David

But why not just allow support for Flash and HTML5 in the mean time. What is wrong with a fair fight? Do you really care what tech is delivering the game/video or whatever?

If HTML5 is the way forward it will get there on its own, why the need to try and kneecap Flash? This doesn't seem to be anything noble on Apple's part they're probably just worried Flash would eat into their app sales and they are trying to boost support for their own h.264 video format.

Fantastic! It's been really really tough letting my 360 gather dust since December as I refused to pay Microsoft to fix this issue (or even give them a temporary loan as I figured this would one day get covered, and they'd have to reimburse people who already paid).

Anyhow many thanks for the Joystiq team for getting and keeping this in the spotlight. L4D here I come!

I think its fair to say Microsoft has treated 360 as a software product. Get it out as early as possible and patch any errors. The disc scratching thing is just another example, as they have seemingly became aware of the problem and have already "patched" the issue in later builds of the console. Just a shame for earlier adopters, as they also become quality assurance testers.

Thanks

What would you consider proof? Honestly - just wondering. I know a solitary failure (say mine) is not proof of a widespread issue, but even if you disregard anything that might be posted to Joystiq as biased those google trends are certainly suspicious such as on Negative Gamer http://negativegamer.com/2009/03/17/google-trends-indicate-e74s-beginnings/ should make you raise an eyebrow unless you think Sony fanboys are also spending all their time on google trying to sully the Microsoft name.

We'll see as time goes on, but the RROD started from similar humble beginnings and it was only due to your fellow gamer's attention and spotlighting of the issue that you hopefully did not have to pay for 2 new xboxs when your Elite's died.

If this turns out to be very isolated issue then great, but even though you love your 360 as most of us do I doubt you think that a business like Microsoft or Sony always puts its hand up when it makes a mistake. It would be a great world for the consumer if they did. But unfortunately to protect their bottom lines they have to be dragged there kicking and screaming.

All Microsoft have to do to ensure an overwhelming percentage of customers follow them to the next generation is provide a blanket 3 yr warranty on the 360. I mean really to the customer what is the difference to them if there is a 1, 3 or 25 red blinking lights on their console. Should there be a difference when the end result is the same?

Non-existent issue? Tell that to my 360 thats been gathering dust for the last two months as I don't want to pay another $100 for a product that was just over a year old (I bought a new one after my first red ringed and sold the original).

What I don't understand here is that both sides are right in that yes you personally may never have even looked at a malfunctioning 360 and that's great - we all love our 360s when they are working, but a lot of people clearly have had this issue and where is the harm in trying to see how deep the problem goes?

Do you have to be personally have a 360 break with an E74 error and shell out $100 to Microsoft before you have any empathy with your fellow gamer?

I don't think Microsoft are evil - they are just looking out for there bottom line, but so am I - and many other commenters on this board. This is all about money at the end of the day, do they pay or do we? Am I really that unreasonable in thinking if this was a widespread manufacturing problem they should pay?

I got this 2 weeks after the 1 yr warranty ended (and probably 2-3 weeks after the NXE). It was hard to do but my 360 is currently collecting dust as I refuse to pay MS for another repair.

Its a shame as I enjoy the 360 but this is my third 360 and I'm done unless they repair for free. Its a joke it really is.

Also that google trends update you posted is very very suspicious. Can MS backtrack on their "All is now well" statement though? Keep up the reporting on this Joystiq please!

Yay!

I want to join the social.

There is no way they will be doing a trade in program. Has any other manufacturer ever done that (PS1, PS2, DS Lite, not to mention the numerous iPods). Technology changes quickly, we just have to live with that.

The people who have the first gen 360's (unless there is some adapter still in the works) will have to live without the HDMI, but of course they can get the bigger drive as an add on.