Whilst my dying 360 gently steers me towards Nintendo or Sony

true i guess.. .look at how many PS2's are dead due to laser/drawer problems...

or PS1's with laser issues.... but most of those have become door stops now anyway!

 

unfortunately anything using a standard laser diode will die within 10-13 years max, especially if its being used frequently.

Cartridge-based systems offer more longevity, but their battery backup will eventually turn belly-up.

There's no perfect method for preservation I m afraid, but I m really glad for backups and pirates , in a way. they provide people with a library that exists distributed all over the world and people who owned the originals at least have a way to relive their memories, albeit illegally (it's unfortunate that copyright law is such a dick)

 

Remind me, as you slander the virtues of copyright, how many weeks is it before you become a lawyer again? lol ;-)

 

less than one my good friend

Copyright law should adapt in my view to the existence of the internet, instead of trying to impose the "old wines -new bottles" rationale.

Times have evolved and law shoud follow society and popular public opinion, not serve the purpose of the rich and powerful.

 

Yeah no doubt the PS2 sales figures benefited. However, the PS3 looks to be very well built indeed. Time will tell, I guess.

 

Okay, I found a solution that didn't cost the earth and meant I didn't put another damned pound in MS pockets for my 4th (yes FOURTH) Xbox 360.

Find a second-hand unit with seal, purchase and return. Cost = whatever you bought the unit for (so long as the date is ok MS will honour the return / exchange / repair).

Total cost to me £40.00

However, this is my last attempt.

Cost to MS. Dwindling faith in a product I really wished had fewer issues as I am a 360 fan, but not for very much longer. Not sure about anyone else, but to be honest 4 units is 3 units too many in my opinion. I have consoles going back decades. My 360's are lucky to see 6mths!

 

This whole issue has prevented me from investing in a 360 also, my pal has had the same problems as you Parris, albeit not the green haze... 3 360's in just over 18 months.

First time he had 3 red lights he was told it was the power brick overheating, so on 360 # 2 he suspended it with no blockages behind a desk, yet one day on power up to play elder scrolls, again, 3 red lights... he's now on his 3rd console and is scared to even look at the thing funny or cast a shadow onto it.

I'd be interested to hear what independant retailer said that to you, and any solutions you were considering...

 

Don't let my grumblings about the 360 put you off too much. This is what happens when a fan of MS gets to the point where he wonders whether the company is listening, caring, taking note of what is clearly an issue. If it were an isolated incident I'd just be another pain in the ass grumbling away, but everyone I know who owns a 360 has had some issue with their units. It's actually rare to find someone say "No problems here!" and that is not good.

My advice? Buy one cheaply, second-hand and enjoy some amazing software titles. Then, if the inevitable happens, you don't lose out. Either that our buy one brand new and take out the 4 year extended warranty!

 

or buy a PS3 - which I think people should do if they get too pissed off with 360. If only sony could mirror XBOX LIVE!

 

Ive NEVER had any trouble with my Xbox 360. Day one Launch.

Its true.







Honest



















But then I've never taken it out of the box.

 

XBox Live really isn't all that IMO. Live Arcade is nice, but bleh.

 

big words there jim!

if the XBOX brand did one thing right, is online communities and gaming!

The level of interactivity through XBOX live with people is a first, for both PCs and consoles.

Never before could you play different games and have live chats with your friends playing different games, in a single, simple solution.

The Live experience really makes the 360 the console to have, imo, in this generation.

 

DHL came this morning to pick up my 360. They arrived, left no collection notice (despite me asking whether there was any paperwork) and drove off. Hmmm, so who knows I gave them my 360? All that computer technology for tracking the item and I never had to provide my signature and he never had to give me anything for my box?! Call me old fashioned, but I would have liked some kind of receipt.

We shall see how long this takes...start the clock! 10am / 15th May 2007

 

I got my IBM Thinkpad repaired and they used DHL too. They just took the box, thats it. However IBM is REALLY awesome with there warranty repairs, and I got it back in 2 days completly working (wouldn't boot at all), hopefully MS has the same good repair cycle but I dunno! I almost sent mine because I'm thinking it's knicking up my discs but decided not too since they probably wouldn't replace the drive anyhow.

 

Somewhat comforted by your experience of DHL. Also nice to hear how good IBM are after piles of bad press.

The old retail unit that died on me damaged GoW and within the first month or two cracked NFSMW. Both were end user issues. Wife moved the unit and I had the unit standing upright when the drawer open and literally dumped the disc onto the hard wood floor. :noooo:

 

At least until HOME is launched. Hopefully Microsoft up their game to compete, although the avatar thing is not really my cup of tea.

Didn't they give you the option of swapping over the machine for a refurb without the wait?

 

No, strangely enough they didn't but as I had just picked up the unit I was sending back for $80 (£40) from a second hand store, I didn't really want to argue or attract attention. I was happy to send it quietly and just wait my turn like a good fella. :icon_bigg

MS are not getting more money from me for their 360 <apart from games titles, and possibly the new Elite, and, and, and..... damn them, they have a hold on my wallet....>

 

this new console generation has been a joke so far - never before in the history of gaming have I seen such a thing!

.

 

Your'e gonna love this...A m8 of mine just updated his 360 with the spring update and it did the same thing as you had, i.e. the washing up liquid effect, however, only on certain T.V's...We tested it using regular RGB and on some T.V's it went 'green' on other's no problems...Oh and of course no problems with composite what so ever.

 

shhh dont tell him that, hes just sent its replacement off to MS!! h: :lol: