Only ten years ago, Samsung’s only goal was to catch up with Japanese rivals. But now it is outperforming major Japanese electronics makers in many categories: in terms of global market share, Samsung is No. 1 in flat-panel TVs and memory chips; 2011 Samsung Beats Apple as world's No.1 smartphone maker ; it is one of the top suppliers in other home appliances. Samsung aming to overtake Intel as No.1 chip company in 2014.

In 2005, Samsung surpassed Japanese rival Sony for the first time to become 20th world's largest and most popular consumer brand as measured by Interbrand. In 2006, Business Week rated Samsung as 20th on its list of global brands, 2nd in the electronics industry. Business Week also ranked Samsung as 20th in innovation. In 2007, Samsung Electronics' handset division overtook American rival Motorola, making it the world's second-largest mobile phone maker. In 2009, Samsung overtook Siemens of Germany and Hewlett-Packard of the USA with a revenue of $117.4 billion to take the No.1 spot as the world's largest technology company.

The semiconductor division of Samsung Electronics is the world's largest memory chip and second largest semiconductor manufacturer worldwide. This has been the case for DRAM and SRAM for over a decade.

But Korean products appeal to the Japanese market, unlike American ones. I can imagine Samsung being a huge part of Japan's electronics section. It could be a reason imo 

Samsung isn't a low price company that share of the market is taken up by Emerson and other lesser known brands.  Also Samsung is still a relatively new player when it comes to home appliances that's why its products are still buggy.  Quality of their home appliances should improve a lot over the next couple of years. 

True but many American product does appeal to the Japanese market too. I dont think that the problem with the 360 in Japan is that its American. If they would associate with a Japanese company this would surely help their image, but with a Korean one I dont think it changes anything.

Its not really the quality of their appliances that is the problem, the failure rate isnt higher then let say L.G. or Frigidaire. Its their after sale service. As example, all companies will ship a compressor or motor in 1-2 days, but Samsung takes 3 plus weeks lol. Its just ridiculous.  During that time you have a customer with unusable fridg or washer. Samsung isnt a low price company I agree, its a full feature/low price company. At 1300$ washer/dryer it has all features of a 1600$ L.G. or a 2000$ electrolux, but not the same service at all, or in Electrolux case, not the same quality, life expectancy and service.

That's true and false. I think the fact that it's physically American, doesn't matter one jot, but the fact, it is an American console in terms of flavour ... must be offputting for the Japanese.

Yeah I agree, but thats why I say that associating with Samsung for hardware making wouldnt do much.

I do think it would give them a fresh start over there, for if they really did start taking the market seriously and bought some Japanese devs.

In other news. Sony makes Windows PCs and Ford makes Windows sync cars. Where are the rumors of them making the nextbox?

Yeah if such a deal were to be struck I'd be interested in knowing these profit sharing details.  Would there be a flat fee per console that MS pays or a royalty percentage on the hardware profits - surely this would force MS to be profitable day 1 on the hardware.  I guess such a move could also help MS enter into new markets like Sony has with the PS3(?)