Is Microsoft's Next Xbox 360 Set to Shrink?

"Dubious at best," remarks one of the commenters on a bit of Register-spawned tittle-tattle suggesting the Xbox 360 is about to slim up, but could a "leaked" Microsoft memo be the Real Deal?

That memo, which UK geek-tech gossip site The Register purports to have a snap of, reveals blurry bullet points suggesting Microsoft's been working toward a "final name decision" on a new revision of its Xbox 360, that "metal plates have been disregarded," and that "code name XBOX - Lean" and "XBOX - Granite" have given way to "XBOX Pure."

If it's legit, the "lean" moniker certainly hints at a move toward something skinnier. It would also jibe with 2007 rumors that the Xbox 360 processor -- originally produced at 90nm and currently manufactured at 65nm -- is set to drop to an even cooler 45nm in late 2008 or early 2009.

Sony's PlayStation 2 underwent a pretty extreme makeover in November 2004 with the release of the 'Slimline' model -- less than half the size of the original version. The 360's nearly three years old, and while the PS3's a glossy monstrosity by comparison, Microsoft's mini-PC case could certainly stand to lose a few pounds.

Question is, would a slenderized 360 be any quieter than its rumbly elder sibling?

UPDATE: As suspected, the letter was probably a hoax (and in fact a not terribly original stunt). But like any good hoax, the underlying question it raises stands: Would a slimline 360 be a deal-maker, or does anyone really care?