Microsoft hopes buyers think outside the Xbox

[Jeremy Charette]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/13210733.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/13210733.htm</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Most of the early sales -- Microsoft has said it expects to sell 3 million machines in the first three months -- should come from hardcore fans, who have already plunked down a deposit to guarantee they'll get one this holiday season. But one of Microsoft's tests will be if the Xbox 360 can attract new, mainstream users and subsequently develop a larger, more prominent role in the home. "This is the first one I'd consider getting my mom," said Rob Smith, editor of the Official Xbox Magazine. "It's not a toy anymore. It's a piece of your living room furniture, as your DVD player is.""</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/174380844940.jpg" /> <br /><br />That last quote really hits home. I recently got a Tivo and gave it to my mother. It was the ultimate test, would Mom be able to figure out how to use it? Not only did she figure it out, but by the second day she was giving my brother and father tutorials! :lol: I can't wait to see what she does with the Xbox 360.

[encece]

I am sooooo pissed off. When I reserved the comsole at Gamestop....they told me I would have it on the 22nd! They got 20 in last night!!!!!

It was to be my son's bday present on thanksgiving!

Now they're not even sure that they'll have it by Christmas! WTF!

Is this Gamestop's or Microsoft's blunder???

[BugDude10]

Jeremy, your mama's gonna be fraggin' some asses and takin' some names in Halo3, you just watch! :rock on dude!:

[Felix Torres]

Is this Gamestop's or Microsoft's blunder???

Gamestop.

MS told every retailer what their allocations were.

If they took more reservations than that *and* didn't warn people that systems would be coming in in batches... Well, that is most definitely not Microsoft's fault.

Just consider that they have to service a zillion locations simultaneously out of a total stock of about a million warehoused boxes and the regular weekly production between now and New Years. The numbers say each outlet will average a few dozen boxes a week for the next few weeks until supply catches up with demand. I know the local CompUSA had only 15 systems to sell today and judging by the crowd, the local target had a couple dozen.

Doesn't sound like much, but multiply two dozen by the thousand or so outlets of each chain and by a dozen or more national chains and you can see how a million systems can become an allocation of 20 for a single store.

Your problem isn't that MS didn't get enough boxes out; its that Gamestop took too many pre-orders and didn't tell you they wouldn't be able to fulfill them on day one...

Sorry to hear it impacted a special day.
Not much consolation to know there are going to be xboxes galore all over in a few weeks... :?

[encece]

I hate that store! I dont even know why I go there! :evil: