Games console advice please.

Sheesh, I was only allowed to play with coal when I was a kid.

If all his friends are playing PGR2 and Halo2 online, then he might feel like he is missing out, despite the fact that there aren't any really essential games on the system if you have a PS2, and don't like Halo.

I wouldn't buy second hand, there are too many failed and modded units floating around, and the price difference isn't enough to justify the hassle, IMO.

I know that consoles are going used at £75, and I bought a brand new crystal jobbie with Burnout 3 (£37.99) as a bundle for £119. For £99 you get a game from a limited selection chucked in. No sense in getting used then.
We here, being adults ( ), have maybe different game tastes than your boys might have. If they are into console gaming, and it sounds like they must be, they really do need to have an X-Box too. The graphics are miles better than anything else and the games are glorious.
Each console is different. Now it's only £100, it's a no-brainer really.

I think he wants it for Halo. He's read the books, he's got the action figures etc.
To be honest I'd rather he wanted a new football or bike but he's not a very sporty kid. He reads voraciously (finished LOTR when was 8), is doing very well in school and is no couch potato.

OK then, where's a cheap place to buy a new X-Box?

Game and Amazon are both about as cheap as I've seen it without resorting to ebay.

If you are going to buy him one, not throwing in an XBox Live subscription and a copy of Halo2 would seem cruel to me.

just picked up a crystal XBOX from comets £139
including 25 Games! although 20 of them are arcade games on 1 disc... the others were Halo, Moto GP, colin mcrae rally 3, the haunted mansion, and some other game that eludes me right now! I didnt think that was too shabby!