Playstation 3 Price and availablity

[Bigsilvs]

Sony just announced tonight at E3 that the Playstation 3 will be $499 and $599 and will be released on 11/11/06 in Japan and 11/17/06 in Europe and the U.S. The $499 model will come standard with a 20G hard drive and the $599 model will have a 60G hard drive. I am surprised how many features are missing from the $499 model like and HDMI OUT, wi-fi, and memory card slots. Oh well, I was planning on getting the bigger hard drive model anyways. Ahh...to have a Blu-ray player and a gaming system for $599 in 1080p is going to be great!!

 

[thundergust]

$499 for a PS3 isn't unreasonable at all.

What I am concerned about is the lack of HDMI for the $499 PS3. They definitely should have HDMI!
Nevertheless, I believe I am gonna buy the $599 one anyway.

 

[Audioholics]

It's the Apple Macintosh trick... "disable" the entry level model enough to make the next one up look like a deal or no-brainer. It essentially makes the mid-size or bigger model the top seller, whereas the market typically makes the entry-level the top seller.

 

[Max997]

Sony just announced tonight at E3 that the Playstation 3 will be $499 and $599 and will be released on 11/11/06 in Japan and 11/17/06 in Europe and the U.S. The $499 model will come standard with a 20G hard drive and the $599 model will have a 60G hard drive. I am surprised how many features are missing from the $499 model like and HDMI OUT, wi-fi, and memory card slots. Oh well, I was planning on getting the bigger hard drive model anyways. Ahh...to have a Blu-ray player and a gaming system for $599 in 1080p is going to be great!!

will the PS3 have DVI out?

I dont see how they can offer it as a Blu-ray player also for 499 or 599 when all the players are at least 999

 

[GlocksRock]

I'm gonna try to get in on the preorder list asap. But yeah, I can't believe they are not including all that stuff on the cheaper version, I'd like to have the wi-fi as well, but it won't be neccesary, but the HDMI will be needed.

 

[Bigsilvs]

I forgot to add that Sony will have 2 million units by 11/17/06, 4 million by 12/31/06, and 6 million by 3/31/07. Also the PS3 is able to play SACD's. The $599 model has one HDMI OUT and no DVI, and has one optical out.

 

[Jedi2016]

will the PS3 have DVI out?

I dont see how they can offer it as a Blu-ray player also for 499 or 599 when all the players are at least 999

No DVI.. HDMI or component.

The pricing is easy.. it's called "losing money". PS3 is selling for significantly less than it costs to build. Game consoles are always like that. From a business perspective, it's a better move to get millions of Blu-Ray players into homes by default than to price it like the competition.

 

[Tsunamii]

The higher cost PS3 does have HDMI but a single not the double that was speculated. With rumors of a $100 add on HDDVD for the 360 along with GTA its start to look bad for Sony, IMHO. Lets see them get their free network up and running and compete with Live, its a big task.

 

[WorldLeader]

It's the Apple Macintosh trick... "disable" the entry level model enough to make the next one up look like a deal or no-brainer. It essentially makes the mid-size or bigger model the top seller, whereas the market typically makes the entry-level the top seller.

Wasn't this exactly what Microsoft did with the Xbox 360?

I'm not sure why this trick is associated with Apple; I usually think of Apple selling their macs for more than the PC equivalent. I'm not sure about that metaphor...

I do love my iMac, and it's the entry model. I don't find it lacking.

I do agree with your point about the marketing strategy.

 

[Tsunamii]

Wasn't this exactly what Microsoft did with the Xbox 360?

I'm not sure why this trick is associated with Apple; I usually think of Apple selling their macs for more than the PC equivalent. I'm not sure about that metaphor...

I do love my iMac, and it's the entry model. I don't find it lacking.

I do agree with your point about the marketing strategy.

Well its not exactly what Micro did. They have a smaller HD etc but with the PS3 it is just not the same machine as it is with 360. No HDMI, No Memory stick, alot more no's then PS3 let on in their confrence that panned out with the spec sheets.

 

[GlocksRock]

Remember how many PS2's failed, let's hope Sony is using higher quality optical drives this time around, or it's gonna get expensive to warranty all those blu-ray drives.

 

[Tsunamii]

So the lower cost PS3 what is the point? Where the HDMI has been gutted out of this model what is the point in haveing a BlueRay player on board?

 

[jcPanny]

Multichannel SACD

I forgot to add that Sony will have 2 million units by 11/17/06, 4 million by 12/31/06, and 6 million by 3/31/07. Also the PS3 is able to play SACD's. The $599 model has one HDMI OUT and no DVI, and has one optical out.

How will the PS3 transmit the multichannel SACD signal to a receiver? I doubt it will have 7.1 channel analog outputs. Maybe it will support HDMI 1.2.

 

[naisphoo]

Sony just announced tonight at E3 that the Playstation 3 will be $499 and $599 and will be released on 11/11/06 in Japan and 11/17/06 in Europe and the U.S. The $499 model will come standard with a 20G hard drive and the $599 model will have a 60G hard drive. I am surprised how many features are missing from the $499 model like and HDMI OUT, wi-fi, and memory card slots. Oh well, I was planning on getting the bigger hard drive model anyways. Ahh...to have a Blu-ray player and a gaming system for $599 in 1080p is going to be great!!

i'll get mine also....can't wait.

 

[Bigsilvs]

How will the PS3 transmit the multichannel SACD signal to a receiver? I doubt it will have 7.1 channel analog outputs. Maybe it will support HDMI 1.2.

Rumor has it that Sony pushed back the release date to November for this reason. I guess they were waiting on changes to HDMI and waiting to see how they can mass produce a gaming system with the new Blu-ray technology.

 

[Bigsilvs]

For more information on the PS3, here is a good article: http://www.gamespot.com/features/6125429/index.html

 

[Jedi2016]

With rumors of a $100 add on HDDVD for the 360...

Actually, I heard that add-on was going to be $199. That right there brings the Xbox360 price dead even with the PS3, for those that buy the add-on.

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

Actually, I heard that add-on was going to be $199. That right there brings the Xbox360 price dead even with the PS3, for those that buy the add-on.

Is that seriously going to be another drive that bolts onto the stock 360? That thing is going to be 20" tall when they're done with it!

 

[Bigsilvs]

Actually, I heard that add-on was going to be $199. That right there brings the Xbox360 price dead even with the PS3, for those that buy the add-on.

I am glad someone brought that up. It is very funny how people think xbox 360 is cheaper when you have to buy an add on and have to pay for the online service. Also, the xbox 360 does not have an HDMI OUT which means you can not watch HD-DVD's in 1080p... The drive will be connected using a USB port but it might have an HDMI out, I am not sure. Xbox.com does not even say, there is just an article about how HD DVD is better than Blu-ray... This is great pricing strategy by Microsoft on there new system making it seem like it is cheaper. One thing is for sure, Microsoft did set the bar on $60 games that are stripped down, which might mean that PS3 games will also be $60, seeing that some PS3 games will be 1080p.

 

[Tsunamii]

We must be reading diffrent stories then.

"The Microsoft mole also reportedly had revelations regarding some Xbox 360 peripherals. S/he said that the console's HD-DVD peripheral will be $100 and arrive in September, the same month that its EyeToy-like camera will ship. The camera will cost $50-$70 and come bundled with a game, will allow for Webcam videoconferencing, and be called "My Eye on You." (Insert snide Orwellian Bill-Gates-as-Big-Brother aside here.) The source also says that Microsoft is readying a 100GB hard drive for the 360, but did not have a release date or price. "

http://www.gamespot.com/pages/news/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=24552999

Not sure where you read $200 but most gaming sites are saying $100. Though I wouldnt be suprised if it went up. There are also further rumors on a price drop for 360 for the PS3 launch.

"xbox 360 does not have an HDMI OUT which means you can not watch HD-DVD's in 1080p"

True but Microsoft is not pitching their product like it does. Sony back doored the striped down version opting not to mention it has no HDMI. They only responded after they were called out on it when the spec sheets were put out.

Sony also says that there is realy no diffrence between HDMI and Analog connections so they are not concerned. Movie studios have said they reserve the right to downconvert HD/Blueray disks if it is being played via an analog connection.

Dont get me wrong I think the PS3 will be a very cool machine. Ill end up getting one, maybe not preorder for this round but Ill get one. That being said I feel it is just not as good a value as the 360.