X-Box 360 problems update, X-Mas shoppers be advised:

[chknltl]

I have been doing a little research on line about the problems X-Box 360 has had since it's launch a year ago. I am seeing a repeating pattern of 360s freezing up on their owners. If it happens in under 3 months the 360 can be sent in for repair for free but after 3 months the warranty expires and the repair bill is an additional $140. Apparently there are enough consumers experiencing problems with the 360 that there are class action law suits in the works. My computer is having it's own problems which is why I can not post links...but check out X-Box360 problems in Wikipedia for further info and links if you are even thinking of buying one.

Mine is frozen solid, (read dead), after a mere 4 months of use. I am reluctant to send it in at this time as my own research has uncovered plenty of "repaired" boxes which refroze soon after their owners got them back. One fellow is on his 6th 360 at this time. I feel ripped off and I have NO confidence that an additional $140 will be money well spent either. When functioning the 360 is an amazing product, truly a great representative of the next generation in gaming but right now it has a design flaw which makes it a risky investment of ones $400+

I hope with this post, that I have saved at least one fellow DUer some grief here. If there is enough interest in this topic, I will add a second update, (with links) as I join the ranks of those in the class action lawsuit. Microsoft should be ashamed of itself. IMO, they should be held accountable for fixing THEIR design flaws at THEIR expense, not ours.
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[mainegreen]

1. Interesting.

If I was going to get anything, I think I would get a Wii. This only confirms my opinion.

[chknltl]

4. I hear that the Wii is great exercise.

One of my friends swears by the bowling game and that RPG with swordplay looks to be a hoot. These next gen consoles are cooler than hell. I just wish the 360 wasn't such a risky propsition. The graphics and gameplay in Eldar Scrolls: Oblivian for the 360 are just mind bendingly cool. I SO miss playing that game on my 360. I am now playing one of the newer games for the old X-Box, (Destroy all Humans 2), it is ok, but after playing Oblivian I am left feeling a bit flat.
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[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. Honestly, I don't understand the problem.

I've got a 1st generation XBox 360 and I've had few problems with it. It would freeze from time to time while playing Madden, but as a gaming veteran (I've been playing since Texas Instruments put out a console), every system I've ever had has had freezing issues.

I've bought the Intercooler ($25) which adds extra cooling to the system and I haven't had a single freeze since then. I know other XBox owners that have had few problems as well. Quite frankly, I think maluse (such as leaving the system on forever) has attributed to many of them problems.

[chknltl]

3. Mal-use as you defined it should NOT be a problem.

I do have a tendency to play nonstop for up to 6 hours at a stretch so your suggestion has merit, but I hardly think that leaving an electronic component on for that, (or any), length of time qualifies as mal-use. (Would leaving your computer or any stereo component on for that length of time be "mal-use"?) I have a PS2 and a regular X-BOX, both have suffered that sort of mal-use for a lot longer than the 360 over the years with no breakdowns.

As to the merit of your suggestion: From what I am seeing in my research, I have yet to discern a single cause. The overheating phenomenon is one of the first places the tech support focuses on when called and is one possibility often discussed by unhappy malfunctioning 360 owners. (I saw one suggestion by someone who claims that the aftermarket inter-cooler is a waste of electricity as it really doesn't do anything but that was just the one person's opinion.) I have read quite a few testimonials from folks who claimed their 360s worked fine until they downloaded specific upgrades and/or games online into their 360 AND THEN the problems started happening. It just may be that some of the 360s deteriorate and malfunction because of time of being left on, this I have yet to see discussed, but I can not rule it out. (I am honestly leaning toward thinking that you may be on to something here.)

I understand that only a percentage of 360s have developed problems, I do not know what that percentage is but I do know that it is significantly high enough that it IS being discussed online. I would not have become aware of any of this had mine, like yours functioned normally for a year. The fact that you bought the inter-cooler lets me know that you are aware of the potential for problems with your 360 too. I hope you can understand that we are all enthusiastic gamers who wish to use our next gen consoles without all this hassle. I hope you can see where an average gamer who IS going through this hassle is feeling ripped off by Microsoft.

I am not looking to be a crusader against the 360, I just want to see this problem resolved without the consumer being forced to foot the bill for faulty equipment. Until then I feel it necessary to warn folks of the problem and continue my own research. Until then I have no confidence that spending $140 to fix my 360 or spending over $400 for a new 360 will end up being money well spent for a product that should work resonably well. This is a gamble that we gamers should NOT be subject to.
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[Rosco T.]

6. I second the recommendation for the Intercoller...

[Rosco T.]

5. Slightly Incorrect.... warranty extended...

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2006/09/microsoft_dismi.html

Thursday, September 21, 2006
Microsoft Dismisses Repair Fees On Early Xbox 360s, Acknowledges Quality Problems

Dean Takahashi, 01:50 PM in Dean Takahashi, Gaming

Microsoft issued a statement today acknowledging that its early run of Xbox 360s made in 2005 were buggy and that it would rescind any repair fee on boxes that need service as long as they were manufactured before Jan. 1, 2006. The statement is in response to a raft of complaints from gamers such as Chris Szarek, whose story we told on this blog about how he went through four consoles in the repair process. Szarek said today that this validates concerns that he and others had about the quality of the launch consoles. Those who paid repair fees already will get refunds.

Here's Microsoft's statement:

As part of our standard and ongoing process of analyzing repair data, we recently noticed a higher than usual number of units coming in for repair. Upon further investigation, it was further discovered that the bulk of the units were isolated to a group that was part of the initial manufacturing run of the console. Returns for repair are coming in for a variety reasons and it's a higher rate than we are satisfied with. We've made the decision to comp repairs for consoles manufactured before January 1, 2006, and provide refunds to the small group of customers who have already paid for repairs.

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I had one of the early launch units and did have a problem, called in, they sent a new one right out and haven't had a problem since.

[chknltl]

7. You have gotten my hopes up here.

I will call in again (but I have my doubts for my case). When calling tech support they first ask for your box's serial number, this leads me to believe that the tech supporter had access to the age of my 360. He mentioned nothing about getting it fixed for free at that time. He DID know just from the serial number the date and place of my purchase, he informed me that it was beyond the 3 month warranty by one month. I have read testimonials from folks who have gotten back repaired 360s only to have them freeze up again...this concerns me. If I knew for a fact that sending mine in and even spending an additional $140 would get me a 360 that had a reasonable likelihood of functioning properly for even a year, I would do just that. I am not trying to be a doubting Thomas here...I just don't want to end up feeling ripped off even further. I will call tech support one more time and see what they say. Thanks for the encouragement.
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[Rosco T.]

8. if nothing else...

.. call in an get the extended warranty (like $30 for a year).. then wait a week or so and call back IT BROKE!