I'm looking to finally retire my old Xbox 360...

[Z of the Na'vi]

...and upgrade to this sexy beast right here. [http://www.gamestop.com/xbox-360/consoles/xbox-360-limited-edition-kinect-star-wars-bundle/92652#specials]

Last night as I was playing, I was having some serious problems with my old, white Xbox 360. Originally one of the 20 gig hard drive models, I'd since upgraded to a 120 gig hard drive in the past. However, the fact of the matter is, I'm not sure how much longer it will last. Frequently when I go to boot up a game, it will fade from the dashboard where normally the intro screens for my game would begin.

The screen stays black. I have to hard reset the thing and clean the disc in a vain hope that the system will read it.

The HDMI cable in the back of the console also isn't supported all that great, I don't believe the older models are optimized very well for anything but the AV cables. On top of that, the fan inside the console is so loud. I think it should be considered a problem when I have to turn the TV volume up to overtake the sound of the small jet engine that is my current Xbox 360.

Basically, I'm ready for an upgrade, and would like to here some opinions from my good friends at the Escapist on how the newer "slim" model compares. As I said, I've got my eye on that Star Wars console, as it has that enormous 320 gig hard drive. The custom paint job and such is just icing on the cake, as is the Kinect (I've never even tried one out before).

Thoughts, Escapees?

 

[MtnGamer]

I own the Slim model, but have never owned the previous ones. My xbox slim is two years old, and has never given me any issues. From what I have seen, the slim is smaller than the older models, and because a good amount of time has past since the first xbox was introduced, most hardware issues were fixed before the slim was put on the market. It has more USB ports, and compared to my roommates older xbox, my slim is far quieter. And compared to my roommates older model, mine stays much cooler during use.

As a side note: I am an occasional gamer, maybe 10-15 hours a week. The 250GB harddrive in my slim is more than I will ever need. Depending on your intended uses, take this into consideration.

This video from IGN also does a good job explaining the difference:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohF_cGEcB7k

 

[daveman247]

snip

I've had the slim for just over a year now (used to have an older white one) and no problems yet. Is much quieter and has a large hard drive

The only thing that annoys me slightly is the sensitive touch buttons. So easy to brush past it and end up turning it on/ ejecting the disc.

 

[MtnGamer]

snip

I've had the slim for just over a year now (used to have an older white one) and no problems yet. Is much quieter and has a large hard drive

The only thing that annoys me slightly is the sensitive touch buttons. So easy to brush past it and end up turning it on/ ejecting the disc.

Daveman247, you make a good point about the sensitivity of the touch buttons. They are actually quite nice to have, but whenever my dog, with her big fluffy tail, walks by I do get concerned that my game is about to be turned off. It hasn't happened yet, so you do have to be pretty close to the buttons before it detects you.

 

[daveman247]

Daveman247, you make a good point about the sensitivity of the touch buttons. They are actually quite nice to have, but whenever my dog, with her big fluffy tail, walks by I do get concerned that my game is about to be turned off. It hasn't happened yet, so you do have to be pretty close to the buttons before it detects you.

Well its happened a few times to me, thats the problem of having it on the edge of a desk i guess XD

 

[ScrubberDucky]

It strikes me as odd that one would chose to upgrade their 360 now with the next generation of consoles ostensibly right around the corner. I would understand if you wanted a working console until then, but $400 still seems like a lot to drop on a "new" system right now.

 

[Hazy992]

I've had a slim for nearly two years now and I've had no problems with it. It's smaller and quieter than the old one and it looks better

The only thing that annoys me slightly is the sensitive touch buttons. So easy to brush past it and end up turning it on/ ejecting the disc.

Same here. I end up turning it off and on repeatedly when I'm dusting it. So annoying >_<

 

[TrevHead]

The slim is much better, that said now and again my disk drive does make a noise when playing cutscene heavy games like JRPs easily remedied by installing to HD

If you do get a slim don't be alarmed by the heat it throws outs it should settle down after a couple of weeks.

I was surprised at just how much heat it produced, enough that I didn't need to turn on the central heating in Autumn. With that much heat it's no wonder the originals melted because they didn't vent it

If play on original 360 pads, you'll enjoy the upgraded d-pad and analogs in the slim version

 

[J. Mazarin]

Slim version is so much nicer than the original models. So. Much.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

It strikes me as odd that one would chose to upgrade their 360 now with the next generation of consoles ostensibly right around the corner. I would understand if you wanted a working console until then, but $400 still seems like a lot to drop on a "new" system right now.

Well, being that there isn't any indication that there will be an announcement of an "Xbox 720" so to speak, and the fact that I have been playing on the old white model of the Xbox 360, I'd say now is a good of time as ever to upgrade. I've also never even tried out a Kinect before, which is what the bundle comes with. The console will last me as long as I need it to, unlike my current one.

I'm not one to "prepare" for future console generations. I take it as I go. For now, the 360 is what I prefer.

I'd say just get a PS3.

Thank you for your suggestion. I prefer the Xbox 360.

 

[Terramax]

Well, it works. Always a plus on a machine you fork money out on. Don't understand what more you want said. It can't make you a sandwich.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

It can't make you a sandwich.

...and that my friend, is a damn tragedy.

 

[PsychicTaco115]

So, what will you do with the old one?

Give it a proper funeral, I hope.

Here, I'll lead the service:

Friends, we are gathered here to remember Z of the Na'vi's Xbox 360

We will always remember the valiant service you gave in the performance in games such as Lollipop Chainsaw, Mass Effect 3, Skyrim, Batman: Arkham City and Marvel vs Capcom 3

Those original 28,780 Gamerpoints were earned on you, old friend.

We will miss the laughs and tears we had.

Farewell


:'(

 

[baddude1337]

Yeah, I got a slim one. Had it for a few months after getting a little bonus from work. I've had a refurbished old console for a few years (it's so old I don't think it has a HDMI port) and was so, so LOUD. The disc tray also never opened unless a disc was already in it or it was titled to the site. I figured whilst it was dying I should get a new one.

Definitely worth it. Giving how much I spent on the old one, plus a wireless adapter, plus a 120gb HDD, plus several controllers and headsets getting the 250GB slim which already has built in wireless, a new controller and a new headset for £140 is a steal. The touch sensitive buttons are quite cool but like someone said you can knock them easily (but the noises they make are soooooo cooool!) It is super quiet, with a game installed it makes slightly less noise than my PS3 slim.

And the HDMI is miles better than the HD AV cable. The first game I popped in was Red Dead and the difference was immediately noticeable.

 

[putowtin]

snip

The only thing that annoys me slightly is the sensitive touch buttons. So easy to brush past it and end up turning it on/ ejecting the disc.

Agreed, my cat can walk past it and eject the disk (though I think she does it on purpose just to get food!)

 

[Rastien]

Don't chuck your old xbox out, if it is as old as you say you can sell it on ebay for a fair wack as some of the older consoles/drives can run homebrew apps on them .

Or you could get some homebrew on it and play around ^^ and if you brick it in the process no biggy your got a new xbox anyway

 

[Terramax]

So, what will you do with the old one?

Give it a proper funeral, I hope.

Here, I'll lead the service:

We will miss the laughs and tears we had.

Farewell


:'(

Does this mean you'll be shooting your xbox into space... whilst playing the bagpipes?

If so, let me know when the service starts.

 

[PsychicTaco115]

So, what will you do with the old one?

Give it a proper funeral, I hope.

Here, I'll lead the service:

We will miss the laughs and tears we had.

Farewell


:'(

Does this mean you'll be shooting your xbox into space... whilst playing the bagpipes?

If so, let me know when the service starts.

The service will begin when Z of the Na'vi gives us the Xbox

I have a spaceship, we'll all ride together.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

So, what will you do with the old one?

Give it a proper funeral, I hope.

Here, I'll lead the service:

Friends, we are gathered here to remember Z of the Na'vi's Xbox 360

We will always remember the valiant service you gave in the performance in games such as Lollipop Chainsaw, Mass Effect 3, Skyrim, Batman: Arkham City and Marvel vs Capcom 3

Those original 28,780 Gamerpoints were earned on you, old friend.

We will miss the laughs and tears we had.

Farewell

*video snip*

:'(

That was beautiful.

I love you. I love you as much as a Lugia can love a mustachioed taco president.

My old Xbrick 360 will be dearly missed. I'll go ahead and load him on the rocket now.