Xbox

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This article will be an introduction for you, to the wonderful world of Microsoft's Xbox console. I'm going to post more tutorials here at some later date.

But it already has an OS?

An Xbox does not have an OS per se. The Xbox's firmware consists of its NT-based kernel and the 'dashboard', which, as far as the kernel is concerned, is just a fancy type of game.

Specifications

The Xbox uses standard computer DVD and hard drives.
Length: approximately 32cm
Width: approximately 10cm
Height: approximately 26cm
Mass: approximately 3.86 kg
CPU: Custom 733 MHz Intel Pentium III "Coppermine-based" processor
Memory: 64 MB of DDR SDRAM @ 200 MHz
Storage: 8 or 10 GB internal Hard Drive (Formatted to 8 GB with allotted system reserve and MS Dash), 8 MB memory card
Connectivity: 10/100 Mbit ethernet
Resolutions: 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, 1080i

Development Unit

The Xbox Development unit is the version used by game developers. It has twice the RAM of the retail console, and adds SCSI, USB and RS232 ports to help with debugging. To accommodate these extra ports, an expansion board was added on top of the hard drive mount, making the console about 2cm taller.

OS Development

Potentially, an Xbox can be targeted as an implementation platform for new Operating Systems, or other technological enhancement/tampering. However, such a thing is still in its infant stage.