Below are just three of the changes that I think the Xbox Live Spring Dashboard update should include to help Microsoft grow it’s online advantage.

Online Game Save Storage.  Microsoft needs to offer online game save storage for Xbox Live Gold members.  This would be a huge advantage for owners who only have a core package and would be a great backup for those of us with a hard drive.  It is not if a hard drive will fail, but when and currently I have no easy way to backup all of my game saves.  This would also be great when you travel over to a friend’s house to be able to get to all of your game saves without having to carry a memory card that may not be big enough to hold everything.  Only offer it to people who are Gold membership

Web Browser.  This doesn’t have to be as fully featured as IE7, but it should be functional enough to do general surfing.  I should be able to pause a game such as Splinter Cell Double Agent and be able to bring up the web browser to find the solution to that stupid email encryption hacking cube.  (That was ridiculously hard!!)  Unpause the game, play some more, then pause and open the browser and it should be on the same page I left it.  It will in no way replace a regular PC web browser; only add to the pervasiveness of being able to access content from all of your connected devices.  Only offer it for users with a hard drive and Xbox Gold level membership.  The Windows XP download was only 14megs, so for the Xbox 360 I guess it might be 30megs since there are probably some items that are native in XP that would need to be included for the Xbox 360 version.

Enhance the Gold Membership level.  Microsoft has just recently started offering game demos to Gold members first.  This needs to be expanded.  Themes and picture packs should be free to Gold members and cost Silver members.  New Dashboard enhancements should be offered first to Gold, then months later to Silver.  When new content hits that is available for everyone, Gold members need to have priority in the download queues.  Have prizes and give a ways of various game related posters, shirts, stickers, etc. for Gold members only.  It was good that Microsoft introduced the Silver level, but as a Gold member, I currently feel that I am subsidizing the features that the Silver members get for free.  Gold members need to feel that they are getting a true service level like first class vs. coach.  Right now it feels like my first class membership only allows me to board the plane first and sit in the front row of coach.  I shouldn't have to see advertisements on my dashboard if I am a Gold member.  Advertisements should be limited to Silver since they don't pay anything.  For those of us who have been on Live since the beginning, give us a special look to our gamertag.  Make us alumni or something like that.

Adding these items would nullify most of all the advantages that the PS3 has introduced and be innovative in offering features that the PS3 team hasn’t even considered.

OK, it's official....we as a family are addicted to the new Xbox Live Arcade on the Xbox 360.  We have bought three games now, Bejeweled 2, Zuma, and now Outpost Kaloki X.  Sarahpoo is currently playing two or three others that we will more than likely buy as well.  You just have to love being able to buy a simple fun game for $10 and getting to try it before you buy it.  Can't wait to see what else they bring out in the coming months.  I would buy the old arcade game called Kix which came be downloaded for PC at http://www.dosgames.com/g_cla.php

I would like to say that I really love my wife.....she is wonderful.....love her....yup, that is what I am saying....mucho love!!!!  She braved the cold this morning to stand outside Best Buy on a hint that they might have some Xbox 360's coming in today and sure enough they did.  She got one for me, then promptly called and told me that she had locked the keys in the truck.  I thought that she was kidding and giving me an excuse to leave work, but she wasn't.  Had to drive West side of town, about 40 miles to let her in the truck.  Can't complain though, it used up the major debt that I was in for her picking up the 360 for me.....then again, she wouldn't have locked the keys in the truck if she hadn't been getting my Xbox 360.....crud, guess I still owe her big time.  Have I mentioned that I love her????

So, one month to the day after launch I got my new Xbox 360, and what great games have I played.......Bejeweled 2.  Yup, I've had it hooked up for almost 5 hours and it hasn't played any of the four great games I have ready for it.  I did the Connect to my Windows XP home computer and played some music while doing a slide show on our Europe pictures and it was very nice in 1080i!!!!  Amberpoo is playing now, so maybe I will get a chance to check out Call of Duty 2 later this evening.

Well so much for my wonderful luck at ordering the Xbox 360 on Bestbuy.com.  Seems they screwed up and sold too many so I get a backorder slip.  Just my luck.  Here is the note I received from them.

Dear Best Buy Customer,

Thank you for your Xbox 360 order on BestBuy.com.

Due to high demand, we oversold our limited allocation from Microsoft. Your Xbox 360 is on backorder and will not be available for delivery by December 23. Backorders will be fulfilled in the order in which they were taken when future allocations of the console are received from the supplier.

We apologize for any inconvenience. If you would like to cancel this item from your order, modify the shipping address or have any questions, call us toll-free at 1-888-BEST BUY (1-888-237-8289). We will not be able to modify your order to in-store pickup. For faster service, tell us the order number when you contact us.

Thank You.
Best Buy Customer Care

WOW...after getting home from my futile trip to the Best Buy in Conroe, TX this morning at 5:30AM, I got home all depressed and while going to post about my dashed hopes on www.xbox.com on the forums, I saw that someone had just posted that you could buy them online at www.bestbuy.com.  So, I went and sure enough, they where available.  I ordered one and it says that it should arrive to my house anywhere from 12/20 to 12/23 going ground for shipping.  YEAH!!!!!  Then I went back to look at the description to see if it included the bonus remote and they where sold out.  MAN, they went quick.

Well, I can say that they are starting to trickle into the Houston area now.  A coworker just picked one up at SAMS, but when I called they where all out.  I now have four games, an extra wireless controller and two plug and charge kits, but no XBOX360 to use them on.  Tomorrow morning I am going to go and camp out at the Best Buy that is near me to see if I can get one from there.  Hope I don't freeze!!!

Amazing.....if this is actual gameplay I will be a happy camper!!!!

http://www.4players.de/4players.php/screenshot_list/360/7583/Screenshots/0/146155/Moto_GP_Ultimate_Racing_Technology_2006.html

November 22nd, 2005 will be a very special day in my life as it will be the North America release date for the new Xbox 360!!!!  Now I just have to figure out what games I am going to get other than Ghost Recon 3, Project Gotham 3, and Oblivion.

Found an interesting link that allows you to skin your new XBOX 360 in various colors to see how it would look....neat.

http://www.360-scene.com/faceplate_skinner/

http://www.360-scene.com/controller_skinner/