Quick Look At The Xbox360 Slim

Posted By: Jonathan Barrickman

Pros:
Quieter than older models.
Most features for your cash – no more add-ons required.
Faster hard drive speed(?).

Meh:
250GB is nice, but overkill.
Looks sleeker, if you care.
It’s the same console in terms of performance.

Cons:
Fan placement may force you to rethink where the console lives.
Large upgrade over previous model designs, but equivalent to Jasper.

As announced by its surprise reveal at E3, the Xbox360 redesign (technically called the “Xbox360 250″ to reflect the hard drive size) hit stores on Friday. Clocking in at $299, it’s a somewhat expensive upgrade for existing owners, and still pretty high-end for Xbox newcomers. But when you factor in deals like Gamestop’s trade-in offer, it’s a little more feasible to ditch your current hardware for the newer, shiner, blacker iteration. But should you?

Value:
One of the “features” of the previous 360 was its high reliance on accessories. While this served to keep the price down, it also meant quite a few hidden costs for just about anyone purchasing one. You were bound to find some feature you needed, like storage or wireless connectivity, that didn’t come with the console. The new Xbox packs all the important features for the same price as the original Elite, so there is definitely value to the new package.

To put it in perspective, upgrading an existing Xbox to 802.11n wireless and a 250GB drive will run you about $220 if you do it legit. If you hit the used market (or our friends in the Far East), you could probably knock that down to $110, with any risks of used accessories. It’s still more that you’ll pay trading in a decently-equipped current system.

I will note that 250GB is complete overkill right now. You can get by easily with a 60GB drive if you manage your game installs. Some people may like the “install and forget” nature of such a large drive though, and if you frequent the Zune marketplace, you may also fill up your drive faster. Similar story with 802.11n wireless. It is completely unnecessary for online gaming (multiplayer packets are too small to need that kind of bandwidth), but may offer a valuable boost to HD streaming and file downloads. Your mileage will vary.

Connectivity:
The previous models required a special “HD connection kit” to use HDMI and optical audio at the same time (useful for older/cheaper amps that only support HDMI passthru, or have no HDMI connection at all). The new model features all the connections you’ll need built-in. The addition of 2 extra USB ports is probably superfluous, but could be useful in future. Likewise, the Kinect port is not required, but will pare hookup down to one single cord that will also power the Kinect device (saving valuable real estate in your entertainment center’s power strip).

Size:
It’s smaller, but not significantly. I can’t see any situation where the new console will fit into a setup the older console couldn’t. Mostly just a style bonus.

Sound:
It is about 35% quieter than a Jasper model. It is NOT silent, but I’ll give Microsoft their claims of “whisper quiet.” It’s more of a light buzzing now, and distinct fan noise or grinding disc drives has been removed. However, I never noticed the Jasper’s noises with audio playing during gameplay, and really didn’t find my original model’s noises all that distracting either. Mostly a matter a personal preference.

Heat:
This is an important one. The new model runs just as cool as the Jasper does. In fact, the case of my old Jasper seemed less hot to the touch after an extended period than the new model does. The new model also handles venting awkwardly. Older models would suck air in from the sides and blow air out the back, much like any other entertainment device. The new model sucks air in from the sides and blows it out through the single fan at the top. If you have this sitting inside an entertainment center, it’s going to simply blow air around its section instead of out of the open back.

This almost requires you to place the new Xbox somewhere out in the open, or on its side. There are no vents on the bottom this time, so it’s easier to plop it down on the carpet, but it’s still going to need air. That said, I have no idea how much stress is being put on the integrated CPU/GPU, motherboard, or those all-important solder joints. I would imagine Microsoft learned an expensive lesson last time, and is going to keep those components as heat-proof as possible. What I do know is that the box gets hot inside an entertainment center, and noticeably less hot out in the open. Consider the Xbox’s history on this matter and place yours accordingly.

Miscellanea:
The hard drive here seems noticeably faster than any previous model. It cut the time required to load up profile information (such as on the achievements tab) or installed games (such as on the “All Games” tab) at least in half. It was a surprise performance bonus that hasn’t been advertised.

The D-pad on the new controller also seems tighter than any controller I’ve used previously. There’s no mention if it’s been redesigned, so maybe I just got one from a “good batch,” but this seems much more responsive and less likely to wear out a direction with extended use (my previous controllers would eventually have trouble registering either left or right presses).

Transferring old data to a new hard drive is a fairly simple matter with the Xbox’s added USB drive support. You won’t need to use Microsoft’s special hard drive transfer cable so long as you can borrow a USB drive or stick long enough to transfer over your profile, saved games, and any themes or avatar awards you want to bring along.

Final thoughts:
It’s certainly a nice box, and comes packed with all the features it should have had all along. It’s a “great value” only because Microsoft’s Xbox accessories are so overpriced, but it’s certainly the most fair price yet in terms of what you’re getting.

I’d say it’s absolutely worth trading up for if you have a 2008-era or older model Xbox. You shouldn’t have to worry about when your new console’s gonna cark, and Gamestop’s promo will certainly be the most your trade-in will ever be worth, ever. The new console will be quieter and cooler to boot.

If you have a Jasper model. the benefits aren’t as clear-cut. Don’t pay attention to Microsoft’s claims that this is “the best model they’ve ever built” – I’d say it’s equivalent to the Jasper, and even somewhat weaker in some areas (namely, venting heat). It also depends on what kind of accessories you have. If you’re rocking a Jasper with a 120GB drive and whatever wireless or wired connection you’re satisfied with, close this window now – you do NOT need to upgrade anything.

Newcomers will definitely find a lot of value here, but be aware that this model may be more console than you need. The value-priced Arcade unit is getting a refit as well, and should be the same chassis at a lower price (with a smaller hard drive and perhaps internal 802.11g instead of n). You likely won’t be able to upgrade that base unit to a full-featured one with modular accessories, as you could in the past, but again, many of the new model’s features are a bit overkill.

Finally, newcomers and owners of older model Xboxes may want to seriously consider seeking out a used Jasper instead. Any white model Xbox made around 2009 should have the “Jasper” motherboard, and as outlined above, will give you the reliability and performance you’re looking for. These models will hopefully be far cheaper now that they’re discontinued, and the market filled with them as the faithful dump them for the new model.