The new system is pretty tough too. I dropped it a couple of times (got mad at a game and kicked it too...) and it held up great. Now I would'nt recommend anyone to give their NES a torture test like I gave mine, but I did want to comment on it's resilience:)
All of the connections are the same that go to your tv and outlet, so if you still have your old hook-ups they will work. Likewise all of the old controllers and special devices will work too. BUT the game geine will not....!?! Our good friends at nintendo decided to redesign the connectors so the genie won't work. So what did Galoob do? Well they just invented an in line connector so it will work, (Like Nelson from the Simpson's says: HA,HA!) All you have to do is call Galoob via the 800 number on the side of your game genie and ask them for the NES adapter for the new system.... That's it! You don't need no stinking serial numbers or nothing! You wont even have to pay the S&H; charges! IT'S FREE, FREE!!!! Oh sorry about that sometimes I get carried away. If you are going to order one I would call ASAP cause I don't know how much longer they will support the NES.