The New Xbox Experience (NXE) launched in late November for the Xbox 360. Available as a free console update with an X-Box Live Gold Membership, the NXE offers plenty of new elements to the 360.

The first thing you’ll notice after installing the update is the remodeling of your Xbox dashboard. Those used to the original dashboard will definitely be thrown off. In fact, most people that I know are against the new setup. However, if you take the time to go through all the new applications, you’ll see the advantages the NXE offers.

For starters, Netflix is now available on the Xbox 360. After downloading Netflix to your dashboard you will be given an activation code. Simply input that code into your Netflix account from a computer and your 360 will be linked to it. After that, just load up your instant queue with what you want to watch and your choices will be ready to play off of your Xbox.

Another feature of the NXE is the Avatar creation. Very similar to the Mii creator of the Nintendo Wii, Avatars are basically little cartoonish characters created and designed by you. However, the Avatar creator on Xbox offers more customization than the Mii creator. In any case, more and more Avatars are popping up all over the Xbox community so people must some what like them.

The coolest thing about the NXE is that you can now burn games directly to your hard drive. Although downloading games does take up a fair amount of space on your hard drive, it offers you a chance to have more games at your grubby little finger tips. Add this new feature to Gamefly, the Netflix of video games, and you will never have enough games to play.

Though the dashboard is completely different, and in some case more complicated, it offers numerous amounts of cool new features. Given a little more time I’m sure more and more people will see the potential of the NXE.