Microsoft XBOX 360

Microsoft has taken the opposing path to Sony with their XBOX 360, which is effectively a high-powered PC, by introducing an add-on HD DVD drive.

The external optical disc drive, which can also connect to a standard PC via a USB 2.0 port, comes complete with a remote control to manage not only the XBOX 360, but also other AV products and media centres.

The XBOX 360 features a wireless capability in XBOX Live that can access MP3 files from a local WiFi enabled computer running a media program such as Windows Media Player 11 via its media page and play the files through the TV. Without WiFi capabilities, a simple Ethernet connection from the Ethernet port on the back of your Xbox 360 console to a PC can be used to access media files, including video, audio, and pictures, from a Windows XP–based PC.

Windows Vista has provided a platform to connect the console gaming network to online PC Gamers under the name Games for Windows – Live where PC gamers can now play console gamers via an online LAN connection.