33 Percent of Xbox 360s Failing?
According to anecdotal evidence provided by retailers. But is anecdotal evidence enough? Daily Tech conducted a non-scientific "poll" by calling several North American retail outlets and inquiring about Xbox 360 failure rates. The response? A resounding "least reliable gaming console in recent history." Ouch, and scary-bold words, but what do they mean?
Maybe nothing, but probably something. Did you read about the guy who returned his Xbox 360 twelve times? How about an alleged Australian failure rate "as high as 30%"? Maybe you caught this gem about Microsoft deleting over 900 replies from the Forza 2 forums claiming the game was crashing Xbox 360s?
I've mentioned it before, but I had a 360 meltdown a while back myself. It happened to correspond with a rampant Internet rumor that the game Dead Rising was killing systems (one of my favorite games on the platform). I sent my system into Microsoft, got it (or a refurbished unit) back, no harm no foul, and it's been chomping data and spitting heat in an enclosed cabinet for the last six months problem-free. My personal experience = excellent.
I've said it before and I'll say again that I'd really like to see Microsoft release internal tracking numbers. Give us date ranges with reasons for failure, or just debate Daily Tech's numbers, though in the end, I certainly can't argue with Microsoft VP Peter Moore when he tells 1UP "What [the] consumer should worry about is the way that we've treated him...Y'know, things break, and if we've treated him well and fixed his problem, that's something that we're focused on right now."
Fair enough?
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Microsoft is in a battle (and apparently, a winning one), with Sony. One of its key arguments is reliability. If Sony consoles are just as bad, but Sony costs more, and is worse with service, then Microsoft wins, or at least wins key points.
Who are the media to ask for numbers that could be used to bash Microsoft, particularly if there is no question about how Microsoft handles the situation?
Mr. Moore is right: If things break, and they've treated users well, who can argue with that?
To my mind, the only question is of future reliability.
There was a point in time in which I and several of my friends all had dead xboxes around the same time. It filled me with disgust! I can't believe they made a product that is basically a time bomb for that red ring of death.
Electrox, I think you're just a little harsh here. I understand that you're upset, but Microsoft has done quite a bit to help ensure that our systems keep running, and for when they don't, that they'll help us speed the process of getting another unit.
Perhaps the common time of death has to do with one of the above mentioned games?
"I had a 360 meltdown a while back myself...
My personal experience = excellent. "
Are you brain washed?
You buy something, it broke, the you go to shipping it, waiting for it, you dont get your in excellent xbox but a whos know xbox reburfished, and maybe you must do it again.
And you are happy, excuse me, excellent experience, wow.
And about Microsft handles the situation? its the worst...
When the ipod battery go dead, they reconaigzed it and replace them.
When the sony battery, they recall them all, millions, and how many got fired about 5.
Microsoft has millions of xbox crashing, and keep in deny, not fixing it, they continue to produce and sell the same crap for 2 years.
And you are happy, must be for the games and xbox live freebies microsoft offer to shut up, in other words microsoft is paying to costumers for not get them to court and force a recall, that any other honest company would do. They give freebies, how much it cost them compared to billions from a recall
Just for the record. I saved up the money, yeah, that is right, I am a poor, working american, my wife and I both have to work and even with that, at the end of the month we are usually broke, but We saved up the money to get our son, THE BEST, the microsoft xbox 360.
What a piece of crap. Read all the complaints and actual accounts of consumers getting the shaft by Microsoft... http://www.xbox360defective.com recall recall recall the xbox360 Give us our money back or Fix the darn thing.
PS
I totally love, LOVE the xbox 360 when it is working.
But, really, and this is not a joke, YOU LITERALLY HAVE TO PURCHASE 2 OF THEM, 1 TO PLAY AND 1 TO SHIP OFF TO BE FIXED.
I have 2, and let me tell you, playing this thing on a big, 56 inch tv with a huge sub woofer, and surround sound REALLY ROCKS.
I am pissed, and many who have read me all over the net can sense that, but my God, On my 4th one now and I only use it MINIMALLY! http://www.xbox360defective.com
Wait, let me get this straight: You are "poor"; both you and your wife work to meet ends; even so, you're "usually broke" at the end of the month. And yet you save your hard-earned money -- NOT to better your lives of quiet desperation, NOT to save up for your child's edu-ma-ctation, NOT to pay off the bills and have some left over to maintain some smidgeon of savings for your retirement -- but to get your child an Xbox360? And not just one, but FOUR?! On a 56" projection television??!! With Surround Sound???!!!
I'm sorry, but you seriously have your priorities mixed-up.