Sony Says: $500 PS3! NOT!

[Jeremy Charette]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/reuters/technologyNews/~3/134379187/idUSN1628055520070716' target='_blank'>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/reuters/technologyNews/~3/134379187/idUSN1628055520070716</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Sony Corp. plans to phase out the cut-priced $499 model of its PlayStation 3 video game machine, leaving only a higher capacity $599 model for sale in the United States, the company said on Monday. The revelation undid some of the praise Sony won from the gaming industry last week for its 17 percent price cut on the machine, a move seen as leveling the playing field with Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 console."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/tmpphpySFDKY.jpg" /><br /><br />If you want a PS3 for $499, go buy the 60GB model now. It won't be available for long. I'm going to wait. As much as I like the PS3 from a hardware standpoint, it's just not worth $500 or $600 to me. Maybe $399, but even then, the games and additional capabilities just aren't compelling enough to justify the price. Based on sales so far, alot of people seem to be thinking the same thing.

[Felix Torres]

If you want a PS3 for $499, go buy the 60GB model now. It won't be available for long.

Actually, there is no need to rush at all, since Sony is sitting on 4-6Million unsold 60Mb units (remember, they expected to sell 8Million by march), that stock should tide them over well into next summer when they'll be able to drop the 80Gb model to $499. And because, as you pointed out, the system-seller games aren't due until late this year, if at all. Plus, it no longer makes sense as a BD player since both Sony and Panasonic players street price for well under $500 *and* come with infrared remote control capability. And if the fabled Funair BD player ever materializes, that one should hit $399 by XMAS...

And, finally, there is the real low-end PS3 to wait for, the 40Gb $399 version due REAL.SOON.NOW.

I have no interest whatsover in Sony games but if the price ever comes down to the $300 mark (say 2009 or thereabouts) I might pick one up to use as a media player, *if* they come up with an infra-red remote control solution.