The only main reason I would buy the 3rd gen of the Xbox would be for Halo3. As for them being used for other things.... My first cd player was the ps1 a few years after it came out and my 1st dvd player was the ps2 which i paid 30 dollors for about 2 months back. For a college student that doesnt have a job (its not the fact im not looking, i just cant find one) and had easy homework that can be done in a few hour or so, gamesystems are great. They are just way to over priced.