I've owned my Xbox 360 for about three years now. I bought it from Costco with a bundle that had a few games in it. It was a newer version of the original model (so it had HDMI). The first two years the system worked just fine. Then, one day, I got the dreaded 'red-ring'. I sent the system to Microsoft to have them fix it. About three weeks later they sent me a brand new system. A year later, my system experienced another problem. It wouldn't power up. So, I thought it must be an outlet problem. It wasn't. I thought maybe I had a faulty power supply. I wasn't faulty. Eventually, I learned the disgusting truth.

Apparently, the Xbox 360 system has been seeing power supply revisions with each successive model. Each power supply sends out a certain amplitude to each system. So, the power supply has to match up with the system correctly. If a power supply sends a lesser value of energy to the system the system won't have enough energy to turn on. If the system receives to high a value of energy the system my overload. My original system required a power supply that put out 16.5 amps. The system Microsoft sent me required a power supply that put out a measly 14.5 amps. This meant the power supply I had was to powerful for the system Microsoft gave me in return for my broken system. I wasn't aware of this at the time. I had no idea about the amplitude of the power supplies or that the amplitudes changed with each model. The over-powerful power supply caused my system to, essentially, 'fry' and become unworkable. To fix my now busted system, I need to pay Microsoft just under $100 as my warranty is now out of date. So, to fix a problem Microsoft caused I need to pay Microsoft $100. I refuse to do that.

Luckily, I was able to get a system for less then what Microsoft asked. Even if I couldn't get a system for less then Microsoft asked I wouldn't give them that money. I refuse to reinforce their busted, disrespectful solution to the problems their poor design and management creates. The Xbox is a great system but at times it feels like I paid a first tier price for a third tier product. Microsoft really needs to make systems that can withstand the use they will inevitably see. I'm just at that age where, if Microsoft can't make a product that works throughout its' lifetime, I won't buy their systems anymore. It isn't worth the hassle and my money can go to much better use.