Microsoft Ripoff Report - Accessories

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Author: sedativechunk

Started: October 29, 2009, 12:11:11 am

Target: Microsoft

Category: Economy & Business

Supporters:

Goal:

10,000

Goal Progress:

Status

Active

I am starting this petition over the Microsoft Xbox 360 game console. On October 28th, 2009, an automatic update was released via Xbox Live on the Xbox 360 that dropped support for third party memory cards and added support for a wireless N network adapter.

First off, the third party memory card support should not have been dropped. Xbox 360 users should have every right to use any memory card device that they paid for, regardless of who manufactured it. Furthermore, I believe that any memory device should be fully allowed because none of the third party memory cards allowed people to cheat or manipulate games in any way. As a matter of fact, the only way games were manipulated and allowed people to cheat through were Microsoft's own Xbox 360 hard disk drive and hard drive drive transfer cable.
Microsoft has a clause in their term of use that states the following:
13. SERVICE OPERATION AND EQUIPMENT

The Service may only be accessed with an original Xbox, an Xbox 360 console, a personal computer, or by logging into your account via Xbox.com. You agree that you are using authorized software and hardware to access the Service, and that your software and hardware have not been modified in any unauthorized way (e.g., authorized repairs, upgrades and downloads). Any attempt to disassemble, decompile, create derivative works of, reverse engineer, modify, further sublicense, distribute or use for other purposes either the hardware or software associated with an original Xbox or Xbox 360 console or the Service, is strictly prohibited and may result in cancellation of your account and/or your ability to access the Service, and the pursuit of other legal remedies by Microsoft. Microsoft may take any legal action it deems appropriate against users who violate Microsoft's systems or network security or this contract or any additional terms as described in Section 2 above, and such users may also incur criminal and/or civil liability.

First off, this statement is very broken. It does not prohibit the use of third party memory devices. It states that you only have to "access the service using authorized software and hardware." Memory cards are not used to access their "service", but to manage one's own personal data from games. Secondly, they mention www.xbox.com. If I use any web browser beside Microsoft's Internet Explorer, am I using "unauthorized" software to access their "service" with?
Like the memory card, the web browser example can be applied in the same way. Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome are not "Microsoft Authorized" software, but we are allowed to access their website with it.
Lastly, one last example of this clause. What if I am using a Linksys adapter to connect to Xbox Live with instead of the Xbox 360 Wireless gaming adapter? Am I using an unauthorized device to connect to the internet with?! Getting into further detail, one can see how ridiculous this clause is.

This clause is very broken and it does not state that one cannot use third party memory cards. The only people who are saying it does is Microsoft, and that is because they want to profiteer off of their own over priced memory cards. This petition demands the Microsoft releases a new update for the Xbox 360 that will allow third party memory cards and devices, and that signers of this petition will not buy the Microsoft memory devices.

Lastly, this petition is also again the overpriced upcoming Microsoft Wireless N Network Adapter. This petition demands that Microsoft drops the price of the adapter to a fair $50.00 to $60.00 USD price range, based of research of network adapters sold from other companies. The hardware is highly overpriced, due to the fact that research shows that you can buy a wireless N router to connect to the internet with for the same price as the adapter itself!

If you agree with any of the demands of this petition, please sign it. To Microsoft, your outrageous actions against your loyal customers will not be tolerated no longer. I will personally send this petition to Microsoft upon 10,000 signatures, and I will ensure that a higher executive at Microsoft reads it.