JeffArono wrote:
IMHO if you want a 360 then buy one. ... just enjoy gaming.
It's easy to say. I'm trying, but I'm looking at getting my third 360 console. This simply isn't fair. I'm holding out for a Jasper. I want to take as little chance as possible.
The fact that people are starting to accept this as part of owning a 360 (or should I say buying several 360's) is completely terrible.
Microsoft replaced my original launch console with a refurbished one. It still runs hot and the drive gets really loud, and now, it has started freezing occasionally, and I don't think it's the games that are causing it. I have a feeling this problem will get worse (it's the way my first console started to go), and because it's not a Red Ring problem Microsoft won't replace it. Though they did replace my first console, because it wasn't Red Ring, I had to argue with customer service to make it happen. I had to argue about the fact that yes, my console booted fine without a RRoD, but it was still unusable because it would consistently freeze within an hour of playing.
I'm waiting to buy a Jasper because I don't feel like arguing with Xbox Customer Service just so they can replace my console with the same old hardware (if they even agree to do it) so that I can have another console that will start to crap out a year later.
So Jeff, if you say that I'm just being bitter, you're right. I've been soured by the experience. I love 360 games and Live. Microsoft has been a great innovator, but these hardware issues are terribley unfair, and yes it's common. Every 360 gamer I know knows multiple people who have had multiple 360 consoles. Either the problems are extremely common, or I'm an incredible statistical anomaly in that I'm connected to several people who have had at least one replacement console and who themselves know other people who have had 360's die on them. In fact, my workplace is on its second 360 for our break room.
And remember, not everyone gets a replacement console from Microsoft, either because MS says it won't cover the problem, or because the customer simply buys another console on their own. I bet the statistics MS has quoted in interviews doesn't count a signficant amount of consoles people have had to replace.
I wish I could just enjoy gaming on my 360. What's on the inside of the plastic casing should not be my concern, but MS has not held up their end of the deal (providing a product of reasonable quality) and has thus made it every consumer's concern.
I'd like to, but I can't just "buy one" and "...enjoy gaming." It's not that simple.
