The new Xbox 360 is here -- we go head-to-head with the 360 Original, PS3 Slim, and Wii -- Engadget

Fun note: the older 360 pictured here RROD'd almost immediately after we unboxed the new unit. Karma!

  • Although it's not quite as hot as the original, the new Xbox 360 still generates a fair amount of heat, which is vented out through that stealth-fighter vent on the side. That means you shouldn't put anything on top of it if you're placing it horizontally in a cabinent -- you'll block the vent and end up baking everything.
  • It definitely loaded up Modern Warfare 2 faster than our original 360.
  • The HDD transfer utility has been refreshed: instead of an all-or-nothing approach you can pick and choose what content to bring over, and it doesn't automatically wipe the destination drive. Installed games don't go along for the ride (songs ripped from Rock Band and Lego Rock Band transferred just fine, though) and anything else you opt to leave behind will still remain on the original drive.
  • What the transfer cable doesn't appear to do anymore is transfer the licenses for your DLC to new hardware -- at least it didn't for us. That means a trip to http://www.xbox.com/en-us/support/sy...ensemigration/ and plenty of redownloading if you like to play offline, or on other profiles on the same box.
  • As we noted during our E3 hands-on, the system doesn't see the built-in WiFi as built-in -- it says WiFi adapter detected. Amusing, if nothing else.
  • Your old HD component cables will still work -- we're actually using our old ones at 1080i and it looks just fine. Obviously you'll need to make sure your TV supports component 1080p to get that res -- otherwise you can just use HDMI.
  • There is an IR port -- our remote worked just fine. It looks like it's hidden in the controller connect button, from what we can tell.


---------- Post added 18-06-2010 at 11:16 PM ----------

Eu tot nu pot insa sa nu ma intreb: "oare ce minte brilianta a fost cea care a decis ca pozitia cea mai buna pt. CPU/GPU este sub unitatea optica ?!?". Mai mult, daca tot au facut fante de aerisire... de ce Dzeu nu au mutat CPU/GPU in zona aia... si gata, problems solved... Dar nu, ar fi fost prea multa logica in treaba asta... Batman, Batman...