A Detailed History Of The Red Ring Of Death

[Northery]

I would have to disagree that the was that high, a good example of this was me. I purchased a 360 unit and within 3 months the the lovely red rings killed it, i can easily tell you that it was because of heating problems. Same story with my friend who bought the system, installed it, put in the gears of war cd then went to eat dinner came back and red ring. So my point being that its almost impossible to tell since its just so random, 50 percent sounds about right to me.

 

[Jordan Deam]

The quoted 68% figure is from early in the production process. The article actually says that this number is pretty typical of early yields when producing consumer electronics. The problem isn't that early yields were at 68%, but that they didn't improve on the production process enough before launch. Definitely unacceptable, but I think the article's explanation for the misstep - basically, treating hardware like software that can be "patched" - is pretty illuminating.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Worse yet, treating customers as if we will accept defective products on the promise of future repairs... That just show how much they consider us sheep.

Unfortunately people have proved them right, 19 million units sold (according to Wikipedia) all without doing anything to fix the console (regardless of what the PR people say, I haven't noticed the newer, including the Elite, consoles being anymore reliable than the older ones).

 

[Jumplion]

Microsoft really screwed up that time, they're lucky they're such a big company, any other company could have gotten bankrupt from that fiasco.

You don't think Google or Oil Company #5 (Bastards!) could?

I mean a company that isn't as big as Microsoft, sheesh.

 

[Wermut]

The RROD happened to me 5 min. after turning on the 360. Once I brought it back to the store and explained the situation I was told that the returns are extremely high. I guess I wasn't excited enough about the 360 to go through the trouble. I saved the money and bought the PS3 a couple years later. I like both consoles, once I have enough money I will get a 360. I just don't like being hassled because of bad products.

 

[shatnershaman]

Microsoft really screwed up that time, they're lucky they're such a big company, any other company could have gotten bankrupt from that fiasco.

You don't think Google or Oil Company #5 (Bastards!) could?

I mean a company that isn't as big as Microsoft, sheesh.

Well you did say any other company.

 

[wewontdie11]

Everybody I know who has a 360 has had to send it away because of the red ring. And that is like... *counts on fingers* 7 people including me!