Re: About the 360 hardware failures..
 

I heard that horizontal was the best position because virtical cuts off the biggest vent on the console.

Thanks, MS. You've made handling my console the equivalent of an old wive's tale..

"Hey, I heard if you rub clove oil on the controller and soak it in celery compound it never overheats, by crickets!!"

Re: About the 360 hardware failures..
 

Remember, if you wrap it in towels, you can fix it!

Seriously though, I have a day-one console that's always been vertical. No problems whatsoever.

Re: About the 360 hardware failures..
 

I think the biggest problems come when people start stacking their devices in a small entertainment cabinet, and even moreso when they have glass doors and the like. All that heat combining with limited airflow lead to most of the issues, IMO. That and epic gaming sessions that last for hours on end. I'll admit to losing 6 hours in one sitting to Mass Effect, but I quickly came to my senses and shut her down to give her a break.

I'm just glad I got one after the made the changes to help with overheating.

Re: About the 360 hardware failures..
 

The towel trick actually does work, sadly, and is a common tactic to get your 360 working for long enough to trade it in to a local Game Stop.

Re: About the 360 hardware failures..
 

I actually had mine laying horizontally. My reasoning behind that was it seems to me discs that are spinning in vertical positioning are more prone to wobbles which in-turn lead to scratches. Just for the record, this was my own silly theory and I don't know if its true or not.

Re: About the 360 hardware failures..
 

It was actually a popular theory in the beginning of the 360's lifespan. However, they finally decided that moving it from vertical to horizontal or vice versa while a spinning disc was inside was what caused most of the scratches.

Re: About the 360 hardware failures..
 

Sadly I know that from first hand experience.

But even when my console is completely stationary I find that it scratches up my discs to no avail. I've tried both horizontally and vertically. I really don't know.
The only positive is the games still work.