Setting up is easy enough, starting with the HD DVD player installation disc. You will have to start with that step, which you can't miss with the USB 2.0 cable covered with the warning. You'll be prompted by your Xbox 360 when to plug in the HD DVD player via the included USB 2.0 cable. There are two additional USB ports in the back of the HD DVD player (see picture below), so you can easily keep accessories like your Xbox Live Vision Camera and/or Wireless Adapter plugged into the back slots.

After a reboot, you will see that your Xbox 360's disc tray controls on the dashboard have been updated. All you have to do is press down on the Xbox 360 controller or Univeral Media Remote to access the HD DVD player while over the disc tray controls. Bootup time is a few seconds, only slightly longer than regular DVDs.

So surely by now you are wondering how the meat of the drive, the visual quality, is looking. To put it simply, it looks killer. The intro to King King will have you checking out all the fine details from burlap sheets to monkey hairs to crisp city skylines. The picture quality is without a doubt an upgrade. Now, I am not one to get hung up on all the fine technical hardware specs, as I'm sure there are a tons of technophiles decompiling all the differences between resolutions (i's and p's) and how it looks on plasma or LCD HD screens. I have a 30" widescreen HD CRT screen (140 pounder) hooked up to my Xbox 360 console. It's definitely not the latest in HD tech, but friends that came over to watch Terminator 3 on it definitely saw a considerable difference (seeing that T101 on the battlefield is quite a sight!). If you want all the hard technical specs on the HD DVD player, look to the Xbox HD DVD Player page (or the HD DVD page here) for all the details.

With standalone Toshiba HD DVD players currently run for $500, Xbox 360 owners will benefit from the $199 add-on price. The included King Kong HD DVD movie (about $25) (which runs for a limited time) and the Universal Media remote ($30) are a good added value to the package. If you are looking to upgrade your movie experience at home, the Xbox 360 HD DVD player is definitely worth the price.

Read more on the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player here on xbox.com.

See more pics below.

UPDATE: If you are wondering where you can rent HD DVDs, Blockbuster Online and Netflix offer them as part of their rental program. HD DVDs range from about $20-$30 to purchase.

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