Cheaper lower spec PS3 on way?

anotherlostie

I read this on www.digitalspy.co.uk
and it is clearly not from an official source (like whenever are Sky News wrong?) but wondered what people would think of the PS3 without these features, i.e. 40GB hard drive, no USB and no backward compatability. Would a price drop to perhaps €449 merit this?

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/a76324/sony-expected-to-announce-gbp299-ps3.html

animaX

Lack of backward compatibility is no biggy, but no usb?! Isnt it supposed to be a media hub of music photo's and video?!

Mossy Monk

Lack of Backward compatiblity - No problem
40 GB HDD - No problem as it is easily replaced
No USB - Not so sure about this

Ciaran500

Backwards compatability is all software so dropping this won't make it any chaper and USB ports cost them pittance and are needed to charge the controllers and plug in any peripherals.

Its just a rumour.

http://www.psu.com/Sony-shoots-down-40GB-PS3-rumours-News--a0001398-p0.php

qwertplaywert

They should make the backword compatibilty software come with every ps3 preloaded for people who cant access the ps3 online network!

I would consider buying a ps3 if price droped to around 450, since cant get online due to lack of broadband, no usb and harddrive wouldnt bother me, would need backwords compatibility though

NotorietyH

qwertplaywert wrote:

no usb and harddrive wouldnt bother me, would need backwords compatibility though

Eh it probably would as without USB you can't charge the controller and without the hard drive you wouldn't be able to play most of the games as they pretty much all install data onto the hard drive and also you wouldn't be able to save your games. But I suppose it would be worth it for a 150 euro saving.

LookingFor

I think the proper rumour is that it would come with 2 USB ports. That rumour comes out of testing that the FCC in America have been doing on a new PS3 SKU. In the tests they had two USB devices connected, but with the other PS3 models they had 4.

They also would save money by cutting PS2 backwards compatibility since they still have to include the PS2's graphics chip. It's not totally software. PSone compatibility could still be included though in software only.

There's some more rumours going around that a new lower-priced PS3 will be announced for Europe next Monday, available in the middle of October. 399 euros.

CountryWise

To be honest it would be perfect timing, the big name games are slowly but surely coming out in next couple of months and a price drop would = huge xmas scramble for the PS3

whiterebel

Would Like it to be backward compatible. Just drop the price on the bugger. Like all PS's before it, it'll have to go right down in price. Certainly would before I'd buy it. The Tesco offer was one I'd have taken up.

Ciaran500

LookingFor wrote:

They also would save money by cutting PS2 backwards compatibility since they still have to include the PS2's graphics chip. It's not totally software.

Are you sure? The EE & GS have been integrated onto the same chip since the PStwo, so the removal of one means the removal of both unless they started making new chips.

LookingFor

Yes, they kept the GS, or pretty much did:

http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20070227/128224/

The PS3 console available in Japan and the US is equipped with EE+GS chip which is PS2's core LSI chip composed of Emotion Engine and Graphics Synthesizer integrated onto a single chip. Instead of the EE+GS chip which will be excluded from the European version of the console, SCE will provide a new graphics LSI chip that can replace the functions performed by Graphics Synthesizer. The functions of Emotion Engine will be emulated by software based on Cell Broadband Engine.

I guess it would save them some to remove that remaining chip. But I think PS2 BC would go with it, since it'd be very difficult to emulate some parts of the GS.

LookingFor

Some more fuel for the fire.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/02/sonys-399-ps3-confirmed-by-best-buy/

Thanks to a helpful tipster, we have a couple of Best Buy documents showing a $399 Playstation 3 with 40GB disk and Spiderman 3 bundle with an "In Stock Date" of October 28. However, the more important "Street Date" field is unfortunately empty at the moment. While the docs look legit and don't seem to be Photoshopped, they can still be faked easily enough. So we did a quick lookup on the UPC code and sure enough, while the details are masked, the manufacturer is listed as "Sony Computer Entertainment of America." Unfortunately, we don't see the new model CECHG01 listed anywhere in the docs. As such, let's be clear: this ain't official. Still, we'll be paying close attention on October 12th as will you we suspect.

Also, a guy on the AVSForums who claims to work for a Sony Centre in Australia claims they were asked yesterday how many 40GB PS3s they wanted to order - the price being AU$699 (PS3 currently retails for AU$999 there), and they were also told that it wouldn't have the PS2 chipset in it, or the card readers (but will have wifi, hdmi etc.).

Rumour is that it'll be announced by or on Oct 12.

ongarite

Sort of official now by the looks of it.
To be announced officially this friday:
PS3 40GB + Spiderman 3 = €399
PS3 Starter Pack (2 Games, 2 Controllers) = €499

lee_baby_simms

http://www.play.com/Games/PlayStation3/4-/3497508/Sony-Playstation-3-PS3-Console-With-40GB-HDD/Product.html

sicruise

They also would save money by cutting PS2 backwards compatibility since they still have to include the PS2's graphics chip.

Nope, your thinking of the US & ASIA models. No emotion chip in any of our ps3's. That is why we don't have full backwards compatibility.

LookingFor

sicruise wrote:

Nope, your thinking of the US & ASIA models. No emotion chip in any of our ps3's. That is why we don't have full backwards compatibility.

No emotion chip, but they do have the graphics synthesiser. That's apparently gone in the 40GB model.

Some catalogs in Spain are showing up with this new model also, and Fifa bundles etc.

Guy:Incognito

Mossy Monk wrote:

Lack of Backward compatiblity - No problem
40 GB HDD - No problem as it is easily replaced
No USB - Not so sure about this

As above, USB is needed. As for the HDD if you are going to replace the 40gb with a bigger one, you'll have to buy a bigger one, thus pushing the price back up a bit, may as well just buy the one that comes with a larger hard drive in the first place.

skywalker

Or not, seeing as you can pick up twice the storage space for less than the price difference.

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=325711

LookingFor

Interesting. Some Italian stores are showing a 399 price, a Spanish store is showing 449. I can't imagine they'd price it differently in different territories (asides from VAT differences etc. - we all know ireland will pay 20-30 euro over the general RRP).

rabbitinlights

I can confirm here in Australia the new 40GB will be in stores on the 12/10/07 at $699. (€400ish)

40GB
No Card readers
2 x USB
No Chrome

Nothing was mentioned about lack of PS2 BC.


S.

sicruise

There was an advert on today promoting the new €399.99 rrp...

Why does Sony seem to not care in the slightest about its biggest fans.