Xboxist

Why is the Microsoft Wireless Adaptor So Expensive?

Like many gamers who have finally moved out of their parents basements and into my own place, I was suddenly faced with a surprising dilemma for which I was unprepared. Picture, if you can, my old 1-bedroom apartment, which was cold, damp, and dimly lit, as many gaming journalists’ apartments are. The one advantage of living in a tiny, ramshackle apartment is that it only allows you so much space to horde stuff. The money that I ordinarily would have blown on life-sized movie cutouts and a meditative garden went instead to my entertainment console. Since my television, computer, telephone and video game consoles were all conveniently piled against one wall, the only challenge was untangling the mess of cables that snaked their way to the overcrowded electrical outlet.

Now, I’ve got an altogether different sort of problem. My new place has a mythical room known as the “study”, which houses my internet router. The living room, where my Xbox 360 and TV are located, is easily served by the internet connection from my wireless router. So anytime I want to play a game online over Xbox Live, I just turn it on and – woah. What’s this? The Xbox 360 doesn’t have a wireless connection? Well who came up with that stupid idea?

Probably the same person who in the next breath explained to a skeptical boardroom at Microsoft that the company could then charge extortionate amounts of money to people like me who just want to hook up their consoles but now live in a house with more than 2 rooms.

“Well,” the smug Microsoft executive would say, “You’re living in a house aren’t you? Surely you have the $80 to pony up for a wi-fi adaptor.”

Eighty freaking dollars!?! Suddenly the more expensive Playstation 3 console, which helpfully comes with a wi-fi adaptor, doesn’t seem that expensive. Luckily, there are a couple of alternatives available for a more reasonable price. Unfortunately, the alternative of kicking that Microsoft executive in the wedding vegetables is not available.

The best solution is to purchase a regular third-party wireless adaptor, some of which can be had for around half the price. One of the best choices is the small and powerful D-Link DWL-G730AP Pocket Router.