As with any technology, there is always the risk of things being faulty from the manufacturer or just breaking after lots of (or improper) use. It’s not common for the BluRay laser to need replacing in the PS3, but it does happen and it’s not something you can just fix on your own. If your disc reader has stopped reading discs consistently and cleaning it has not solved the problem, you’ll need to send it in to get it fixed.
Microsoft’s Xbox 360 gained an early lead in terms of market share largely due to its early launch date which was one year before its rivals. Sales in North America and Europe have continued to be strong, even after the release of the Wii and PlayStation 3. Like its predecessor, the Xbox 360 received a muted reception in Japan, attributed to the lack of content aimed at Japanese gamers. This early launch did come with some trouble, as technical problems appeared in a portion of Xbox 360 units sold. The most well known problem is the “red ring of death”, which received a great deal of attention due to some users’ claims of having to replace their consoles multiple times. Microsoft addressed this by offering a three year warranty on all affected consoles and repairing them free of charge. It also retroactively reimbursed owners of affected systems who paid for…
