Insider confirms price for 360's new Wi-Fi adapter

After a picture of an official 802.11n Wi-Fi adapter for Xbox 360 appeared on the internet, AreaGames.de got word from an inside source with direct contact to Microsoft confirming the new hardware to be priced exactly like the currently offered wireless network peripheral. The insider (who is known and trusted by the website but asked to stay anonymous in their article) also mentions a price-drop for the original Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter just after the release of the new black one.

[Mr_Bun]

Anyway you look at it, it is still a rip-off! Like I mentioned in another article, you can pick up a wireless n router for a lot cheaper than this for your 360 and it will be more functional.

Microsoft (like many big companies) seem to prey on the ignorant.

[GWAVE]

Any price cut is better than none. The adapter has been the same price since the 360's launch with no price drop. Now THAT's robbery.

[DelbertGrady]

I don't know anyone who's bought one. What they need to do first and foremost is to drastically lower the prices on the hard drives. Now that's robbery!

[Lifendz]

But it's only one ripoff amongst many. MS customers have shown they'll buy 360 products regardless of whether its a rip off or not so why fault MS for overcharging and taking their money? I don't. But if the console gaming industry as a whole followed the MS practice of overcharge for everything, I think I'd become a PC gamer.

[ThaGeNeCySt]

I bought a drive off ebay for 59.99... it's not an official MS one, He made it himself but it's been working flawlessly ever since (and even has the xbox partition for backwards compatibility)

[JsonHenry]

Just do a google search for how to use regular adapters on your 360 for a fraction on the cost.

MS charges a fortune for their peripherals and it is just unreal what they charge. Seriously, how do they sleep at night?!

[darthv72]

I am using the regular wifi adp and use a dlink 802.11g router. Obviously I would need to replace my "G" with an "N" but is there any real benefit to doing so?

[StanLee]

How much is this new adapter going to be anyway? I'm sure Microsoft will find some way of justifying the ridiculous price they're going to charge for it.

@ JsonHenry

On piles and piles of money.

[vhero]

@ darthv72 - Honestly it depends on your house really if your ps3 is close to your router honestly G is enough for perfect online gaming.. Especially if your net is ADSL broadband speeds. N routers and receivers are really needed if your PS3/360 at one side of house and router at another and your getting a massive drop in speed and have high speed cable type speeds.

[menoyou]

According to Microsoft's track record for 360 peripherals this thing should be about $200.

[darthv72]

thanks for the info. Not sure why I would get a disagree for asking a question.

Oh well.

Perhaps MS will see the error of their ways and price the adp somewhere around $50. That way they could entice more people to go wireless. Sure it isnt free like the ps3 but it is a better price than $100. I like that it is black too. I had to use the original one on my pro system because it just didnt look right on my elite.

[Syronicus]

Why not just put it in the 360 itself? Why this continuing to rip off consumers? You want to know what is going to put MS in third place this generation? Their own stupid greed and stupid decisions to make everything "optional".

[supremacy]

at no extra cost?

[tatotiburon]

yes it cost extra for xbox 360 but it have bigger bandwith, perfect for HD streaming...PS3 and wii are stuck with 802.11g, only 54mbps

EDIT: hahaha my god years trolling about how the xbox 360 didn't have wirelees moden built in and now you will hook up your ps3 with a wireless router.

[vhero]

Ah clutching at straws are we?? My PS3 it attached to an old router which is N+ so your wrong and it was cheaper that this device. So before you chat crap get your facts straight. You can easily convert some N+ routers into receivers and connect to your PS3 via network cable for better bandwidth and its even better bandwidth than this device and cheaper. Use google next time before you try to be clever fanboy.

[Pennywise]

Prime example of why MS will not lower prices.

[beardpapa]

I'd be careful how you tout the "n" bandwidth anyways. Not until recently was it finalized, and people were using "true-N" routers and so-called "N" routers that were just pumping out a little more than 802.11g's bandwidth. Even so, to get the true benefit of true-N requires a compatible wifi card or one that supports true-N speeds - something like Intel Ultimate Wifi-link 5300. It's advertised to go up to 450mbps but I've only managed to get around 300. The most I ever got from those "N" routers was around 65mbps, not much different from g's claimed 54 (which i usually get around 44).

[PirateThom]

Damn, it's a shame Sony can't release an add on to connect via USB or the ethernet port for people who want wireless N....

:-/

[vhero]

@ PirateThom - whay do thay need to??? you can buy a router that would plug into your ethernet port and do the same thing and do a LOT better job than this thing and not to mention cheaper!

[stennexxx]

Robbery Robbery Robbery. MS are crooks. And yes Sony will probably allow you to hook an 802.11n adapter through the gigaethernet port, or USB.

[ELite_Ghost]

REALLY GIGABIT, I NEVER KNEW :O THATS SICK!!!

[rusgreim]

The PS3 does not support wireless N. So, for those poor SOB's with a PS3 and no wired connection, you are stuck with 54 mb/s.

Wireless N on the other hand (again, no PS3 support) is 300 mb/s.

While the PS3 does support gigabit LAN, the 360 does not, so the only way to get a faster connection than 100/t for the 360 is to go this route, and purchase a wireless N router.

[LostCypher11]

And all that would effect would be Streaming from your PC. Online would not change at all. Most ISP only offer 5-7mp/s. So there is really no point to this product.

[vhero]

Read my comment above :) PS3 with a router converted to receiver blows it away for speeds and since you plug it in with its own power source it also counts as a booster for even better range/speeds. Plugged into the gigabit ports means you can far suppress anything this adapter can do and you can do it NOW. You can even do it with 360 and wii..

[Kajaah117]

Are we all forgetting that the PS3 has USB ports too? It has a wireless G receiver built in, but if Sony felt it necessary, they could easily release a wireless N USB adapter just like Microsoft. They're both USB 2.0 ports, so there would be no difference. Just saying.

[beardpapa]

If you read my post above, again... in order for anyone with a device (computer, handheld, usb n wifi) to take advantage of the "claimed" N wifi speed of 300mbps (or 450 according to Intel), you need a true-n wifi router, and not those routers out there that claim to be 802.11n draft. The router needs to be simultaneous dual channel mimo enabled, otherwise g devices will drag the bandwidth to g speeds. If it's not a true finalized 802.11n router, then the draft N router you bought will most likely just give you slightly better than g bandwidth (roughly 66-75mbps).

[Roper316]

wow all the disagrees for a true comment, the PS3 does not support N and downgrades the signal of a N router.

[SuperStrokey1123]

So whats the price? Im confused

[SuperStrokey1123]

Why would someone disagree with me asking a question lol.

[cheapndirty]

You are on n4g. Most of these guys are argumentive and contentious a good part of the time. That disagee might have been because someone thought you were pro xbox 360.

As for me. I am pro wired connection. The only wireless I will do is N. So for the 79.99 ( which was Amazon usually sells them for) I will get the adapter--finally. N is much more stable guys. Google it and you will learn why. That adapter is not much more than a PC wireles N adapter.

[KingKionic]

Tee price is staying the same then . So i guess the one out now will get a price drop .

Could this be a hint to another xbox 360 sku ?

Probably...

[Neo604]

like $99.

[vhero]

Or pick up an N router and convert it the router will cost you about $60 it will do a better job and available now :p

[Neo604]

they act like a bunch of robber with shoddy hardware, charge for this charge for that wich most case should be free.

[millertime8306]

The max bitrate on 802.11g is 54 Mbps if I'm not mistaken. No one's broadband connection has a high enough bandwidth to saturate that (at least for most people in the US). So what's the point at this stage of buying an 802.11n receiver (or 802.11n router for that matter). Can someone with some technical knowledge please explain? Thanks!

[tgh machines]

I think wireless N has a longer range and more powerful signal, so it would be helpful if the 360 were a moderate/long distance from the router or if there were a lot of walls in the way.

[millertime8306]

Ahh, you're right. It looks like it's about twice the range according to wikipedia. Thanks!

[cheapndirty]

G is a saturated bandwidth. Your neigbors WIFI can cause interference, a microwave running in the house, some cordless phones. The benefit of N is not just the speed it is also that it is much harder to get signal interference. That is also why it is more stable than G. Worth it.

[mrlahey]

Lets hope this one adds the function of WPA2.

[sak500]

ps3 has 2x 10/100/1000 ports and 7 usb ports, ooops sorry was reading pre-launch config of ps3.

[Zeevious]

Every Fanbrat Moron knows you have to mention games in 4D.
(4D - Game elements like terrain that change over time or by user interaction)

I don't know what your waiting for but what kind of self-disrespecting Fanbrat are you?
You should have used your last remaining bubble to mention 4D & the pixel count of some great First Person Shooter, like Super Rub-A-Dub or Haze.

I'm really surprised you've scored so poorly here. You'll never win Septembers Fanbrat of the Month award! Now go back...study the guide, and please come back as a better Fanbrat!
http://n4g.com/RedirectToOb...

[Zeevious]

I see that at least two lost souls forgot theirs & completely by accident and not on purpose clicked Disagree.

Laugh-less wretchedness is such a sad affliction.

It just makes you want to weep, unless you have better things to do...like Play the Uncharted 2 demo!

[ForROME]

Un believable, I swear, they need to make this thing 29.99 or lower and thats even pushing it.

[thebudgetgamer]

how many xbox nutjobs said wirelles wasnt good for a console?

but now they release a new one and its the beez knees?

GTFOH.

[cheapndirty]

Do your homework on the difference between g and N. Spend a few hours researching and not on any gaming site. Then ask that question.

[beardpapa]

his question was

"how many xbox nutjobs said wirelles wasnt good for a console? "

He didn't mention anything about g or n.

[thebudgetgamer]

im talking about hypocrites not tech. im the head it guy for the school disctrict were i live so know about that.

[PirateThom]

Jesus, spend a few minutes setting up the channel correct and you won't need to buy yet another wireless adaptor for 360.

[vhero]

@ cheapndirty - get to the openzone with crap comments like that.

[artsaber]

They are raping anyone who would even imagine buying this. I mean for God's sake, it is a CHIP on a VERY small daughterboard!!! They could solder this on the motherboard of the 360 and have it built -in! No kidding, screw you Microsoft. They are charging $100 for a product that sells @ $35 for a PROFIT! I love you guys, but this is Microsoft just calling you DUMB to your faces.

For those who wants to know what difference G or N will do for you:

If you don't have a Wireless N Router, then this device alone won't do much at all for you. N Routers and receivers have an extended transmit range, and higher thoroughput over the same distance in comparison to its G counterparts. With that being said, you have to consider what the average speed of your home internet service is. Chances are, it won't even be fast enough to max out what a G based Router is capable of handling. But if your problem is distance from Router to Device, then a N based Router and Card system should definately help you negate the weaker signal you used to get while using a G Router and card and improve your connection and TX/RX rate.

Also, some Routers (N and G) need tweaking out of the box for maximum effectiveness. But before I bought this little do-hicky from Microsoft, I would buy a small cheap azz Belkin G router and reprogram/flash(DD-WRT) it as a Bridge-Repeater, slightly overclock it, and connect that device via a short Cat5 straight to my 360.

EDIT: The version I am talking about making is the same adapter that Belkin used to sell @ $79 - $99 for the 360. But with a small amount of work, you can buy a BETTER $35 router and flash it to do the same thing.

[artsaber]

Everyone has to admit that this is equivalent to a savage raping from a inbred Saquatch with Jock itch! This is an embarrassment to gamer's intelligence. Microsoft is saying to you "Support my products, IDIOT!" There is no excuse for this pricing, and as long as gamers defend it, you will pay more and more.

[badbond1]

Micro$oft will replace the DVD-9 with Blu-Ray! LMFAO! $199.99! And I still won't buy it.

[ll_UNDERSCORE_ll]

Wouldn't want that sticking on my console.

[ReBurn]

Seems to me that if people are unhappy with Microsoft's price structure that they'll just decline to be a customer. You only get screwed if you allow yourself to be. One could argue that batteries in a wireless controller that can't be replaced when they go bad is raking the consumer over for new controller purchases. All depends on how you look at it.

I like that the wireless adapter for the 360 is external. That way upgrades like this are possible without having different hardware versions. That being said, anything over $50 really is too high considering the actual price of the technology. I'm happy with my current wireless adapter, so it really doesn't impact me all that much.

[djfullshred]

An add-on adaptor? How quaint and old fashioned, haha.