Microsoft has broken ground first in the avenue of High Definition video gaming.  It has done so in a wonderful and awe inspiring way.  It has also organized a completely mind boggling sales presentation in order to get the consumer to buy tons of extra stuff.  This guide is designed to be a brief summary of what is available, what is desirable, what is overpriced, and what is amiss (not much.)

If you've got money, wait no longer.  Go buy a PREMIUM XBOX 360 and 3 more wireless controllers and headsets right now and gobble up all games that are to your taste.  You may also want to get 4 charging kits, and a wireless networking adapter, however if you are keen on internet speed and reliability may I suggest that you stick to wired networking.  Experience still shows this to be quite advantageous in the realms of speed and reliability when gaming, split seconds mean the difference between being a winner and being roadkill.

If you are on a budget or don't want to waste any of your money but you are set on buying a 360, here are a few things you must consider: Microsoft's 20GB hard drive is really overpriced as an add on accessory at $100.00 compare it with a retail computer hard drive at 160GB for $100 currently and you see how they are remaining profitable as they are charging 8 times what the thing is really worth! 

The hard drives come standard with the PREMIUM XBOX 360 as does 1 wireless controller, one headset, and the HD cables you'll need for your HDTV.  This means that if you don't have a High Definition television and are on a budget, but you still want an XBOX 360, the CORE SYSTEM is probably right for you.  Conversely it definitely makes financial sense to plunk down the extra $100.00 for the PREMIUM SYSTEM because the Hard Drive, HD cables, & Wireless Controller would easily make your purchase  be over $200.00 more frugal .  Though it is expensive to add as an accessory, a hard drive is still very desirable to have attached to your XBOX 360.  I wonder if some techie has tried attaching an external hard drive via the available USB ports on the 360 as a low cost alternative?

The other important factor when buying your XBOX 360 is to consider that even though Microsoft blatantly misdirects and nearly deceives people into thinking that they will have 1 full year of XBOX LIVE included with their system purchase, they will have LIVE but they really will not be able to play THE VAST MAJORITY of the online games with other XBOX 360 gamers with this FREE YEAR OF xbox live  silver subscription.  The silver subscription is relatively worthless. 

My advice is this: DON NOT PASS UP ON PLAYING LIVE!!! This is really where the fun begins. This means that as an XBOX 360 buyer you are obligated to buy a yearly or monthly subscription to XBOX 360 LIVE GOLD... meaning that Microsoft will get a small pile of your GOLD each year, but you will be having a comparatively large amount of fun (a blast) playing live.   Ebay is a great place to find subscription cards at super discounted prices thus making LIVE GOLD gaming much more affordable to the common gamer. 

Additionally Microsoft's wireless controllers are phenomenal!  They really do a fantastic job during gaming and take all of the tangles out of video gaming.  If you were leaning towards going wireless, let this be your final push.  The wireless controllers are dependable, lighting fast, and right on target every time.  You will not regret going wireless and your gaming experience will be forever improved.  Just don't forget that it is wise to have a charger handy.

This system provides the current single best video game experience known to mankind and womankind and children-folk everywhere!  If you were thinking about buying a gaming system and could not quite make up your mind between this one and others, wait any longer.  You have found the right system.  It is worth the extra money, and if you have a High Definition Television, your world will never be the same.