Comments on: Buying Microsoft – An Abusive Relationship http://www.gamingangels.com/2009/11/buying-microsoft-an-abusive-relationship/ Women that love all things geek! Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:12:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: MaverickKanissa http://www.gamingangels.com/2009/11/buying-microsoft-an-abusive-relationship/comment-page-1/#comment-11487 MaverickKanissa Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:23:51 +0000 http://www.gamingangels.com/?p=22900#comment-11487 I wouldn't necessarily call it taking advantage of the convenience but rather, like Travis mentioned, people have made an investment in their desired console of choice. While the PC may get many things for free, DLC remains to be a huge factor for many to decide to stay with a console simply because of the money they have spent on XBLA games, Rock Band/Guitar Hero songs, or even movies/videos. Unless someone was literally brought to the brink of sanity (an extreme circumstance for sure), I believe it would be ridiculous for someone to get rid of a console they have bought a great deal for all together because of the amount of money they've put into it. After all, its not like they can trade or sell that content to someone else ya know? :) Luckly, some systems, like the Xbox 360 and PS3 (please correct me if i'm wrong), have made it so you can get your content back via your registered gamertag but systems like the Wii have your DLC directly tied to that console. So if that Wii crashes and you don't send it in to Nintendo to get repaired, you are out of the money you spent on VC, Wii Ware, and DLC for that system. So I believe cost/loss factor has a lot to determine one's loyalty to a particular system. I wouldn’t necessarily call it taking advantage of the convenience but rather, like Travis mentioned, people have made an investment in their desired console of choice. While the PC may get many things for free, DLC remains to be a huge factor for many to decide to stay with a console simply because of the money they have spent on XBLA games, Rock Band/Guitar Hero songs, or even movies/videos. Unless someone was literally brought to the brink of sanity (an extreme circumstance for sure), I believe it would be ridiculous for someone to get rid of a console they have bought a great deal for all together because of the amount of money they’ve put into it. After all, its not like they can trade or sell that content to someone else ya know? :)

Luckly, some systems, like the Xbox 360 and PS3 (please correct me if i’m wrong), have made it so you can get your content back via your registered gamertag but systems like the Wii have your DLC directly tied to that console. So if that Wii crashes and you don’t send it in to Nintendo to get repaired, you are out of the money you spent on VC, Wii Ware, and DLC for that system. So I believe cost/loss factor has a lot to determine one’s loyalty to a particular system.

]]> By: MaverickKanissa http://www.gamingangels.com/2009/11/buying-microsoft-an-abusive-relationship/comment-page-1/#comment-11486 MaverickKanissa Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:11:17 +0000 http://www.gamingangels.com/?p=22900#comment-11486 While I will admit there is a high-probability of that, Travis, I have to disagree with you there. Friends of mine have first-gen 360s (I like to call them lemons) that have not had a red ring, much less a single issue. Much like 1st-gen PS2s, don't ask me how or why. Its simply the way the world works. While I will admit there is a high-probability of that, Travis, I have to disagree with you there. Friends of mine have first-gen 360s (I like to call them lemons) that have not had a red ring, much less a single issue. Much like 1st-gen PS2s, don’t ask me how or why. Its simply the way the world works.

]]> By: Travis http://www.gamingangels.com/2009/11/buying-microsoft-an-abusive-relationship/comment-page-1/#comment-11066 Travis Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:27:59 +0000 http://www.gamingangels.com/?p=22900#comment-11066 Microsoft's had major problems with keeping their consoles in the hands of their consumers with that high failure rate. Rachel, I can tell you that all of my friends who own an Xbox have had their's Red-ring at least once, if not twice. My xbox red-ringed a year and a half ago, and it's still kicking (Knock on wood). Everyone has had a problem with their 360 at one point or another, whether it was the Red Ring or the newer problem that Xbox owners have to fear: The E-74 error. The reason I haven't jumped ship is because I've already invested in this item, and Microsoft continues to support me with their warranty incase something should ever go wrong. I know that these newer xboxes with the smaller chipsets are supposed to be better, and have a lot less of a chance of having problems, but they still have that 3 year warranty on it. It's pretty safe to say that the Xbox has a 100% failure rate, because no matter what, an Xbox owner's system will die at some point. Check this story out. 2 years ago, when I first got my xbox, and My best friend received an Xbox 360 arcade for christmas. He was setting it up, and went to go turn it on. To both of our horrors, His brand new Xbox 360 had a Red-Ring right out of the box. He's on his 4th xbox now, having returned his first one, got a used one, that one was also red-ringing, returned that one, got another used, and it red ringed on him a year and a half later. Every Xbox 360, at some point during it's lifespan, will Red Ring. Microsoft’s had major problems with keeping their consoles in the hands of their consumers with that high failure rate. Rachel, I can tell you that all of my friends who own an Xbox have had their’s Red-ring at least once, if not twice. My xbox red-ringed a year and a half ago, and it’s still kicking (Knock on wood). Everyone has had a problem with their 360 at one point or another, whether it was the Red Ring or the newer problem that Xbox owners have to fear: The E-74 error.

The reason I haven’t jumped ship is because I’ve already invested in this item, and Microsoft continues to support me with their warranty incase something should ever go wrong. I know that these newer xboxes with the smaller chipsets are supposed to be better, and have a lot less of a chance of having problems, but they still have that 3 year warranty on it. It’s pretty safe to say that the Xbox has a 100% failure rate, because no matter what, an Xbox owner’s system will die at some point.

Check this story out. 2 years ago, when I first got my xbox, and My best friend received an Xbox 360 arcade for christmas. He was setting it up, and went to go turn it on. To both of our horrors, His brand new Xbox 360 had a Red-Ring right out of the box. He’s on his 4th xbox now, having returned his first one, got a used one, that one was also red-ringing, returned that one, got another used, and it red ringed on him a year and a half later.
Every Xbox 360, at some point during it’s lifespan, will Red Ring.

]]> By: RachelZoe http://www.gamingangels.com/2009/11/buying-microsoft-an-abusive-relationship/comment-page-1/#comment-10931 RachelZoe Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:29:59 +0000 http://www.gamingangels.com/?p=22900#comment-10931 When I got the e-mail from Netflix the next day (containing a link to my discount), I sat there stunned for a second... I was so not used to getting good service for SO LONG, ha ha. And can you even imagine if ANY OTHER product had a 60% failure rate? That is unbelievable. When I got the e-mail from Netflix the next day (containing a link to my discount), I sat there stunned for a second… I was so not used to getting good service for SO LONG, ha ha.

And can you even imagine if ANY OTHER product had a 60% failure rate? That is unbelievable.

]]> By: GamingAngel http://www.gamingangels.com/2009/11/buying-microsoft-an-abusive-relationship/comment-page-1/#comment-10927 GamingAngel Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:17:40 +0000 http://www.gamingangels.com/?p=22900#comment-10927 I like the point of Netflix rising up to only one day of failure. The popularity of Xbox Live is really what keeps Microsoft 360 from failing. Did you see the recent CNet article that stated their informal poll showed 60% failure rate on 360s? That's just horrid and most companies would fail if they put up those numbers. I like the point of Netflix rising up to only one day of failure. The popularity of Xbox Live is really what keeps Microsoft 360 from failing. Did you see the recent CNet article that stated their informal poll showed 60% failure rate on 360s? That’s just horrid and most companies would fail if they put up those numbers.

]]> By: RachelZoe http://www.gamingangels.com/2009/11/buying-microsoft-an-abusive-relationship/comment-page-1/#comment-10891 RachelZoe Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:06:07 +0000 http://www.gamingangels.com/?p=22900#comment-10891 I completely agree. It's so hard these days though, what with everything in the same family being compatible with everything else. You can play your Zune on your 360, and you can use your Microsoft points to buy music... Maybe it's the convenience they're taking advantage of? I completely agree. It’s so hard these days though, what with everything in the same family being compatible with everything else. You can play your Zune on your 360, and you can use your Microsoft points to buy music… Maybe it’s the convenience they’re taking advantage of?

]]> By: MaverickKanissa http://www.gamingangels.com/2009/11/buying-microsoft-an-abusive-relationship/comment-page-1/#comment-10885 MaverickKanissa Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:05:16 +0000 http://www.gamingangels.com/?p=22900#comment-10885 Point well taken, Rach and I have to say I can empathize with this "abusive relationship" as you so eloquently put it. I think in the end, a consumer simply has to ask themselves "when is enough, enough?". Now lets be fair by saying that I am familiar with tech to a point but I came to realize this when my PC started getting so buggy that I simply couldn't stand it anymore. In return, I bought a Mac and I love it. I had my little Ipod Shuffle 1 gig, tried a 30 gig Zune, hated it, and went back to my Ipod. Finally, I've gone through two RRODs on my 360 within a year of each other and surprisingly haven't thrown my 360 out the window. Other than Office because its mandatory now a days, I think the 360 and its line are the only products I put up with by Microsoft anymore because of the amount of time I've invested in it. I agree with you that Microsoft ought to really look at a better level of maintainability in its products because I have yet to have my Wii, my PS2, or any console prior fail on me or have as many issues as I have with the Xbox/Xbox 360 but like you, I continue to love it. So I guess I'll have to continue gritting my teeth. :) Point well taken, Rach and I have to say I can empathize with this “abusive relationship” as you so eloquently put it.

I think in the end, a consumer simply has to ask themselves “when is enough, enough?”. Now lets be fair by saying that I am familiar with tech to a point but I came to realize this when my PC started getting so buggy that I simply couldn’t stand it anymore. In return, I bought a Mac and I love it. I had my little Ipod Shuffle 1 gig, tried a 30 gig Zune, hated it, and went back to my Ipod. Finally, I’ve gone through two RRODs on my 360 within a year of each other and surprisingly haven’t thrown my 360 out the window. Other than Office because its mandatory now a days, I think the 360 and its line are the only products I put up with by Microsoft anymore because of the amount of time I’ve invested in it.

I agree with you that Microsoft ought to really look at a better level of maintainability in its products because I have yet to have my Wii, my PS2, or any console prior fail on me or have as many issues as I have with the Xbox/Xbox 360 but like you, I continue to love it. So I guess I’ll have to continue gritting my teeth. :)

]]>