Ha, congratulations! Now all you have to do is download Connect360 to listen to your best slow jams while beating zombies senseless with a teddy bear. Also be sure to check out Play Asia, asian 360 games are $20 less, and are usually still in english.

You need to be careful with the Intercooler, mate!
Seriously, people are divided about the benefits- it draws air through the console faster, making the 360's own internal fans work harder and reducing their longevity.
I've never used one, so you should check around online for some reviews.
Have fun! It's one of my favorite systems so far. But the Dreamcast is still my favorite...

I've actually been contemplating this exact purchase recently, and 'Dead Rising' is my impetus as well. If I wasn't expecting a child to be born unto me any day now, I would already have taken the plunge.

However, I will probably have to make the difficult decision between the 360 and the Wii as a Christmas gift this year. Therefore, I am anxiously awaiting to hear your impressions of the console, the game(s) you play on it, and the overall experience (especially XBox Live, if you subscribe to it). I can already tell you're in love with the M$ cash vaccuum!

I don’t have any slow jams you speak of on my iPod but I do however have some 80s heavy metal that would be awesome to beat the undead hordes to. I have an extra iPod docking cable that I plugged into my Xbox 360 so I can access all the MP3s on my iPod and stream it through the game. However it does suck that you can’t copy pictures and music from USB memory devices to the Xbox 360 hard drive. The intercooler sounds like you are vacuuming carpet right next to your head while you are trying to play Xbox. I have it but I am not going to use it unless I have to.

Well my birthday is in October so if the Wii is launched in November I should have some cash on hand for it. I don't really see the Wii and the 360 compeating the same way the 360 and the PS3 are going to go at it.

I don't know if Dead Rising had an update on the disc, but it might be worth taking your 360 to someones house with a hi-speed connection to get the latest update. Unless you can get a signal with the wireless adapter, that is...

Jake, have you opened the charge and play kit yet? If not, you should take it back. I saw a Microsoft brand kit that will charge 2 controller packs for 30 dollars. If you end up getting another wireless pad that will save you some dough. I know your buddy BBQ will be coming over to lay the smackdown on you in the fighting games, so I thought you'll eventually need another wireless pad. Congrats on owning the most exciting product on the planet! (According to Micro$oft)

Dead Rising did have a system update on it and required me to install it and reboot. When I get a second controller I will probably get a wired third party game pad but since I only own one 360 game that is not a pressing issue. BBQ has never once gotten his ass on a ferry and came over to my place in Bremerton I’ll probably have to take the 360 over to his place to show him Dead Rising.

Hey Jake,
Email me (vespaskank@yahoo.com) I may have some stuff you might like.

Jarrah

If you have over heating problems, I found a solution to one of the problems. Take the power supply and put it on the open corner of a shoebox type thing. So that way the power supply is totally open and free to release heat. Only about 4-5mm of power supply surface area will be touching anything. If this is confusing, I'll try to be more clear. But that fixes 90% of the over heating problems people have. If they have one at all.

Oblivion is cool, although the guards across the world in the game have psychic connections when you kill a fellow guard. They all know for some reason. I hate it. But other than that it's cool.

Today I traded in some used PS2, Gamecube and Xbox 1 games for a used copies of Need for Speed : Most Wanted and Dead or Alive 4 for Xbox 360. There is no freaking way I would ever open up the massive power supply. I don't expect to have problems but if I do I will just snap on my cooling unit and just accept the fact that is sounds like a vacuum cleaner.

You need to be careful with the Intercooler, mate!
Seriously, people are divided about the benefits- it draws air through the console faster, making the 360's own internal fans work harder and reducing their longevity.
I've never used one, so you should check around online for some reviews.
Have fun! It's one of my favorite systems so far. But the Dreamcast is still my favorite...

I didn't mean actually open the casing. You just place the closed unit on the corner of the open end of a shoe box, that way there is minimal blockage of the vents. I'd never open that thing either. I'm glad you didn't read it the wrong and do it. Could have caused a fire. I meant it's totally open in the sense that there are no vent holes being blocked by carpet or any other surface.

Like this:
http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/25/how-to-fix-your-overheating-360/

I doubt you'll have a problem too though, because you have a newer model.

Today I traded in some used PS2, Gamecube and Xbox 1 games for a used copies of Need for Speed : Most Wanted and Dead or Alive 4 for Xbox 360. There is no freaking way I would ever open up the massive power supply. I don't expect to have problems but if I do I will just snap on my cooling unit and just accept the fact that is sounds like a vacuum cleaner.