The Xbox itself is connected over the network via my modem/router. The iMac too.
This lets them talk to each other, sharing enabled through the (OS X) Connect 360.

Watching HD DVDs is Windows XP only For some reason, Apple’s DVD player does not want to play ball (supposedly since they haven’t yet licensed the codecs / rights).

So it depends which iMac you have, I reckon… The new Aluminium iMacs are (I think) all capable of working with the drive – that’s the one I have.

I have an app called Connect360 for sharing stuff between the iMac and 360. I have another one for the PS3 too (from the same guys, but not nearly as universal).

I am guessing there must be PC versions of these apps – maybe not from the same people, or as elegant – but hey it’s Windows

As for the HD drive (which my ranting on this post was about), I did that through (i) connecting the USB cable to the machine, and (ii) installing PowerDVD Ultra (note the *Ultra* – normal PowerDVD won’t cut it).

BUT… there is a major caveat here: you need to have a qualifying graphics card. And by qualifying, I mean has to (in hardware) support the encoding/DRM nonsense that HD-DVD requires.

The iMac has a ATI 2600HD in it, the PC a 8600GT – the first works fine (and definitely supports the stuff for HD DVD), the PC card should too, but I haven’t tried it.

However, someone I know tried with his 7600 nVidia card which (allegedly) should have worked – but didn’t. Seems the boards and chipsets are hit and miss for this

But when it does work… it’s very nice indeed.

Shame the format is pretty much dead now. Good job I now have my DVD player… oh sorry, I mean my PS3

(Coz it aint worth shit for games )

I watched the Matrix films as I said – they looked damn fine!! But I want to see something less obvious before I make a proper review…

As you may remember, I am actually in the BluRay camp – so my HD DVD drive was a surprise buy… but when it only costs ¬£130 brand new (mine was less than that), I wonder if Microsoft may have had a moment of genius here… and that Sony might be undermined by this.

Try and get a BluRay player for that price!!! (I’ve tried!!!)