Microsoft says that only 3% of Xbox 360s are defective
posted Dec 1st 2005 4:45PM
Joystiq is reporting that despite the buzz surrounding defective Xbox 360s, Microsoft claims that only 3% of the units sold have been faulty, which is below the industry average. Assuming that Microsoft's numbers are accurate, it would seem that all the online drama about melting 'boxs and deadly error messages can likely be attributed to the fact that early adopters tend to be outspoken in forums and don't represent the general public. In other 360 news, analyst P.J. McNealy speculates that between 300,000 and 400,000 of the consoles have been sold so far, and MS would have "sold another million if they could have. They just don't have them." So to wrap things up, the 360 probably works right, but it's a moot point 'cause the only way you'll get to play one is at Wal-Mart.
#22 yes he has problems... to tell you the truth i have the same thing he has (asperger syndrome) and most people with it (like me and him) are very smart.
I've been playing my 360 every second possible since launch, and I haven't had a problem. It spent 10+ hours on one day straight (crazy marathon Call of Duty 2 session, a little Halo 2 live, and a movie). It does get a bit hot behind where the exhaust fan vents, but if you don't put it in a really confined space you'll be fine. I also know my local Gamestop has gotten at least 2 shipments, maybe more.
Seems plausible that there is a 3% failure rate but it seems like there's more. It's the people with problems who complain; those who have units working properly, don't. Seems to me there's not 60,000 people out there with problem units.
my friend in i stood in line for 12.5 hours 8 of which it poured down raining to get this thing , we managed to play it for a total of 15 hours before gettin a hardware failure thing , dont rember which lights it was but it wasnt the overheating one, i really wanted to get myself one, kinda iffy if i should now andi think that by time they get ver 2 , ps3 should be out (not sure just hoping) and hopefully it will have no issues. already sent the 360 off hopefully to get it back in a week or so .
Heres some speculation and thats all it is but i think 3% isnt too bad but going off topic Microsoft only realeased a certain amount, the reason being to make it the hot product everybody wants for Christmas, the you want what you can't have factor, and while some aren't buying into this many are, mine is second shipment and who knows when that is, but honestly what stops Microsoft themselves from selling it on ebay, they can do it if they aren't caught and they are selling for hundreds of dollars more then the actuall price, now im not saying that thats whats going on im just saying shoot i would do it to make some money and people are buying them so what the heck. I think they have the consoles why would they launch in japan and europe if they didn't, like i said they just want everyone to want the darn thing and its working for the most part.
How many xbox 360's are sitting under the xmas tree just waiting to go worng on dec25?
Then we find out the true figure of faulty machine's.
My advice dont buy one till version 3 comes out as it always seems to take microsoft 3 goes to get anything right.
The day Microsoft produces something that doesn't suck is the day where they start producing vacuum-cleaners..
-A
#49 Ben
Yes, I'm an idiot because my xbox broke.
My xbox has the 3 flashing lights...but I've found a work-around. If I turn on the 360 and let the three lights flash for 10 minutes, turn it off then on again it works like a charm. Turning it off/on before 10 minute 'warm up' period has no effect. No problems once it actually boots up. Strange but true. I'll be exchanging it as soon as I can find a replacement.
I am not worried about one being defective...
Prices are low enough now on ebay that it is worth it.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:31&item=8237593659
3% is actually below the original ps2 defect rate. The psp launch also had defects, as well as the original xbox. I don't have a defective one, I don't personally know anyone who does, and my stores have not had one reported as defective. MS does have a hotline to work thru any problems and if they can't be solved MS will overnight you a new one. This is way over hyped, and there will be plenty in stores by christmas.
The idea that you would risk a billion dollar corporation so you could make a few extra hundred bucks on a machine is stupid. MS does not make money from Ebay and the amount they could make would be insignificant to a company the size of MS.
If they held themselves to a more stringent quality practice, none of us would have the device. I'm one of the majority 97%, and all I can say is 720p makes a BIG difference. Oh, it's good.
"I'm guessing around 5-10% is defective. Sony will own all!"
Sony's defect rates at launch aren't that stellar either, you know. I love their cameras and just bought a PSP, but I wouldn't assume that the PS3 launch's going to be sunshine and rainbows.
"I don't really trust Microsoft's numbers anymore after Windows ME ..."
As someone who's still hideously bitter about providing desktop support for 98, ME, and early 2000, I'm not too worried.
What's with all of the conspiracy theorists? Your tinfoil hats might be piercing your skull. Microsoft is not going to sell the 360 on Ebay for a couple hundred extra bucks. They make 1 BILLION dollars in CASH a month. That helps to survive the critical mistakes (costing them 4 BILLION) they made with the originial Xbox. I could point you to Major Nelson's sight (anybody who actually wants the truth (obviously biased, but he doesn't lie), go there), but you wouldn't believe him anyway.
Microsoft could/should have had more units for the initial release, but they are shipping units daily to the retailers distribution points. However, it's not many, so the retailers (ie Best Buy) will probably stockpile them until they can get a decent quantity (2 dozen?) to all of their stores and then run their Sunday ads for them. It makes more sense than stocking 2 units at each store each week. Personally, I wouldn't waste my time with an EB /Gamestop since they took hundreds of preorders (mainly because they need the cash), so yea, you won't be able to get one there until next year.
KB - As Microsoft claims, 3% is below the industry average. Remember, dozens of components go into the 360 and each has a failure rate all of its own, so as you factor all of those probabilities of failure for each component, the system failure rate will be relatively high in comparison. Yes, for govenment 3% still sucks, but for commercial that's better than the norm. Also, Microsoft can refurb these "defective" units by replacing the bad part and then using them as swap-out units (don't think they can resell them though), so it's not a total loss.
Hmm, all the Xbox Crashes seem to have cooled the balls off of Ebay. Xbox auctions are down-down.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8239236611&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1
Even if it's only 3%, that still 9,000 boxes (xboxes)!
mj
http://www.junglemungle.com
I have to say xbox 360 did have a good launch and people are always gonna rag on the big name company and defects. but the PS2 had some of the wrose in video game history theres been tons of people trading in PS2's and selling them due to lens burning out and not reading games and sony has still yet to fix it.
Could you imagine if every 3% of cars being sold had bad brakes? Way to go Microsoft...
My xbox 360 kept freezing on me the first day I got it. I flipped it upside down like you used to have to do with the PSone. Works great!
Im guessing the other 97% is in their pocket?
Im going with 50% dont believe the 3%
my xbox 360 is great, yes it does scratch disks, but why the f would yo move it while your on it playing and stuff.... wtf is wrong with you people!
>
Yeah, but imagine - you'd be able to buy your car at 5000 below cost.
SNES never crashed....ever.
I don't ever remember any Nintendo systems having any of these problems. Could it be that Nintendo actually TESTS their products before sending it out to the public? What a novel concept.
No hype = much better.
OS ANGELES (Reuters) - A Chicago man who bought Microsoft Corp.'s new
Xbox 360 has sued the world's largest software maker, saying the new video game console has a design flaw that causes it to overheat and freeze up.
The proposed class action claims that in Microsoft's bid to gain share in the $25 billion global video game market, the company was so intent on releasing the Xbox 360 before competing next-generation machines from Sony Corp (NYSE:SNE - news). and Nintendo Co Ltd. that it sold a "defectively designed" product.
Robert Byers, who brought the suit, said the power supply and central processing unit in the Xbox 360 overheat, affecting heat-sensitive chips and causing the console to lock up.
Microsoft spokeswoman Molly O'Donnell on Monday said the company does not comment on pending litigation.
Complaints about the problem surfaced quickly on gaming enthusiast Web sites after the Xbox 360 debuted on November 22.
Console owners reported that some systems had crashed during regular use as well as during online game play using the Xbox Live service. Problems included screens going black and the appearance of a variety of error messages.
At the time O'Donnell told Reuters: "We have received a few isolated reports of consoles not working as expected."
She declined to say how many reports Microsoft had received and said that calls reporting the issue to the company represented a "very, very small fraction" of units sold.
The lawsuit, filed on Friday in federal court in Illinois, seeks unspecified damages and litigation-related expenses, as well as the replacement or recall of Xbox 360 game consoles.
i am not a sony fanboy neither will i slag off microsofts attempt at creating the "perfect" console but what i am worried about is my xbox 360 being faulty we have heard alot over the coming days about xboxs freezing up damaged hardrives etc.
And as your parents do they get you an xbox 360 for christmas and "not before" says the mother well how the **** am i supposed to know if it is faulty or not opening it on christmas day some day it would be if the bloody console dont work, right with that off my chest i would like to say thanks for reading my first comment on this forum and will be glad to hear any replies you may have
Thanks
Martyfr
Mine was defective, should be back from the repair center this week...no big deal.
Only a Moron would expect "no risk" buying a first Generation anything.
Like that Moron with the lawsuit against MS because his 360 was defective.
I bought a first run PS2 and a first run 360. I've had a couple of freezes on the 360, comparable to the disc read errors that occurred with my PS2, both were evident early on. Get over it, I sent my PS2 in twice, Sony repaired it out of warranty for free due to the fact that I had already sent it in once. What does that say about Sony? Nothing this is complicated stuff, using COMPUTER parts. How many of your computers haven't crashed. PS3 will have problems too. HD 360 is great.
I just wanted to say this is the greatest system I have ever played ever since the night I got my xbox 360 i have been on it. I went and camped out in front of best buy and got 2 systems. I was getting one for me and one for my brother but my brother already got one that night. So much for my christmas presents to him. now I have the xbox 360 premium for sale on ebay please take a look I have to get rid of it. thanks
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8239484913&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1