How do you mean you can’t play the games? *very puzzled*

Occassionally, when I insert a new game the 360 goes into update mode (I have no idea what the update is) but in the long shot maybe if you hook up 360 to broadband, use xbox live enabled profile and see if it updates when you insert the game and hopefully hopefully it might resolve.

Lastly, I noticed your TV has RGB in ONLY two of three SCART inputs - try inserting it other SCART sockets and go back to PAL 60 mode. I vaguely remember I had similiar problem with original xbox and my previous TV has multiple SCART sockets but only one has RGB which xbox worked well in one and not the other. Hope this helps.

You should be able to go into the systems blade -> console settings (I think) and set it to use PAL 60. I’d be very very surprised if your TV wouldn’t display that.

Consider yourself surprised Conor. I tried that. Despite all appearances to the contrary, I am (a little bit) technical.

How exactly does a cable wind up costing 30 or 40 euros?

Honestly Justin, that was a complete guess on my part. But being that it is going to be a Microsoft branded cable, this is probably a conservative estimate.

If Microsoft were to pack this cable in with the console by default, this would inevitably raise the price of the console. So people would be paying for something they do not need.

Sure John, but there is a happy compromise. Sell the consoles with a choice of cable options so people could make the choice when purchasing and not find out when they go to set it up that there is a problem.

How exactly does a cable wind up costing 30 or 40 euros? Is it made out of kryptonite or something? there’s rip-off written all over that.

Justin, check out the cost of a decent HDMI cable - you’re talking at least 40-50 for a decent one. I’ve purchased cheap ones (around 20) and have completely regretted it.

I had no problems at all getting it to work with two different TV sets (one hi-def 32in Samsung and one standard TV).

I can’t see at all how you could not get this to work with your TV… according to the specs the TV supports component and the PDF even shows the connections for the standard def connections. I can’t see if your TV supports RGB component but if it doesn’t then that is a bit crappy - all Hi-Def tv should support RGB component as the quality is as good if not bettwen then digital HDMI (which is just DVI+Audio).

How exactly does a cable wind up costing 30 or 40 euros? Is it made out of kryptonite or something? there’s rip-off written all over that.

Although it’s not perfect and there will be casualties, this is the fairest thing Microsoft could have done.

PS - Sony also do not pack any hi-def cables with the PlayStation 3. Which is especially bizarre considering part of the reason for its high price point is its Blu-Ray player. Without a hi-def connection, you cannot take advantage of full Blu-Ray resolution.

the TV has the standard HDMI.

The switch on the cable is on SD, not HD because I can’t cable it for HD. Even on SD, it won’t play the games because it is on PAL 50 and the games require PAL 60.

Having said that, I tried all combinations of the switch on the cable - you can be sure with a very upset three year old I was trying anything and everything. I even called Microsoft’s support on Christmas Day!

The supplied adapter is for the yellow/red/white to connect to Scart.

And you are absolutely correct - there should be an adapter supplied which allows you to use the YPbPr (Green/Blue/Red) (i.e to connect to the HDMI input on the TV) BUT THERE ISN’T.

If I remember correctly the premium system comes with a cable which does standard video (yellow) with audio (red/white) or it can do YPbPr (Green/Blue/Red) Have you checked the switch at the head of the cable if its on HD or SD?

And according to that PDF, you should be able to use the yellow/red/white connections at the side panel on the TV and there should be a adapter supplied that will allow you to use the YPbPr (Green/Blue/Red) on the DVI port at the back.

Hope this helps!

Oh yeah, the XBox 360 HD-DVD add-on player if you’re looking to watch Hi-Def movies? The best part of 200 euro. It’s the system which keeps you paying, and paying, and paying.