Michael, the price is based most likely because ot its brand name, when buying memory for installing in routers that are in production you want to buy what is approved for brand name by cisco, when you see the key word "approve " means meeting memory standards by cisco, I have used for example 3rd party memory on 2600s and they do function well enough as the approved brand name.. but when it comes down to problems and support you want to use what is approved and buy from a Cisco partner reseller and spend the extra dollars to be on the safe side.