Yes, I've finally done it.

I got me an Xbox 360.  Core system, hard drive purchased separately (there were no premiums at the local GameStop and I really didn't feel like travelling worldwide to find one), with two games, Dead or Alive 4 and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. 

I have got to say that this is one amazing system.  Even though I don't have a high-definition television, I was able to tell the difference between the original Xbox and the new system.  The devil, as they say, is in the details.  Huge, expansive worlds, fine details that could easily be missed by the casual observer (such as the engravings on Oblivion's swords), great music playback capability (plays music from the hard drive or from a portable device while playing - doesn't play M4A though.), the ability to play DVDs using the controller or the Universal Media Remote (which I got for $30).  All in all, it's a wonderful system.

It's also a stroke of genius that the wired controllers are simply USB instead of using a proprietary standard like the original Xbox.  This means that you can download a program from Microsoft that'll let you use your 360 controllers on your PC.  This also means that there's potential for all sorts of things to get plugged into the console.  Very nice.

All in all, I'm pretty happy with my purchase, and even have a couple games in mind to buy in the future.  Perfect Dark Zero and Burnout Revenge are definately on the list, despite the latter being made by EA, and I also wanna try out the wacky, zany Amped 3.

The next generation is here, and it is a beautiful sight to behold.