To respond to Nosferatu:
The state of retail component cables is this: they're selling out everywhere. I've seen them selling out at stores all up and down I-80 from Vallejo to Citrus Heights/Sac.
The ones I see most available are $25 React cables and $60 Psyclone cables in Circuit Cities and Best Buys -- all gone. I luckily came across 2 React sets at Best Buy in Vallejo, and immediately picked up one for my friend.
I have not seen my local EB/Gamestops stock any Wii cables whatsoever, and they have no clue when they'll come in. I wouldn't trust them to carry a variety of brands, either. Historically, I've noticed different stores "play favorites" when it comes to brands. Like, EB would sell Madcatz products, while the Gamestop on the other side of town would only sell Pelican products -- and that forces me to play favorites among stores. Best Buy happens to LOVE React products, across all consoles.
Cables aren't being shipped fast enough to satisfy in-store demand, but there's plenty available online. Certain online stores sell-out periodically; Bestbuy.com has none in stock at the moment. Gamestop.com gets new stock about every week for the brand it maintains. eBay has a never-ending supply of cables. I'm sure EB/GS stores will have some cables (including their own $50 "Gamestop brand" cables, which I think have priority over any other maker, including Nintendo) by the end of the summer, but at this point in time it's already too-little-too-late for me to care -- I already know about so many other suppliers online.
I've never seen Nintendo-brand S-video cables or component cables in stores, and I don't expect to see Wii component cables in-stores for another couple months. A month ago, Gamestop.com would tell you Nintendo-brand cables would be arriving Dec. 30th. Never happened. Right now, Gamestop.com says they'll arrive at the end of effing January. Waiting previously was harsh, waiting some more is just stupid.
Nintendo was never ready to sell their component cables in-stores, and probably still isn't. I ordered their cable at around the time of the Wii launch after the Nintendo Store link was leaked on GoNintendo/IGN. My cable was part of the first shipped batch. Now, you could tell Nintendo wasn't ready to sell these suckers cuz they came 1) in a clear plastic bag, and 2) with a single sheet instruction printout. THAT'S ALL. I wouldn't be surprised if these were leftover stock intended for E3 or other tradeshows/demos. Only a half-month later did the 2nd online batch of cables have proper retail blister packaging. I paid $30 plus $10 courier shipping for a cable in a plastic bag?! Not to mention they're cheaper to make than the GCN cables yet I still pay the same stupid $30 Nintendo Store price?
I think Nintendo's component cable is an overpriced product whose distribution is poorly managed. Delayed shipments and backorders? UNACCEPTABLE. I don't want people giving their money to Nintendo in this case. I want to help make finding these cables easy for those who seek them, which is why I direct to so many 3rd party products. Seeing all these retail sell-outs, the cable business is pretty hot right now, and Nintendo failed to capitalize on it. And I want Nintendo to notice sales they're not getting and to notice their own fukk-up (the origins can be traced to the GameCube Component fiasco). People thought the 2006/4million Wii promise was bad, but the "component cable in-stores" promise was a complete joke.
That's why this thread exists.
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Later this week I'll make an update about what matters in A/V cables, in practical terms (what shielding, etc. is meant to do, why you want premium this and that).