The Basics:
The images below show the front of the case; on the left we have the door closed and on the right we have pressed the button at the bottom of the door and it has slid up over the top of the case. The front is simple, sleek, and stylish... I really like it. Although the surface appears to be metal, it is actually all just plastic with a nice metallic finish.
The front of the case has two exposed 5.25" bays and two exposed 3.5" drives. Most mATX cases are a bit short on drive space, and the In Win Alpha 360 definitely maximizes the space available. In addition to the four exposed drive bays, there are also two internal 3.5" bays.
The front of the case also features a nice selection of connections. As shown in the image below we have a center strip that features (from top to bottom); the power button, two USB ports, one Firewire port, a microphone jack, and a headphone jack. I generally prefer that these connections are higher on the case, but on a mATX case I am less concerned than I am on a full tower case. There is no reset button on the Alpha 360, and one other thing that you can not see is the IR sensor just below the power button which must be associated with the "optional MCE kit" mentioned in the list of features.
The next image shows the side of the case that opens to access the internal components. With just a quick glance it is hard to tell the front from the back, as the case is fairly symmetrical except for the offset of the perforated ventilation holes. The opposite side is extremely similar, except that the panel is solid, no perforations. The top of the case is made of a wavy black plastic that looks cool, but has an unknown functional purpose. It might help you sort pens or pretend that you play washboard in your local jug band, but otherwise it might just be a pain to keep clean as dust settles into every slot.
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