Should I update my 360 to NXE or keep original dash?

[titanzguard]

I know, strange question. Heres the deal...

I purchased a PRO unit back at launch. It would perfect for about 2 years and then it crapped the bed. Microsoft fixed it, sent it back, have used it ever since. Well a few months ago I was thinking about it and decided to buy an Arcade unit. My logic was my Pro unit has paid its dues and could die anyday. Well I bought the arcade unit and put it in my gameroom but never hooked it up to the internet. Actually, I have only really played it 5 times, mostly just playing the arcade game that came with it and Bully.

Well I was thinking about it today and was wondering if it was worth leaving it with the old dashboard on it or should I just update it with the NXE? For awhile I thought it might have some value down the road since it had the original dashboard but it kinda sucks not having it hooked up to Live. Also, if it dies and I have to send it in, most likely I will not get the same unit back and the one I do probably will have the NXE installed.

Any thoughts if I should leave it or update? Pros and/or cons?

[Oobgarm]

If you never intend on hooking it up online, I wouldn't bother. A lot of the NXE content is geared for those who connect. And besides, all you're really missing out on are avatars and easier navigation of installed arcade games. Which you don't have many of, so once again, not a big deal.

[demen999]

Yeah most of the stuff is about being connected and or getting info online. If your not going to get online, why update it? Unless there are certain system updates that are cruticial to the OS.

[c0ldb33r]

Can you install the NXE on an arcade unit? I thought NXE needed a hard drive.

That being said, I think MS was offering cheap hard drives to arcade owners. You might want to look into that.

[eugenek]

Won't new games force you to update from the disc anyway?

[JunkTheMagicDragon]

nxe only requires the 256mb memory unit. doesn't leave room for much else though. used 20gb units ought to be cheap as chips by now, though.

as far as reasons to get her online, imo the nxe is faster, plus bugfixes for your games are nice to have.

[titanzguard]

All,

Thanks for all the replies. Here's the deal... My Pro unit has the NXE on it, so I have already used it. To me, it just looks pretty, not much else is different to me. As for the arcade being able to upgrade to the NXE... It came with a 256MB memory card and I bought a 20GB HDD from Circuit City when they were running the deal on refurbished HDD + Controller for 39.99.

I really dont need to go online with it, but it would be nice. I was really only holding back because I thought it might be worth something as a collector to have the old dashboard loaded on a working 360, thats all.

[heybtbm]

I'd say gaining the ability to rip games to your hard drive and never hear the obnoxious disc spin (aka: 360 jet engine) again is worth the annoying forced avatar creation/slow-as-molasass NXE.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

I don't have much experience with the 360, and after reading all this, I think I need to get a PhD before buying one.

As far as having value in the future, that is tough to say. You can never tell what would be collectible in the future. I do have my doubts about dashboard revisions becoming a collectible, but you never know.

[TurboGenesis]

All NXE is is a bunch of fucking adware.

I hate it and cannot be bothered to deal with it everytime I turn it on and want to play games and catch up with friends.

I hate turning on my 360 and getting hit in the face with movie ads and junk adverts when I am supposed to be playing video games, getting away from the dreck seen on the television and heard on the radio.

Also, when in the NXE, if you press the xbox button, you basically get the old dashboard anyways.

Fuck NXE adware :rockets:

[The 1 2 P]

I never used the old hard drive but if you plan on saving music playlist DON'T update. Or atleast don't update until all your playlist are made. The new music copier and playlist maker are abominations compared to that of the original Xbox. I'm not sure how the first 360 dashboard handled them but the new one isn't worth two shits. It sucks that bad.

[ProgrammingAce]

I never used the old hard drive but if you plan on saving music playlist DON'T update. Or atleast don't update until all your playlist are made. The new music copier and playlist maker are abominations compared to that of the original Xbox. I'm not sure how the first 360 dashboard handled them but the new one isn't worth two shits. It sucks that bad.

It's the same before or after NXE. Music playback is actually better after you update.

[Nature Boy]

I'd say gaining the ability to rip games to your hard drive and never hear the obnoxious disc spin (aka: 360 jet engine) again is worth the annoying forced avatar creation/slow-as-molasass NXE.

I can't believe there are a dozen posts already and nobody else has mentioned the single best reason to go NXE: installing games straight to the HD.

(I like the avatars so I had zero issue with the 'forced avatar creation' bit).

Games load faster and the machine is most definitely quieter. If you have a 20 GB HD that might not matter. If you have a larger one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend NXE to you.

[s1lence]

I can't believe there are a dozen posts already and nobody else has mentioned the single best reason to go NXE: installing games straight to the HD.

(I like the avatars so I had zero issue with the 'forced avatar creation' bit).

Games load faster and the machine is most definitely quieter. If you have a 20 GB HD that might not matter. If you have a larger one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend NXE to you.


It runs much cooler as well. I can testify to that after having mine on for almost a week straight.

[demen999]

I can't believe there are a dozen posts already and nobody else has mentioned the single best reason to go NXE: installing games straight to the HD.

(I like the avatars so I had zero issue with the 'forced avatar creation' bit).

Games load faster and the machine is most definitely quieter. If you have a 20 GB HD that might not matter. If you have a larger one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend NXE to you.

Wait it runs quieter with NXE? Hmm when I play Burnout Paradise, it's noisy as hell (Elite). Wonder how much lower it got?

[Daft Punk]

You only need the memory card to do the update. After it's done the dash will still be nxe , card or not . However there are certain features that require the info on the card or hdd.

[Nature Boy]

Wait it runs quieter with NXE? Hmm when I play Burnout Paradise, it's noisy as hell (Elite). Wonder how much lower it got?

It's totally quieter. The fan is still loud of course, but the disc isn't ever spinning and adding to the ruckus.

[XYXZYZ]

All NXE is is a bunch of fucking adware.

I hate it and cannot be bothered to deal with it everytime I turn it on and want to play games and catch up with friends.

I hate turning on my 360 and getting hit in the face with movie ads and junk adverts when I am supposed to be playing video games, getting away from the dreck seen on the television and heard on the radio.

Also, when in the NXE, if you press the xbox button, you basically get the old dashboard anyways.

Fuck NXE adware :rockets:

I concur. I wish they'd let me customize NXE, so I can get rid of everything but games marketplace and games library.

[Sudo]

I concur. I wish they'd let me customize NXE, so I can get rid of everything but games marketplace and games library.

It would be nice, indeed. But if they did that, then Microsoft wouldn't be able to cram advertisements and the awful Avatars they spend millions of dollars developing down our throats.

[heybtbm]

Wait it runs quieter with NXE? Hmm when I play Burnout Paradise, it's noisy as hell (Elite). Wonder how much lower it got?

It runs quieter when you play games off your hard drive (after ripping them). Games that you play off the disc will still be just as loud as they always were.

[demen999]

Ahh ok. Thanks for the clarification. I guess I am going to have to install some games soon then.

[Nature Boy]

I personally think the pissing and moaning over the adware in NXE is overblown. Unfortunately you can't (yet?) set your default 'tab' to be "My Xbox," but at the end of the day I personally see the ads less often and find them less obtrusive than the previous setup.

On the original setup they weren't full page like they are now, but they were everywhere.

[Cinder6]

All NXE is is a bunch of fucking adware.

I hate it and cannot be bothered to deal with it everytime I turn it on and want to play games and catch up with friends.

I hate turning on my 360 and getting hit in the face with movie ads and junk adverts when I am supposed to be playing video games, getting away from the dreck seen on the television and heard on the radio.

Also, when in the NXE, if you press the xbox button, you basically get the old dashboard anyways.

Fuck NXE adware :rockets:

This is true with the old dashboard as well; it's nothing new. The only difference is that I don't see Mountain Dew ads every time I turn on my console--and I'd rather see the DLC ads that we get, instead of that, any day. I totally agree the default tab should be "My Xbox". But that's Microsoft for you--even if you pay for Live, you still get ads.

I'm starting to really wish I had a 60GB hard drive, but the prices for those are way too absurd. If I hadn't just paid $100 for a 500GB drive for my PS3, $100 for 60GB on the 360 might be easier to swallow. Does a hard drive mod still require a specific hard drive? (Else I could just use my old 60GB PS3 drive.)

[kupomogli]

The new dashboard sucks balls. Stupid that they changed it.

[JunkTheMagicDragon]

no choice now, unless you plan on never playing a new game on that xbox again:

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/04/confirmed-nxe-update-on-xbox-360-game-discs/

[titanzguard]

I guess the only way to keep it original is to just play all my old games on it. Ah well, we'll see how it goes. Most of the new games that come out I get for PS3 anyways. I usually just pick up cheap titles for the 360.

[skaar]

I miss the old dashboard more and more. I LOATHE the fact that they've found a way to get advertising into a fucking gaming console. The first time I fired it up (old dashboard mind you) and saw a Subway ad I raged.

[The 1 2 P]

no choice now, unless you plan on never playing a new game on that xbox again:

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/04/confirmed-nxe-update-on-xbox-360-game-discs/

Damn. They are now forcing everyone to upgrade. Kind of like ebay making us use their "new" search tool when it becomes mandatory in a few weeks. I hate that.

[PapaStu]

no choice now, unless you plan on never playing a new game on that xbox again:

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/04/confirmed-nxe-update-on-xbox-360-game-discs/


Damn. They are now forcing everyone to upgrade. Kind of like ebay making us use their "new" search tool when it becomes mandatory in a few weeks. I hate that.


No different than PSP games forcing firmaware upgrades to play. They've been doing that from the get go.

[c0ldb33r]

No different than PSP games forcing firmaware upgrades to play. They've been doing that from the get go.
That doesn't mean it's right. As far as I'm concerend, unless I'm engaging in online multiplayer, updates should be optional.

[ProgrammingAce]

That doesn't mean it's right. As far as I'm concerend, unless I'm engaging in online multiplayer, updates should be optional.

Updates to system firmware aren't only for the users. Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo add features to the console that developers can take advantage of, such as different compression schemes, faster hard drive access times and such.

Without forcing updates on the users, the developers wouldn't be able to take advantage of the advancements.