Microsoft recalls hot Xbox cords

Microsoft is recalling over 14 million Xbox power cords after finding they can occasionally cause minor burns and toasted carpets.  The recall covers Xboxes made for continental Europe before Jan. 13, 2004 and those made for the rest of the world before Oct. 23, 2003.  You can get a free replacement cord through Xbox.com.  In the meantime, Microsoft suggests turning off the console when it's not in use.

[Ryan @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Anyone think that these new cables could be set to fry Mod Chips???

[Gary Steen @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

hmm. I went to the site and guess what. Micro$oft wants your serial number and home address details.

Sounds to me like a pretty cheap way to build a comprehensive list of xbox users and user addresses!

[wtf @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

You both are retarded, how do you expect them to send you a wire with no address and to check what boxes are flawed, so they dont have to send more wires then they have to, and the wire mod comment gawd that was the dumbest thing I've heard all day besides making this post.

[Gary Steen @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

hmm retarded. Let me try and give a non retarded response then. A.) Microsoft could have easily done a scheme where people take old leads into a EBgames,Toy R Us or similar outlet and simply offer an exchange prorgam.

They could also have offered a freepost address where you send your old lead and a new one is despatched. Both these scheme would have allowed to exchange faulty kit without tying your address to a particular xbox serial number.

Don't forget with Xbox live and this adress/serial number scheme, your serial number will now linked to your address they could easily produce a list of modded xbox's by region/by country/by street/by house number!

Retarded, I don't think so. Cautious of giving Micro$oft my details hell yeah, Micro$oft have a track record of using secret data capture techniques.

Gary

[Jeremy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Ummmm... OF COURSE MS wants to build a database of serial numbers, names and addresses.

Modding your X-box is against the Digital Millenium Copyright Act- see this article about the guy who modded his Sony Aibo pet dog- http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,48088,00.html

And then read this one:

http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,66607,00.html

They are watching and they want to know. Stop fooling yourself.

[Jeremy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Ummmm... OF COURSE MS wants to build a database of serial numbers, names and addresses.

Modding your X-box is against the Digital Millenium Copyright Act- see this article about the guy who modded his Sony Aibo pet dog- http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,48088,00.html

And then read this one:

http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,66607,00.html

They are watching and they want to know. Stop fooling yourself.

[Mr ds hater @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

anyone who is dump enough to buy an x box deserves toget burned






(the ds is a piece of crap)

[Jason Shanker @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Gary, your idea: "They could also have offered a freepost address where you send your old lead and a new one is despatched. Both these scheme would have allowed to exchange faulty kit without tying your address to a particular xbox serial number." would be fine, assuming people don't mind having a non-powered xbox for the twn days or so it takes to turn around the new cord. Good luck getting people to agree to that one!

I don't have an xbox, so I've no idea if it's a standard laptop cable, but I suspect most non-geeks (and plenty of xbox users are non-geeks) don't exactly have a box full of spare power cords in their closet to use in the mean time.

The exchange at point-of-sale is a plausible idea, but a LOT more expensive to administer, and harder to control, than what they are doing.

Recalls have been going on for decades, and for decades they've been done largely like MS is doing -- you collect the info, confirm the validity of the claim, and send out the replacement.

If anyone had bothered to go to the site for replacement info, they also would have read this:
"What will Microsoft do with my contact information?
The contact information you provide will be used for purposes of conducting the Power Cord Replacement Program for Xbox or in order to contact you in the event of other safety related issues. This information will not be used for marketing purposes. However, if you register your console or provide contact information in other contexts (e.g. Xbox.com, Xbox Live, or Microsoft.com), that information may be used as described in those contexts."

(http://replacements.webprogram.com/en-us/faqs.asp#Q-17)

Of course, the kinds of people who believe recalls are a sinister plot to launch cyber spies into our grey matter are not the people likely to believe a privacy disclaimer.

[OET @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

gary,

if you think MS is trying to capture this and that, who cares. Do you realize how much information is stored on servers about you and your habits.. there arecompany's out there who specilize in this data to sell, from grocery stores to corporations.

You have a crdit card? Bank account? Think about all the paperwork youve filled out in the past from job apps to the doctor.

Im tired of hearing about all this MS is the devil and taking all your information..

Good luck and I hope your not using anything MS!

[jane @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Since I bought an xbox from Costco, and IMHO, they tend to be a reputable, upstanding company to do business with, THEY had a record that we may have purchased an xbox, and THEY sent the recall info to us. Guess what? We happened to own one of the 1 in 10,000 units that "could" have (and DID) burned up. 8 yo DD was playing a game, or watching a movie at the time. This happened quite a while ago, and we didn't do anything about it at the time, but I was ticked, since the thing wasn't very old, and DD could have been hurt! Received the recall notice, and went to site to see if they had any info about what they would do if the cord had burned and ruined the unit, but ofcourse not!
SO...... called them to ask it they would do anything about replacing unit, but guess what? before the woman would answer my question, she needed all of my personal information!!! I asked to talk to a supervisor. She said she was one. I said I'd like to talk to her superior, she said they don't do that, that that's not how they operate. She refused to even answer the question of whether they would do anything. I told her I would contact my attorney, and now I'm thinking I really should -- how dare they refuse to even answer the question! Why do they need my personal info before she can answer my question? BTW, it took voicemail hell to (of course) even be able to talk to a human being. The consumer is obviously intelligent enough to determine if the cord needs replacing by checking the manufacturing date on the bottom of the unit, but evidently NOT if they need more answers.
I'm so disgusted.

[ninja778 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

I agree with the above post... in as much as to say that I would think that not everyone that sent out for a free replacement of the power cord is going to be someone who mods his xbox or whatever... I mean, how many people do you think go and ask for the free replacement?
Jason, the new cord is like the original but they added a breaker to it so that if there isn't enough power or too much power, it trips and keeps the box from getting the spike. If you've ever seen a blow dryer cord(not sure if they all come with one like that) it looks like one of those. It even has a light that tells you if it is working or not. I think it is pretty good idea. I like the idea of them sending it for free, it's only right. I have an unmodded 100% legit xbox, all original and I buy my games when they go on special... so I am not worried about any of that. Also, if I were to ever want to mod my xbox, and I did, then how would MS know? I never plan to go on xbox live since they charge alot (in my opinion) so how would they know if I never connect? are they going to bug my house? will they assign somebody to watch me to make sure that I am not doing anything like that? come on... the only way to really be safe is to never give out your info at all, to live in the woods without an internet connection, grow your own food and never buy anything with credit or a credit card, check, or other means where electronic ANYTHING is involved. I ordered my cord because of the risk it is supposed to defend against. I don't want my stuff catching on fire or shorting out. Also, by posting their privacy disclaimer and then breaking it... hmmm.... that would be sweet because then we could sue and get some free money! ha ha...
It's smart to be careful, maybe even a bit paranoid, but there is a fine line...