The 360 Slim (AKA the Xbox 360 250GB) is the latest iteration of Microsoft's popular gaming console. At first glance, the differences are obvious; the Slim is indeed skinnier, with an eye-catching angled unlike the rounded designs of previous models. There are also three huge vent gates rather than the single small one from before.

Opinions on the new aesthetics may vary (personally, I like the new look) but the new additions speak for themselves. The most important addition to the 360 Slim is the inclusion of built in wireless internet, something sorely lacking from other models. Now that the 360 comes with wireless as a standard feature, hopefully it will spell the end of the expensive add on wireless modems. I was able to successfully connect to the 360 through my wireless router on my very first attempt and was downloading games and using the Window's Media Center with no issues.

Another major selling point for the Slim is the huge hard drive. 250 GB is more than enough to hold just about anything you could throw its way. This is more important than ever now that the Xbox is capable of downloading entire games like Grand Theft Auto 4 directly to the hard drive. Even with regular XBL Marketplace purchases, it should take quite a bit of effort to fill up this giant hard drive.

One of the main selling points for the Slim review is that it drastically cuts down on the much ballyhooed "Red Ring of Death", a hardware failure that would require a complete replacement of the system. To ensure that everything stays in nice working order, the 360 Slim was redesigned to include one giant fan rather than three very small ones. This, in addition to the new vents, should hopefully help curtail the problem. Several reports have come in indicating that the system does occasionally malfunction, but it appears that the percentage of consoles doomed to failure has decreased significantly.

My personal favorite change from the older 360 iterations is that the Xbox is now whisper quiet. Older editions of the 360 had an distractingly loud fan. Now, however, you can't even tell the system is on anymore without looking. It might seem like something small, but it makes a huge difference, especially for those who game in small rooms.

For the same price as the previous Xbox Pro/Premium consoles, the 360 Slim can't be beat. This is definitely the best 360 for those new to the console to jump on the MS bandwagon with. Long time owners might not be as excited, but the increased hard drive space, quieter fans, and wireless networking might make it worth an upgrade.