Great review Jon, but I guess I'm in the "not worth the upgrade camp" as HDMI 1.2, in a "next-gen" machine instead of 1.3,(especially when the 1.3 spec was already out when the Elite was being designed) and even the PS3 has it is purely nonsense to me, aside from a clever way for MS to make folks spend more money on a system that offers nothing in the way of improved reliability or functionality, aside from color, an overpriced HD, and an already old/replaced HDMI specification at that. 1080p resolution for movies was already possible via the vga adaptor on the 360,and for games via component as well so again nothing significant.................Now as far as the noise goes, I've never been that distracted by it personally, after all, I bought it as a "gaming" console first and foremost...Every pc I have ever owned made some kind of fan/cd/dvd drive noise and such and my current custom built/modded pc is as loud if not louder than my 360....I simply don't see the big deal myself, its a gaming machine that generates heat and needs fans to cool itself, and fans make noise, dvd drives make noise, there is nothing new here.......I understand it can be distracting for movie watching perhaps, but again I don't rely on the 360 for movie or dvd watching except the occassional xbox live movie download, and even then the noise is not that distracting...........Maybe its because with two little kids running around the house the 360's noise is a welcome relief!!!!....LOL
Anyway good review yet and still, and I do agree however that anyone who is a NEW purchaser for a 360, or needs to replace a broken/out of warranty unit should go ahead and spring for the Elite.....
