Maxwell Smart

yea, I don't understand either why they haven't started making 360s with built in wireless seems pretty easily done and would probably help sales.

fujishig

I think it's absurd that the DS doesn't support WPA...

Isn't the rumor that MS is coming out with a Wireless N version of this adapter, which should cause the older ones to drop in price?

Music

I didn't think it was a rumor...

chess

$20 is a bit more palatable, but I'm still looking at $116 for the console, $45 for hard-drive and headset, minimum $35 for my first year of Live, and a minimum of $20 for dongle. I think I already have a spare HDMI cable, but if not, another $7.

So a minimum of ~$220 to cobble together something with the basic functionality of my PS3 (minus Blu).

BUT! If I just get the Arcade, hook it up in my office, and don't sweat the hard-drive or Live, I can spend $116 to play the single-player stuff that I want to check out (Gears, Ace Combat, Fable 2, Dead Rising and Mass Effect).

chess

At least 10 units per store. Sale starts at 8 am. Could get ugly...even in my podunk town.

fumanstan

Yeah, to be fair the DS is only 802.11b and WEP, but still no reason that Microsoft shouldn't have a cheaper adapter out there.

I'm pretty sure we've seen actual SKU's for the N adapter, but no firm date on release.

tanman

Are you kidding? That's no where near as ridiculous as MS's wireless adapter price. And the new one is coming out. And the old one is dropping in price $20.

No...not TO $20 but BY $20. Yes, even with the new N version they are still going to be charging $80 for a wireless adapter that should be more like $20.

MS definitely has the most ridiculous pricing on their accessories in the history of video games.

Chew

You could follow this advice....

fujishig

If they dropped the old one to $20, who would buy the new one? The bottom line is that people are buying it, right? What motivation is there for MS to drop the price?

Similar wireless adapters for stuff like tivo and directv recievers are also pretty costly.

Michael Corvin

Is it though? It took them 4 years to nail down the overheating/RROD issues. Would you really want to take a chance on a system with more, unproven, tech crammed in there? That would be like poking a snake in the eye. You're just asking for problems.

fumanstan

It's expensive, but not that far fetched. A USB Wireless N adapter from major brands like Linksys or Netgear are anywhere from $40 - $60 depending on the type. The G adapter being $100 forever is ridiculous.

Raul3

The only positive thing about the Xbox 360 wireless adapter is that it's a really good piece of technology. You know, not all wireless are built the same. In my case, I can say that I have my PS3 and Xbox 360 side by side (or one on top and the other at the bottom shelf), and when streaming from my PC the Xbox 360 always works fine, the PS3 most of the times works fine but sometimes has stuttering with heavy videos. And I've tried all kind of media servers, WMP, PS3 media server, PlayOn, etc. Right now PlayOn is the one that works better with my PS3.

But going back to my point, even the price is really ridiculous, the official Xbox Wireless adapter is a really good piece of technology and in my experience better, for streaming local media, than the PS3.

chuckd21

I can second that. I have my 360 and PS3 on the same shelf of my entertainment center and I have the same streaming quality as you do. There's never an issue with the 360, but the PS3 always seems to be working slower. Not to mention demo downloads take forever.

Groucho

I think those streaming differences you're seeing have to do with the networks rather than the technology. I have both of my consoles wired via ethernet cable and notice the same differences.

As for the MS adapter, the least they could have done is allow us to use any USB dongle in there.

edstein

The price of the old unit should be coming down since this new is just about to come out.

chess

Yep, it's coming down by $20, so it will be $70 rather than $90.

Still ridiculous.

I've pretty much decided to pass on the deal based on having to deal with a Wal-Mart rush, needing a hard-drive and "the dongle issue" (or just nickel-and-diming in general)

But if I didn't already have a PS3, or were looking to replace an older 360, I'd be all over it. Great deal!

The Bus

Great deals the last page.

chuckd21

Nice bargain.

Decker

Okay, you asked for it:

Fry's is FINALLY bringing it again.
In this week's ad, good 11/6-11/12:

Call Of Duty : Modern Warfare 2 (360 shown) $49.99
Lego Rock Band (Wii, PS3, 360) : $37.77 (DS) $19.99
Dragon Age Origins (PS3, 360) : $47.99

tonyc3742

Looks like if you'd rather fight fastfingered people than Walmart crowds, you have a chance to get in on the Xbox with 100$ gift card at Amazon at approx 0900 Eastern time.

Buy an Xbox 360 Arcade and Get a $100 Amazon.com Promotional Code
is their upcoming Gold Box deal.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/goldbox/ref...684409-7211657

and again at 3 Eastern.

pinata242

I'll try that on my iPhone while I'm at Wal-Mart. I'd love to save the $16 in tax and be able to use the $100 on tax-free items.

chess

I think $16 might push me over the edge...5 minutes to decide...

pinata242

Got amazon's with no issue from the walmart line.

chess

Bought the damn thing. Lighting deal was over in about a minute.

SunMonkey

Beware there is an apparent glitch with this sale. I got in on the deal with the system showing in my cart at the "Special Price" of $199.98. However, when I checked out, the invoice showed the price raised back up a penny to the standard, non-package price of $199.99. Some have reported success in getting eligibility confirmation from Amazon CSR, other denials.