XBOX 360 S 5/5
June 20th, 2010 |Well as we all know there were rumors of Microsoft making a slimmer version of its console. They were right. The Xbox 360 S was just unveiled this past week at E3 2010. The shocker is that it also hit retail this week in limited quantities. I was lucky enough to score a unit so I figured I would review it. Let me tell you, its sleek and sexy. The S model is basically a redesign/upgrade when compared to the older models. Well lets get down to the review.
What’s inside?
Well once you unbox the 360S, this is what you will find inside:
- Xbox 360 S console
- A/V cable(not pictured)
- Power supply
- Black Wireless Controller
- Black Xbox Live wired headset
Lets break it down piece by piece.
Console
The first thing you will notice with the new console is its size. The 360S is much slimmer than its counterpart. Unfortunately I do not have a comparison picture since I traded in my old Elite towards this one. I stood a regular game case next to it for comparison instead.
On the front panel they decided to move the disc tray a bit higher. Also, the USB ports are still under a flap, but if you notice they changed it to a vertical position(vertical in the pic) instead of horizontal. The major change here in my opinion is that the power button and the disc tray button are now both touch sensitive. To open or power on your console you just have to lightly place your finger on it. There is now a nice little “beep”sound when you open they tray. You will notice that the HDD is no longer sitting on top of the console. There was a “warning” sticker under the tray which said not to move the console with a disc inside the tray. I do not know what the ramifications of moving the console with a disc inside yet. I also do not intend to find out. My guess? It will scratch the hell out of your disc.
Here is the back:
As you can see they have an additional 3 USB ports on the back for the rest of your accessories. Also they have the the traditional ethernet port, HDMI, and A/V ports. The new additions to the family are the Kinect port and a optical digital output for your surround sound systems. It is all easy to find and very organized.
The controller is standard issue. The only real difference is that instead of having a gray underside, it is now all black.
Wi-fi: The console now comes with a built in 802.11n Wi-fi adapter. This right here folks is probably one of the best additions. Now you can connect to your modem/router wireless-ly without the need to buy an expensive adapter or run ethernet cables all over your place. So those of you strapped for cash or with routers on the other side of your house, now have access to all of the Xbox Live yumminess.
Power Brick
Why did I give the power supply its own section? Well as we all know it was a big issue most gamers had, especially with its size.
Well it’s still pretty big, but is considerably smaller than the original brick. So it might still give some of you who have little space in your entertainment units problems. They did however change the outer casing, and cord. The entire brick is now covered in a rubber-like material. It does not seem to get as hot anymore after the system has been running for few hours.
Pictured above is the console from the side. As you can see, there is a huge vent(there is also one on the flip side as well). Instead of having 2 smaller fans for cooling, they went with one big fan.
Let’s go into the Pros and Cons:
PROS
It’s just damned sexy: Yep. It is. The console has been redesigned and boy is it nice as hell. The 360 S is sleeker, shinier and most importantly, smaller. It is no longer as big or clunky. Yeah, it might look like a PC tower a bit, but overall, I really like the new design. It just looks more modern. The console also, no longer weighs a ton which is a plus for those of you who travel with their system. They really changed the 360′s look for the better in my opinion. I really love what Microsoft did here.
Performance: Well if it didn’t run better, then what would be the point right? The first thing you notice about the 360 S is the lack of sound it produces while playing games. Long gone are the nasty disc reading sounds you would normally hear while playing your games. The system is very quiet and barely noticeable. In all honesty, I would say its on par with the PS3 Slim. The console supposedly is faster but, honestly I did not notice a difference in game playing or any of the consoles regular functions. They also changed the chipset which was one of the reasons the older models got the RRoD.
Storage: Now the system includes a built in 250GB HDD. This is awesome for those of you who download a lot of games or add-ons from Xbox Live(especially for those of you who have a bajillion song tracks for Rockband like Luis). The HDD is no longer attached to the side, but rather inside the console in the back. There is a latch that you can open and remove the HDD for future upgrades.
Kinect ready: The new console also has a Kinect port on the back for when Microsoft launches its new motion “controller” this fall. What does this mean for current 360 model owners? Your guess is as good as mine. I would rather have my system Kinect ready though, just in case. [For those wondering, original 360 owners can still play with Kinect, but will need to use an external power supply to use the Kinect camera/controller. The 360 S has enough juice in it to where you only have to plug it in and go. - Lu]
Touch sensitive face buttons: They went and replaced the buttons with touch sensitive ones. They work perfectly and react immediately. The only downside is that it is very easy to press the wrong thing due to it’s sensitivity. So be careful when touching it while its on.
CONS
Glossy: Even though thousands of gamers bitched and complained about the original Ps3s glossy finish, Microsoft STILL went with it for their redesign. What a horrid decision in my opinion. I love the look and size, but I cannot stand the finish on the casing. It is a dust and fingerprint magnet. The fingerprints smudges just make it look dirty. What the hell Microsoft?
Disc tray: I also am not a fan of the disc tray. There is nothing wrong with the tray itself, I just would have gone with a auto feed system like the PS3 and the Wii. I will admit though as much as I would have liked them to change it, this tray is a lot quieter.
Overall the new Xbox 360 S is an amazing redesign which improves on almost every feature when compared to the original. Its sleeker, faster, quieter and best of all, much smaller. The new touch sensitive buttons work well and are a great change. The built in Wi-fi adapter is a huge addition that will save many gamers some money, not to mention help get on Live easier. The 250GB HDD is also great for those of you looking to upgrade. You now have a ton of space for downloads or game installs. The only downside is the shiny, glossy casing due to the fingerprints and dust attraction. As far as performance over time goes, if and as soon as I experience anything negative, I will be the first to tell you.
As you can see there is a lot to like about the 360 S. So if you are looking to upgrade or have yet to buy a 360, now would be the time. I highly recommend the 360 s to all existing and potential Xbox owners.
