Sony news conference at E3

Monday, May 8, 2006 by Island Dog | Discussion: Personal Computing

There are some interesting things on this page, but the highlights are the price and release date.

"Hirai takes the stage once again and recaps what's been seen so far. Then he announces the global launch details. It will be available in two versions: one with a 60GB hard drive, and one with 20GB. It will launch in the US on November 17 for $499 for the 20GB version and $599 for the 60GB one."

$499?  I will not spend that much.  I guess the Xbox 360 is coming my way.

 

12 Reply 8 Referrals
terpfan1980
Reply #1 Monday, May 8, 2006 9:14 PM
Either of those prices means Sony is taking a bit of a bath on the sales of the hardware. Both Sony and Microsoft lose money on the hardware, at least early in the hardware life cycle, before they tighten up the board designs and get some serious economy of scale going.

I forget the exact numbers, but I think it's approximately $160 lost per Xbox 360 that is sold. I'd hazard a guess that the PS3 sales will mean Sony is losing somewhere around that same figure, if not something closer to the $250 mark.

Remember, Blu-ray drive based players are several bill$ just by themselves. With the PS3, you'll be getting Blu-ray from the beginning, in addition to the hard-drive.

I'm not saying I'm gonna rush out and get a PS3. Far from it, as I have an Xbox 360, and waited long enough to get it. I'm not going to rush into a PS3 at all. I'll probably wait for the first round of price cuts for that platform, and then make the jump, if I opt to then. For now, I'm not rushing to get Blu-Ray or HD-DVD, and since I don't have a load of PS2 software to play on a PS*(anything) system, I'm not really that worried about missing playing time in any of the games that might come out for the PS3.

I enjoy my PSP and know it's still not really fully exploited hardware wise. I hope it gets some excellent games to go with what's out there now, and hope to be able to enjoy it well into the future. Same for the 360. I hope to see a lot more good software for that box as well. Meanwhile, saving the $$ to buy the software for either of those systems is tough enough for me. Saving $500 or $600 for a PS3 ranks right up there with, well, nothing

Nutshell69
Reply #2 Tuesday, May 9, 2006 8:22 AM
$500 for a game console?

That just solved my problem on what I am getting my kids for christmas


a laptop

Yarlen
Reply #3 Tuesday, May 9, 2006 9:13 AM

That's pretty expensive, especially considering that the 20GB version will be somewhat crippled according to this report.

http://www.i4u.com/article5586.html

I'm still going to get one, but when will depend on the initial content available.


DJBandit
Reply #4 Tuesday, May 9, 2006 10:11 AM
The last time I bought a console was when the N64 was on sale. My sister in law bought my kids the PS2. I have yet to consider an Xbox 360 cause I just can't justify the price. PS3, not unless it drops in price faster than my pants do in a room with Pamela Anderson. What are these console companies thinking when making these systems? Since Nintendo tends to stay a few bucks lower than everyone else, I can imagine it selling it's next system, the WII, for about $300 and it will still be cheaper.

Adamness
Reply #5 Tuesday, May 9, 2006 1:12 PM
Why does a game console need such a large hard drive anyway?

Yarlen
Reply #6 Tuesday, May 9, 2006 3:26 PM

Well, the Wii will probably come in closer to $199 I think, but you have to keep in mind the hardware involved. Nintendo's next system is not very technologically advanced. It'll be faster than the GameCube, but won't do HD and uses "standard tech."  Both the Xbox 360 and PS3 are using multi-core processors (PS3's has 6-8 cores), have HD-outputs, etc. plus the PS3 includes a Blu-Ray drive. I'd guess Sony is taking a $150 to $200 bath on the hardware alone, while Nintendo will probably make money on theirs.

As for the hard-drive, part of it is for caching data, but some of it's also for giving people the ability to buy content via each system's online store.


Mo2k
Reply #7 Wednesday, May 10, 2006 1:26 PM
If you do not look at it as a game console only (if you do I agree too much money) and look at it as a piece of AV gear, for the price it is fantastic. A bluray player, a SACD player, plus some games to boot and internet connectivity - what a value. If the gamers relegate it to last place I am sure that all Sony has to do is market it towards people who are into home theater such as myself with a complete surround sound system and a rear projection HDTV. I say bring it on.

No_body
Reply #8 Wednesday, May 10, 2006 5:18 PM
i agree with mo2k its not a game console its a media center for you television, and for what your getting thats actually pretty damn cheap

joeKnowledge
Reply #9 Thursday, May 11, 2006 12:10 AM
Well...so far all I hear from people who wanted to buy it before are saying... WTF?????

So this brings the question up: Will it sell?

Since the USA will probably only get about 1.5 million of these consoles (Sony said they are putting out 4 million world wide), I think they will sell out. After that, the will probably stay on the store shelves.

Nintendo had just takin over 2nd place by remaining true to the gamer. Blu Ray? Why in the heck do I need Blu Ray?


I think this is going to blow up for Sony.

Enzo304
Reply #10 Thursday, May 11, 2006 9:57 AM
I'm excited for the PS3 to come out, as it hopefully will make the Xbox360's price drop so I can get one! Someday, though, I will get a PS3 and a Wii, but not until I have a 360 and Halo 3 (have you seen the teaser/trailer?). That's all I really want a 360 for. My PC runs games fine (thanks to my x800gto).

BluRay vs. HD-DVD... who will win?

DJBandit
Reply #11 Thursday, May 11, 2006 11:31 AM
I personally don't buy that whole Home entertainment center thing. A game console should be just that, with some nifty features but all in all a game console first and foremost. It seems that advertising it as a replacement to a dedicated Home Entertainment System is a really bad idea. All you need is for the Laser to burn out, CD tray to break or something like that and there goes $500 of entertainment System down the drain, I prefer a separate system that I can fix or change individually and I want a console that dedicates to games more than anything. I don't mind the Blue-ray system, it means more space on a CD for possible better games.

joeKnowledge
Reply #12 Friday, May 12, 2006 6:44 PM
BluRay vs. HD-DVD... who will win?


HD-DVD. Blue Ray seems to cost too much.

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