Why is finding a Jasper Xbox 360 such a pain in the neck?

What's the easiest way to ensure that the Xbox 360 you're buying is one of those Jasper ones, one with a 65nm CPU that runs cooler and shouldn't be as susceptible to the red ring of death? On the little cutout on the back of the Xbox 360, you need to maneuver the system so that you can see the power rating. Spot a "12,1A" and the Jasper is yours. But, why wouldn't Microsoft simply put on the front of the system a little sticker or something that says "includes new and improved Jasper CPU!"

That's what Ars Technica wanted to know, too. So it asked one of them there group product managers, Aaron Greenberg, why Microsoft makes it so damn hard to figure out if the Xbox 360 is Jasper or not.

It looks like Microsoft doesn't want to draw attention to the Xbox 360's hardware problems. If they were to highlight that newer versions of the 360 (the Jaspers) are a "safer" buy, then, I don't know, panic will ensue.

So, if you're dead set on buying a Jasper, you're more than likely savvy enough to Google "how to tell jasper xbox 360." Otherwise, nope, Microsoft doesn't want to make a big deal out of this.

[hitthegspot]

I can understand that it would not be in the best interest for retailers current stock of 360s, but it would be in MS's best interest to put a Jasper sticker on the boxes. It would definitely boost sales. I'm waiting till summer to get another 360. My 3 yr warranty is up and I want the Jasper chipset.

[Blackmoses]

Why should it even be a focal point to find a Jasper 360. I mean everyone seems to think that the whole RROD issue is being blown out proportion anyways.

Another Question: Why pay so much attention to the newest chipset of a console? Especially when it doesn't add any new capability that wasn't there previously.

These are the questions I'd like to hear the honest answers for. Don't bring up the other console and crap. These are legitimate questions with no answers in sight. I know people that won't ever buy a certain brands of cars for similar reasons. Yet, you guys try and make it out to be no big deal.

[Pennywise]

Blackmoses, It is an issue. Not one person I know that owns a 360 has not had RROD. And people want to pay attention to this so they can get the most reliable version of the console.

[morganfell]

Well according to Microsoft if you really want one you can find one. But for the larger gaming public, again according to MS, not getting a Jasper really doesn't matter.

I guess that is their way of saying that the Jasper, which was created to solve the RROD issue, even though such a thing does not exist, is only for the hardcore L33T gamers and the general public can just deal with the RROD...which does not exist because the Jasper was not created to solve that problem...even though it was...if such a problem did in fact exist.

[caladbolg777]

If you're so worried about RRoD, why are you buying a 360 in the first place? REAL 360 gamers learn to shrug it off, deny the problem or accept faulty hardware as part of the package. If that doesn't work for you, then simply don't buy the console.

[hitthegspot]

I have never had RRoD. I want a Jasper since my warranty is up and I want to ensure that I can still play all of my games going forward. It would also be nice to have a couple of systems in the house for local multi-player.

@caladbolg777
That is why Jasper is out and true gamers want it. MS messed up. Lets move on and find piece of mind.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

"REAL 360 gamers learn to shrug it off, deny the problem or accept faulty hardware as part of the package."

Or how about NEVER HAD A PROBLEM! I don't accept anything, if the system breaks than I will have a problem with it but it hasn't.

I find the most outraged people to be trolls who don't even own the system.

[jaysquared]

I never really understood why M$ just didn't get rid of the arcade unit but its really making sense now. The arcade makes it cheaper for people who has launch consoles or older chipsets to upgrade it. Since most have the Pro model people can just buy the arcade unit and hook up their old hard drive to it. Unless somebody wants a 60gb harddrive or 120 gb the arcade will be perfect for them.

[Oner]

Hey Crab, what about the ones WHO do actually have one and HAVE had MULTIPLE RROD's? Do they not matter to you? Or are we "fanboys" because we have an ABSOLUTE right to be upset and voice our opinions about an abysmally faulty product!

In the history of electronics there has NEVER been a bigger "successful" (if you want to call it that) failure than the Xbox 360. PERIOD. And it just amazes me that Microsoft has gotten away with the biggest sham since the days of when the "Brooklyn bridge was for sale"...

[kewlkat007]

That's not how you draw in your install-base by concentrating on a systems faults that are "being or have been ironed out".

This should not be the focal point...so as a product manager thats not the perception you wanna portray to potential buyers.

That's just the way it is. It's a mix of PR & Business Strategy.

You focus on what makes the console great to have as you wanna put the BS behind you. The quicker the better. I'm surprises how Xbox 360 manage to sell, though not everyone has issues.

Knocks on wood after comment..Star Ocean & RE5 is near.

[pixelsword]

Whether it be 360, PS3, PS2, or Wii.

The same goes with games. Most people who complain about games they never played never get questioned, so most people just roll over and accept it as fact.

These people just go to reviews and threads and absorb all of the bad comments and spew them out, but they cannot give you intricate facts or names of people on the leaderboards (like how SuperEvilCube was in the top 10 of Lair's leaderboards for a long time), or who was the first to get all 14 platinum medals... or how BigBollox must be friggin' spot-wielded to his PS3 and Warhawk must be the only game he plays. :D

I realize that people do have problems with the console, but what crab was saying is that there are still people who never had any problems with their console.

That's not impossible to believe, either.

[paracardium]

sure glad I never bought this garbage.Hope most of you were smart enough to stay away from this. :)

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Are you being sarcastic?

My 360 has never given me any problems and I am very satisified with the purchase and the entertainment.

[snoopgg]

The 360 really is a piece of garbage!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It breaks down more tnen any of the next gen consoles. This isn't just my opinion, it is a fact! Although, after my first 360 rrrod, I bought a fan for my elite, and one for my replaced 360 sent to me by Microsoft. I havent had any problems in 2 years now, since I use the side fans by pelican. Knock on wood!

[ThaGeNeCySt]

it's not even difficult to find though... if u look thru the serial number hole and press it back a little bit u can see the "2,1A" (there'll be just enough space to make that out without u breaking the box which what i did) which indicates that it says "12,1A" other wise you'd see a "4,1A"

I found jasper in a matter of seconds of getting to the video game section of best buy

[Knightofelemia]

If you mark this box is a Jasper M$ is screwed cause thats all people will buy, leaving the other consoles sitting on a store shelf to collect dust. Besides the Jasper does sound nice but has Microsoft put it through the tests. Whose to say you buy a Jasper and it dies a day later.

[Anon1974]

This certainly wouldn't be the first time it's been claimed that a hardware revision had "fixed" rrod.

Personally, I'm done so it doesn't matter. After 2 rrod and once disk scratching console, the 4th 360 Microsoft sent me is older than the one it replaced. I had to pay $170 twice for two of the repairs, MS refused to refund that back to me once they extended the warranty (they apparently had no record of those repair charges)and the customer service was hands down one of the worst experiences I've ever had with a customer support line...period. Clearly Microsoft doesn't want my business and after not being able to play the bulk of my games library for 4 months I changed my gaming habits. They may have fixed the hardware issue but for me it's too late now. There's no way in hell I'll buy another MS console.

[silent h3ro]

I doubt many people even know what Jasper is. I think MS made the right choice keeping it off the box. The last thing they need is more confusion about which console of theirs they should buy. The general consumer is not that smart.

[psiom]

Because Microsoft has to deliberately obfuscate their location in order to not have any difficulty clearing existing non-jasper stock.

That's not a conspiracy, just common sense.

[Anon1974]

I would think that would have been common sense rather than alienating millions of customers and potential customers as well as lose unplanned billions in warranty extensions and limiting your potential growth in order to establish a 6 or 7 million console lead.

Of course, that's just me.

[psiom]

What's your point?

Microsoft doesn't use common sense all the time :)

[Trollimite]

if the jasper units start to rrod they can say. "your system isnt a jasper"

[Godmars290]

Theystill want to unload all of the non-Jasper consoles.

Duh.

[Knightofelemia]

I think if someone buys a Jasper and it gets the RROD, Microsoft will get more lawsuits. Loose gamers because I know people are getting tired of having a system that does not last longer than half a year, and waiting a while for the system to be repaired. Eventually people will disappear and fade to the PS3. And if Jasper does have a higher failure rate lawsuits will be higher, and its another sucker punch to Microsoft since they invented Vista and the trouble it had and same with the Zune.

[vox]

i like how some people use the "my system hasn't broke.. yet" defense to shrug off faulty hardware, even better are the people going the extra mile to claim "RROD is NOT that common, and it's not a 100% defect rate so it's not a big deal"

my 360 hasn't suffered RROD personally, however my console did die from Disc Read Error and I had the 1 ring of death, which is actually the worst RROD error since it's not covered by the warranty
Once my HDD died, MS' only advice was to buy a new one, luckily I didn't because when I tried to sell my broken 360 on ebay/CL(don't worry, I mentioned the HDD prob plus other issues) I actually had to buy it back from the guy when he discovered my 360 couldn't play games anymore

both my old and new 360 have broken pieces on the inside as well, I haven't seen hardware as flimsy as this since the original batch of PSPs

my advice to anyone suffering these issues.. buy a new 360, put your broken one in the box, swap the 2 serial # stickers(i only did 1, they didn't check the USB one), return for full cash refund

MS is apparently pulling this swap trick on consumers as well.. people have bought factory sealed consoles with 2 separate serials..
retailers don't re-stock opened items.. that crap goes straight back to MS who has more than enough money to deal with this, yet they should have spent a little extra to avoid this whole ordeal in the first place... greedy

[cmrbe]

Shouldn't have to go through this is the first place.