Lawsuit alleges that Microsoft shipped defective consoles despite knowing of the design flaw
Microsoft taken to court for overheating Xbox 360
/v3-uk/news/1973431/microsoft-court-overheating-xbox-360
06 Dec 2005, Tom Sanders in California , V3
A Chicago man has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft alleging that his Xbox 360 is overheating.
The lawsuit alleges that Microsoft shipped defective units of its new games console despite knowing that they suffered from a design flaw that could cause the power adapter to overheat.
The overheating will cause the Xbox 360 to go into a protective mode that shuts down the system to prevent any damage to the chips.
Users reported crashing Xbox 360s soon after the company started selling the first units in the US on 22 November. Microsoft has acknowledged the problems, but claims that they are limited to a few isolated cases.
According to one user, the overheating problem can easily be fixed by dangling the device's power supply on a piece of string.
The Chicago lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages and legal expenses, as well as replacements of defective Xbox 360 consoles.
The Xbox 360 went on sale in Europe on 2 December. Japanese consumers will be able to purchase the gaming system on 12 December, but Korean gamers will have to wait until 24 February. Gamers in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan will not see the console until 2 March.
Japan is an important market for Microsoft's console. The first model of the Xbox flopped in a market that is considered home turf for Sony's PlayStation.
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Do you agree?
Xbox 360
yes your right this is some idiot taking some stupid action against MS yes some have faults but do you remember the PS2 read disk Errors that was a huge problem and they wouldnt replace the unit, yet MS have owned up to the problem they know of it and have offerd free over night shipping for repairs or a replacement unit, it should be thrown out of court and the person who is sueing should have to pay the court fees to teach him a leason. an Idiot in my book.
Posted by Michael Moore, 06 Dec 2005
Justified.
Microsoft should know better than to manufacture a product with design flaws. The overheating problems should have been taken care of before sending the XBox360s out. Common techies/nerds know that when things are more powerful they generally produce more heat, and the guys behind the 360 designing should have been able to spot this problem before hand.
I wouldn't think work arounds would be found and already widely known if this were limited to "isolated cases". I have to support the Chicago resident in this case, Microsoft was as careless as a McDonalds that lets their coffee get hot enough to cause 3rd degree burns or a store that doesnt put out wet floor signs.
Posted by Michael, 06 Dec 2005
Going too far?
From what I have heard, some are having power supply problems and they should be remedied.. However, I think this is a fine example of an idiot taking things too far in order to stir up trouble for financial gain and/or news attention.
No, I don't think it's fair to get a hot power supply, but Microsoft said it is working on the fix. Also there are work arounds. It's just the power supply and not like it's really the Xbox itself anyway.
Seriously, what kind of person goes to all the trouble to hire a lawyer, file a lawsuit, go to court in what would be a long drawn out case? What kind of person does stupid stuff like this? Probably the same kind of person that tries to trip on a drop of water in Walmarts and then sue (now there's an idea, LOL).. Or sues McDonalds for spilling coffee on themselfs (it's been done)
The problem should be corrected, but the work arounds work. I'd rather just play my game and forget about it. Also Microsoft has a help number and pays peoples shipping to have their xbox repaired for free. Some are down on Microsoft, but I think they've made a really good try with this game console and I hope it does well. If it were way too unfair of Microsoft, I'd say so, but don't think it's the case.
So Yes, my opinion is this guy is just one more jerk and/or nut to enter our news media just to cause problems.
Posted by John, 06 Dec 2005
Give the lawsuits a rest already!
I'll preface this by saying that as an IT professional, I feel very little love for MS. They are the VHS of the computing world... proof positive that superior technology doesn't always win.
Nevertheless, it seems that this fellow needs to get a grip and realize that this is a VIDEO GAME SYSTEM! If it doesn't function properly, no lives are in danger. Nobody will starve. No bombs will explode. You get the point.
If I pay several hundred dollars for a toy that doesn't work, I return it to the store. There are plenty of other entertainment choices out there to explore.
And shame on the lawyers involved for helping to create such a spectacle. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if this were one of those cases where a lawyer dreams-up a suit, then places newspaper ads fishing for a pawn to recruit into his/her scheme.
It seems Microsoft will lose in the court of public opinion, no matter what results this lawsuit brings. In the mean time, Battlefront II is working great on my PC. No heat problems here!
Posted by Mike Pringle, 06 Dec 2005
Frivolous much?
Two words: preemptive strike. America can no longer afford to sit idly while Microsoft continues to stamp out substandard products. Enter the global war on defective power supplies!
Posted by senoramn, 06 Dec 2005
Sue someone before contacting the manufacturer
I agree with the previous comment. Just as long the warranty covers the problem, what is the big deal! It is not like Microsoft is refusing to fix the problems. Look how many things can go wrong with a new car on the market. Maybe I will sue. How great country is being dragged down by lawyers!
Posted by Scott, 06 Dec 2005
I wish I could...
I wish I could afford to sue Microsoft as we don't have that priveledge here in Canada. I would have to pay all legal fees up front (at least a fat retainer) and take the chance of sueing the largest tech company in the hemisphere.
They must have known about the over-heat issues as ther is no way MS did not run QC burn in tests..
I will wait for the next wave of 360's to come out before buying one. That is if I can get hold of one. They sell for an average of $1500.00 US on ebay.
Posted by Rick Kahn, 06 Dec 2005
Mole, may be.
I'm not a fan of M$, but fair is fair. I smell something fishy in this particular case. M$ admitted there was a problem, M$ offered to replace the defective unit in day one when the news became widely known. Any products in general are not 100% free of defective but the suppliers must stand behind thier product. M$ already acted in a responsible manner as far as I can say. I might be paranoid but I seriously think this guy might be secertly working for M$'s rival trying to stole M$'s thunder.
Posted by justAkid, 07 Dec 2005
Microsoft Should Step Up
I don't have a problem with there being a problem with the new system but what Microsoft should do since people paid $600 on average, is to have a new system or supply overnighted to that person the next day the problem is reported. A gamer shouldn't have to be without their $600 system that's less than a month old due to some manufacturing glitch. If Microsoft wants to show support, send a "Free game to those who had problems, as well as a new system" to the store they bought it from. Let the store overnight the system back to Microsoft after they've given people their new system. Problem SOLVED!
Posted by James Thorpe, 09 Dec 2005
History does repeat itself...spooky...
It sounds like the same thing that happend with the Old Xbox.Remember the Defective power plug. I got a new free updated plug in the mail about 11 mounths ago, with no more problems
Posted by Luke, 23 Dec 2005
yeah same problem here.
ive had five now altogether,ms helped me one,but after then,i had to sort them out myself,every time getting the 3 red lites of gloom problem,im in the uk,so why isnt there anybody in the uk wanting to sue microsoft.
Posted by dave, 26 Feb 2007
why not sue?
MS knew about the problem! and because they knew about the problem they shud replace or fix the the console for free,this is not a favor from them! this is a MUST! if they didnt offer to repair your console then they wud hav had law suits left right and center.
My first xbox broke the night that i brort it,the second issue was my xbox was scretching my games,not because i moved it! about 5 of mi games had a big scratch all the way around them however only one of my games got replaced! they couldnt see how they were responsible for different companies games!!! yet it was their console that scratchd them.thirdly the 3red bars came up,the overheat error!
None of these are isolated problems!
MS needs a kik in the ass,some1 should give it to them!
Posted by paul effin wors, 11 Feb 2009