Text 3291, 156 rader
Skriven 2005-03-23 17:29:42 av Mike '/m' (1:379/45)
   Kommentar till text 3200 av Rich Gauszka (1:379/45)
Ärende: Re: MS coverups continue with Xbox?
===========================================
From: Mike '/m' <mike@barkto.com>

Microsoft is further proving it hasn't a clue about the consumer business.

http://www.theregister.com/2005/03/23/xbox_no_problem/

===
'Recalled' Xbox goes bang in Sweden

An Xbox has blown up in a user's face in Sweden, despite the console being
fitted with a replacement 'power cord'. In February, Microsoft issued a recall
of over 14 million power cords supplied with early Xbox consoles, and sent
users a fault interrupter as a replacement. The interrupter has been standard
issue on later Xbox units.

"I got sparks in my face and the whole apartment smelled of the burn" Anahi
Reinoso, 25, told the newspaper Aftonbladet last week.

But corroboration from many owners indicates chronic problems with early
versions of the power supply, as we reported on Friday. Hardware sites have
published pictures of the wear and tear that's responsible for the short outs.
Xbox owners are critical that Microsoft's recall isolates the problem, rather
than fixes it.

But Microsoft has brushed off the evidence that links the frying consoles to
the power problems supply in a statement we received today.

<bold>
A single report recently surfaced that inaccurately speculates that the
recently announced power cord replacement for Xbox is somehow related to broken
"solder joints" inside of early Xbox consoles. This report is simply not true.
In rare cases, solder joints have broken. This issue is not associated with the
power cord replacement program, nor is it unique to the Foxlink power supplies
or even Xbox consoles.

All consumer electronics products experience some broken solder joints as a
result of ordinary wear and tear. Broken solder joints inside the Xbox are a
warranty issue. All Xbox consoles (even without a replacement cord) have been
designed to insure that a broken solder joint does not present any safety
issue.
</bold>

The empirical evidence suggests otherwise, however. In the enthusiast forums,
such as Xbox Scene, dozens of users report problems with sparks on early
models, problems fixed by a newer power supply. Fans are scornful of
Microsoft's claim that "1 in 10,000" consoles are affected: some put the figure
at 1 in 500 and others at 1 in 10....
===


I find this sentence particularly specious, even for MIcrosoft:

   This issue is not associated with the power cord replacement
   program, nor is it unique to the Foxlink power supplies or
   even Xbox consoles.

Between the EU commission and the XBox pseudo-recall, Microsoft should be
building some character soon.

 /m



On Sat, 19 Mar 2005 08:57:55 -0500, "Rich Gauszka" <gauszka@hotmail.com> wrote:

>So according to this story my Xbox console may still fry but with the new
>cable my apartment might not burn down.  Oh joy!
>
>
>http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/03/19/xbox_recall_nofix/print.html
>
>Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/03/19/xbox_recall_nofix/
>
>After cable recall, Xbox's still frying
>By Andrew Orlowski in San Francisco (andrew.orlowski at theregister.co.uk)
>Published Saturday 19th March 2005 02:19 GMT
>14 million games console owners are still at risk of waking up to find their
>Xbox has become an ex-box. For when Microsoft issued a safety advisory for
>Xbox customers last month, it failed to address the underlying problem.
>
>After several reports of consoles catching fire, Microsoft urged 14 million
>console owners to send in their old power leads for a replacement. But
>hardware experts point out that the power cable was never at root of the
>problem: it simply made the existing problem worse. The meltdown, and
>subsequent fire risk was actually caused by wear and tear on the power
>supply used in early models of the Xbox. The replacement cable featured a
>trip, which cut down the risk of your house catching fire, but left
>unfortunate gamers with a fried console. The chord has an interrupter switch
>that acts like a conventional fuse, tripping power to the unit.
>
>Microsoft's decision to limit its liabilities, rather than address the root
>of the problem, has led to a particularly bizarre situation. Customers who
>don't need to participate being in the program are being shipped an
>identical cable to the one they've got.
>
>Microsoft last month advised console owners to unplug the Xbox from the
>mains, and claimed the risk is only 1 in 10,000.
>
>Ryan, an Xbox modder in Northern California who has disassembled the
>console, confirms that solder on two prongs holding the Foxlink power supply
>in place wear out. The problem affects versions 1.0 and 1.1 of the power
>supply. The design flaw was fixed in subsequent power supplies.
>
>Several other console owners report the same problem, which you can see
>illustrated here
>(http://forums.xbox-scene.com/lofiversion/index.php/t361537.html), with
>advice on some DIY precautionary repairs.
>
>"This was MS's uber-lame attempt at a coverup," writes one Xbox owner.
>
>But is it?
>
>The wording of the FAQ that explains the recall program is at best highly
>ambiguous (http://replacements.webprogram.com/en-us/faqs.asp#Q-1).
>
>"The replacement power cords are designed to protect consumers and their
>Xbox consoles from rare electrical component failures that can pose a fire
>hazard" [our emphasis]
>
>Which doesn't specifically mention that the chord is to blame. However the
>rest of the document, with its heavy emphasis on getting a replacement
>chord, strongly invites the Xbox owner to draw that inference. And only
>genuine power cords will do, we're told.
>
>"Consumers should not expect that surge protectors or power strips are
>suitable substitutes for the replacement power cords being supplied by
>Microsoft," according to the document.
>
>And Microsoft specifically discourages users from returning the unit for a
>repair that would fix the real problem.
>
>"Q. Can I return my Xbox for a full refund or a new console? A. No. The
>replacement power cords are designed to protect you and your Xbox consoles
>from specific component failures and a potential fire hazard. Outside of
>this program, replacement or repair of your console for any other reason
>continues to be subject to the terms and conditions of the warranty.
>
>Xbox owners have been voicing these concerns since late February, but to our
>knowledge, we're the first to English language publication report it]*]. We
>put these questions to Microsoft today.
>
>- Several users report that the v1.0 and v1.1 power supplies, not the cable,
>is to blame for the issue. What's the cause of the Xbox catching fire in
>rare instances?
>
>- Why are users 1.2 and up getting cables when there isn't a problem with
>these later models? Why are they being sent a replacement cable?
>
>We'll let you know as soon as we have a reply. An online petition
>(http://www.petitiononline.com/msxbpcp/petition.html) demanding that
>Microsoft address the root of the problem has gathered over a hundred
>signatures
>

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