iwashere33, that's some weird conclusions. What about all the people that don't call MS Support...

It's good for whoever get these newer 360 owners but it's not really a big revision.

Thank you for calling Microsoft Help Line. My name is Tina. How may I help you this evening.

Hi! I just bought a new XBox 360 yesterday, and I can't get my game to work with it.

Okay, let's see if I can help you. Is the console turned on.

...yes.

Are all the cables connected?

...yes.

OK. Is the TV turned on?

...yes.

Is the TV on the right channel?

..................yes.

All right.... Is the game disc in the machine?

Yes.

And what game is it?

Zelda.

so did you do maths at a 'special' school or something? i am not sure where you get the 100% failure rate. The ring-of-death or 'Brick' problem is only at 32%, that would be the real-time failure rate for a product replacement.  anything after that is either fixable or part-refurbished.

I get my numbers from the rate register here at work, i work as an warranty support representive. This means i am the guy who some people talk to (mostly shops who do in-store replace then call us) to get the console fixed. Also wireless controllers are high-fail-rate at the moment too, mostly battery drain issues with one of the quad-lights staying on. They are mostly just a replace because the cost of fixing is higher than anything else. including the crappy driving wheel (that doesn't fail that much but battery issues galore, like early version didn't even fit the rechargerable packs)

and yes we try to get decent numbers about people or don't have a problem but call-back polling is never liked (do you like to be called 2 to 3 months after purchase to see if it hasn't broken - great company image there) and store return numbers are just inaccurate [like this last week where we have lots of stores say people have bought the 'wrong colour' haha. They wanted the elite or something and just didn't look]  So this means most of the time we just try to match the return/replace numbers with the sell through rate. The call in numbers come from the microsoft support group. 

The reason there aren't many lawsuits (there are some, fires for instance) is because the legal guys do a really quick job [think ambulance chasers who go after console owners] and either do a free double change (extra stuff for the 360) or just give them money to be quiet about it. And believe me, i have seen some of the legal papers they get people to sign and it is pretty strict about it, like no media, no newsletters, not even emails. other wise you get your ass sued for breach-of-contract (yep, i said contract, one of the bits of settlement is a contract to shut-up). But most customers get dealt with by the store they bought from or the returns we get come though the support group and we don't talk to the customer at all, the person you speak with mostly isn't even in the country let alone the same state.

Remember the general rule: if it said by microsoft, it's a lie.  I have never heard of any other company being so blatant dishonest about everything, from sell rate, to shipping dates, package numbers, accessories life-span, game specs, merch cost,  -  pretty much everything is wrong unless you see it in your hand. and then try to tell some one on the tech line that the item doesn't have 14 buttons on the make-up menu to change parts. Believe me, i am glad they don't sign my pay cheuqes in french (i have a french supervisor, he is kinda funny to tak to)

=Back to the forum topic=  The new heat sinks will help, although custom modding is better but more expensive and gennerally is you are going to use the 360, try to do it in an air-conditioned room. This is pretty much the only advice that works for that peice of sh*t.    

and by the way, i do own a 360 so i know how long they last (been through 2 so far, at least i didn't pay for them - it's good to know the reps in tech fix)

 I think i might have to buy the Wii though, the games look like more fun than this 'gears of war' and it doesn't over heat!

More about Killing off the RROD:
http://www.tech.co.uk/home-entertainment/gaming/games-consoles/news/microsoft-kills-off-xbox-360-ring-of-death?articleid=1434290555

They're also adding the 2nd GPU Heatsink to refurbished 360's.