Microsoft (2004). Xbox Hardware. Xbox.com. Retrieved September 10, 2004 from http://www.xbox.com/en-us/hardware/default.htm
Targeted at the general consumer audience, this collection of web pages provides general information regarding the Xbox peripheral and various forms of connectivity, both with internal and external. Although credible because it is the official site of the creators of the Xbox, it falls short in providing detailed hardware specifications (information released by Microsoft) and provides no information to tie in the fact that the Xbox is mostly a modified PC.
Video Game Museum (n.d.). Xbox System Info. VGMuseum.com. Retrieved September 10, 2004 from http://www.vgmuseum.com/systems/xbox/
This concise technical specification is a listing of the exact components that make up an Xbox. Anyone with computer hardware expertise could likely read the list once or twice and come to the conclusion that Microsoft's site could not provide: that the Xbox is an x86 PC. Its conciseness is also its weak point as forming the aforementioned lynchpin requires an individual who, at a minimum, has a hobbyist's knowledge of modern computer architectures.
Steil, Michael (2003 Aug. 15). Software Method HOWTO. Xbox-Linux.org. Retrieved September, 9 2004 from http://www.xbox-linux.org/Software_Method_HOWTO
Attempting to explain Xbox software modification to a tech-savvy consumer, this tutorial is a specific instance of the general software modification method, and mirrors a version of the method that will be used to prepare the Xbox for the installation of Linux. The credibility of its contents are supported by the site's notoriety among users in the Xbox modification scene. In addition, the document will provide unique insight about how to technically communicate modification instructions to those outside the Computer Science audience.
Aho, Jukka (2003). Xebian HOWTO. Xbox-Linux.org. Retrieved September 8, 2004 from http://www.xbox-linux.org/Xebian_HOWTO
The Xebian HOWTO provides a detailed the installation process for the Xebian Linux distribution, which has been specifically tailored for use on the Xbox console. Directing his guide to technically adept Linux users, Aho walks the reader from creating the installation media to text-console installation and configuration of important networking and display settings. Though not the creator of the Xebian distribution, Aho demonstrates strong familiarity with the system and the nuances of its operation, resulting in a guide that will serve as the basis for documentation of the GNU/Linux operating system installation.
Pedley, Thomas (n.d.). The Original Xbox Adaptation of Gentoo. GenntooX.Shallax.com. Retrieved September 8, 2004 from http://gentoox.shallax.com
The GentooX website provides software downloads and documentation necessary to install the GentooX Linux distribution. It contains documents that detail modifications to the Xbox BIOS loader (required for the installation of some non- Microsoft software, including GentooX). The GentooX website further discusses options for installing Linux to different partitions of the Xbox and supports a user community that makes itself available to assist new users with installation problems. As such, it contains up-to-date help and troubleshooting documentation written by both project developers and end-users. This site will serve as a reference for the Linux installation stages of the project. A shortcoming is that it lacks details of user-software installation on top of Linux, and assumes that the user is capable of adding software on his or her own.
Platt, J. (2003 Sept. 5). Change Your Serial and Restore Your EEPROM. X-b-o-x.com. Retrieved September 12, 2004, from http://www.x-b-o-x.com/modules/sections/index.php?op=viewarticle&artid=58
In this terse and highly technical tutorial, Platt walks current EvolutionX users through the processes of backing up their system, changing their serial key, and re-flashing their EEPROM to factory default status. The tutorial collection on this website (requiring free registration) is considered one of the online authorities of the Xbox softmod scene, and suffers only in that it is aimed solely at technical users and each tutorial is aimed at a narrow task.
Copying-Xbox-Games.com (2004 Mar. 15). The EvolutionX (Evox) Complete Guide. Copying-Xbox-Games.com. Retrieved September 12, 2004, from http://www.copying-xbox-games.com/tutorials.php?tutorialid=00000026
This walkthrough tries to comfortably take a novice user through the steps of installing EvolutionX on a hardware-modified Xbox, starting with the creation of necessary setup disks. Although this tutorial assumes the user has installed a hardware modchip, it offers particular insight into navigation of the Xbox hard drive and the backup process via utility disks. This website offers some of the most complete information for the EvolutionX distribution.
Gray, Patrick (2003 Jul. 4). Group Releases Xbox Exploit Amid MS Prosecution Threats. ZDNet Australia. Retrieved September 12, 2004 from http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/security/0,2000061744,20275965-1,00.htm
This article highlights one of the few instances in which Microsoft has publicly responded to modifications of the Xbox. Specifically, it is one of the few sources from which information regarding Microsoft's perception of the legality of Xbox modification can be drawn. Unfortunately, as with all other limited documents where Microsoft takes a proactive stance, the modification technique listed allows the potential for the piracy of Xbox games (the method that will be described in the final website does not).
Steil, Michael (2003 Oct. 1). Is it legal to run Linux on your Xbox? Xbox-Linux.org. Retrieved September 12, 2004 from http://www.xbox-linux.org/docs/legal.html
This document alleges that running Linux on an Xbox is legal and provides supporting evidence, including a (rare) response from an executive who leads the Microsoft Home and Retail division for Germany. The argument, only the whole, is not a formal legal position. The site housing this document both contributes to and detracts from its credibility: the document is less believable given that it is on an (albeit popular, authoritative) Xbox modification site, and more believable considering that the site has remained up for over a year.
Biallias, Sebastian (n.d.). Install Mac OS X. PearPC.Sourceforge.net. Retrieved September 9, 2004 from http://pearpc.sourceforge.net/installmacos.html
Authored by the creator of the application that allows for PowerPC emulation on an x86 (modern desktop) PC, this comprehensive guide provides highly technical but thorough information for installing Mac OS X on a system capable of running the PearPC emulator. Expertise with command-line Unix system installation and system file configuration is assumed, making it difficult or impossible for even the casual Unix enthusiast to perform.