Microsoft claims 17.7 million global installed base

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Sqrl said:

mrstickball said:
It's amazing that one pro-MS article gets ragged on by Auron and others...I'm getting a little tired of everyone jumping on the "Xbot" train when there aren't any of the sort here....

But I do tend to think that MS is talking actual install base. As said by others, MS can easily figure out their install base.

Users connected on live (as of today) / historical (or most recent confirmed) ratio of XBL users to units sold = instal base.

It's not that hard folks. MS knows exactly how many people, to the tee, of people on XBL. They know how that plays into their actual install base. Is it any wonder they can comment on the install base and *gasp* be right?

 Sure if they factor in what they know about failure rates as well.  But they clearly did not factor that in. While many replaced their units there were, especially before they admitted to the problem, many who had to re-purchase their 360s anew and some who just decided not to bother with it anymore at all.

If they're saying this is sold to consumers it sounds right to me.  But I have a hard time buying that this is even close to the actual installed base.   

Why not? In EU, every single 360 sold has been under warranty since launch. The 3 years extended warranty came along before the 2 years default ended. Every 360 sold, is under the 3 years warranty, so if your launch console gave you the RRoD, in the US for example, you still got it fixed after the 3 years came along (unless you threw it into garbage) and could have been sold in ebay or similar.