M$ copying Sony again! -- 360 Slim coming soon!

[garyopa]

unless they fix that monstrous cooling fan, it has no right to be called slim

i'm still wondering about one thing - how come no console manufacturer ever think about using 2.5" sata drives (the ones used in laptops) ? that would allow for a more slim case.

That fan is used for testing on the prototype, before final assembly into the new case.

M$ is making the SAME mistake they did with the first 360 design.

Assembly it outside of the case, use a couple of good fans, run the machine non-stop testing stuff.

They really needed to assembly it into the final case, with fans they pick for shipping, and play some games, turn it off, wait a while, play some more games, turn it off, wait a while, play some more games.

Because during later eng. tests on the RROD problem, it was total amount of "thermal cycles" that kill the 360, around 2000 thermal cycles some problems, by 2500 cycles more problems, by 3000 total failure on all machines under test.

Oh'well. -- As for consoles, both the PS3 and 360 from day #1 have used 2.5" SATA hard drives, so that is not the reason for their "biggest" -- You could go the Mini-Blu-Ray way, have 7.6gb mini 3.5" blu-ray drive! -- Would make it smaller! -- But really in today's world, why the **** are we still using HDD and spinning discs, just use a 64gb solid-state card, that is bigger then even a blu-ray disc!

[garyopa]

Looks like rumors are true, in the leaked slim picture there is no support for the 360 memory card's, possible M$ got tried of fighting Datel with their device.

So with the new dashboard which is 9189, you can format and use USB devices:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/18/x...%28Engadget%29

But the formatted device can't be used on a PC, and 360 does not see normally PC-formatted USB devices for storage of memory save files, etc.

As for that picture of a white slim 360, it is total FAKE, but the board for sure is real.

The front is for 2 usb ports, and the rf port, and the back is for hdmi, ethernet, old a/v, digital audio, and new smaller power connector.

Still don't know if because of the 2 SATA ports on board, and the missing external hdd connector, if the hdd is going to be internal only,
of if they can going to use a bridge board with the old external hdd connector connected via cable, but I doubt the later, as M$ is also
getting tried of people buying their own empty case and installing a generic 250gb hdd on their 360, so I am sure they are going to close
that loophole also, like removing the memory slots for the datel cards.

[JNABK]

It sucks for the consumer when big Companies try to "monopolize" on a product, its competition that helps keep the prices down for us consumers.

Soon we will have little choice: Buy ONLY expensive accessories from the console manufacturers, do without them or dont buy the console at all.

It seems to be they are trying to eliminate any alternative devices that allow users to modify their consoles and run things the manufacturers didnt intend. They should know by now if its electronic and has software, it can be manipulated by the consumers, as its our right to modify anything we purchase.

[tonybologna]

Another SLIM system? I'll be sure & wait in line for 5 of them when they come out.

[leynos]

Yes, Microsoft has been copying their competitors since 1980s when they copied Apple's OS for Windows 3.1... and copied UNIX for their MS-DOS.

Then they copied Sony's dual-shock controller with the two joysticks. Then copied Nintendo's Z-trigger button and put them on the shoulders.

Then they copied Java by creating their own .NET & C#.

Basically, monopoly.

[shagster]

I like the new metal top on the cpu/gpu 45nm chip.Looks like it would help to exert a much more even amount of presure,especially on the corners of the chip,that had problems lifting.

[xboxmods2977]

I like the new metal top on the cpu/gpu 45nm chip.Looks like it would help to exert a much more even amount of presure,

It will also help drastically with heat dissipation.

[garyopa]

Actual M$ has confirmed via various sources, that they are keeping their look & feel of the M$ 360 system.

Which means the new board is coming, but they are going to be running cables to the hdd port, and old memory slots, and they are fitting the new board in the OLD CASE.

No slim for 360 users, I guess M$ does not want to basically be seen to be re-issuing the 360, maybe they are worried everone that had the "ring-of-death" with the older system, will be screaming for a new one if they issued it as a slim.

Sadly we will be forced to keep our old bulky 360 systems, but I am sure some smart case-mod genius like "ben heck" will be quickly removing the smaller 360 board and installing it in a true slim case.

Silly M$