Is it safe to buy a 360?

[Dizzle]

I'm finally breaking down and am looking to jump into the "next generation" of consoles.
I'm wanting to buy a Xbox 360 ($399 is the most I'll pay for a console) but I'm hearing about all the problems people have been having with their units (overheating, the dreaded red light, etc.)

Does anyone know if Microsoft has improved on the reliability of their units?

[pointdablame]

Newer units are just fine from what I've read.  I don't have one myself however, so take that into account.

[muell67]

I bought mine back in march and the only problem I have is that occasionaly games will crash or lock up. About once every two or three hours. I think this is actually the games though and not the hardware. It usually happens when Im doing somthing unexpected, Like donuts in PG3 while rotating the camera quickly.

[Goz]

X360's are safe to buy from legitimate sources.

[shmokes]

You've held off this long, I'd wait to see if they cut prices for the holiday personally. 

Or, maybe Sony will even be forced to cut the price down to your $399 threshold and the PS3 will end up being a big hit.  This is looking less and less likely, but who knows?

Better yet, save half your money by buying a Wii (hopefully the name will change) and put all that extra money into modding an Xbox.  The graphics aren't as good, but at this point I'd take a modded Xbox over an Xbox 360 any day of the week.  A modded Xbox with 100 or so Xbox games should make it a lot eaiser to wait for the current exhorbitant prices of the next gen systems (Wii not included) to come down.

[pointdablame]

You've held off this long, I'd wait to see if they cut prices for the holiday personally. 

Or, maybe Sony will even be forced to cut the price down to your $399 threshold and the PS3 will end up being a big hit.  This is looking less and less likely, but who knows?

Better yet, save half your money by buying a Wii (hopefully the name will change) and put all that extra money into modding an Xbox.  The graphics aren't as good, but at this point I'd take a modded Xbox over an Xbox 360 any day of the week.  A modded Xbox with 100 or so Xbox games should make it a lot eaiser to wait for the current exhorbitant prices of the next gen systems (Wii not included) to come down.

There's a lot of really great wishes in your post there shmokes, but I'm afraid they aren't going to happen.

A microsoft exec was quoted recently saying there would be no price decrease on the 360 this year, so the best we can hope for is maybe a bundle (which I guessed here on the boards a while back, but that's irrelevant)

With the PS3's BluRay drive costing $350 by itself, the PS3 will NOT be $399.  Sony is willing to lose money on the system, in fact they are willing to lose quite a lot on them... but at $399 they'd be taking a bath, and it would destroy the company.  That's not even pessimism.... its the truth.  The PS3 launching (and selling well) at $399 would mean the end for Sony.

The Wii is Nintendo's new game console... just deal with it.  I hate the name too, although I've grown more indifferent over it since the announcement.  But they've already poured millions into the name.. it's not going to change. Guaranteed.

[JONTHEBOMB]

Does anyone know if Microsoft has improved on the reliability of their units?

I just got a new one because of sound problems with my old one.  So far nothing out of the ordinary has occurred with the new one.  If you decide to pick up a 360 I would suggest getting a warranty.  Gamestop offers a 1-year warranty for $40 and inside the box microsoft offers a 2-year warranty for $60.

[AllisterFiend]

I've had my XBox360 since day one and have had no problems at all.


Allister Fiend

[somunny]

I picked one up last month and probably have put over a hundred hours on it without any problems (knock on wood).  However, I did pick up the two year extended warranty just to cover my --I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules--.

Steve

[shmokes]

I'd put money on a Wii name change.  Not a lot because i think there's a higher chance that it won't change (and I'd probably deserve odds) but I'd make a friendly $10 bet with someone.

Nintendo did not count on all the urine jokes.  I'll take your gaurantee and raise you a guarantee that even if Nintendo does not change the name they have seriously considered it.  The "millions" they have spent on the name has to be weighed against a significant loss of interest in their profuct.  If they decide the name will hurt the company more than writing off the "millions" as an unfortunate loss they'll change the name -- simple as that.

[pointdablame]

I'd make a friendly $10 bet with someone.

you're on buddy.  If Nintendo changes the name of their new console to anything other than Wii by the time it releases in the US, I'll paypal you $10 or send you a joystick or something.

I'm making a really safe bet here. 

[Sir Auros]

They were safe to buy at launch. Granted, mine had to be replaced, but that's just the way consoles launch. I'd recommend either getting an extended warranty with the store you purchase it from or the one from MS itself. I recommend it not because of the publicized problems, but because it's just the sensible thing to do with a $400 electronic device.

[shmokes]

Alright.  $10 it is.  Don't let me forget. 

[Tahnok]

They were safe to buy at launch. Granted, mine had to be replaced, but that's just the way consoles launch. I'd recommend either getting an extended warranty with the store you purchase it from or the one from MS itself. I recommend it not because of the publicized problems, but because it's just the sensible thing to do with a $400 electronic device.

That's the way pretty much every piece of technology launches. I bought an iPod Video shortly after it was released. Tons of people were complaining about it having problems, but I've not had anything happen with mine. The worst that can happen is you will get a bad unit and have to exchange it for another one. This can go on for three of four rounds before you get a good one (depending on what it is your buying, especially iPods).

[pointdablame]

Alright.  $10 it is.  Don't let me forget. 

I will have forgotten by the time I leave this thread     But it's still on! 

[Dizzle]

Methinks I'll be going the extended warranty route this time.

[TheOtherBob]

I got one last month....

While it's noisier (fans) than any console I've ever owned I haven't had any problems.  I'm not a huge gamer (my gamer score is 100 points!) but it's never locked up on me during CoD2 or Oblivion.

There IS a lot of heat coming out the backside of that machine.  I'd recommend an extended warranty personally....

[AtomSmasher]

Microsoft also recently annouced that the new version of windows will be able to support every peripheral that comes out for the 360 and it will be easier then ever for publishers to port their games over to Windows Vista, so virtually every xbox 360 game should come out for Windows Vista.  I wasn't planning on getting a 360, but they made my decision even easier for me.

[Luxury]

I would take up that sissy bet with you shmokes.  But why not make it more revelant?  Like say - the loser buys the winner a new Wii?  Have it pertain to the bet in some way, you know?

[shmokes]

Well, for one thing because the odds are stacked so heavily against me.  If it's a $10 sissy bet I don't mind not getting odds. 

Unfortunately, unless someone wants to give me odds -- I'd think at least 5-1 -- it's not an open invitation.  My money is on the name change more because I want it than that I necessarily think it will happen.  I think it's got a good chance, but nothing like a certainty.  Nobody bets on the long shot for even odds (except as a sissy little friendly wager).

[Luxury]

Well, i think that there is no way in hell that they will change the name.  They have already changed it once, and the chances of it changing again are in my books pretty much zero.  consumers won't follow it, and will get even more confused.  and a confused consumer doesnt buy your product.  I don't necessarily like the name either, but then its only a name and doesnt matter one bit in the grand scheme of the console.  They have to stick to their guns now, for better or worse.

[shmokes]

Well, they haven't really changed the name, per se.  Products like this always have an internal code name so they have something to call it while it's in development, before the marketing people have decided on a name.  Wii is the first consumer name it's had.

If I remember right, which is very likely not the case, the Nintendo 64 was the Nintendo Ultra 64 up until weeks before launch.  This wasn't the change from the code name to the consumer name, e.g., Revolution --> Wii, Longhorn --> Vista, etc..  The code name for the Nintendo 64 was Dolphin. 

If you really think about it, nobody knows the name Wii yet.  Not really.  There hasn't been a single ad -- print, tv, online, nothing.  The only people who know about the Wii are hardcore gamers, and a name change would not confuse ANY of them.  It would merely make them happy.  The vast majority of the world has never heard about it.  A name change wouldn't cause them any more trouble than the time and money already spent on the name "Wii".  But anyone who's studied even basic economics knows the danger of sticking with something solely on the strength of sunk costs.

[AtomSmasher]

I just thought I'd mention you can get an xbox 360 for $350 shipped from dell.  $400 - automatic 10% off - $10 off code C99$273GQ1L4W8 [Exp 7/15] = $350 shipped

[pointdablame]

There have already been a good amount of ads in the Japanese market for the Wii name, and Nintendo's own homepage has the Wii name all over it.  Not to mention the fact that every media outlet has obviously changed to using Wii instead of Revolution.

Believe me, people know the name Wii already.... even "normal" consumers know the name.

[Dizzle]

I just thought I'd mention you can get an xbox 360 for $350 shipped from dell.  $400 - automatic 10% off - $10 off code C99$273GQ1L4W8 [Exp 7/15] = $350 shipped

May have to check them out...

And you've got me intrigued about the possibility of 360 games being ported over to Vista.  I may have to think about that a little more.  My only concern is what kind of specs it will take to run Vista at exceptional levels.  If it means building another $1,000 rig, I'll pass.

[AtomSmasher]

And you've got me intrigued about the possibility of 360 games being ported over to Vista.  I may have to think about that a little more.  My only concern is what kind of specs it will take to run Vista at exceptional levels.  If it means building another $1,000 rig, I'll pass.

Hehe, true, if you don't have a top of the line pc, then you'll have to spend a lot more then $350 to run 360 games on Vista, plus it will be another 6+ months before vista even comes out and who knows how long after that before most 360 game releases get ported to the PC.

[shmokes]

There have already been a good amount of ads in the Japanese market for the Wii name, and Nintendo's own homepage has the Wii name all over it.  Not to mention the fact that every media outlet has obviously changed to using Wii instead of Revolution.

Believe me, people know the name Wii already.... even "normal" consumers know the name.

"Normal" consumers don't go to Nintendo's homepage.  Nor do they go to IGN or Gamespot.  Those are hardcore gamers.  I have a lot of friends who play videogames and none of them have heard of the Wii until I tell them (and, come to think of it, I always refer to it as Nintendo's new system). 

As for ads in the Japanese market, I can't say anything about that.  I don't know how you actually know that, but I'll just assume you have firends/family in Japan or something.  Maybe that will be enough for them to keep Wii name.  Maybe they'll only change the name in other markets, a la Famicom/Super Famicom in Japan, NES/SNES everywhere else.

I'm not saying they WILL change the name.  I'm saying they should change the name, are considering or have considered it since revealing Wii, and have not passed some point of no return where a name change is impossible or would even do them significant harm (exactly the opposite in my opinion).

The full extent of the effect of a name change on people who already knew it as Wii would be, "Hey, that was going to be called Wii.  God, that was a good move."  The idea that there would be some kind of mass confusion is crazy.  Anybody who knows anything about the Wii would recognize it anywhere regardless of what it is called.  Not only that, but the only people who know anything about the Wii at this point are the people who visit Nintendo's home page and IGN and Gamespot and they would actually learn about the name change before ads ever started showing up in the first place.  Again, I'll point to the last-minute name change from Ultra 64 to Nintendo 64.  That change affected you so little that you completely forgot about it or never knew about it.  The VAST majority of the world simply never knew about it.

[somunny]

Hmmm...  This is like two... two... two threads in one!

[Tahnok]

I thought you were completely off with this one, shmokes, until I looked up the codenames for the N64. I had heard of the Ultra 64, but I didn't realize there was another name before that one (from Wikipedia - Nintendo):

Nintendo used the code names Project Reality and Ultra 64 prior to the system's actual release, and these names are still used by some people. Ultra 64 was also the planned final name for a short time, but was changed to Nintendo 64 because of trademark conflicts with the software publisher "Ultra Games."

That proves that it wouldn't be entirely unheard of for Nintendo to have three different names for a console. That said, I don't think the name is going to be changed.

Also, the Dolphin was the gamecube.

[shmokes]

Hah!  That rings a bell.  Funny that I would remember the relatively obscure Ultra 64 moniker and not Project Reality which was used for a much longer period of time. 

[AllisterFiend]

Not sure how reliable this site is, but they talk about XBox 360 not having price cuts this year.

http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/11237/Xbox-360-No-Plans-for-a-Price-Drop-This-Fall/

I don't believe they will cut prices this year either.

Allister Fiend

[SOAPboy]

I just thought I'd mention you can get an xbox 360 for $350 shipped from dell.  $400 - automatic 10% off - $10 off code C99$273GQ1L4W8 [Exp 7/15] = $350 shipped

May have to check them out...

And you've got me intrigued about the possibility of 360 games being ported over to Vista.  I may have to think about that a little more.  My only concern is what kind of specs it will take to run Vista at exceptional levels.  If it means building another $1,000 rig, I'll pass.

atm i wouldnt run vista on anything less than 1gig of ram, a mid range 256 meg video card, and at LEAST a 2 gig processor..

by the time it drops, hardware to run it will drop too. i wouldnt stress to much on it.

[Otraotaku]

You've held off this long, I'd wait to see if they cut prices for the holiday personally. 

Or, maybe Sony will even be forced to cut the price down to your $399 threshold and the PS3 will end up being a big hit.  This is looking less and less likely, but who knows?

Better yet, save half your money by buying a Wii (hopefully the name will change) and put all that extra money into modding an Xbox.  The graphics aren't as good, but at this point I'd take a modded Xbox over an Xbox 360 any day of the week.  A modded Xbox with 100 or so Xbox games should make it a lot eaiser to wait for the current exhorbitant prices of the next gen systems (Wii not included) to come down.

shmokes is right, they should atleast start cutting prices before november.

[Otraotaku]

I'd make a friendly $10 bet with someone.

you're on buddy.  If Nintendo changes the name of their new console to anything other than Wii by the time it releases in the US, I'll paypal you $10 or send you a joystick or something.

I'm making a really safe bet here. 

lmao

[SirPoonga]

I'm a little late to reply with this but for others that will read this thread.

I have had my 360 since january (my 360's born date is Dec 15th).  I have not had problems minus the usual bugs in games, but not with hardware.  Keep the power supply away from the console, keep it cool.  I have had my 360 freeze up on me but that was when the power supply and console were right next to each other.  Don't think the PS3 isn't going to have the same issues (from reports it looks like it will have the same shortage and hardware issues as the 360, especially since it is ontroducing blu-ray).

The problems that got so hyped early on only happened to like 1-4% of the 360s. 

Microsoft has said they are not going to drop the price.  They don't have a need to as the PS3 is so expensive.  If the PS3 was releasing at a comparable price I think they would consider it since they want to hit Sony hard this time around.  Why would Microsoft cut prices?  Is it because the first xbox dropped price within 6 months of launch?  PS2 dropped price 2 years after it's launch.  More likely microsoft will drop the core system in the next year.

schmokes, hardcore gamers go everywhere.  IGN and gamespot reviews generally suck and you need more than their opinion to get an idea of a game

There is going to be a new CPU for the 360, but it shouldn't concern you.  It will run cooler but probably not much to make it worht it.  It's going to be a cheaper CPU for microsoft to buy.

I'm not anti-playstation (guitar hero is awesome) but I think this time around Sony is shooting themselves in the foot.

[shmokes]

Heh . . . I know.  I just mean that people who don't visit videogame websites won't be confused because 99% of them have never heard the name Wii.  People who do visit those websites won't be confused because they'll learn about the name change ahead of time because they visit those sites.  So it's not like they're familiar with the Wii name today and then one day, out of the blue, they'll see a commercial on TV advertising something that looks and plays just like the Wii and is made by Nintendo but has a different name.  That would be confusing, but it won't happen cos they'd learn about the new name ahead of time in exactly the same way they learned about the name Wii.  Cos they're hardcore.  Doesn't matter which site they read, whether it's IGN or Kotaku.  If Nintendo changed the name it would be front-page news on every gamer website out there, even dedicated Sony/Microsoft sites.

And, don't get me wrong.  I think that the name probably will not change.  I just still think that it might and I think that Nintendo would have nothing much to lose.

[DYNAGOD]

ive had my 360 since launch..
sadly theres really nothing compelling for me to play on it..
theres just a signifigant lack of software..
and of what titles their are, they are just your typical 1st gen, or even worse simply xbox ported games.
the only use my 360 gets is my girlfriend using it to watch her exercise videos in the morning..
its has almost no gaming time on it..i play some gotham racing, but that gets old quick..
the system desperately needs an infusion of next gen titles that arent just rehashes, sequels or simply uninspiring..

[SirPoonga]

This is where I disagree.  What you mean to say is there isn't any next gen titles in genres you like.  I will agree with that as the system needs more genres.  There's alot of racing and tactile shooters.

I love Burnout, GRAW, and MLB.  But then I am into those types of games.  I hear Obvlivion is awesome but I am not an RPG person.  And the unfortunately thing is all systems are going through a game drought right now (except the DS).  Summer is generally a bad time for games.

Luckily in the next two months a whole bunch of regular and arcade games are coming out.  I am thinking about getting NCAA 07 tonight.  Definately looking forward to GoW and Dead Rising.

Part of it is you might have to get in with the right group of people.  I wouldn't have played GRAW as much as I have if I didn't have the group of people I play with.

Also if you don't have live gold then I can see why game might be considered not that good.  I wish there were better single player games but microsoft is pushing live pretty hard and that is the best part about many games.


Shmokes, you sort of have a point.  What did people hear before the Wii?  if you knew it by the revolution then you were reading reviews.  There were no ads when the project name was revolution.  Just like there were no ads for the dolphin   Yeah, if they changed the name now it could be confusing, but since they haven't advertised with any other name...  That is why they will not change the name now.  They committed to it and spent advertising dollars on it.

[Dizzle]

Yet another consideration...

Can't remember where I saw it, but I peeped a picture of an XBOX 360 with an HDMI out port.  I don't have HDMI, but I do have DVI on my HDTV so it might be worth waiting since they have HDMI to DVI cables. 

[SirPoonga]

Dizzle, that's a rumor and tht picisn;t verified.  it could be a hoax.