^^ mostly JRPGs but I like all of them.

Those 'fixes' aren't 'fixes', they're bandaids. People still get failures with them with depressing frequency.

Additionally, Microsoft only offers a 3 year warranty for the RROD failure mode. Had your DVD-rom failed after 1 year (which is very common), you'd have been out of luck and Microsoft would have refused to help you unless you payed them over $100. Fact.

So don't consider the hardware quality issue resolved. MS has taken some steps, out of necessity, to mitigate their class-action lawsuit risk, but they haven't 'fixed' their single biggest problem yet and there are various other quality issues floating around with the 360 such as high DVD-rom failure rate, scratched disc rates, etc. Further, their customer service is far worse than either Nintendo's or Sony's, and since Microsoft doesn't typically repair your console and send it back (but rather gives you a refurb of someone else's failure) there's no reason they can't advance ship other than the fact that their repair volumes are too high to make it reasonable to do so.

To give you an idea of how long it might take vs the competition, Sony and Nintendo will have you up and running within a week almost all of the time whereas with Microsoft you'll be reasonably fortunate to have your repaired Xbox 360 within a month from the phone call to the arrival. I'd even say you're somewhat fortunate if they send you a coffin on the first request. It's beyond outrageous. Further, a lot of people are reporting getting a refurb that fails within weeks and have to wait *another* month to get a fresh refurb.

TheBigFatJ said: 1)Those 'fixes' aren't 'fixes', they're bandaids. People still get failures with them with depressing frequency. 2)Additionally, Microsoft only offers a 3 year warranty for the RROD failure mode. Had your DVD-rom failed after 1 year (which is very common), you'd have been out of luck and Microsoft would have refused to help you unless you payed them over $100. Fact. 3)To give you an idea of how long it might take vs the competition, Sony and Nintendo will have you up and running within a week almost all of the time whereas with Microsoft you'll be reasonably fortunate to have your repaired Xbox 360 within a month from the phone call to the arrival. I'd even say you're somewhat fortunate if they send you a coffin on the first request. It's beyond outrageous. Further, a lot of people are reporting getting a refurb that fails within weeks and have to wait *another* month to get a fresh refurb.

Ok, I'll bite.

1) The are indeed significant fixes.  Please provide some reliable data about failure rates of the newer hardware other than anecdotal "yeah, but teh 360 suxxorz and itz teh red ringz".

2) Yep, the 3 year warranty is only for RROD.  But I have an extended warranty that takes the entire console out to 3 years and not just RROD.  Even if I hadn't, the rest is a 1 year warranty.  Same as Sony.  Same as Nintendo.  If anything on a Sony or Nintendo unit fails after a year, they will charge you to fix it.  FACT as you say.  Also, you do know that Microsoft has changed DVD suppliers, don't you?  A little company called Lite-on?  They just happen to be a pretty reputable company...

3)I know all about being back up and running within a week because my Wii also failed and, imagine this, it was ALSO the DVD drive.  I did an "advanced exchange" which sadly, isn't an option for Microsoft.  Kudos to Nintendo for doing it.  I don't know anything about Sony's warranty as I've not had to use it.  When my first two PS2s died, they were out of warranty (both DVD failures) and I tossed them and bought a new one both times.  My 3rd one is my current one and still works like a champ.   My return process with my 360 was actually pretty quick and painless.  Since it was a DVD drive I was still playing arcade and demos while waiting for my "coffin".  I shipped it to MS and they had it back to me within 2 weeks or so.  All in all the process took 3 weeks from the time I called Microsoft until the time I was playing again.

Lastly, I would encourage you to reread my post.  I said I wouldn't rate it as high if it didn't have an extended warranty and I most certainly wouldn't.  But, it does, in fact, have an extended warranty and I got a brand new console pretty darn quick.

Regardless, you clearly don't like the 360.  Fine.  I do and you can't change that.  This is my review.  My opinion and yeah, maybe you think it sucks but I'll get over it.  :)

 

I know what you mean . When I first went to a PS3 bot to play Heavenly Sword , I was expecting real life looking game ... all I got was a high res game . Same was with Ressistance , and yes , with Gears of Wars to ... games are still far from photorealism IMO ...

Kn,

I remember reading your review 6 months ago and thinking "Wait 'til he tries out live".

 

I'd agree with your review, with one small exception.  I do think the 360 does a DARN fine job with graphics very close to a $2500+ PC.  I believe the reason you haven't experienced this yet is your lack of HD.  

Just wait until you get that LG 1080p.  (I've got a 42" LG 1080p myself and love it)

RedToof said: Kn, I remember reading your review 6 months ago and thinking "Wait 'til he tries out live".   I'd agree with your review, with one small exception. I do think the 360 does a DARN fine job with graphics very close to a $2500+ PC. I believe the reason you haven't experienced this yet is your lack of HD. Just wait until you get that LG 1080p. (I've got a 42" LG 1080p myself and love it)

Yeah, I'm certain that will help quite a bit, lol.  If only Sears would actually give me my LG, I'd be thrilled.  They did a deal on that TV for 1099 with another 150 for using my sears card.  In some places it was 999 minus the 150.  Sales of that model are off the hook.  Sold out nationally.  Sears won't take any more orders online, instore, and only will offer a rain check.  I'm guessing that at any moment I'm going to get a call or email with a "whoops", we made a mistake and I'm back to shopping for a new TV.  I have the ad and such and there is no hint of "limited stock" or anything like that and they haven't issued a retraction.... I guess we'll see since the sale ends tomorrow and people will stop trying to buy it.  It'll come down to rainchecks then...