Japanese Thermal Expert Examines Xbox 360, Figures Out What's Wrong (Hint:
Everything)
,----[ Quote ]
| Because Microsoft will never admit to any possible overheating problems with
| their beloved Xbox 360 design, Japanese-based Nikkei hired a thermal design
| expert to come examine the console. They looked at two—one made in 2005 and
| one repaired in May 2007.
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http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/microsoft/japanese-thermal-expert-examines-xbox-360-figures-out-whats-wrong-hint-everything-286400.php
Microsoft Opens Repair Center Website
,----[ Quote ]
| But lets face it, the more people that use this, the fewer call center folks
| they need to employee to handle all the calls for broken systems. We already
| know the new warranty is going to cost them billions.
`----
http://www.2old2play.com/News/Microsoft_Opens_Repair_Center_Website
Five ways Microsoft can save Xbox LIVE Arcade
,----[ Quote ]
| Neglect, mismanagement, and a stunning amount of shameless price-gouging are
| ruining one of gaming's natural beauties.
`----
http://thedigitalgamer.typepad.com/the_digital_gamer/2007/08/five-ways-micro.html
So what does Microsoft do as a response? Dumping, as usual.
Microsoft Lowers Price of Xbox 360 by $50
...yes again -- a price drop.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070807/aqtu140.html?.v=11
Related:
Cringely the Unemployable on the fallacy of Web 2.0, Microsoft ruthlessness,
and the CB radio of our decade
,----[ Quote ]
| Davidson: Which software company would you hate to compete against? What
| makes you single them out?
|
| Cringely: Microsoft of course. They have the deepest of pockets, unlimited
| ambition, and they are willing to lose money for years and years just to make
| ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
| sure that you don't make any money, either. And they are mean, REALLY mean.
|
| Davidson: Why do you think Microsoft is mean? Are you implying some kind of
| malicious intent rather than just ruthlessness?
|
| Cringely: Maybe "mean" is the wrong word to use for Microsoft. "Ruthless" is
| good. The company is built in the image of Bill Gates and Bill is a guy who
| gets caught-up in the game of business and doesn't typically see its personal
| cost. To use what might seem to be an obscure example, just look at all the
| various partnerships and industry consortia that Microsoft has announced
| through the years that never produced a product or even a usable
| specification. There have been literally dozens of these operations that are
| ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
| intended solely to freeze the competition until Microsoft can figure what the
| ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
| heck it actually wants to do. To Microsoft its a PR exercise that helps them
| ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
| compete but to customers it is just a damned lie. That's ruthless. There are
| plenty of other examples I can give but you get the point. I represent the
| concerns of users, not vendors, and Microsoft doesn't really care about
| users.
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http://blog.businessofsoftware.org/2007/07/cringely-the-un.html
|
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