Xbox 360 Flash Drives: $40 for 8GB, $70 for 16GB
Yesterday Microsoft confirmed that the company would be releasing an update on April 6 that would allow users to use USB flash drives for storing profiles, game saves, demos and more.
Microsoft's Major Nelson did say you can use any 1GB+ flash drive you like, but he also said Microsoft would partnering with SanDisk to bring out official, pre-configured Xbox-branded flash drives that would be available in May.
Well GameStop has one of these extra special, Xbox 360-brand flash drives listed on its website and it should come as no surprise that they're a little overpriced. Though they do come with a month free Xbox Live Gold membership, it's still hard to see many people paying $40 for an 8GB flash drive. If you want to use the maximum allowed space per drive, you'll have to pay $70 for the 16GB option.
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Ok this aint funny anymore, first we get news that MS is going to start selling 250Gb drives for 130.00$ shipped and now we have overpriced thumb-drives to add to this scenario? Trying to get more users to subscribe to something that should be free anyways is not the best route. If MS was a poor company that could really use the funds then I would understand…
![[:jaydeejohn:5]](http://img.tomshardware.com/forum/uk/images/perso/5/jaydeejohn.gif)
!!
I am amazed at the fact that you can use "any" thumbdrive, well at least 1 good thing came out of this whole ordeal..
Whats next? An SSD that you can drop into your exsisting 360 for only 499.99$
Why would anyone one want to pay this much for an 8GB usb key? You gotta be a brand lurker.
I'll just wait for my local Fry's to have another big sale on flash drives. Got a 3 pack of 8Gb last time for $30.
Ok this aint funny anymore, first we get news that MS is going to start selling 250Gb drives for 130.00$ shipped and now we have overpriced thumb-drives to add to this scenario? Trying to get more users to subscribe to something that should be free anyways is not the best route. If MS was a poor company that could really use the funds then I would understand…I am amazed at the fact that you can use "any" thumbdrive, well at least 1 good thing came out of this whole ordeal..Whats next? An SSD that you can drop into your exsisting 360 for only 499.99$ !!
SSD's cost that anyways
Well they didnt become one of the most profitable business' in the world by giving stuff away!
Well they didnt become one of the most profitable business' in the world by giving stuff away!
Google did.
Ewwww..... i can get flash drives for half that price, even lower.
Switch Microsoft to Apple and you would have a very different comment section.
SSD's cost that anyways
of course they do silly, but this time you get only 80Gb
Switch Microsoft to Apple and you would have a very different comment section.
Switch a gaming console to a computer/phone and then you may have a point.
wow fry's has 16GB thumb drives for $35
My biggest fear is that Gamestop will start telling customers that they NEED to purchase an official Microsoft branded Flash Drive to be able to use this feature.
It sounds like i'm complaining, but I really can imagine this happening.
Wow a 16GB flash drive for only $70?!?!?!? I'm sure Gamestop will provide the excellent service of having someone at the shipping dock pre-open the product for you, even insert it in their own personal XBox 360, and pre-install their own save-game data or pornography onto the device, at no additional cost! Don't worry, Gamestop will ensure you (*not a warranty) that the device is still new.
Switch Microsoft to Apple and you would have a very different comment section.
Switch a gaming console to a computer/phone and then you may have a point.
I think you just proved his point
lol yea... ive paid 17$ for 20GB... this is just ms hard at work trying to scam all the kiddies that get everything for free (tech illiterate parents)
Can't play Crysis, don't care.
I bought a 16GB flash drive with a 10MB/s write and a 31MB/s read speed for $15 a few days ago
I bought a 20GB laptop hard drive new from a random store on google shopping for $11
Because Microsoft caters to people that arent in the know and think this is what they cost. Dumb parents buy for their kids... mom I need this flash drive for my 360 can you get it for me. Stick with those prices on the crapbox Microsoft it will work out for you. Meanwhile in other news...16Gb flash drives on sale at NewEgg.com for $28.99 (look it up)
Wow.. ripoff city
I could not agree more but this is my issue with MS :
First MS comes out with a console capable of holding it's own. Kudos, especially when it came out a year prior to the PS3.
Then they announce that LIVE will cost us an arm and a leg. Bummer.
Then they go all out with a crappy HD player that costs 199.99$ Bummer.
Then we find out that there is no way of upgrading the HDD unless we hack the device. Bummer.
Now we have an otion of upgrading the HDD to a 250Gb for 130.00$ SUPER bummer since you can get a brand new console for 70.00$ more.
Now this, overpriced thumb-drives just to get more users to subscribe to Live, like they do not have enough subscribers already. Bummer.
The 720 and the PS4 are due out in the next 2 years, if you think this is bad wait till we get the pricing on these next-gen consoles.
i can only afford a 1gb flash drive based on this prices
LOL! At that price just buy the hard drive!
God what's all this complaining about.
If someone wants to sell something, they have the right to. Just like you have the right not to buy it.
I agree those X-Box branded thumbdrives are overpriced, but it's a smart strategy. Someone will CHOOSE to buy them.
/explodes
Are you kidding me?
Get scorpio blue 250GB for $43 and hack it yourself. Bam.
/explodesAre you kidding me?Get scorpio blue 250GB for $43 and hack it yourself. Bam.
Yeah, but a regular flash drive is smaller to carry profiles to friends' houses. (though I did that with a 120 gig drive before that size was available. It's also not something that totally everyone can do.)
God what's all this complaining about.If someone wants to sell something, they have the right to. Just like you have the right not to buy it.I agree those X-Box branded thumbdrives are overpriced, but it's a smart strategy. Someone will CHOOSE to buy them.
No kidding, I could see the complaining if they *only* allowed MS-branded USB memory sticks to function as a 360 storage device. But you can format any 1GB+ USB stick to use an amount you choose up to 16GB for 360 memory storage, and the remaining amount can still be used for storage for your PC, etc.
Yeah, but a regular flash drive is smaller to carry profiles to friends' houses. (though I did that with a 120 gig drive before that size was available. It's also not something that totally everyone can do.)
Yep. A small flash drive is very convenient and noob-friendly.
I bought my very first flash drive a few months ago. It is very very convenient when travelling.
I think you just proved his point
What?
I think I didn't.
Computer != Game Console
Phone != Game Console
Game Console = Game Console
My point being that the main purpose of this isn't even in the same realm of multi-functionality as the other two.
It was designed to play games.
The other systems can do that, but can you program software or install MS Office on your X-Box? No
Can you carry your x-box around and make phone calls with it? No
Even more important you don't have to use them! You can wait untill May and use whatever 1GB+ Flash Drive you want!?
The people that visit this website are a little bit more tech savy than the average person... That being said there are tons of moms, dads, and grandparents that just know their kiddie had an xbox and will get them a gift they know will work. If Microsoft builds and tags it, it will sell whether we think it is a good idea or not.
i guess this gives me another reason to laugh hysterically at my console brethren... right after they tell me they'd rather play a fps with a controller, that games look better on the 360 than the pc and that their console is some sort of uber machine in a class all on its own separate in every way from a pc... then, in their defeat, they state that pc's are too complicated for them as if that were some sort of justification as to why they would go out and fork over 70 bones for a 20 dollar flash drive...
Then they announce that LIVE will cost us an arm and a leg. Bummer.
What are you smoking? LIVE was out for the first XBox and well before the 360 debuted and I remember it being the same or near the same price. It never just came out of the blue, those of us with XBox1 expected to pay for XBL.
It's not an arm and a leg either.. I paid $35 for a year subscription. Sure Sony's may very well be free, but it also isn't nearly as refined or as nice as XBL. Sony has also talked about charging for PSN and most likely will down the road, though lets hope not, as it gives MS incentive to stay on top in terms of their offering.