Xbox 360 Ring of Death blues again

 

Now it’s no secret that the Xbox 360 jumped the gun in the console wars, being released ahead of competitors’ own consoles in almost every region on the planet. But could it be that Microsoft actually released their next-gen console a little too prematurely for its own good?

Blogger Caspian once adored his Xbox 360. But after the dreaded three lights appeared after re-inserting his Gears of War DVD, he was terrified that he finally became one of many victims of the Red Ring of Death. Despite repeated RRoD occurrences with his local Toys ‘R’ Us 360 demo station and even the death his own brother’s Xbox console, he didn’t realize that it could also happen to him. Karma – gotta love that notion.

But even before the Ring of Death enveloped his 360 in darkness, he also had an issue with the hard drive, which Microsoft required him to pay for (plus tax) to get it replaced. In fact, he goes so far as to say, “Usually, I gawk at the prospect of spending US$ 600 on a PS3, but whoÂ’s the sucker now? IÂ’ve invested over US$ 500 now on my 360, and got a little over a yearÂ’s gaming to show for it.”

But some Ring of Death issues are recoverable, as we’ve noticed before. It’s not so much of a bad thing if you’re knowledgeable in hardware care. If the hardware was faulty in the first place and the warranty expired, well, as most PC hardware enthusiasts would sum it up, you were screwed. And if Microsoft is aiming for the non-gamer bracket as they claim that they want to do, they’re going to have to compensate for the non-gamer’s lack of knowledge in the hardcore techie side.

 

Now it’s no secret that the Xbox 360 jumped the gun in the console wars, being released ahead of competitors’ own consoles in almost every region on the planet. But could it be that Microsoft actually released their next-gen console a little too prematurely for its own good?

Blogger Caspian once adored his Xbox 360. But after the dreaded three lights appeared after re-inserting his Gears of War DVD, he was terrified that he finally became one of many victims of the Red Ring of Death. Despite repeated RRoD occurrences with his local Toys ‘R’ Us 360 demo station and even the death his own brother’s Xbox console, he didn’t realize that it could also happen to him. Karma – gotta love that notion.

But even before the Ring of Death enveloped his 360 in darkness, he also had an issue with the hard drive, which Microsoft required him to pay for (plus tax) to get it replaced. In fact, he goes so far as to say, “Usually, I gawk at the prospect of spending US$ 600 on a PS3, but whoÂ’s the sucker now? IÂ’ve invested over US$ 500 now on my 360, and got a little over a yearÂ’s gaming to show for it.”

But some Ring of Death issues are recoverable, as we’ve noticed before. It’s not so much of a bad thing if you’re knowledgeable in hardware care. If the hardware was faulty in the first place and the warranty expired, well, as most PC hardware enthusiasts would sum it up, you were screwed. And if Microsoft is aiming for the non-gamer bracket as they claim that they want to do, they’re going to have to compensate for the non-gamer’s lack of knowledge in the hardcore techie side.