Originally, I was really worried about the whole NXE thing being a real doom & gloom factor for XBL. But now, as we get nearer to launch I'm starting to rethink the hate. I'm not sure about the whole avatar thing, but from images I have seen everything looks very sleek and smooth.

I'm digging it. Anyone else out there?

Actually, no. The only thing I'm excited for is the party feature. I really hope Microsoft proves me wrong.

I've always been excited about it.

I hope it's smoother than the blades system. The blades system was incredibly choppy alot of the time when playing a game. It would take 5 seconds to bring up the window. Here's to hoping.

I've never been against it, but I am looking forward to 8-player voice chat!

"I hope it's smoother than the blades system. The blades system was incredibly choppy alot of the time when playing a game. It would take 5 seconds to bring up the window. Here's to hoping."

I just don't like the avatars.

"I just don't like the avatars."

they won me over awhile ago. people like to bitch over avatars while ignoring the incredible features like the party system, 8 person chat, netflix, the primetime channel, optional installs etc. cant wait.

"they won me over awhile ago. people like to bitch over avatars while ignoring the incredible features like the party system, 8 person chat, netflix, the primetime channel, optional installs etc. cant wait."

"I've always been excited about it."

I actually like the avatars. That's what has me most excited... of course, I've always been a fan of making virtual characters and dressing them up. I don't know why... Just like my Mii.

I look forward to the 8 player parties and the ability to install Fable so that my disk drive doesn't get raped. The rest can still fuck itself.

Right here.
It was basically because i thought it was going for a wii look.  Seeing it with themes and the darker blade system and the marketplace persuaded me.
If there is something hugely wrong with it, Im sure they could always pull it.  I don't think that'll be the case though.

"I look forward to the 8 player parties and the ability to install Fable so that my disk drive doesn't get raped. The rest can still fuck itself."

"Jayge said:

"I look forward to the 8 player parties and the ability to install Fable so that my disk drive doesn't get raped. The rest can still fuck itself."

The disk still has to be in the drive, even after you install it to the HDD."

"BiggerBomb said:

"Jayge said:

"I look forward to the 8 player parties and the ability to install Fable so that my disk drive doesn't get raped. The rest can still fuck itself."

The disk still has to be in the drive, even after you install it to the HDD."

There should be a way to not have the disc in, and before you say "this will lead to less copies being sold, passing around, etc.", it could work like this:

Each game has some kind of special code on it, and when you install the onto the HDD, it "scans" it then is embedded into that 360, and can only be used once.

If that makes any sense, and you cannot install it on another HDD. But you can go back to using the disc, and use it in different consoles, just not install it.

...then the problem of getting another HDD would rise up."

I think it could honestly work, and I'm sure they could implement it so people also cannot try it offline.

"Jayge said:

"I look forward to the 8 player parties and the ability to install Fable so that my disk drive doesn't get raped. The rest can still fuck itself."

The disk still has to be in the drive, even after you install it to the HDD."

"Jayge said:

"I look forward to the 8 player parties and the ability to install Fable so that my disk drive doesn't get raped. The rest can still fuck itself."

The disk still has to be in the drive, even after you install it to the HDD."

After seeing that preview with Jeff, the avatars look much better than Miis so i'm not as gutted about them, but still, the main things I care about still look fabulous.

"BiggerBomb said:

"Jayge said:

"I look forward to the 8 player parties and the ability to install Fable so that my disk drive doesn't get raped. The rest can still fuck itself."

The disk still has to be in the drive, even after you install it to the HDD."

That doesn't matter. Fable makes my disk drive sound like it's about to snap when it's spinning. The disk doesn't move when you play from the HDD."

for me it is is just

1. Party Feature
2. Install games to Hard drive even though I only have a 20 gig right now

"After seeing that preview with Jeff, the avatars look much better than Miis so i'm not as gutted about them, but still, the main things I care about still look fabulous."

"I've never been against it, but I am looking forward to 8-player voice chat!"

avatars ewww. also i kinda hate the way it looks I WANT TO KEEP MY BELOVED DASHBOARD. also they said something about accessing marketplace and downloading stuff from there onto your 360? kinda like halo 3 file shares or something? or am i talking crap?

I wasn't convinced with what was shown at E3, but having used it over the weekend it's definitely a step in the right direction. The dash is far snappier now, looks great at 1680x1050 and to be honest the avatars don't really get in the way - yes, you'll have to create one once the update is released but unless you have and / or play the arcade titles, you don't have much to worry about.

HDD installs rock - load times are occasionally quicker (it was noticeable in Mass Effect, shame that the texture pop-in is still there) but it's the lack of noise that's the big deal (I sit about 1M away from my console). Cynical move by Microsoft to sell more hard drives, maybe, but hey, it's working :)