Not Perfect ... But Still Great
There are a couple of things that get in the way of enjoying your new setup, but they are the fault of the Xbox itself and not the X2VGA+. Like I said, PC monitors can’t properly display 480i and that just happens to be what mode the Xbox dashboard is displayed in (though a recent XBL update fixed that). For those of you that don’t have Xbox Live and don’t want to switch your Xbox from a monitor to a TV every time you want to change a setting, the X2VGA+ has a 480i EasyView feature that produces a stretched out ugly 480i image on your monitor so you can tend to your dashboard.Another issue is that the Xbox only displays DVD movies in 480i mode and there is no workaround for this problem, so if you are hoping for some high definition DVD viewing through your Xbox are out of luck.
One more slight problem is that not all PC monitors are the same and it isn’t 100% guaranteed that the X2VGA+ will work properly with your monitor. For example, my main monitor that I do all of my work on displayed a very dark image when used with the X2VGA+. A second monitor that I recovered from the garage worked perfectly, though. Most monitors will work just fine, but some don’t and that is something you have to be aware of.
Like Racing Fuel For Your Xbox
These tiny little nitpicks are easily forgivable when you finally get to see your Xbox displaying its games the way they were meant to be seen. I like to compare the Xbox to a sports car. Your Viper is awesome just cruising around town, but it is really meant to be out on the highway putting that awesome engine to work. The Xbox is the same way. The games look gorgeous on a standard TV, but to really get the most out of it you need to see these games in action on an HDTV or on a PC monitor in all of their 480p, 720p, and 1080i glory.One thing you need to know before hand is that with a clearer, sharper image comes more detail and not always the good kind. Objects that have solid lines and look smooth on a standard TV won’t always look so smooth in HD. This results in objects having “jaggies” or noticeably jagged edges. This isn’t a fault of the Xbox or the X2VGA+ and is just a result of seeing things in HD. It takes an extra amount of time and effort on the part of developers to draw in everything so it looks good in HD. Considering that the number of gamers with HD capability is tiny compared to those with standard TVs, it usually isn’t worth it to make everything perfect. It still looks amazing, so be happy.
Bottom Line
Overall, the X2VGA+ is highly recommended. It is the sort of gaming accessory that will change your life and the way you play videogames. The upgrade in visual clarity really is that dramatic. It is also an incredible value. HDTVs cost hundreds and even thousands more than standard TVs. With the X2VGA+, you can spend $100 for a monitor and $70 for the X2VGA+ itself and for less than $200 you have an HDTV setup for your Xbox. Realistically, though, you don’t even have to buy a new monitor because you already have one sitting right there on your desk in front of you. For a fraction of the price, you get the same result as an HDTV. Sounds like a winner to me. I highly recommend the X2VGA+ for purchase for any and every Xbox owner that wants to truly experience their games the way they were meant to be seen.Buy the X2VGA+ at www.x2vga.com.
