8 The 360 As a Media Center

Most people think of the Xbox 360 purely as a gaming console, but it can also serve as a multimedia machine and the centerpiece of your home theater and stereo system. While the Xbox 360 contains a functional DVD player—and with an HD AV cable you can enjoy games in high definition and DVD movies in 480p—with the addition of a $179.99 HD DVD player you can watch HD DVDs on your Xbox 360.

This chapter takes a look at the Xbox 360’s role as a partial or complete member of your home media center. Whether you’re prepared to go all-out and purchase Windows Media Center or not, you can use the Xbox 360 as your home entertainment system without too much niggling to get it up and running.

The Xbox As a DVD Player

The Xbox ...

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