Microsoft to mint much moolah with new Xbox 360 Wireless N adapter

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Thursday, 12 November 2009 14:19

Opinion and Analysis

Now that the 802.11n standard has been ratified, the Xbox 360 is finally getting a Wireless N adapter to better cope with the heavy demands of today’s digital content devouring public, but it’s double the price of a USB Wireless N adapter for your PC!

With the great end-of-year shopping season effectively now upon us, it’s no surprise to see the console manufacturers coming out with new add-on products, better online services and new games.

One such new add-on for the Xbox 360 is a new Wireless N adapter, due to arrive down under on November 26.

Outfitted with twin antennas for better wireless performance in online gaming, downloading and streaming media than the existing A/B/G adapter, anyone with an 802.11n network and a desire to network the Xbox 360 wirelessly will presumably want one.

Unfortunately, it’s also one of those areas where Microsoft has a captive market, and can charge accordingly despite competitive products for PCs being up to half the price, as regular USB wi-fi adapters can’t be used with the Xbox 360.

It’s somewhat funny to see the existing 802.11 A/B/G adapter for the Xbox 360 advertised at AUD $149.95 with a “NEW LOW PRICE!” sticker in yellow, but it’s not so funny when you learn that the Wireless N adapter will sell for the same “low price” of $149.95.

In the US they’re $99.95 at retail (excluding any sales taxes), but they’re around US $10 cheaper online. Whether the usual suspects of the Australian retail world will apply any street pricing discounts is yet to be seen, but they'll still likely sell well above AUD $100.

A quick check over at Officeworks.com.au shows a Netcomm NP900N USB wireless adapter for $79.95 and a seemingly overpriced Belkin Wireless N+ adapter on a stand for $129.95. Prices at dse.com.au were similar with a D-Link G adapter for $49.94 and a D-Link "Wireless Xtreme N Duo" for $119.

Neither have the twin external antennas the Xbox 360 version sports, which Microsoft would presumably point out adds to the cost, but with regular 802.11G USB adapters selling from AUD $45 at retail, USB wi-fi adapters clearly aren’t that expensive to make in the factory.

In short, they are a nice way for Microsoft to make some good profit on a Wireless N accessory only they can supply: if you want to be play’n, you’ll have to be pay’n!