Need Xbox gamer expertise.

Need happy girlfriend for Xmas:))

[D_Blackwell]

I'm an off and on PC gamer and happy. I live on the computer, so I've sprung for the high-end extras that let me switch between work and play. Business expenses of course. Abobe Suite (and other excuses) require top-end video card, excellent monitors...

Kind, tolerant, understanding, girlfriend understands a guy's gotta have his first class toys (with thin justification from time to time) - but wants her own.

Xbox 360 Elite and a couple of games have been 'suggested' through reliable sources for Xmas. No problem. Done.

However, in researching this, it seems that the TV could be a big deal. I/We (it gets blurry) have a decent enough TV. Nothing fancy at all. Seven or eight years old, and we are not at all unhappy with it, though are aware that we are way behind cutting edge.

It seems though, to me, that she isn't going to get anywhere near the first-rate gaming experience from the top-flight Xbox with this TV that would be available from a new TV too:((

It's a big extra money hit even if I balance quality and cost. But - we sometimes 'splurge' on one another with the tacit understanding that the next couple/few birthday, Valentine's day, etc. will be 'minimal' - just the company of each other with no need to spend money on something special, that being together is special enough.

With that in mind. For a new TV, looking in the $1,000 range (maybe a tad more it looks like), 40" - 46".

Plasma or LCD? Supposedly, Plasma is generally 'better' overall in what I have researched, but can have burn-in issues (supposedly) for gamers, though we would use it for all TV watching as well. Though we don't watch a great deal, we pick up DVDs fairly often, so a big jump in TV quality is something that we would probably both enjoy.

Any special considerations about need or importance of HDMI, USB, PC ports, etc.?

Separate speaker system? Is the TV sound going to be adequate? Added speaker systems seem to be pretty pricey frankly, but only doing this once for a long, long time. After this Xmas, hand holding and billets-doux will have to last her a goodly long while, so want to make this as special as possible all at once, but without torching too much cash unnecessarily:))

[Yoshimi]

Is your girlf. already a gamer? When hubs bought his xbox I was determined to play too, but only did for about 3 months.

Perhaps you could get her the xbox for xmas, and if she really takes to it, upgrade the tv for her next b.day to improve the experience?

[D_Blackwell]

Yes. Plays some games occasionally on her own PC, but it isn't really up to handling gaming. She works on the computer, but only as necessary. She very much wants a console. (Plays kids games with niece already, and that's part of it, plus I think she'd like to play some more sophisticated or adult games.) I'm thinking now might be one of those 'go all out times'.

[D_Blackwell]

Had a thought while researching. Her vision is poor, even corrected; likely to deteriorate over time. Would the 'lower quality' 720p options be more suitable than the 1080p, particularly for situations with on-screen text? Must confess that I don't have a clue. Not an issue with her on the computer. Lowers resolution and zooms text as necessary.