XBox users (in Off-topic)

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/update-uproar-xbox-360-revision-will-disable-quot-unauthorized-quot-memory-cards/1364906

This is wrong. At least we can agree on something. It's Microsoft exploiting existing market share to force hardware purchases. I'm surprised they're doing it so late in the game though.

Apple keeps patching iTunes to prevent the Pre from connecting as well. If you think Apple should be allowed to do this, what if Microsoft prevented the iPhone/iPods from properly connecting to any Windows computers properly? Everyone would be in an uproar.

I've never used a memory card for the 360 and probably never will. I know next to nothing about homebrew/pirated games and such on the 360 so I can't offer any input into whether this is beneficial or not.

I would have to say that it probably isn't as the 360 can detect modded hardware and games when trying to play online already right? Online games require constant updates to play and patch glitches and exploits.

This is a bit off topic, but it reminds me of mobile phones. Every brand out there had their own memory cards, their own headphones, their own connection for cables to the pc or even to the electric socket. What, you lost your recharge cable? Tough luck, you have to buy a new one for 20 euro. In the Sony Ericsson shop.

The European Union finally stopped that and now forces every mobile phone-brand to use the same connections and memory cards in their new mobile phones.

Someone should do the same to both Microsoft and Apple. Because yes, it might stop piracy. A bit. But mainly it's to make sure customers buy Microsoft-products. I think.

i dont see this as a big deal...why pay $30 for a 4 gig memory card when you can get a a 20-60 Gig HD off of craigslist for the same price?

Apple is not preventing Pres from syncing to Macs.

They are preventing their software (iTunes) from being the conduit.

If someone used Windows Media Player to sync up iPods to compete with Zunes, and Microsoft disabled that in WMP, that would be entirely logical. If MS simply made Windows ONLY sync with Zunes, well, that would be commercial suicide.

Palm simply doesn't want to write their own software and are piggybacking off the easy-to-use iTunes experience. I'm not saying I really care what is allowed or disallowed, but if I wrote a piece of software that a competitor then used to make their life easier, I would want to turn it off, too.

And more on-topic, I'd consider this move by MS to be of the "suicide" variety. Competition is still healthy in the vid game market, and people have long memories. Hard to believe Sony is actually more "open" on this stuff, and XBox users will remember that the next time they go to buy a new console. Granted, XBox folks are locked in right now, but this short-term ploy is going to have some nasty long-term ramifications (if they go through with it...)

The issue here is one of consumer expectation. There is a generally accepted belief that common items can (read: should) be easily swapped out with like-kind items. Let's forget about memory cards for a moment and think of the Xbox hard drives.

Microsoft is using proprietary software to ensure that only their own HDs work with the systems. This creates a monopoly for the peripherals, allowing Microsoft to charge exorbitant amounts for items that only cost a fraction in the open market. In other words, you cannot replace a stock 20 gig HD with any 200 gig HD: It must be an overpriced Microsoft-sold HD.

This "abusive" practice guarantees that MS can profit from the heavy mark-up. However, I use quotes for the word abusive as it's not really abusive at all -- the free market gives Microsoft a right to be aggressive. But since consumers have come to expect that a hard drive is a basic, standard item, then consumers also have a right to moan and groan. And moan and groan they did. All you have to do is search Google to find a how-to guide to replace MS's 20 gig drive with your own 200 gig HD. It's not for beginners, but it's not exactly "mission impossible," either.

You may eventually find a method to resolve this problem thanks to the hacking/pirate community, but you can't really fault MS for trying to make money... you also can't be shocked when the community pushes back. Hopefully Sony will fire off a volley of ads about not bullying their customers, otherwise, I'm grabbing my pirate patch.

All in all, meh.

Indeed, as long as their is competition (and consumers vote with their wallets), MS will pay for this in one way or another.

It's hard to believe they are nickel-and-diming on hardware when from all I've ever heard, the console makers get most of their profit from games/licensing. A couple platinum hits at $60 a piece is worth way more than forcing disgruntled customers to cough up $29.99...

By far, this link shows my favorite Xbox mark-up. Take in mind that it's just a cheap adapter, and consumers need it in order to use the online gaming service (Gold Live) that they have to pay an additional annual fee for as well.

argh i hate that wireless price! luckily my dad paid for one for me over summer, but what a rip off!!!

im not sure, but i think i've read somewhere there might be ways of using other non-xbox wireless adapters though

All I'm going to remember is when it costs 1G for a PS4