Sony Bravia L-Series KDL-32L4000 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV Review

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(More customer reviews)This is my first venture in the HDTV era. I patiently waited for years waiting for price drops. LCD HDTV's have finally become affordable and something rare... Sony has come out with an affortable decent size HDTV. This tv is sharp both aesthetically and the picture. I never saw this tv in person so I had no idea the bottom was clear plastic. It looks like solid silver in the pictures but it is clear in fact. It makes it look that much better. The sound is not great but HDTV's are meant to be paired with entertainment speakers. There are two HDMI slots and tons of component slots. The TV is solid in short. I paired the TV with a sony upconverter (Which I will review as well), and that did wonders to my DVD collection. The picture was not near HD quality but it was without a doubt better than ever before. It did improve the picture and the colors are vivid and bright. I have standard expanded cable service and plugged the cable in before turning on the tv for the first time. When I turned on the tv it automatically searched for chanels and to my astonishment, found 30 digital channels and all local chanels in HD! Straight out of the cable! No box necessary! This made me think cable companies are ripping people off renting out HD boxes. My cable company (Cox) has told me and advertised the HD channels can only be accessed through their special HD box. This is true if you want MTV and 12 other cable channels in HD but not local channels. Needless to say, It was a very pleasant surprise as I don't have to pay 17 bucks a month extra to see HD content.
The second HDMI cable was used by my PS3. I don't need to say anything else but I'm in heaven. Here is the best part, this tv is one of the cheapest on the market and it's a Sony! Morevoer, the shipping was free and no taxes! I checked the best buy website and found I would be paying 70 bucks more at my local store! Highly recommended.

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How about a Sony BRAVIA HDTV that has legendary Sony quality at a price just about anyone can afford?That’s what the KDL-32L4000 HDTV represents. Two HDMI™ connections mean this HDTV can connect to the latest HDMI™-enabled sources. Add to that two more component inputs, and a PC input, and you have five ways to get HD quality entertainment to your TV. With wide viewing angles and a fast panel response time, and a beautiful gloss black color with chrome accents, now everyone can enjoy video entertainment no matter where they’re sitting and what they’re watching.

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Mitsubishi WD-60737 60-Inch 1080p 120Hz Home Theater DLP HDTV Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this TV on the 11th of June. The interaction with Amazon & the shipping company was excellent.
However, when the TV arrived and I plugged it in, it turns on for about 30 seconds, I can hear sound, but no picture. The TV then shuts itself off.
After going through the troubleshooting guide and trying all the recommended steps, same result.
So, I contacted Mitsubishi customer service, and this is where things really got interesting.
I spoke with a number of individuals who basically took me through the same troubleshooting steps found in the manual, only much more slowly than someone with basic reading comprehension skills might expect. After repeated attempts at this, the TV unsurprisingly still did not work.
I was then referred to a local, authorized service company to have a technician come out and fix the TV.
However, after contacting said service company, they decided that they needed written confirmation from Mitsubishi that they would indeed be paid for their services.
So, back to customer service. Again.
This time after going through the menu & getting the normal level 1 technican, I was finally transferred to the Mitsubishi corporate office, and was put in touch with a gentleman named Mike.
Mike was kind enough to get in touch with the Mitsubishi authorized service dealer and explain to them that, being an authorized Mitsubishi service dealer & the TV being under warranty, that they would in fact be paid for their services. At this point there was a glimmer of hope.
Or maybe not.
The service technician arrived at my place on Friday, 6/19. Great guy, prompt, very informative, did everything he could...same result. No picture.
Mike happened to call while the service tech was at my residence, and he spoke to both the technician and myself. We all agreed that the TV was defective and new parts would be ordered on Monday. Mike also assured me he would call on Monday, 6/22 and inform me of the progress, confirm that the parts had been shipped, and give me an estimate of when I might have a working TV.
Monday came around, no call from Mike. So, I got back on the phone with Mitsubishi. The woman I spoke with informed me that we needed to wait until Tuesday to see if the parts had been ordered & shipped, and that I would receive a call.
Tuesday...no call. So, back on the phone. Pretty much the same thing, not sure if parts had been ordered or shipped, we'll get a hold of you on Wednesday.
Wednesday...no call. Back on the phone. This time I was informed that Mike was out of the office, but I was told that the parts had been shipped...on 6/23. I asked whether they had sent them overnight, the answer was no. Apparently a cost saving measure on the part of Mitsubishi.
The best guess that they could give me was that the parts would arrive to the service provider on Monday, 6/29 or Tuesday, 6/30. At that point the service provider would schedule another appointment to come out.
So, maybe sometime the week of 6/29...a full 18 days after the date of purchase.
I did some more inquiring, and found out a few more gems of information that future Mitsubishi buyers might not be aware of.
1. If you are shipped a defective TV, Mitsubishi will first try to repair it.
2. If the first repair (ie, replacement parts are defective as well or the problem was inadequately diagnosed), Mitsubishi will then schedule a 2nd repair. Repeat process.
3. Only after 2 unsuccessful attempts to repair will a new TV be shipped out from the manufacturer.
That being said, it's looking like I will not have a working TV for a good month after purchase, and if this repair attempt doesn't work, it's quite possible that it may be another month after that.
I asked Mitsubishi if this was standard procedure as opposed to just shipping out a new TV. It is under warranty, right? They said it was. I asked why, and was informed that it is more cost effective to do it this way. Well, of course it is...for Mitsubishi.
It would have also been more cost effective for me had I purchased a refurbished TV in the first place. Unfortunately, I bought a new one, but will end up with a repaired TV before even getting a chance to turn it on.
From what I understand from other reviews, it's a great TV when it works. I wouldn't know at this point. It looks really nice...black and shiny, but if I wanted a 60" table top ornament for my den that does nothing other than sit there, I probably would have taken a less expensive route.
I have purchased Mitsubishi products before, and have generally been satisfied. However, after this ordeal, never again.
I'm hoping that my experience isn't common. However, those of you thinking of purchasing this or any other TV from Mitusbishi, please take into account of what you can expect if you are shipped defective merchandise.

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With picture perfomance that outpaces todays smaller flat panels, Mitsubishi Home Theater TVs offer a larger than life, intensely vivid viewing experience. In screen sizes ranging from 60 inches to 82 inches, Mitsubishi Home Theater TVs define the large screeen entertainment category by offering incomparable value and stronger performance than smaller flat panel televisions!

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Pioneer HTS-GS1 5.1-Channel Surround Sound System for the Xbox 360 Review

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(More customer reviews)I shopped and priced around extensively, and the Pioneer HTIB system was the clear choice to add on to my Xbox 360. First, and foremost, this is a well designed "compact" home theater system that goes very well with a 360. It's color scheme blends right in with the Microsoft game sytem. Pioneer got all the details right, even down to the XBOX-like "univeral" remote control.
The nearest competitor to Pioneer's HTS-GS1 is the Spherex 51000 HTIB 5.1 Channel surround system, also license by Microsoft specifically for the Xbox 360. In a head to head comparison, to me, the Pioneer integrates best, mainly because it "looks" like it belongs with the Xbox and also has more user friendly system controls and by far is more flexible to set up whether used with the Xbox or not. I cannot comment on differences in terms of purely audio performance, but the Spherex is only rated for 300 watts total output. The latter may not be a fair comparison - read on for more on this.
These two systems are currently selling in retail stores close to the same price point (around $200). Since there introduction, both have been deeply discounted from original list price of $499. Overall, I feel the HTS-GS1 offers the most bang for the buck.
The surround speakers are uniquely and cleverly designed. The front and rear speaker are actually "stackable" which allows a front surround stage 5 channel sound speaker placement arrangement. This stacking feature is not possible on Spherex system with its omni surround satellite speakers which must have free air space above each speaker to work properly.
Front speaker stacking is an extremely useful feature for the non-purist audiophile. It lends itself to a much faster and simpler system set up, eliminating need for long(er) - hard to disguise - routing of speaker wires to the back of your listening room area. However, this diminishes the full effectiveness of a surround sound system, yet in the case of the HS-GS1, I did not find it overly detracting from the system's "virtual" surround or front-only sound stage experience. Furthermore, I appreciate having a CHOICE in satellite speaker placement and opted to go this route for obvious advantages offered in eliminating the hassle of locating and mounting separate rear speakers and wiring complications.
The surround sound "effects" are still quite evident in this front only arrangement, because the unique stackable left and right double decker speakers can be rotated independently rotated to aim them in different dirrections. This design does an adequate job of simulating a four corner surround sound, if not fully "immersive" listening experience.
I may eventually take the additional time to separate and relocate the rear satellite speaker to the back of my listening area. Pioneer provides plenty of speaker wire for that purpose if so desired. But for now, I am enjoying the system in the front surround mode only, and saved at least another couple of hours of tedious installation work routing the rear speaker wires far away from the audio amplifier (subwoofer) origination connections.
One thing that the average consumer should know is that most comparable HTIB systems are "hyped" in terms of their true (

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Description:High impact gamers with limited space will appreciate the system's compact speakers and integrated 6-channel receiver subwoofer, which delivers a colossal 600 watts total system power (RMS). (Xbox360 not included)Key Features & Benefits:DTS /Dolby Digital /Dolby and Dolby Pro Logic II DecodersBuilt-in DTS /Dolby Digital /Dolby and Dolby Pro Logic II Decoders create realistic 3-dimensional sound fields for HDTV, movies, music and gamingSound retrieverDelivers improved sound quality of compressed music files (MP3)Magnetically shieldedSet up the system right next to your computer and don't worry about magnetic influence from the speakersAdditional Information:Receiver600 Watts Total System Power (RMS) Delivers Peak Performance at Maximum Volume Levels; Front/Center/Surround: 100W x 5 (RMS 10% THD@1kHz); Subwoofer: 100W x 1 (RMS 10% THD@100Hz)155 Watts Total System Power (FTC Output Rating)Front/Center/Surround: 25W per channel (200Hz C 20kHz, 10%THD, 4)Subwoofer: 30W (45Hz 200Hz, 10%THD, 4)Auto MCACC (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System)Built-in DTS /Dolby Digital /Dolby and Dolby Pro Logic II Decoders Create Realistic 3-Dimensional Sound-Fields for HDTV, Movies, Music and Game OptionsSound Retriever for Improved Sound Quality of Compressed Music Files (mp3)Front Stage Surround: Front Surround Movie, Front Surround Music, Extra PowerAdvanced Surround: Advanced Music, Advanced Movie, Expanded Theater, TV Surround, Sports, Game, Virtual Surround, 5 Channel StereoConnectivity & ControlComprehensive Xbox 360 Compatible Universal Media RemoteSound Control, Input SelectWindows Media Center and Xbox Guide ButtonSR (Smart Remote)/SR+ Terminal3 Digital Inputs (1 Coaxial, 2 Optical)/1 Audio InputFM/AM Presets (30 Stations)

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ADVC300 A/dlvideo Conv.-- Edu Review

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(More customer reviews)Pros: The best Analog-to-Digital video converter I've used or heard about. "Locked Video/Audio Sync" feature. Many possible ways to adjust/customize input/output. Ability to monitor results LIVE in real time on a separate monitor. Can be used without a computer as a stand-alone video cleaning device. Does NOT require drivers to run on any modern computer with Firewire. The included Picture Controller software is easy to use and is entirely optional.
Cons: Expensive. Cooling fan is noisy. Has an "easily broken" feel to it. Not especially great manual/instructions.
Having used many Capture devices over the last few years, this is by far the best I've used or heard about. Especially good at improving old Analog video tapes, this can repair many common faults while avoiding the common Out-Of-Sync audio on longer captures.


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ADVC300 Bi-directional Analog / Digital Video Conversion - EDUCATION - External converter, S - Video, Composite and DV input/output w/component D1 output; 2D/3D Y/C seperation, digital 3D frame synchronizer, Digialt line time base corrector (LTBC), Digita

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Hitachi CP-X260 LCD XGA Projector Review

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(More customer reviews)i have not had any issues with this projector, it is my first one and i love it, my movie and gaming experiance is awesome. everyone that sees the display that it puts off is usually shocked by how good the quality is. they were not expecting any thing like it. its one and only flaw is that it does not have an HDMI hook up to it. you can only use the regular red whit yellow cables, component cables (red green blue cables, those are the ones i am using) it has an s video jack, and you can hook your computer up to it. i forget what they are called but its the same cable used to hook a computer up to any regular moniter. besides it not having the HDMI jack. THIS THING IS THE SHI@ !!!!! i have had it for over a year and a half and am still pleased with it.

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With 2,500 ANSI lumens of brightness, advanced connectivity and portability, the CP-X260 meets the needs of any classroom application. With motion adaptive progressive scan, the CP-X260 offers less line flicker, higher resolution and smoother motion picture.Additionally, the CP-X260 features 2-3 Pull-down, offering precise reproduction of movie film and a crisp picture. Moreover, the CP-X260 offers advanced usability, including Hitachi’s exclusive Input Source Naming function, which allows users to customize the names of their individual input sources. Also exclusive to Hitachi, customizable resolution allows users to automatically resize special resolutions or undetectable wide size resolution images and set to the best position on the screen, creating a near perfect image. Additionally, Whiteboard Mode reduces the peak whites of the CP-X260 for easy-to-see images on a whiteboard, which is also a "Hitachi Only” function. The CP-X260 also features two RGB inputs, MyScreen/MyMemory preset options, and a remote control with Hitachi’s "MyButtons” function. Additionally, the CP-X260 addresses the issue of equipment theft in schools, as it is equipped with a security bar, Kensington security slot and transition detector (a sensor located inside the projector that recognizes when the projector has been moved). Soft case included.

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Xbox 360 Console Review

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(More customer reviews)I am extremely picky about any hardware I use. Having owned both models of the PS3 and a few Xbox 360s (that I bought and sold over time) I have pretty high expectations. Personally I think Xbox live is much better then PSN which is why I jumped from PS3 back to Xbox. My big issue was the hardware. Microsoft took care of a big issue by allowing users to burn their games to the hard drive. However, the fan noise on my Xbox Elite was still driving me crazy. Now my Elite wasn't broken, my ears just seem to attune to the noise they make. It especially drove me crazy when playing games like Puzzle Quest or when browsing the dash board. In this case the PS3 fat and slim where hands down superior (hardware build wise). But like many a fans I put up with the crappy build quality for the sake of a better interface and of course my friends list.
Now onto the new Xbox 360. Let me just say that for once I am very proud of Microsoft. They seem to have taken all the complaints from users and fixed them. This is the system they should have released long ago. The very first thing I noticed is how silent this machine is. Even after running for over an hour you can barely hear the fan. I would go as far as to say it's even more silent then the PS3 slim (which I found to be louder then the fat model). The new Xbox has a strange but cool new look. I don't understand why people are complaining that it is a finger print magnet. How often do you really touch your system once it's in place? The buttons on the front are now touch sensitive instead of pressing them in, and make a cool noise I must say. I'm happy to say that even my disc drive is quite. It's almost as quite running a disc as the fans on my Elite were. There are no old school memory card ports, but they upped the USB ports to 5. 2 on the front and 3 in the back. The new 250GB hard drive is removable. There is a button on the right side vent that you can press and remove the plate. The hard drive is in a special case but it's easier to move. The only downside to this is the people that take their hard drives to their friends house, but this can be fixed by using a USB drive now.
The controller is pretty much the same as the Elites plus a couple changes. The bottom portion of the controller that was gray shaded is now a shiny black and the Xbox button is shiny chrome. All in all goes will with the package. The ear cushion on the headset is also now black instead of grey. Microsoft also has a picture of a black chat pad and wireless headset on the box for the new 360. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a black controller charger.
To close, I'm extremely satisfied with my purchase. It's a worthy upgrade and one that shows Microsoft is actually listening for once. Also for those planning to get Kinect there is a dedicated port so on the new system which will let you use the camera with one less cable.

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Xbox 360 250GB Console

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Xbox 360 Console Review

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(More customer reviews)I have owned numerous xbox 360's since they came out. I Started with the original 20 gig, and after having some issues with some accessories with it (the intercooler i bought literally melted into the back of my 360) so i upgraded to the Elite. I loved the console, and never once had an issue with it. but there were always some negative things about it, including the noise, the size of the power brick, and how hot the games would get at times while playing. I only bought this at midnight but I can say its great so far, and you save 50 bucks by getting this bundle.
What i love so far:
- love the new look. my elite was black, but the console was bulky. the new one has a sleek design and is more compact.
- The touch sensitive buttons are cool, you don't even have to press.
- The power brick is much smaller, and leaves way more room.
- The xbox is much more quiet
- 3 USB hookups is great
- 250 gig hard drive is all i will ever need.
- The kinect is just amazing. works extremely well, recognized my every movement and voice command. the is definitely next gen gaming. Its just awesome. already used video chat, and the camera actually follows you around, whether you go up or down or anywhere. i cannot wait to use it more

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The Special Edition Xbox 360 250GB Console with Kinect. Kinect brings games and entertainment to life in extraordinary new ways-no controller required. Easy to use and instantly fun, Kinect gets everyone off the couch moving, laughing, and cheering. See a ball? Kick it. Control an HD movie with the wave of a hand. Want to join a friend in the fun? Simply jump in. Wi-Fi is built-in for easier connection to the world of entertainment on Xbox LIVE, where HD movies and TV stream in an instant. Xbox 360 is more games, entertainment, and fun.

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Xbox 360 Console Review

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(More customer reviews)The xbox 360 Kinect with 4 GB. is what the original arcade version should have been, and is definitely worth its $300 price tag.
10 new features of this model are:
1. New Valhalla chip - hopefully improved design to prevent RRoD issue, but tech. reviews noted that the Jasper chip in the older Elite model runs cooler
2. WiFi N - this is the newest wifi standard that is 12X faster (up to 600 Mbits/ sec) than wifi G; you'll need a Wifi N router to get the max. speed
3. digital optical audio port (if your sound system is separate from your TV, then you'll need this to get full 5.1 surround sound)
4. 4 GB of flash memory (although 1.1 GB is used by the game system, but 0.3 GB can be reclaimed by deleting 4 game demos)
5. 5 USB ports (2 in front & 3 in back)
6. slimmer design with side vents (to prevent overheating)
7. dedicated port for Kinect with demo game (also $50 cheaper than buying Kinect separately from Xbox)
8. only 1 year of warranty (the only negative; older Elite models had 3 yrs.)
9. USB flash drive support (this was a xbox software update released in April 2010)
10. ESPN video streaming (will be included if you are a Gold member, $50/ yr.; should be available about Nov. 2010)
Slim 4 GB vs. 250 GB hard drive:
I bought the 4 GB system over the model with 250 GB hard drive because the xbox now supports game saves/ installs/ downloads and pic/ audio/ video downloads to USB flash drives. It supports 1-2 USB flash drives with 1-16 GB memory (using a 16 GB drive, 1.6 GB is used for formatting). Saving games and media to the USB drives is recommended since loading games and media will be much faster (reading memory is faster than reading hard drive) and more reliable (flash memory rarely fails, unlike hard drives); even the xbox live director recommended using USB drives for storage. If you have such a huge appetite for videos downloads and game demos that 32 GB can not accomodate, then you can always upgrade later with the 250 GB hard drive that will be sold in November; note that the older xbox hard drives are NOT compatible with the slim models. Installing xbox 360 games and game demos on the flash drives is no problem; xbox will ask you which drive to install the game. However, I can not verify if you can install older xbox games like Halo on the flash drive. The only xbox game I have is Halo 2, which does not install on flash. This problem may be specific to Halo 2 because even xbox live does not have Halo 2 for sale, which means Halo 2 is not supported without a xbox hard drive. I'm suspecting that any older games listed on xbox live is enabled for flash installation, but if they're not listed then you'll need a xbox hard drive. This is annoying but not a big issue since there are only a few older xbox games that you may want to play.
While the concept of natural body movements translating into character's actions sounds intuitive, the implementation of this idea in games has eluded many game developers. Too much motion will tire out the gamer, repetitive motion will bore the gamer, and complicated motions can not be successfully detected by the controllers. I'll compare motion controllers for all 3 systems below.
Usage Comparison:
The Wii was wildly popular when it was released due to its novelty, however 4 years later, few Wii game innovations have appeared causing Nintendo to lose market share in the past year. The PS3 Move is more accurate than the Wii since the Move tracks motion in 3-D space while the Wii tracks motion in 2-D space (2 dimensional, like paper) and analyzes that data to interpret 3-D movements. The light globe on the PS3 Move looks cool initially, but the bright light becomes glaringly annoying soon, especially in a dark room. Both the Wii and PS3 motion controllers are less integrated to the console's navigations and functions than the Xbox Kinect. The Kinect allows users to say commands and motion gestures to navigate menus, browse online, interact with avatars, and play media content. Winner: Xbox Kinect.
Price Comparison:
The Wii system ($200) includes the 3 controllers (Wiimote, nunchuk, & motionPlus) needed for 1 player, but costs another $40-80 per player, depending on the accessories that you buy. The PS3 Move retails for $100 for 1 player and the XBOX Kinect retails for $150 for 2 players, but both are accessories so they require the original game system. Also, the PS3 Move requires $50-100 more per player, depending on the accessories that you buy, while the XBOX initially supports 2 players but is capable of tracking 6 players for future games. All 3 motion systems include a game to showcase the controller's features. For 2 players, the Wii is the cheapest system and the PS3 is the most expensive; but when the Xbox supports 4 players (probably via a software update in 1 year), it will be cheaper than getting a Wii. Winner: Xbox Kinect (assuming 4+ players).
Technical Comparison:
Motion detection differs in all 3 game systems. The Wii uses micromechanical components, such as an accelerometer and gyroscope, and an infrared sensor. The PS3 Move uses an accelerometer, angular-rate sensor, and visual tracking of a LED-lit globe. While the Wii & PS3 Move use similar components, the PS3 has the advantage since its components have 3-axis of motion detection compared to 2-axis sensors in the Wii; also the PS3 has a stronger processor to calculate position and distance. Instead of relying on micromechanical components, the XBOX Kinect uses a video camera, an infrared camera, and a 4-microphones array, which together is capable of gesture, facial, and voice recognition for tracking up to 6 players. The PS3's disadvantage is that micromechanical components may wear & tear and cause inaccurate motion detection, while the Xbox's disadvantage is that more processing overhead is needed when analyzing video and sound to interpret the players' motion. While the PS3 is the obvious winner over the Wii, the success of the PS3 Move vs. the Xbox Kinect will depend on the game developers' ability to translate motion into actions. Overall, the Xbox Kinect has a slight advantage because the motion software can always be improved by Microsoft, whereas the PS3 controllers will most likely remain unchanged since hardware redesigns are always expensive to both the company and its users. Winner: Xbox Kinect.
Summary: the Kinect wins all 3 comparisons, so the Xbox is a great buy!


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The Xbox 360 Console with Kinect. Kinect brings games and entertainment to life in extraordinary new ways - no controller required. Easy to use and instantly fun, Kinect gets everyone off the couch moving, laughing, and cheering. See a ball? Kick it. Control a HD movie with the wave of the hand. Want to join a friend in the fun? Simply jump in. Wi-Fi is built-in for easier connection to the world of entertainment on Xbox LIVE, where HD movies and TV stream in an instant. Xbox 360 is more games, entertainment, and fun.

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