Xbox 360 Slim Quick Review

Posted by Tiberius Jonez

I was lucky enough to secure an Xbox 360 slim on the Friday following the console's unveiling at E3. My guy at my local Gamestop held one for me until I got off work in the evening, even though they only received five of them and they're not supposed to do holds on merchandise - their policy is first come, first serve. Thanks dude who shall remain unnamed, seriously.

I traded in my 360 Elite with the 20 GB hard drive from my original release date console and so after trade-in credit I paid $177 and some change for the $299 360 Slim.

First impressions:

As soon as I got it out of the box, I was struck by the 360 Slim's aesthetics; it is a beautiful console that will add a touch of class to any entertainment center.

Wow, it's silent. Not just quiet - it is inaudible. And yes, the power is on. ;0-)

The smaller and cooler processor, generous vents and much stronger, yet silent fans, means there should be much less chance of overheating issues and console failure.

The gloss black finish, added USB ports, repositioned optical audio port and touch sensitive buttons are all lovely additions and really raise the overall impression of the console's build quality. While I've always considered the 360 a better overall gaming console than the PS3, the PS3 has always had a distinct advantage in looks, in my opinion. But not anymore. The new 360 Slim looks every bit as good as the old shiny PS3's and considerably better than the new PS3 Slims.

The built-in wireless "N" means I finally have some hardware to show what my new N Router can do. Last but not least, the 250 Gigabit hard drive is my favorite upgrade; no more deleting games to install new ones.

After a week of heavy play, I can say I am thoroughly pleased with my Xbox 360 slim. It has performed perfectly under heavy stress and is a beautiful addition to my electronics menagerie.

The new matte black wireless controller is very cool too - it's size and form factor are unchanged, but the new finish is very "Batman" in design.

If you can get your hands on one, you won't be disappointed with the new Xbox 360 Slim.

Thanks Microsoft. I don't know how you pulled it off - unexpectedly unveiling a completely redesigned console AND having it available on store shelves only 72 hours later, but I'm impressed.

Game on!!