It freezes. It crashes. It gives you the red light of death. Well, you’re not alone. Microsoft has admitted it. Early Xbox 360s are defective and will be repaired free of charge...providing that you purchased yours before January 1, 2006.

“As part of our standard and ongoing process of analyzing repair data, we recently noticed a higher than usual number of units coming in for repair,” Microsoft told IGN in a prepared statement today. “Upon further investigation, it was further discovered that the bulk of the units were isolated to a group that was part of the initial manufacturing run of the console. Returns for repair are coming in for a variety reasons and it’s a higher rate than we are satisfied with.”

Well, good. I don’t personally have an Xbox 360, but if I did, I am sure that it would be broken. Every console I’ve ever purchased has broken–from NES to PS2. I can now open a PS2 and readjust the laser in 3 minutes flat. I’m like a NASCAR pit crew with that thing.

But I digress. If your box is broken, Microsoft will either repair the system or, if the problems cannot be fixed within two days, Microsoft will replace the old system with a new one. Anyone with a broken system can call 1-800-4MY-XBOX to speak with a customer service person. And, naturally, we’d like to know how that conversation goes.

Ahhh, sweet satisfaction.

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