Is now a good time to get a 360?

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
3 choices for a Premium:

1. old one without HDMI = 30%+ failiure rate.

2. new one with HDMI = Zephyr (Elite) motherboard with epoxy & heatsink = almost certainly a lower failure rate, but no one knows yet how low.

3. Falcon with HDMI & fully redesigned 65nm motherboard & (allegedly) smaller power brick. This is the one MS is counting on to stop the massive warranty costs from failures.

We can't be sure that Falcon with get rid of the redring failures, but it would not make sense for MS to release the new design until they think it will.

I have enough other games to play that I'm being patient and waiting for Falcon, but Zephyr is a reasonable choice if you want a 360 now. It's still a bit of a gamble, but waiting a month or two for Falcon is about the same as waiting a month for a warranty repair later.

Talk to me more about the Falcon. I have heard that a 360 with these specs was being released, but I did not know when. How will I know the difference between the previous 360 premiums on the store shelves vs the falcon when it is released?

 

[DaveSimmons]

We know Falcon is arriving this year, and units are allegedly on their way from China now. There are not yet any confirmed sightings of it in US stores yet though.

The only ways to tell a Falcon from a Zephyr will be by lot numbers or possibly by "Falcon" / "Zephyr" in small print somewhere on the box.

Once Falcon is in stores there should be posts on it all over the place.

 

[BDawg]

I sure as hell wouldn't get one until you hear some empirical evidence that they're fixed. Don't rely on word of mouth.

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: BDawg
I sure as hell wouldn't get one until you hear some empirical evidence that they're fixed. Don't rely on word of mouth.

Well I'm relying on word of mouth that they fail... as both friends I know that have them haven't had a problem. Well one, but that was his fault.