Microsoft Wireless Adapter for Xbox 360
- Connectivity: Wireless
- Console: Xbox 360
- Brand: Microsoft
- Type: Wireless Network Adapter
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The very definition of price gouging
Pros
Works like a charm; easy to install and set up; durable
Cons
Seriously? I've got to buy a wireless adapter? Why?
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
It works extremely well, but this should have been built into the console. There's no excuse for making Xbox 360 owners buy this.
Let's cut to the chase here -- it's absolutely ridiculous that any console in the current generation would require this device. That's right -- wireless networks are fairly standard, so you'd think that would be contemplated by anyone making one of these game console thingies.
Well, Nintendo thought of wireless network when they produced the Wii. Yeah, that stuff is built right in and I had no problems adding my Wii to my home network.
Ah, but the Xbox 360 is a different breed of cat. Unless you want to run an ethernet cable directly to the back of your 360, you'll need this idiotic little adapter. The reason I'm so irate about this thing is that it lists for $71.99 (plus shipping) over at Amazon (I grabbed mine on eBay for $50 with free shipping and it works fine). One thing you'll have to know is that there are two of these things for the Xbox -- the one I bought covers A, B & G networks while another one is for A, B, G & N networks. So, choose wisely.
Oh, and this is a proprietary little device. Yes, I looked for cheaper alternatives to the official Microsoft device but my research was inconclusive. Sure, some folks claimed to be able to get buy on cheaper units that were modified by doing this, that or the other, but I just wanted something that works. That being the case, I bought the Microsoft unit.
Having ranted, raved and thrown a fit for a few paragraphs, I should point out the good thing about this device -- it works very well and hooks into a special spot on the back of the Xbox 360. The thing takes up a USB port on the back of a unit (a good move because it doesn't tie up the front ones), is very light, installs easily and has one antenna. Once you install it, you never have to worry about it again because it does work that well.
Of course, the Wii has wireless ability built right in and works equally well, but that's another matter entirely, isn't it?
At any rate, setting the unit up is so easy that any one who knows the user name and password of the wireless router this thing connects to can set this up with ease. Yes, once you set it up once it stays good and installed. There's nothing weird and flaky about the device at all. It's rock solid, maintains with a strong connection and I have no problems with drop-outs when gaming, chatting away over Xbox live or any of that. The device just plain works as well as I'd hoped. That is actually a bit of a surprise as I'm used to Microsoft stuff only working about half as well as advertised.
So, it's a rock solid unit that is easy to set up, ties in with a wireless network easily, is simple to install and basically works as well as advertised. Still, I can't help but feel a little ripped off by Microsoft. This is the kind of thing that should have been built in to that unit I paid $199 for (got the arcade version), bought a hard drive for, subscribed to Xbox Live for, bought an extra game pad for, purchased a couple of head sets for, bought an HDMI cable for and let's not even talk about all the games I've purchased. In other words, I've spent quite a bit on my Xbox 360. Why gig me for a few more bucks? If I have one complaint about the Xbox 360, it's that wireless networking is not built right into the unit. That was just a stupid, stupid move.
Well, Nintendo thought of wireless network when they produced the Wii. Yeah, that stuff is built right in and I had no problems adding my Wii to my home network.
Ah, but the Xbox 360 is a different breed of cat. Unless you want to run an ethernet cable directly to the back of your 360, you'll need this idiotic little adapter. The reason I'm so irate about this thing is that it lists for $71.99 (plus shipping) over at Amazon (I grabbed mine on eBay for $50 with free shipping and it works fine). One thing you'll have to know is that there are two of these things for the Xbox -- the one I bought covers A, B & G networks while another one is for A, B, G & N networks. So, choose wisely.
Oh, and this is a proprietary little device. Yes, I looked for cheaper alternatives to the official Microsoft device but my research was inconclusive. Sure, some folks claimed to be able to get buy on cheaper units that were modified by doing this, that or the other, but I just wanted something that works. That being the case, I bought the Microsoft unit.
Having ranted, raved and thrown a fit for a few paragraphs, I should point out the good thing about this device -- it works very well and hooks into a special spot on the back of the Xbox 360. The thing takes up a USB port on the back of a unit (a good move because it doesn't tie up the front ones), is very light, installs easily and has one antenna. Once you install it, you never have to worry about it again because it does work that well.
Of course, the Wii has wireless ability built right in and works equally well, but that's another matter entirely, isn't it?
At any rate, setting the unit up is so easy that any one who knows the user name and password of the wireless router this thing connects to can set this up with ease. Yes, once you set it up once it stays good and installed. There's nothing weird and flaky about the device at all. It's rock solid, maintains with a strong connection and I have no problems with drop-outs when gaming, chatting away over Xbox live or any of that. The device just plain works as well as I'd hoped. That is actually a bit of a surprise as I'm used to Microsoft stuff only working about half as well as advertised.
So, it's a rock solid unit that is easy to set up, ties in with a wireless network easily, is simple to install and basically works as well as advertised. Still, I can't help but feel a little ripped off by Microsoft. This is the kind of thing that should have been built in to that unit I paid $199 for (got the arcade version), bought a hard drive for, subscribed to Xbox Live for, bought an extra game pad for, purchased a couple of head sets for, bought an HDMI cable for and let's not even talk about all the games I've purchased. In other words, I've spent quite a bit on my Xbox 360. Why gig me for a few more bucks? If I have one complaint about the Xbox 360, it's that wireless networking is not built right into the unit. That was just a stupid, stupid move.
