Refurbished Xbox 360s...

[trancejeremy]

Has anyone bought one of these? There's a site having a sale on them, but I've read mostly horror stories. (How most of them are not really refurbished, but towel tricked into working a little longer)

http://www.atomicdeals.com/UpcomingDeals/?dt=11/23/2007&pid=1826

(is the place that has them cheap)

 

[Truth Seeker]

Honestly, I would be more concerned with if MSG honors the warranty on them.

If not, then it is not worth the effort.

-PC mobiling-

 

[trancejeremy]

Supposedly they do, at least for the RROD, but at the same time, I wonder how this place ended up with them?

The logical part of my brain tells me to stay away. But the PS2 doesn't get any decent racing games anymore, and despite the mixed reviews from players, Mass Effect is awfully tempting. But at $350, an Xbox is a little too pricey for me. $230, much better. So the impulsive part of my brain keeps whispering "Buy it, buy it, buy it, buy it."

 

[Bront]

I'd rather look for a deal on a used one, or wait for the newer, cooler ones to hit the market.

Remember, they don't just cost the base cost. I think that one needs an HD, you have the cost of an Xbox live account, any extra controlers and accessories, and the game.

 

[trancejeremy]

The trouble with used ones, is you never know if they've been towel tricked (basically a way to get a dead Xbox to work for a little longer) or banned from Xbox Live (due to playing pirated software during one of MS's periodic sweeps)

I was going to wait for a cooler, hopefully cheaper model, but I'm not sure they are going to come out anytime soon. There is the new "Falcon" model, but that apparently only has the 65 nm CPU, not GPU (which is the problematic thing). Though it does run cooler somewhat and uses less juice

However, it's hard to know if you are getting one.

That deal is over, anyway. They've got a new one for $250, which isn't that great a deal (both did come with hard drives, though)

 

[Bront]

There is the new "Falcon" model, but that apparently only has the 65 nm CPU, not GPU (which is the problematic thing). Though it does run cooler somewhat and uses less juice

Not true.

Read this

 

[trancejeremy]

Not true.

Read this

I did, that's actually got most of my statement from.

The CPU is 65nm, but the GPU, while smaller, isn't that much smaller and MS has said it's not 65nm yet, that's due out in August 08 (and called "Jasper")

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=9248

 

[Bront]

They mention that the new GPU is smaller (and it is different, I can see that) in the falcon, so I think some of it might be, or maybe it's just a newwer stepping of the same chip.

 

[trancejeremy]

The first part of the article mentions that ATI has gone to 80nm on some of their video cards. I would guess that also applies to the GPU, since they make it.




Anyway, this generation of consoles sucks

I was able to get a PS1 for $200 a year after launch, then a Saturn for $200 (with 3 packed in games), then eventually a N64 for $120 or so (which I couldn't play because the controllers literally hurt my hands, even causing them to bleed).

Then last one, I got a Dreamcast for $150 a year after it came out, a PS2 for $300 (about a year after launch, just before the price drop ), then an Xbox for $200 (with 2 packed in games) I think a year after it came out, then a slim PS2 for $130 when my original PS2's laser died.

This time around, it's been 2 years since the 360 came out, and the price has dropped a whopping $50. The PS3 has been out a year, and the prices has dropped $100, but it's still too much (especially since the 40 gig has no BC, and I have a ton of PS2 games). The one console I could afford (if I could find it), I don't want.

I was hoping just sticking with the PSP/DS would be enough. But it's not, because some of the genres I like aren't suited that well for the DS (like racing games, since the d-pad isn't very good) and while the PSP itself sells pretty well (though not as good as the DS, but about on par with the 360), software for it sells horribly, and developers have scaled back games for it.

 

[LightPhoenix]

This time around, it's been 2 years since the 360 came out, and the price has dropped a whopping $50. The PS3 has been out a year, and the prices has dropped $100, but it's still too much (especially since the 40 gig has no BC, and I have a ton of PS2 games). The one console I could afford (if I could find it), I don't want.

I think the problem with regard to the 360 is three-fold, if we're discounting deliberate means to inflate the price.

First, there's been problems with stability. Every replacement they send out is one less to sell, and that's raised both the bottom line and demand. Thus, the price stays high.

Second, as people have mentioned, there's lots of dubious practices on the secondary market. This is compounded by XBL being the big draw, because a messed up system may not be able to take advantage of the it.

Third, there's an overall lack of competition. There's two distinct tiers of games in this generation. The Wii covers the ones who don't spend a lot of money, and in theory the PS3 and 360 compete for the ones that do. The problem is, the PS3 isn't putting up much of a fight, and costs more than its competitor, so the 360 stays at a high price point too.

There's also a general lack of returns, but that's a console-wide thing, and usually doesn't start until at least a year in. If you have a friend that works at GameStop or another store that will sell used systems, I would start checking after Christmas.