Microsoftese
Q: Have you identified a root cause that can lead to failure?
A: There is not a single issue that we can point to as being a problem. We test the product extensively, including accelerated life testing, but the nature of the console itself is very complex, as it’s a consumer electronic product that contains more than 1,700 different components and 500 million transistors. There are a variety of scenarios that can cause a general hardware failure. Only the indicator (the three flashing red lights) is always the same.
Translation: The root cause of the problem is Microsoft made it.
…The xBox 360 just went tango-uniform, in case that wasn’t obvious. Three-flashing-red-lights-ring-of-death. Fortunately, Microsoft is aware enough of their shortcomings (and by aware enough I mean sued enough) to extend the one-year warranty to three years for this problem. So, we’re covered. Just annoyed.
This post brought to you by a MacBook. *Pats her trusty Apple product*
So Laurel I am going to have an seizure waiting on Heller and then I hear about some Idiot republican congressman drafting another assault weapon ban HR 6257, known as the “Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization Act of 2008″, I feel surrounded by stupid people
Tell me about it! The suspense IS KILLING ME. Scotusblog isn’t helping with the anticipation… Though I have a bad feeling our decision is going to be 7 of 7.
I prefer the other title for the bill: To reinstate the Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act.
Gag. Me.
I dunno. The assault weapons ban makes gun shows a lot more lucrative for people who own “pre-ban” magazines and guns. As long as you let it expire every couple years for post-ban products to replenish supply, this could be a never-ending bonanza!
[...] Laurel wrote a fantastic post today on “Microsoftese”Here’s ONLY a quick extractQ: Have you identified a root cause that can lead to failure? A: There is not a single issue that we can point to as being a problem. We test the product extensively, including accelerated life testing, but the nature of the console … [...]
Yeah, 360s are made with papier-mâché and spit. I’m still crossing my fingers on mine, hoping it doesn’t kick the bucket. The problem with warranty repair is that it doesn’t fix the design problem – a lot of people get 360s back from service and they have the same problem a year down the line.
If you guys are at all mechanically inclined, try some of the fixes on the Web for the RRoD, specifically tightening/replacing the X-clamp on the motherboard.
I think we’ll take “advantage” of their warranty (this is assuming they don’t break it worse, of course) for now – but thanks for the X-clamp info, I will definitely keep it in mind if we run into the problem again without warranty coverage.
Which we probably will.