True XBOX Believers will cry "Sacrilidge!"  But my goal for buying an XBOX360 was not for the gaming per-se, but for the media center capabilities.  Having a wide variety of games is a plus, however, a plus I hope to get into soon!

Due to this outlook, however, my first "upgrade" was a used XBOX360 Media Remote Control.  And I must say I wouldn't want to do media on the XBOX360 without it.

I've played DVDs on my XBOX, used Netflix (review soon!) on my XBOX, and even streamed video from server software on my personal computer to the XBOX, using both the controller and the Media Remote Control.  And I must say that the experience is much superior with the remote control.

Remote controls have gone from simple to complex;  a "universal" remote today can have over a hundred buttons.  At first glance, the Media Remote Control for the XBOX looks as horrible.  But like any device with buttons, you quickly figure out which do things and which do not;  if you don't use the Media Center Connector, a goodly chunk of the remote is worthless to you.

However, years of training on remote controls have made that interface for media control almost second nature;  it's so normal that I forget I'm using a gaming console to watch video.  Lemmie give you an example:

Lets say I'm watching an episode of Doctor Who, and just as the giant foam moster jumps out at Jon Pertwee, I decide I really need a nice, refreshing Dr. Pepper.

Using the XBOX Wireless Controller, I'm going to have to turn it on;  it goes into power save mode if you ignore it long enough, and when you're vegging you're not exactly keeping the controller busy.  Waking up takes about five seconds, as the controller negotiates a channel with the XBOX.  You then press the "Y" button to bring up the menu, and then press "A" to pause.  Any other option, such as rewinding to laugh at Jon's face or to see the TARDIS bounce on the wooden "cave floor" or pulling up data to see how much later you're going to have to stay up to see the UNIT guys get eaten by the slime monster take multiple movements of the joystick and an "A" button press;  the playback meters require you to go to an "advanced" menu to reveal those options.

Using the XBOX Media Remote, I can press the "Pause" button, then the big "Play" button to continue.  Rewinding requires one finger movement to the Rewind button;  same amount of effort for fast forward (to get through The Master's annoying speechifying).  Playback counters also require only one button press to locate.  And all the media buttons are clustered at the top of the remote... with the minimum of practice, you don't even have to glance away from the pander-box to operate the controls.

Because the Media Remote only uses power when you are pressing a button (like any well behaved remote) your batteries last FOREVER;  and unlike regular remotes, this controller takes sane AA sized batteries;  no special packs needed to refresh your remote.

The remote contains the "XBOX Menu" button, so you can access the in-game menu.  And the circular "D-pad" buttons with the central "OK" button makes navigating the welcome menus a breeze.  In fact, except for the actual process of playing the games, I'd say that the Media Remote is a superior interface for almost the whole XBOX GUI.  Even typing seems less intensive than joystick-waggling.

My verdict?  If you plan on doing media (even if you use the XBOX mostly for gaming), or boot up your XBOX to check up on your buddy list, you should definitely invest.  Used remotes go for less than $10, new remotes sell for about $20.  It saves the time of controller negotiation, and the controller's power-sipping AA-saving only-use-electrons-when-sending-data mode of operation is much superior to booting up a full wireless radio set just to request playback enhancement.

The definition of an EPIC WIN investment.