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• By Rob Wright Oh HDMI, where art thou? That was the question many gamers asked upon the release of next generation video game consoles. Because the Xbox 360 was first launched in November of 2005, it seems like there have been countless versions of the console released (though in reality, there have been five different SKUs, including the Halo 3 edition). Until the release of the Xbox 360 Elite this year, however, none of these consoles included an HDMI interface. Well, it's about time! This Xbox may look the same, but it's got more storage and HDMI support. Not only does the Elite include an HDMI interface, the console also comes with a 120 GB hard drive and an HDMI 1.2 cable (plus a network and a component/composite cable). True, it's the most expensive Xbox 360 version to date at $449.99. And yes, it costs almost as much as the PlayStation 3, which includes a Blu-ray player whereas the Xbox 360 console does not. Still, the Elite is arguably the best version of Microsoft's next generation console; HDMI capability is key, and its hard drive offers 100 GB more capacity than does the Xbox 360 Premium. The Elite is currently bundled with two Xbox 360 games - Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, and Forza 2. And for all gamers who have suffered from Xbox 360 failures and the dreaded "red ring of death," there's a little good news, too. While there's not much difference between the hardware for previous 360 versions and the Elite - sorry, the console is still loud - there are a few improvements, most notably the introduction of solid-state capacitors. Will this eliminate the console's penchant for overheating? Only time will tell, but it looks as if Microsoft has made an attempt to improve its hardware. And that alone may be worth the money. Those shopping for an Xbox console for someone special may finally be able to buy with confidence. Join our discussion on this article!

• Holiday Buyer's Guide 2007, Part 3 - Games

  Here's a list of all six Holiday Buyer's Guides. To see earlier guides, just click on the appropriate link. CPUs, Memory, Motherboards, Coolers, Tom's Hardware, November 1, 2007 Home and Portable Video, Audio, and Networking, Tom's Guide, November 12, 2007 Games and Accessories, Tom's Games, November 23, 2007 (this is it) Graphics Cards, Peripherals and High-End Desktops, Tom's Hardware, December 3, 2007 Consoles, Gaming PCs, and Gaming Accessories, Tom's Games, December 12, 2007 Notebooks, Digital Cameras, and Camcorders, Tom's Guide, December 21, 2007 Sarah finds games of all kinds and the gear that goes with them interesting; as you see her here on most of these pages, you should, too! Introduction To Part 3 By Ed Tittel In this, our third installment of the 2007 Holiday Buyer's Guide from Tom's Hardware, our focus shifts to games and gaming gear. With the able help from our site editors at Tom's Guide and Tom's Games, as well as our redoubtable editorial coordinator and supermodel Sarah, we're ready to share our latest round of holiday gift suggestions with our audience of PC fanatics and gaming aficionados. Those looking for some ideas for technology lovers on their Christmas lists need look no further, be it in this installment or in others already posted, or yet to come. In this segment, we start with a scant handful of games, including the Halo 3 Legendary Edition, complete with ornamental Mjolnir helmet. After that, we dig into the do-it-yourself first-person shooter environment FPS Creator. Then, it's on to the lighter (and funnier) side with Sam & Max Season One, with the Collector's Edition of World in Conflict ably bringing up the rear. Our next scant handful turns the focus to gaming accessories, starting with the FragFX PSP mouse controller that brings more precision to that console. In the next segment, we highlight three different rechargeable set-ups for Wii, Xbox, and PSP3 in the form of Nkyo's Charge Stations. After that, we sink into the Ultimate Gaming Chair made visible in a recent Hollywood movie, and conclude with the HD-DVD player for the Xbox console (but which also works nicely on PCs as well). Part 3 of the Holiday Buyer's Guide concludes with a couple of bang-up gaming console bundles. Be you preference either for the PSP3 or the Xbox, the Playstation 3 80 GB system brings a lot to those who prefer the Sony product, while the Xbox 360 Elite Console brings more storage and HDMI support to those who wish to tread the Microsoft way. Our current installment is calculated to appeal to those with games to play, be it on a PC or a console of their choosing. Please work your way through this list of offerings, as you seek the perfect gift for those on your Christmas shopping list. Join our discussion on this article!

• By Rob Wright One of the criticisms of the Xbox 360 when compared to its chief competitor, the PlayStation 3, was that it didn't include a built-in high definition DVD player. This was an unfortunate result of Microsoft launching its console a full year earlier than the PS3. Microsoft eventually released a companion HD-DVD drive for the Xbox 360, and it's a fine addition to the platform. The drive looks similar to the Xbox 360 but is about half its size, connects to the console through a USB port, and can play all HD-DVD movies and discs. The drive also has two additional USB ports, and a spot for the Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter. The Xbox HD-DVD looks something like a scaled-down Xbox. The Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive has no A/V ports, so it can't connect directly to a television; an Xbox 360 console is required for all TVs, including HDTVs. The good news, though, is that the HD-DVD drive can connect to your PC (an OS X Mac, too) quite easily. If you have a decent display, then HD-DVDs look impressive on the small screen. The drive offers 1080i resolution (1080p with a VGA connection or the Xbox 360 Elite's HDMI connector) and comes bundled with the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote and the HD-DVD version of Peter Jackson's "King Kong." The movie's clarity and picture quality are amazing, especially the eye-popping special effects sequences that feature computer-generated visuals. While the Xbox 360 console has been plagued by overheating, assorted hardware issues and high failure rates, the companion HD-DVD drive is smooth and efficient. It's easy to set up, and delivers true HD picture quality. Microsoft recently reduced the Xbox 360 HD-DVD player by $20 - its current MSRP is $179.99. The unit also comes with a rebate offer for five free HD-DVDs, good through February, 2008.