MSFT has a startling new statement that it made this month, one which bodes ill for any MSFT fans going forward. You do not have the right to sell or buy MSFT hardware on the open market.
[Microsoft's Major Nelson put it bluntly. "This would also be a good time to remind you that the warranty on an Xbox 360 console is not transferable and if you purchase a used console that has been previously banned, you will not be able to connect to Xbox Live," he explained.]
- http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/11/cheap-to-good-home-used-360-pirated-games-slightly-banned.ars
So, the hardware warranty is ONLY honored IF you are the original purchaser. Not even car dealerships do that to their customers, the warranty in most states goes with the car, not the owner. Dealerships are prohibited from denying warrantied service. I certainly would not buy any car, or any game console, if I can't transfer the warranty.
Secondly, MSFT is also stating that you may not go online with their Xbox if you buy a used machine because they are assuming that it's pirated. Way to stay classy, Bill. That is equal to stating that all used car dealers are illegal.
MSFT doesn't seem to understand the law in the United States, and maybe that's why they keep running afoul of it!
Most businesses are GLAD to accept new customers, even if they are coming on board with used hardware. Take your cell phone for example, you can buy a phone on Ebay or Craigslist, or any garage sale and your preferred phone company will activate it for you. They care not about the origin of the hardware and are happy to accept your money. That's what business is all about, isn't it?
Ford will perform free recall repairs on used Ford vehicles. Ford honors all Ford vehicles which are still under warranty, regardless of whom the current owner is. RIM will honor the warranty on their phones no matter who you are. Most hardware manufacturers ship hardware to multiple clients, and have no vested interest in who the retail customer is. They're glad to provide warranty service, and the warranty is a form of company reputation. Nobody wants to buy a Fiat or Ford Pinto for good reasons.
This again highlights some of Microsoft's more questionable attitudes, that the hardware still belongs to Microsoft, and that they have both reason and ability to dictate the use of their hardware to the consumer. This attitude lead to the antitrust suits that continue to accumulate against the corporation. Unless the consumer signs a LEASE, the hardware is PURCHASED. It does not belong to the manufacturer any more.
Although I have no particular love for any one company over another, I now buy "bare box" computers and just put my own software in them. I save hundreds on hardware costs, but thousands on software costs. I've written about the deceptive practices of major computer vendors before, and this is little different, seeing as the xbox is really nothing more than a Microsoft produced PC that is painted green. Little power button and special video card aside, it's really rather marginal as a game console.
I know my Sony PS3 has never had a single power issue or 'red light of death' problem. Sony has some margin of respect for both its clients and its customers.
Microsoft, in my opinion, has very little respect for anyone.
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