Kinect standalone power supply now available from Microsoft

by David Hinkle on Nov 9th 2010 6:00AM

So you bought a new Xbox 360 S console bundled with Kinect last week and, like many others, found your new camera doodad doesn't come with its own power supply -- clearly, Microsoft thought you intended to use your Kinect with this console and this console alone. You were up the proverbial creek, sans paddle ... until now.

Microsoft's online store now has a listing for the power supply. No, you can't simply get one on the arm since you purchased the Xbox 360 S bundle -- no, instead you've got to reach into your wallet for $34.99 if you want one. That's almost one whole fifth of the cost of Kinect on its own but, hey, if you need one, now you know where to get it.

Source: Microsoft

Tags: Kinect-Adventures, microsoft, microsoft-kinect, power-adapter, xbox, xbox-360-s, xbox-360-slim

Reader Comments (58)

i dont have kinect, wont be getting it. but what else can you use it for apart from with the console?

@edtheshed

I suppose if you wanted, it could possibly work for a device that requires a USB? o.O

tho im just going off that it looks like a normal USB.. lol

@edtheshed
They don't want you using it on other people's consoles. They want everyone to buy their own. If you want to use it to play at a friends house and only take the kinect, you have to pay them a one time only "sleep-away fee".

Microsoft, I am mostly satisfied with your product! Quit being stingy and design an SKU that people might actually find an attractive buy. WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS WEIRD.

@DerickDBrown

Does the Kinect power supply just power it over USB? Cuz if so, I hope people will be smart enough to realize you can get much cheaper USB power supplies elsewhere... even just have your own plug onto a 5V/whatever amp supply!

@Nick Spacek

No it does not power it over usb. The power supply uses a non-standard usb like port that provides more wattage.

@DerickDBrown

It's nothing to do with them not wanting you to use it on other consoles. If you buy a kinect package it comes with the power supply.

If you buy an XBOX 360 S + Kinect package it does not come with the power supply as there is no need for one, the S has a port for the power cable on it. There's no reason to package the power supply with it as it would just be going to waste and not being used in that package.

I guess the Kinect (team) didn't see this coming

@Hivetyrant

Or Microsoft just nickel and dime everything. More like the latter.

@Hivetyrant

Wow... tough crowd....

It was a joke!.... you know, because the Kinect has camera's so it can see?

Yeah... ok... hit the minus button again

This whole thing kinda reminds me of the HDD Transfer cable. Why is Microsoft being a bitch about all their cables and cords?

They aren't. This is a non-issue.

The stand alone Kinect DOES come with the cable. The only one that doesn't is the bundle that doesn't need it.

Apparantly it must be of great importance to be able to throw this thing around at every XBox you see. Adding a separate power supply to the bundle where it is not needed would just confuse people, and they would plug both of them up.

This is like bitching your McDonald's burger didn't come with a jar of pickles. Despite there already being a pickle on it.

@DerickDBrown

You mean like how no rechargeable ps3 controller comes with a cord? You mean like how the system that does everything, it doesn't do HD without an additional cord purchase? Microsoft isn't the only one not spending money on cords.

The TRUTH is, if you went to bestbuy or gamestop, this cable costs $50. Bravo microsoft for coming up with a $35 solution.

@SirUrza

To be fair, the PS3 controller does use a standard mini-USB cable--the plug with the PS3 controller is not proprietary as the kinect powersupply is. Most people have lots of mini-USB cables laying around their house. But you are correct, Sony could not be a cheap jerk and include a cable with the controllers.

But, the kinect thing is a moot issue as it really only affects people who decide to take the kinect to their friend's house and plug into their non-slim 360.

@Drakkenfyre Well seeing i have 4 separate Xbox360's and only 1 is a S (from my 250 GB Kinect Bundle) .. i think this is lame .. i was planning on using my S model in the bedroom for media center because its quieter and the kinect on a different unit .. Sucks i have to shell out more more for that to work

@SirUrza

But all ps3 controllers have rechargeable batteries built into them where as on 360 & Wii you have to buy rechargeable battery packs. You get a USB charging cord when you buy the system. Don't see the similarities.

@Drakkenfyre Thanks for answering the question I had after reading this article. If the standalone Kinect bundle comes w/ a power cord, then I don't really see a problem. People who bought the 360 S don't need a power cord for the Kinect because that version of the 360 has a built-in power connector for the Kinect. So the only people who will have to buy this $35 adapter are ones who bought the 360 S/Kinect bundle AND want to connect that Kinect to a second, older 360 they have in their home.

Why should a PS3 controller come with a cord? You only need one really....shit the PS3 only has 2 USB ports now....not to mention damn near every camera, most newer cellphones, and some External HDDs come with those cables

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi

The cable that comes with most new smart phones does not use the same port as the PS3 controller.

$35 for a power cable? Good lord

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi

It's Microsoft: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi

A power cable that nobody has to buy. Get over it.

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi Standard proprietary wall wart price, actually. Very sad. Has a $5 Hong Kong unbranded original shown up yet?

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
You should see how much iPOD power cables are.

By the way, 1/5 of $150 is $30, so it's over a fifth of the cost. It's almost a fourth though. Not to be picky or anything :P

I know that not many will need it ever, but it's nice to have the option for people who want to bring over Kinect or whatever. Maybe someone just loses their original power cord from the standalone bundle that they need because they don't have a Shorty. I don't think it should have been in the system+Kinect bundle. Still, the price of the cord is pretty extravagant, isn't it?

@LockeDaemonfire

It still is almost a 5th. Almost doesn't always imply that it's lower than the object it's almost.

@This Little Man Says His Name Is

I'll chalk your comment up to you being tired :)

Nothing's free...... Even freedom, to play your kinect whereever you want

@Barkley610

If you want to play it where ever you want, buy a kit that's not bundled with a 360 S. It will come with a power supply.

I don't want to play it, hence me owning a PS3

@Barkley610

Ahhh so you're a troll? Hence you chiming in on a subject you know nothing about... or even should care about.

@3dpenguin
Wow I didn't know you were suddenly an all-knowing messiah of Microsoft!

Nice expensive power chord for a crappy device, makes sense to me...

Slick presentation marred with latent functionality. At E3 it looked like you can change menus with the wave of a hand, NOT zero in on the tiny arrow like a NOOB meteorologist learning to use green screen. *dislike*

@RandomUnverified - "Give it time to unlock its pote-*blam!* ... ...

My 2c: I don't think the PSU should have come with the 360S bundle, it's unnecessary and only a small number of people will want to be able to move it to another console.

It might seem pricey but I think it will fall in price in a lot of places once Kinect saturates. Just like controllers and, indeed, games just shop around.

@Styli
Agreed.It's more expensive than it should be, but not being included is a non-issue. There's no reason to pack in a power cord that over 95% (likely higher) of purchasers will just throw away, never use or end up confused when they see it. Most people that will want to use it on more than one console, will be buying the standalone Kinect anyway.

Probably won't be long before the $10 ebay knock offs hit.

"Microsoft thought you intended to use your Kinect with this console and this console alone."

what else would you use it with????

adding an extra, dumb, redundant, unneeded (see where I'm going here?) cord, would add cost to the bundle and cause all kinds of problems and confusion. want that Joystiq???

you've written 2 useless articles about this now without recognition of the fact that (at least on this matter) your user community is apparently more intelligent than you (Joystiq) are...

if the g-damn power cord is so g-damn important to you, buy the non-bundle....

jesus...

@ChomskyKnows

That's a pretty black and whit world you live in. If someone was buying a 2nd 360 with Natal it'd be nice to be able to use it with both machines out of the box. What about taking it to a friends house who has an older 360? Seems like they are charging $40 for a $2 cord.

if you have that much money to waste on multiple 360's for the same house then a $40 cord is not going to be a problem

@Johnnynumber5 is powered by cell
I think the anti-360 or anti-kinect crowd are making a bigger deal of this than it is. They made the kinect work without an extra cable with those new s consoles as a bonus to people to not need a second power source - and now you all think they should include a power cord that 90% of the people buying such a combo will never need. It's really a silly thing to get the panties in a wad over.

If this was a move issue i am sure you would be hush.

This is seriously the dumbest thing to keep harping on. No, the unit that doesn't need a power cable, doesn't come with a power cable. Quit trying to make it sound like some slight by MS against consumers and go do some real journalism work.

@Fishdinner It matters of you have more than 1 360 and the others are new the S version and want to more it around ..

@Jonthomasdesigns
If you already have multiple 360's you wont be buying the S+kinect Bundle, you'll be buying the standalone Kinect that comes with the cord. I have two consoles & I sure as hell don't plan on buying a 3rd when I pick up the Kinect.

@Jonthomasdesigns

If you have more then 1 console then you should buy a non console bundle.

I remember Sega pulling this same exact thing the their damn 32X, although I think It might have been a video cable, was still overpriced though.

@sirspy Actually hit 'Comment' to say, the the Kinect is more and more sounding like the 32x of our generation.

@wcarnation Actually it reminded me of Sega's Activator when I first heard about it, but 32X is probably a better comparison, seeing as it actually works.

MS really does take Xbox360 owners for mugs.

I used to resent the fact my first (and only) 360 died without being eligible for free replacement (it was e74 BEFORE they admitted that was also their fault), I got burned for £300+ on that bad boy, beyond repair, no warranty all their (since then, admitted and revealed to be prior knowledge) fault.

Yes I was seething for many months, that's what led me to buy a PS3 as a replacement rather than the 360 even though I was very fond of some of it's games (PGR, Dead Rising, even Gears)

Now? With the price hikes for XBlive, and their continued nickle and diming of punters I'm really glad it died when it did. I now have no reason to even consider buying into this 'farce' of a control scheme (seriously and utterly flawed for anyone in a normal home and to play anything close to good games that I'd be interested in) and as I had the older version of 'the box' I'd also be having to slap down another $40 on this 'thing'. HOW MUCH? MS it's only electricity, you didn't invent it you know...

Shame really that I hate MS so much for the 360 RROD BS as I'm actually behind them with Windows 7 and Windows phone 7 (can't stand apple as it goes).

How many people do you expect will really need this? The target market for this is people who:

1) Bought an Xbox 360 S with kinect bundled in,
2) Have access to a second Xbox 360 (pre redesign), and
3) Need/want to transport their kinect back and forth between the two consoles

How many people do you /really/ think this "injustice" will affect? 100? 200?

gouge, gouge and more gouge... maybe they should change their name to MassiveGouge instead?

this is COMPLETELY RIDONKULOUS! 8-/

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Kinect Adventures

Kinect standalone power supply now available from Microsoft

Reader Comments (58)

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 6:04AM edtheshed said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 6:12AM Faenix said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 6:22AM DerickDBrown said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 7:28AM Nick Spacek said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 7:48AM This Little Man Says His Name Is said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 6:11AM Hivetyrant said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 8:06AM Ballistic H said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 3:13PM Hivetyrant said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 6:24AM DerickDBrown said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 6:44AM Drakkenfyre said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 6:51AM SirUrza said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 9:09AM Rick James said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 9:11AM Jonthomasdesigns said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 10:21AM Johnnynumber5 is powered by cell said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 12:00PM Trojan said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 7:09AM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 7:51AM This Little Man Says His Name Is said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 7:03AM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 8:05AM Ballistic H said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 12:06PM ItsameMatt03 said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 12:47PM BigD145 said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 4:41PM pluupy said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 7:04AM LockeDaemonfire said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 7:52AM This Little Man Says His Name Is said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 11:23AM Draco84 said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 7:11AM Barkley610 said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 7:53AM This Little Man Says His Name Is said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 8:21AM Barkley610 said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 9:59AM 3dpenguin said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 4:44PM pluupy said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 8:27AM Negatron said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 8:29AM Negatron said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 8:29AM Styli said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 9:25AM swooded said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 8:53AM andysexton said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 8:56AM ChomskyKnows said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 10:25AM Johnnynumber5 is powered by cell said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 11:59AM aughscreennames said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 4:36PM Duke said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 9:10AM Fishdinner said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 9:14AM Jonthomasdesigns said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 9:28AM swooded said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 9:29AM This Little Man Says His Name Is said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 10:15AM sirspy said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 10:27AM wcarnation said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 11:42AM sirspy said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 10:34AM polysix said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 10:43AM JCDoe said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 11:12AM XperimntNterror said

Posted: Nov 9th 2010 11:21AM omNOMinator said

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