1. Good heavens, that's geeky! It's so geeky, it might actually turn the corner and be cool! Heck for a dollar, I'll do that.

Posted at 3:20PM on Apr 3rd 2006 by Oozer

2. I bought one, it's on my wrist at work.

w00t!

Posted at 3:35PM on Apr 3rd 2006 by Jake Good

3. Come to think of it... My bracelet says "Challenge Me"... sweet stuff!

Posted at 3:39PM on Apr 3rd 2006 by Jake Good

4. Do we really need more charity jewelry? Why couldn't Microsoft just let people use Marketplace points to donate to charity and give them a "charity" avatar in exchange? That way, we wouldn't have neon green rubber wristbands in landfills some months from now. And, by going electronic, more of the money can go to BGCA instead of going into wristband manufacture and distribution.

Posted at 3:40PM on Apr 3rd 2006 by Sinistar

5. Poor Microsoft.

Even when they try to do something good- like work with charities- people still find something to bitch about.

Posted at 3:48PM on Apr 3rd 2006 by Pete

6. I don't have a problem with Microsoft working with charities, but it irks me when their charity bracelet says *nothing* about BGCA and everything about the Xbox 360.

Those who wish to donate directly to the BGCA so that more of your money actually goes to the organization can do so here: https://www.bgca.org/donate/form.asp

Posted at 4:55PM on Apr 3rd 2006 by Sinistar

7. Oh God, shut up. they are doing it for a good cause. so what it says xbox 360 on it because in the end the charity is going to get the money and thats what this is about. i dont think microsoft really cares about what "irks" you.

Posted at 5:01PM on Apr 3rd 2006 by Dizz

8. they look pretty cool, imo, but i'm in the uk, so i'm unable to get one, any ideas of how to get one over here?

Posted at 5:16PM on Apr 3rd 2006 by Dan O'B

9. All I'm saying is that there are lots of ways to support charitable organizations without wearing advertising. But if people need a visible token of their donations, so be it.

Posted at 5:27PM on Apr 3rd 2006 by Sinistar

10. they are targeting at a specific audience to get the most repsonses from people, they believe that it will appeal to the people who buy or are interested in their 360 products, so they think that they will raise more money than if they distributed a plain. blank. rubber. band. at least that is my take on it - it is more likely to get bought if people LIKE the product

Posted at 5:55PM on Apr 3rd 2006 by Dan O'B

11. The reason they are doing this is because while there are people (myself included) who donate, others don't. If they offer something that these people can still donate and feel good about it, who cares? I assume that they will make more money than usual, that people that wouldn't normally donate will pay a $1. I think that marketplace idea should be brought forward to Microsoft though.

Posted at 7:46PM on Apr 3rd 2006 by nojok3

12. "Oh God, shut up. they are doing it for a good cause."

Theyre doing it for publicity! Absolutely disgraceful! Disgusting!

I thought microsoft couldnt sink any lower... but clearly I was wrong!

I hope Nintendo and Sony completely destroy them this gen, then maybe theyll pack in their video game flops, which lose them billions, and we can stop hearing about them. Tryin to cash in using a charity makes me sick, i hope they rot in hell!

Posted at 7:57PM on Apr 3rd 2006 by VJ

13. Going for a good cause? (Children) and supporting something I like as well? I think I'll go down, buy a few for myself and some friends!

Interesting way to capture my money... but it works. I'd much rather go into a store wanting to donate money for something and get something in return instead of a stupid star with my name on it that no one gives a flying woot about!

Posted at 9:58PM on Apr 3rd 2006 by Clint Thompson

14. "Tryin to cash in using a charity makes me sick, i hope they rot in hell!"

What part of "100% of the proceeds go to charity" turns a profit?? I'm confused... I give Microsoft a dollar, they give BGCA a dollar plus give me a bracelet... I don't see where how they "cash in" on this. Go back to bed, child.

Posted at 11:22PM on Apr 3rd 2006 by emosewami

15. Dude, Microsoft could single-handedly cure cancer and give the required medications for free (with a Microsoft logo on the bottles) and people would still complain!

Me, I'll happily sport these.

Posted at 1:00AM on Apr 4th 2006 by ASurroca

16. its simple communication theory. more networking is accomplished with dissimilar recipients.

if you advertised only on marketplace, on average, males 17-30 would be aware of the giving opportunity. having these at the kiosks allows grandma to "buy into the evil hell of advertising" as well as males 17-30.

Posted at 3:51AM on Apr 4th 2006 by sev4 pri1

17. i am genuinely shocked by some of the negative responses here, are you so blind you can't see that this is for a good cause, and that it isn't a make money quick scheme? i think pete and ASurroca hit the nail on the head, microsoft can't win with 'some people'. what hope do they have to improve their, for no apparent reason in my eyes, shoddy reputation with people like you there to bash them at every corner??

Posted at 4:32AM on Apr 4th 2006 by Dan O'B

18. yeah, i don't see what the big deal is. it's just trying to appeal to fanboy geeks (i'm not denying the fact that i'm one, too) that are obsessed with xbox. hell, i bought four at best buy yesterday when i bought my xbox 360 (finally! my god, i've been waiting forever...). and no one's going to associate wearing one with showing off charitable deeds; they'll just see it as a token of nerdship.

Posted at 4:49PM on Apr 4th 2006 by Jeramy

19. Well, isn't this funny. You know what that $1 donation is going to? A Microsoft sponsored "Club Tech" program. Here's the blurb from an article at next-gen.biz:

"Each will cost $1, and all proceeds will go towards Boys & Girls Club of America to support the Club Tech program, which was founded by Microsoft and educates kids on how to use technology in a safe and responsible manner."

Microsoft is selling advertising in the form of wristbands so that it can fund teaching kids how to safely use Microsoft products, thus advertising to *them* as well since it isn't likely that Microsoft will run Club Tech using Macs or PlayStations.

Charity is awesome. Please donate directly to BGCA instead of buying those wristbands.

Posted at 9:40AM on Apr 7th 2006 by Sinistar