Unless you want Live, I'd go with the GameCube. The only way my Xbox competes in time played with my PS2 or Cube is when I am on Live. PS2 and GC combined will deliver a large amount of what the gaming world has to offer.

Gotta be careful with that statement the older GCs come with Digital output. The newer GCs don't come with digital output.

What do you mean? That sounds weird.

My main enticement for XBox is Halo. Other than that GC sounds like a good choice for the type of games I would want to play (Zelda, Metroid, Mario...)

A Cube is a better match if you already have a PS2 than an XBox, IMO.

What I am saying is that Nintendo late this winter decide to drop the digital out port on new model gamecube to save cash. no digital out means no HDTV

I'd like to see a link to that source. There are two weird things about it:

1) if Gamecube only goes as high as 480p then it was never HD
2) you don't need a digital out (which would be DVI, HDMI or firewire) to get HD: An analog component out would do just fine.

Unless you mean no digital AUDIO out (like optical or coax) which would be a shame.

Here's the thread where Nintendo's dropping of the port was first mentioned at DVD Talk.

http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthr...hreadid=355212

The Gamecube is not capable of high definition output. The original Gamecube's design had the standard AV output, plus a port labeled (for some reason) as "digital AV out," to which you can connect a proprietary cable that can output a 480p signal through component connections.

There is no digital audio output for the Gamecube, but the standard red and white audio can carry a Dolby ProLogic II signal.

Wow. That's weak as hell. No digital audio? Pathetic.

And no component out on the newer machines? Ridiculous!

Still, I may get a GC but that's lame.

The DPLII isn't that bad, really. It's still capable of outputting 5 channels of audio.

Seeing as how 1/20 people actually used it, I don't think its very lame for them to try and make a bit more profit. I don't hear anyone bitching about Sony removing the Link port rom the new PS2's?

Supposedly there's some kind of trade-in program for those who really, really want the digital out.

if i was in your shoes, i would go for the halo LE xbox.
does the halo Le xbox comes with the samsung dvd drive?

I would get a cube, we have both a cube and xbox in the house, although only the cube is mine. In the end it comes down to what games you like. One game isn't enough if Halo is all you are really interested in. If you enjoy the Nintendo franchises Metroid, Mario, Zelda and the other games like Pikmin and Animal Crossing sound interesting get a cube. If the Xbox library looks more interesting with Ninja Gaiden, Halo, Kotor, and you will use XBOX live get an xbox. One thing to think about is if you have a PC that can play many of the good FPS's like Halo you may want to get a cube for more variety.

Buy the Xbox since you have gift cert to cover the costs.

Then, once you start to get bored of the first few games you bought with it, look through your sofa and you car and collect all the loose change there and go and buy the Gamecube!

Then you'll have the best of both worlds!