XBOX 360 Jasper

Aaron Greenberg is tired. The group product manager for the 360 has been doing interviews about the product line for hours, in a room with a 360, some Guitar Hero equipment, and of course the new Xbox 360 UI. "I probably don't need to show you this, do I?" he asks, nodding to the screen. We laugh, but I do have some serious questions. Such as, why is it so hard to find out which models of the system sport the Jasper hardware? The "Jasper" 360 units feature a new motherboard, along with a 65nm CPU that runs cooler and uses less power. The system also contains 256MB of internal memory in the Arcade model, enough to make sure it can run the new UI even without a memory card. In other words, it's a better piece of hardware for the money. Without any form of clear marking on the packaging, it can be tricky to tell if the hardware you're buying is the Jasper-based system, which has lead to many forum threads showing gamers how to tell if they're buying the right model. The absolute, idiot-proof tell? "12,1A" shown on the power information on the back of the console. You may need to move the system slightly to read this information through the open slot on the box, but its worth it. You can easily tell when a careless Jasper-searcher has been to a store, with bends or even tears marring the left side of the window where someone strained to see the power rating.

 

I ask point blank: has there even been a discussion about simply putting the model type on the box, making it clear for consumers? "Yes," Greenberg tells me, and then pauses.

 

He rubs his face and looks up. "I have to be careful about how I answer this," Greenberg says. "We have focused really hard on improving the quality of our products, including the internal components, new types of things internally. Unfortunately we don't get and share the exact specifics of that... I know your site and your readers are much more sophisticated than the average public, but for the most part, we believe the type of consumer that's buying an Xbox today, they should be able to buy with confidence. They shouldn't, you know, get hung up on the internal components of the device.

 

"However, I think your readers will figure out the way to know the difference, and there are ways to figure it out, and they'll buy the one that they want. How's that for a... am I going to get in trouble here?" he asks the PR lady in the room.

 

Why is the Jasper so important? The first models of the Xbox 360 were plagued with defects, and the bad press caused by these issues continue; some consumers simply refuse to buy the 360 because of the perceived unreliability of the hardware. Microsoft has put in place an aggressive, not to mention very expensive, warranty system in place to try to boost consumer confidence, but the shadow of the red ring of death reaches far. Hardcore gamers who follow gaming news know that the best chances for having a hassle-free gaming experience comes from Jasper units.

 

For the broader market, however, putting any notice that a box contains new hardware could send a subtle signal to consumers that the past hardware wasn't as good. While this may be true, it's not the best message for a company trying to dispel doubts about the reliability of its hardware, and any packaging updates could make the casual gamer aware of the hardware issues. Greenberg is right, the type of gamer who follows the code names of hardware will find the telltale signs easily, so why bring it up to a larger market?

 

In a way, Microsoft is showing faith in the gaming press and consumers to spread the word to the faithful, causing some to prowl the gaming stores, peering into boxes and reading serial numbers to try to find the elusive hardware update.