Tech Blog

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Video games are just as important (if not more so) in today's culture as movies, television, and music. Yes, I'm a little biased, since I've been "a gamer" since I was barely out of diapers, having rocked everything from the original Atari to the Nintendo 64. Most recently, I find myself playing with the Xbox 360 more than any other system.

You may have also noticed that Microsoft announced a new "slim" version of its Xbox 360 during the E3 2010 conference in June. This is a touch smaller and a little sleeker than its predecessor, but it also comes a little bit of a premium in terms of price. With that in mind, is it really worth the extra money? Or are you better off snagging the older version of the system from the clearance bin?

I'd argue that it's worth it, especially the cheaper 4GB Arcade model. And there is one very simple reason for this: integrated Wi-Fi.

If you were to opt for the older version of the Xbox 360, you'd be stuck without a wireless connection to the Internet. To get that, you'd have to buy the wireless adapter from Microsoft and that clocks in at a very inflated $99. Ouch. Looking at the current prices on Future Shop, the older "Elite" model is $249 and the new Xbox Slim is $299. For $50, you get the new hotness, built-in wireless, and other improvements. The 4GB Arcade model is just $199 and it even has 802.11n Wi-Fi. 

Why would you want a wireless connection? It's simple, once again. The Xbox experience simply isn't complete without an Xbox Live Gold membership. This is what allows you to download exclusive content and play online with your friends. I didn't think online play was such a big deal until I started participating myself. If all you do is play alone (or with "local" friends), you're missing out on more than half the fun... even if you have your Xbox Avatar burping "Jingle Bells" during the holidays. 

You haven't lived until you've played, say, Super Street Fighter IV via Xbox Live. Or Call of Duty, if that's more your kind of thing. If you're willing to wait it out, this November could present an even better deal. The Kinect accessory, which senses your body in 3D space for some real motion-based games, will sell on its own for $150. Alternatively, you can get the Arcade + Kinect bundle for $299. That represents an additional $50 savings. Not bad.

As I said, I'm biased. I may not be particularly good at them, but I do play a lot of (console) video games. Despite having to pay for online play via Xbox Live Gold, I still prefer the Xbox 360 over the Wii and the PS3. And this newer version of the system is even better. I can't wait until Microsoft gives the system another software overhaul though.