Blackjack of gaming

Xbox 360 250GB
Price: Rs 21,990

Confession time: We have been staunch Sony Playstation fans and never actually took to Microsoft’s console Xbox. When the first generation Xbox came, it seemed a bit too bulky and the disc tray took ages to open. Perhaps it was just our bias, but the old adage of first impressions being the lasting ones is true when it comes to gaming. But the new Xbox 360 250GB has changed all of that. Slim, sleek and shiny black in colour, it dispels all notions of Xbox being a bulky console.

It’s not only in looks that the new Xbox scores. The 250GB disk space means you don’t have to fret about overwriting games or deleting movies. And the drive can be easily swapped as well. It comes with built-in Wi-Fi and is Kinect-ready (motion sensor-based gaming accessory) with a connection port for the Kinect sensor (which arrives in November this year).

The buttons on the console are touch-sensitive and work like a charm. Just a rub of the finger and you can switch the console on/off or eject the disc. It’s a bit of a coincidence that Sony Playstation ditched such touch buttons, while Microsoft has embraced them. Nevertheless, touch buttons are better than push ones on a console.

The Xbox360 250Gb has five USB ports — three on the back and two on the front — for easy plug and play. It comes with a wireless controller, which is easy to use and looks far better than earlier controllers.

The Xbox dashboard is not different from any of the previous generation consoles. The only difference is reduced whirring noise when the disk is in use. One thing that surprised us was that it did not have a Blu-Ray drive. Considering a lot of gamers are shifting towards Blu-Ray, this is certain to be a letdown for hardcore gamers. The gaming interface remains the same, and, even if you aren’t familiar with Xbox ways, you will find it easy to use. Microsoft claims it’s cooler than the older consoles, but, after a long play, the console did heat up a bit.

The price, however, is a bit of a downer. At Rs 21,990, it seems to be priced a bit steeply, considering PS3 is priced at Rs 19,990. But the new Xbox is definitely an excellent upgrade for any of the existing Xbox users — thanks to the Wi-Fi connectivity and lower noise. But PS3 users will find it difficult to convert. Even for first-time users, it’s an excellent buy. And, if you’re already planning to queue up outside stores to pick up the Kinect, you may definitely go for the new Xbox, too.