If you don't yet own an Xbox 360, the newer "Falcon" models supposedly run cooler and, thus, are potentially more reliable. They also have an HDMI port, previously reserved for just the pricier Elites. The problem is that they look roughly the same on store shelves as the older systems. But if you're eagle-eyed, you can find one by looking for the telltale signs: a 175-watt power rating (down from 208 watts on the older consoles) and, on the non-Elite models, a telltale HDMI symbol indicates the unit supports high-end video output. (The HDMI symbol alone won't help you find a Falcon Elite since these units had HDMI already.) Buying a Falcon won't guarantee that you'll dodge the dreaded Red Ring of Death and other problems such as video card failure. Virtually all electronics fail eventually - and magnetic media generally grinds to a halt within 5-10 years, which is why it sucks that you can't simply back up your 360 hard drive. But it will improve the odds that you'll get a good run from your console before facing DRM difficulties - and perhaps Microsoft will have solved the license transfer issue by then...
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