XBox Bandwagon

Microsoft has me!

Bill Gates wants you!

Not too long ago, in a blog entry I claimed my allegiance with Sony's PlayStation consoles. I also stated that I would NOT be tempted by the darksoft and jump on the XBox bandwagon. In case you cannot forget what I said, I plead for your forgiveness. With that said, I must now confess. Yesterday, on Friday the 13th, I traded in my PS2 and purchased a XBox system. I blame it all on Madden 2005 and the shortcoming of PS2's online feature.

Sony allows dial-up users to get online which equals massive lag for any online gaming. If you have dial-up, please do not play online games. You make all of us suffer. To truly enjoy online gaming, you must upgrade to either cable or DSL connections. Most broadband users will or at least want to utilize the fat bandwidth by setting up home networks and Wi-Fi access points. To do so, you must get yourself a router which is the part that becomes extremely frustrating for the PS2. For each online game on the PS2 I have played, I had to open up ports and route traffic to and from the PS2 even when it is assigned an IP address set up as DMZ. Searching for information on specific ports to route for each game is a feat itself. More often than not, the process of getting online is time consuming and frustrating.

Without exception, I had to search for information on Madden 2005's ports and then direct traffic straight to the PS2. Finally, after hours of tweaking and searching, I logged on to EA's server. I felt relieved. In the past, once I get it working, it will continue to function. Well, I am not so lucky this time. The next time I tried getting online, I was stuck once again with the same problem. I screamed, "No More!"

After discussing the issue with my friends and learning about their experiences with XBox Live, I packed up and traded in my PS2 with accessories for a XBox system, XBox Live starter kit, and XBox's version of Madden 2005.

XBox is damn impressive! Setting up XBox Live with my router was a snap, literally. I did not even have to assign an IP address to the system. It automatically detected everything. I have to give Microsoft props in making the XBox's OS truly user friendly unlike some of the other stuff made by the empire. Does is really matter what I say or think about Microsoft anymore?

I use Microsoft Internet Explorer to browse the web and write this blog entry. I use Microsoft Outlook Express to check and write my E-Mails. I use Microsoft Money to manage my accounts. I use Microsoft Windows XP as my operating system. I cannot wait to go home and play my Microsoft XBox. When I want to catch the news, I can watch Microsoft NBC.

Do I have Microsoft or does Microsoft have me?

Wake up, you.

The Microsoft has you . . .