Recent Comments:
The second-gen iPhone: 3G, GPS, only slightly thicker {Engadget}
Apr 25th 2008 4:01PM @ chris
3rd gen nano phatty
/thread
Xbox 360 power supply pinpointed as cause of house fire {Engadget}
Apr 20th 2008 1:18AM @ Wwhat
No, they mean the power brick. However, they writer of the article doesn't know what to call this, so he/she resorts to calling it a "cord." "Power brick" is a term for the 360's power supply that originated on the Internet in response to its massive size. Read the entire article. The writer/reporter doesn't seem too learned in (1) video games, (2) the hardware that goes along with the consoles, and (3) proper grammar, it's a pretty poorly written article.
So, no, it's not the cord itself, but the entire power supply. Read what the Fire Chief says. Cords don't dissipate heat; the power brick does.
Thanks for playing.
Xbox 360 power supply pinpointed as cause of house fire {Engadget}
Apr 19th 2008 5:53PM @ MikeG
Exactly why do you consider me to be a "massive nerd"?
Xbox 360 power supply pinpointed as cause of house fire {Engadget}
Apr 19th 2008 3:21PM @ phanbouy
What's your level of education? Anyone even vaguely learned in government or law will tell you that a company is, in fact, considered a legal person. Under law, they are a collective entity that acts together as a single unit, much like how a human is a collection of parts (brain, heart, limbs, veins, etc) that work together as one. Therefore, companies have rights inherent in their existence and liberties granted to them by the government.
Also, I'd like to point out that you show absolutely no maturity or intelligence in your posts (as did the person you went back and forth with). Look up "ad hominem." A person who commits this fallacy loses every bit of credibility in my eyes.
So, I ask that you do two things. First, I'd like you to learn about law and government and the rights and responsibilities of both corporations and consumers. Second, you should learn how to argue your points effectively and properly while not attacking another person. It makes you seem insecure and ridiculous. Quit making a fool of yourself.
Xbox 360 power supply pinpointed as cause of house fire {Engadget}
Apr 19th 2008 1:07PM Did any of you take two minutes to read the article? Oh, you didn't? Well, here you go:
"...Carl Olson take playing video games seriously...dedicating hours to it. 'The average week probably a couple of days worth that's too much,' says Olson."
So, we see that he devotes a lot of time to gaming. Fair enough, most of us here do. Will things get hot? Yes. But they won't catch fire. That's a good thing.
" 'It was melted and it looked like they had it against the wall in on edge and things like that need a little space to dissipate heat,' explains Weaver [the Fire Chief]."
Here's were things go wrong. The power brick is in a place where it is unable to dissipate heat. For what it's worth, I'll won't make any more comments, as I've already made my arguments regarding this point.
"Monday, while no one was home at the Little Rock house on the 5000 block of Cantrell Road, it caught on fire. Flames charred the interior."
WHOA! No one was home! Yet it still caught fire? One of two things happened: (1) the cord failed to cool down after the system's power was turned off, or (2) he left his 360 on while he wasn't home. The likelihood of #1 happening is far less than the likelihood of #2. However, if #1 did happen, then Microsoft is to blame, as a powerless console shouldn't have it's supply catch on fire. But, like I said, I'd bet that #2 happened, making the owner, Olson, to blame for negligent care.
Xbox 360 power supply pinpointed as cause of house fire {Engadget}
Apr 19th 2008 12:11PM How is it not to be expected? If something that heats up isn't ventilated properly, I do expect it to catch fire. It's proper physics and thermodynamics. Any given heat in a dense area will get even hotter given the compactness and closeness of the objects. Eventually, when something gets hot enough, it will catch fire. Simple.
It's like a car. If you take care of it, nothing bad happens. If something bad happens and you took good care of it prior to, then it's the manufacturer's fault, not yours. If you don't take good care of it, and something bad happens, look no further than a mirror. It's the same with electronics, or really, ANYTHING that requires any sort of care.
He was instructed on how to take proper care of the object, yet he did not. If he had taken proper care of it and this happened, there would be a problem. But alas, he did not, and therefore, the problem is all his.
Xbox 360 power supply pinpointed as cause of house fire {Engadget}
Apr 19th 2008 11:21AM What aren't you guys understanding? When vented properly the power brick doesn't heat up to the point where it catches fire. This guy had his brick in a tightly compact spot. The expelled heat was collecting in the area, and naturally, a small area will heat up much quicker than a larger one.
It's not like this guy had his brick out in the open and it caused a fire. No, he had it in a very tight spot which raised the overall temperature of the area enough to cause a fire.
Get this through your heads: The power brick in itself is not a life-threatening device. Improper care of said brick, much like every other electronic item on the market, can cause serious risk of damage or injury. This guy didn't take care of it properly and therefore, he greatly increased the risk.
Xbox 360 power supply pinpointed as cause of house fire {Engadget}
Apr 19th 2008 10:11AM No one is to fault here by the owners. Microsoft clearly instructs that the 360 and power brick need to be in open areas so that they can "breathe." They didn't do that, so it's their problem. There better not be a lawsuit.
Microsoft patent application shows off wearable mouse concept {Engadget}
Apr 17th 2008 12:25PM Well, they did say that Windows 7 will be a whole new computing experience...
Circuit City comes through after trashing man's Honda Civic {Engadget}
Apr 15th 2008 7:45PM Kudos because they ultimately did the right thing. Sure, they had pressure, but that doesn't matter, because they ultimately made up for their wrongdoings. How many times do companies NOT take care of a problem the proper way (that is, make it up to the consumer in some equitable way)?
