MS committed to 360 as "most reliable" console
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Jan 10th 2008 at 5:00PM }
Speaking to the BBC, Microsoft's now retired golden boy Bill Gates had some interesting things to say about the Xbox 360. Addressing concerns about the Xbox 360's much publicized reliability problems, Gates admitted that the console has had its share of problems. "We certainly had to apologize to our users about a number of boxes that had to be replaced," said Gates, referring to the costly warranty extension that was enacted in July of 2007. He further notes that Microsoft has received positive feedback about Xbox service in the wake of its problems. He concludes by saying, "we've got incredible reliability on the new work that we've done, and so our commitment is that it will be the most reliable video game box out there." Considering a fellow blogger in the Joystiq network recently got the Red Ring of Death on a replacement 360 only one week after he had received it, we'd say Microsoft has a ways to go before making good on that commitment.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Stupendous52 @ Jan 10th 2008 5:03PM
Heh, I believe I have sent back 4 or 5 consoles... I've kind of lost count at this point. My current one has been going strong for about 5 months though (knock on wood!)
DemonGSides @ Jan 10th 2008 5:11PM
I give it 2 days.
The point is to never tell stories about how many consoles you've had, or how long your current one has been going.
terrence @ Jan 10th 2008 5:23PM
i've got a launch 360 that i play every day, and no RROD so far...
even if MS has the problem licked in all 360's now being produced, they really should keep their mouth shut about hardware reliability until AT LEAST this fall!
Stupendous52 @ Jan 10th 2008 5:34PM
I will keep you posted :) The one thing I will say, is that everytime I have had a problem, Microsoft has been good about getting me a replacement. . . Don't get me started on my customer service experiences though. That's an entirely different story. Sometimes I feel like I would rather gouge my eyes out than call India to discuss my crapped out Xbox.
Nick @ Jan 10th 2008 10:41PM
I'll take India over French Canadians. I spent the most painful hour of my life talking to what I thought might be a woman, or a guy, or just stupid incarnate. I've never had a more frustrating experience, all I wanted to do was extend my 360 warranty (50 bucks for another 2 years, fine!) and it was like I was talking to a donkey. *I* found the details on the cost while this person, supposedly the support center of Canada, had NO idea what was going on.
It's this kind of inept service that made me run screaming from management at eBay. It's like the ring, once you actually see behind the wall, it's damn near enough to make your head asplode.
This, eBay, Verizon, etc., etc., etc. - all reasons why Outsourcing puts the bad in OMG I want to find you and beat you over the head with a sledgehammer.
Michael Paul @ Jan 10th 2008 5:10PM
"Considering a fellow blogger in the Joystiq network recently got the Red Ring of Death on a replacement 360 only one week after he had received it"
Well, no, my older-than-what-I-returned refurb hasn't failed yet, but it sure sucks that the DVD drive almost always sticks when opening it. Too bad Microsoft's Hallmark Of Reliability is bootability rather than usability...
Michael Paul @ Jan 10th 2008 5:10PM
"Considering a fellow blogger in the Joystiq network recently got the Red Ring of Death on a replacement 360 only one week after he had received it"
Well, no, my older-than-what-I-returned refurb hasn't failed yet, but it sure sucks that the DVD drive almost always sticks when opening it. Too bad Microsoft's Hallmark Of Reliability is bootability rather than usability...
Michael Paul @ Jan 10th 2008 5:11PM
You need to fix the comment system. Really...
terrence @ Jan 10th 2008 5:25PM
i'm fairly sure it isn't something dustin and richard can fix, as the problem seems to happen with a whole host of blogsmith-powered blogs (engadget, etc)
Larry *not allowed to say cheevo* @ Jan 10th 2008 5:10PM
When I saw the title of this post, then the picture I laughed and said, "What a DICK!". It's funny though! Most of us have had some kind of issue, and it's sad times for sure. I've dealt with Microsoft customer service more than I wish I had. I know I'll deal with them again, but my hope is that one day they'll get it right.
Microsoft is a software company, so it's seems they are destined to make sub-par stuff. Hopefully they will see the light and let someone else build their products for them.
Maybe the xbox720 will be more reliable, and we won't hold our breath every time we power on the damned thing!
deaftly @ Jan 10th 2008 5:13PM
My ps3 died last night :(
TORO @ Jan 10th 2008 5:42PM
Wohoo!! Shall we celebrate? My treat...
Digitalspirit @ Jan 10th 2008 5:15PM
I hope I'm not tempting fate now, but my original machine has been running faultlessly since I bought it 14 months ago. I have 2 friends who have launch machines that are still running and about 6 friends with machines well over 6 months old. Only one mate has had 2 replacements, but he used to keep his on the carpet next to the radiator and didn't exactly look after them. I don't know if we're all just lucky or if the stories are over exaggerated. Hopefully I won't find out.
BadMammaJamma @ Jan 10th 2008 8:48PM
Have shipped mine in 3 times in two years:
1) RROD - MS replaced console - MS replaced console with refurb. Purchased extended warranty (pre-MS extension)
2) Scratching discs - MS replaced console with refurb
3) Frozen console "E72 Error" - firmware corrupted after trying to use as a media center extender with Vista PC - MS fixed and returned same console
Now I'm counting the days until my current refurb RROD again. I love it when it works.
I finally filed a complaint with the BBB... hoping for a refund so I can purchase one of the new "reliable" consoles.
Alexander @ Jan 10th 2008 5:26PM
Most reliable my ass! I've had 3 give me the RRoD, and every person I know that has an Xbox has gotten the RRoD at least once.
Alexander @ Jan 10th 2008 5:27PM
Most reliable my ass! I've had 3 give me the RRoD, and every person I know that has an Xbox has gotten the RRoD at least once.
Qube @ Jan 10th 2008 6:25PM
Please read what Bill said. He didn't say the console *is* the most reliable, quite the contrary. What he said is that they're commited to making it the most reliable console going forward.
Now, I don't have much confidence in that, given their track record, but man, I'm glad that reliability is at least a goal for the company.
DP @ Jan 10th 2008 7:03PM
New ones! Bill Gates is talking about the new ones! Jezuz!
rTwelve @ Jan 10th 2008 5:29PM
my friend got his replacement one back today and it got rrod'd in 30 minutes!
new record!
rTwelve @ Jan 10th 2008 5:30PM
my friend got his replacement one back today and it got rrod'd in 30 minutes!
new record!
Dorv @ Jan 11th 2008 1:45AM
If that's the record, I have it beat. My first replacement RROD out of the box.
E.J. @ Jan 10th 2008 5:33PM
Love my Xbox 360 and have only sent mine in once, but... baaahahahahahaahahahaha!
rxse7en @ Jan 10th 2008 6:28PM
I'm waiting for my 4th one to arrive. Anyone beat that? Though only three were RROD, the first replacement arrived cracked. The third one, which just started with the RROD had the most horrible grinding noise when the DVD spun down and MS claimed it was "normal". PS3 hasn't had a problem, but it doesn't have the game library. :D
volmarr @ Jan 10th 2008 5:42PM
My usb ports stopped working last week. :(
Philip @ Jan 10th 2008 6:31PM
Use a hair dryer and try to get it to red ring so you can get a new one.
Philip @ Jan 10th 2008 6:40PM
Use a hair dryer and try and get it to red ring so you can get a new one.
Brian @ Jan 11th 2008 8:18AM
Bill Gates is high if he thinks the 360 is reliable. I think 360 refers to the number of times you will have to replace the console...
Mighty Healthy @ Jan 10th 2008 6:42PM
What a joke. This pledge of commission, and the fact that people think the 360's problems are just RLOD-related.
They still are improperly charging people for their defects, and their customer service is still detestable.
CDN Crockett @ Jan 10th 2008 6:47PM
I've had mine since launch and NO problems!
Jayslacks @ Jan 10th 2008 6:49PM
Its going to be a long time before people forgive Microsoft. Good thing the PS3 has a total of 3 games worth playing.
Aaron @ Jan 10th 2008 7:20PM
Funny. My PS3 has had zero problems. It's amazing what people will put up with from M$.
Anticrawl @ Jan 10th 2008 7:20PM
Most reliable. HAHAHAhahaha..... *starts to cry*
Anticrawl @ Jan 10th 2008 7:22PM
Most reliable? Hahahahahaha........ha... *starts to cry*
Seriously I'm on my.... 5th now, not two days after my 4th console got back it got the RROD again. I wonder what they hell they actually do there besides fix things with bubblegum and paperclips.
eugene @ Jan 10th 2008 8:39PM
Of course it's the most reliable. You know for certain it will fail. How much more reliable then that can you get?
Cass-D @ Jan 10th 2008 9:08PM
I had a launch box (Lunch box is what you get when you get the RRoD) and didn't have a problem with it until Aug 2006. I got them to repair the console and since then I have had no problems.
I'm not going to knock on wood. Bring on the fate of failure, because if the box fails again. I'm gladly sending it back to have them refurb it with the new heatsinks.
Jake Biigs @ Jan 10th 2008 9:32PM
Oh, STFU mister Gates, my 360 went RRoD today after 6 months of service. And I bet it was because of his announcement.
But don't worry fellas, I'm fixing it myself since my warranty got voided.
Nick @ Jan 10th 2008 10:51PM
Lord how I hate it when my comments turf.
Anyway, if you think the India service is bad, you haven't tried the French Canadian service.
I called to try and extend my warranty by 2 years. Spending a LOT of money on a console (I think almost $500 without the game?) makes me want to ensure the darn thing will last at LEAST until the production screams to a hault on the games.
So I call. I talk to the most irritating human being on the planet. I don't mine Celine, the accent is annoying, but I get over it. This accent is like nails on a chalk board, it's like Chinese Water Torture. It's hell in my ears. And throughout all of this, I have NO idea if I'm talking to a male, female or some other entity entirely.
It takes me an hour. AN HOUR. to register my console and extend my warranty.
The support rep wanted to register my console over the phone. I FLAT OUT REFUSED. I kept asking "I will do this online" "No, I register it for u", "NO, I will do it myself, where do I do it?", "OH no, I have do it for you".
I finally found it, after hunting it down (because the register link takes you to some horrible, awful place that doesn't work) and I realized that this person had told me to get a serial number from the back of my machine, had me unplug it and fiddle with all sorts of things, when - tada, IT IS IN MY USB PORT.
I don't know how things actually went through, but I can tell you that after working in middle management at the eBay Burnaby office, seeing the fruits of labour of outsourcing, seeing incompetence at its most mind-boggling forms, I simply have NO WORDS for this.
Outsourcing... Lord, I can't find words to describe it that would be suited for her. It is the worst thing to hit customer service, and it DESTROYS companies, and we have no other option. We have to sit back and deal with it. So next time you hate your Xbox and have to call the warranty service, get a REAL pinata or find some sort of bomb that you can set off, because you'll have no choice, or your brain will asplode.
elmersglue @ Jan 11th 2008 11:57AM
I can't believe you wrote 2 long ass stories about your experience, both of which were written in completely different manners but maintaining the same premise. I'm sorry to hear you had a bad experience, bad damn, relax. And to be honest with you, you seem like a pretty difficult person, I mean, why not just have them register the damn console for you? It's almost as though people enjoy confrontation.
Nick @ Jan 10th 2008 11:28PM
But... but. LAIR???!? It's good... Like, Uwe Boll, good!
Xiru @ Jan 11th 2008 12:15AM
Broken Wii's total= 1 launch day Wii
Broken PS3's total=0 launch day PS3
Broken 360's = 3 1st shipment elite, the same elite broke again so I bought a new elite and it broke about 4 months later. Thanks Microsoft. :) But seriously, the next xbox better be the most reliable machine ever made or MS is in trouble.
petersjov @ Jan 11th 2008 5:32AM
Hi,
I had my 360, since a few month after launch, and had no problem - and i saw the towel-trick at gametrailers the other day, witch made me thinking, is the RROD related til if your xbox is stand up, og laying down - mine has always layed down, looks weird when it vertical ;-)
petersjov @ Jan 11th 2008 5:32AM
Hi,
I had my 360, since a few month after launch, and had no problem - and i saw the towel-trick at gametrailers the other day, witch made me thinking, is the RROD related til if your xbox is stand up, og laying down - mine has always layed down, looks weird when it vertical ;-)
cincyfan2323 @ Jan 11th 2008 8:30AM
Now if they can just keep Xbox Live running normally, we'll be in good shape!
Ryan @ Jan 11th 2008 10:26AM
I loved my xbox360 until it broke just recently. Almost every single person I know who got a system within the first year of production has broke. In my opinion this is the least reliable system I have ever owned. Thats not to say I dont love it and love xbox live...but you dont see any Wiis or PS3s having this issue. Im not surprised to see a Microsoft box breaking....their crappy OS breaks the same way and this is only a sign of things to come with this system and their next.
KushielsScion007 @ Jan 11th 2008 11:53AM
Just fix this shit MS. I love my 360 but I'm sick of constantly sending it to TX to get repaired....
George Arauz @ Jan 11th 2008 4:30PM
No RRD for me either... so far
George Arauz @ Jan 11th 2008 4:30PM
No RRD for me either... so far
ZeroCorpse @ Jan 11th 2008 11:14PM
I've had four of them, counting my current one. NONE of them has ever given me the RROD.
I had a launch console for almost a year. Sold it to get a newer, quieter DVD drive model (and it was worth the small loss of the sale to get it) and then sold that to get a recently-made one to ensure no problems.
Finally, I picked up an Arcade SKU and gave the Premium/Pro I had to my nephews, keeping the Arcade model (With my hard drive. They got the memory card).
So far, I've had no problems with the XBox 360, save for the need to connect to Live to play my offline game of Oblivion (purchased content), and after a five-hour session once, it froze and I had to shut it off and restart.