Cheaper, Slimmer 120GB PS3 On Tap?
See Full ImageBecause Sony didn't announce a price cut at E3 this year, everyone continues to speculate. However, one must also factor in the Slim rumors we've had since earlier in the year, and that's because new evidence has come to light...
A "reliable source" told Ars Technica that Sony would not only drop the price of the PlayStation 3 this fall, they would also introduce the new Slim PS3, complete with a big 120GB hard drive. The source did not provide any information concerning exact release dates or cost, but we've heard recent news that Sony may be trying to flood retailers with the 160GB PS3 SKU, while at the same time attempting to limit the stock of the 80GB machine. The Ars Technica source says that in fact, many retailers only have about two months worth left in stock. To combat this, it appears that Microsoft will offer several Xbox 360 bundles to entice consumers, and they may also make their 120GB Elite machine their default console (as they phase out the 60GB Pro). This could accompany a price cut down to $299 for the Elite, which may fall right in line with the similar PS3 slim. Same hard drive size, same price... Of course, Sony and Microsoft would only respond with their expected, "we don't comment on rumor and speculation" replies, so we'll have to wait to see if the source in question is correct. Such moles have been right before, ya know.
Perhaps if this does happen and the competition is on a level playing field (from a retail point of view), everyone can finally stop talking about price and value. After this, all we'd have to do is compare games and features, right? ...looking forward to it.
6/30/2009 Ben Dutka
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Comments (62 posts)
Highlander
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 11:02:00 AM
2 up, 1 down
Gone
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 11:10:43 AM
But didn't they already use software emulation in the 80 GIG MGS Bundle? Please explain the difference.
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 11:46:53 AM
4 up, 0 down
www
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 11:56:06 AM
0 up, 0 down
Scarecrow
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 12:53:52 PM
MGS psp is gonna rock!
Oh and I wish they go back to how it was with the 60GB....
I want the Emotion Engine in there....
Did it also have ps1's chip? If it does than that's amazing! I play ps1 games on it, just not sure if it emulates the games like you guys ssay, or if it has the original ps1 chip.
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 1:15:33 PM
Both PS3 and PSP include software emulation for the PS1. The hardware in both is fast enough to provide very accurate and fast emulation of the much older PS1 hardware and so games run very well.
2 up, 0 down
englishgolfer
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 1:15:53 PM
http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2009/06/30/ps3-slim-to-ship-next-month/
0 up, 0 down
Scarecrow
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 1:53:57 PM
Thankfully I have a 60GB version.
2 up, 0 down
Gone
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 3:56:01 PM
www(dot)engadget(dot)com/2009/06/30/sony-placing-ps3-slim-manufacturing-orders-for-delivery-in-july/
1 up, 0 down
Gone
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 4:01:31 PM
Can you give us some back ground about you, because all of your post make it sound like you are an engineer or programmer? I find all of your post very informative.
PS - I didn't give you the thumbs down.
Last edited by Gone on 6/30/2009 4:07:26 PM
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 5:20:35 PM
No, alas I'm not an engineer, or a game designer/programmer. I spend my days rotting in a corporate cube like millions of other people.
I'll tell you this much about me. I'm degree educated, I did Computer Science degree (full honors) back when it was still a science. I'm also a hardware geek and have studied high performance architectures through university and beyond - an American might call it my 'major' at university.
I don't think I could ever be a game developer, I don't have the right mind-set for that kind of programming work. As for systems engineer or architect, there are times when I wish I had taken that path. However, it's too late now, and I have to be content with where I am.
1 up, 0 down
kokoro
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 5:53:07 PM
I could never spend my life sitting in some huge building behind a computer. I hope to become a pure mathematcian, lecturing, researching and travelling the world to share my research.
1 up, 0 down
The Stig
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 10:57:20 AM
Reply
And if the rumours are true about GT5 being released this christams, along with a price drop, PS3s will be flying off the shelves.
But with a 360 price drop also looming people will still be complaining that the PS3 is too expensive.
5 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 11:50:25 AM
6 up, 0 down
Jalex
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 10:58:38 AM
Reply
4 up, 0 down
zee
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 11:09:02 AM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 11:10:20 AM
Last edited by Highlander on 6/30/2009 11:10:54 AM
3 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 1:27:48 PM
3 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 11:09:07 AM
Reply
a 120GB PS3 with BluRay (BD, DVD, and CD playback), wireless controllers, wireless networking, PS1 compatibility and web browsing built in
vs
a 120GB Xbxo360 Elite with a 120GB HDD, standard DVD player (DVD and CD playback), and wireless controllers.
All for $299...which is a better deal? Honestly, which is a better deal right now at the $399 price mark? Come on, we all know the answer, and so do Xbox 360 fans.
11 up, 1 down
Jawknee
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 11:46:26 AM
2 up, 0 down
Nynja
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 12:11:01 PM
To get a rechargeable setup on 360, you are looking to spend an extra $30-40. If not, you'll be buying a lot of AA batteries unless you hardly ever play your 360 (like me).
1 up, 0 down
Nynja
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 11:43:31 AM
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If the PS3 Slim rumors never surfaced, would Microsoft be prepping a counter price-strategy? I do firmly believe that all these leaks about price cuts and such only hurt Sony in the long run.
Last thing you ever want as a competitive company, is to have details leaked about an upcoming product or service to your competitor prior to being ready for the consumer market.
Last edited by Nynja on 6/30/2009 11:45:17 AM
1 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 11:53:48 AM
6 up, 0 down
mexgeo86
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 11:49:53 AM
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1 up, 1 down
Sol
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 11:55:40 AM
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0 up, 0 down
www
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 12:07:43 PM
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Pressure on Sony from guys like Kotick & co could force Sony to release the PS3 Slim prematurely.
SONY:
"Oh yea our fellow rivals MS didn't pay the price for releasing a faulty console, they're ahead of us now, isn't it logical to do the same....We wasted time trying to get a reliable system out and we paid the price.
Our loyal fans are the early adopters who bought it at $600, lets release this sub-par slim for the anti-loyalists who probably opted for the 360 and forced Square,ActiVison & co to back-stab us."
Hope Sony aren't talking like this...
Last edited by www on 6/30/2009 12:08:22 PM
1 up, 0 down
Gregory Freeman
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 1:14:32 PM
its all tactics... and this one (if true) is clever in the fact that they lose less money, and sell more units...
remember, as is, the 360 is only 6 million units ahead... a price drop will further level off the playing field... coupled with the yearly growth of an avg 10 mil consoles/year for ps3, and a 7.5 mil consoles/year growth for 360... it would take less than 3 years for the ps3 to gain a lead on the 360 (granted that consumer patterns continue as is)
1 up, 0 down
Russell Burrows
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 1:34:56 PM
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0 up, 0 down
Russell Burrows
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 1:44:38 PM
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http://www.gametab.com/news/3034328/
Another possibly "frustrating" leak for Sony, word comes from our buddies at Joystiq Japan and Engadget Chinese that two Taiwanese manufacturing companies have been awarded contracts to build Sony's new streamlined PS3, affectionately known as the PS3 Slim. According to UDN.com, half of the orders have gone to Taiwanese group Foxconn, while the other half has gone to Pegatron. The units are expected to start shipping in early July "to cope with expected summer vacation demands."
The news has a ring of truth to it, given that the two firms have manufactured the original PS3. The timing also makes sense, as Japan actually buys most of its game consoles during the summer vacation period (as opposed to the winter holidays in the west). Still, all of this info comes from anonymous sources, so take it with a very hearty helping of salt.
Assuming the news is true, it would mesh well with the PS3 Slim rumors we've heard so far, most notably that Ars Technica expected the units to hit the market in August or September. Add this to the string of rumors and leaks -- even some purported images of the unit itself -- and the PS3 Slim looks like it could be hitting the ground sooner rather than later.
0 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 1:55:14 PM
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At any rate, some fanboys are going to have to get a PS3 to play the best upcoming games. The blind MS defenders will just hug their broken 360s and rock back and forth mumbling "Gears...Halo...Gears...Halo..."
6 up, 0 down
Andysw
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 1:56:29 PM
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0 up, 0 down
DGo8
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 2:06:52 PM
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2 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 2:17:59 PM
Jawkneemusic@gmail.com
Last edited by Jawknee on 6/30/2009 2:21:52 PM
3 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 7:55:18 PM
What Jawknee said.
Just wanted to add this WARNING,
If you format, make sure you format it to FAT32 format, cause that's the only format that the PS3 will read.
BTW, here's a good YouTube video about upgrading the hard drive, & and has some info on backing up your stuff too.
How to upgrade a PS3 with a bigger drive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNSytaL9hnI
1 up, 0 down
CrazyIrishBoy
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 2:30:16 PM
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Although hard disk space aint that dear so they could have made the slim ps3's HDD bigger just to win over even more potential 360 buyers.
1 up, 0 down
VersusAlby
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 2:37:17 PM
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I just wanted to buy one (350 euros, 80 gig, UK)
but hearing about a price cut and slim model with 120 gig i think i should wait
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 2:50:40 PM
It's like anything in tech, there's always a newer system or a lower price within a couple of months no matter what you buy or when. Just go buy your system and start enjoying it.
3 up, 0 down
photo K
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 4:50:59 PM
I can't wait for the PS3 Slim. I want a PS3 for my bedroom but now after reading this, I'll wait till the slim comes out and then upgrade. As long as its not more then $399 for the PS3 slim.
I paid $700 for my launch 60gb, but it's been well worth it.
0 up, 0 down
DGo8
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 2:57:24 PM
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0 up, 0 down
DGo8
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 2:58:11 PM
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0 up, 0 down
LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 5:00:33 PM
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1 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 5:28:05 PM
ps3? My drive had some issues right after putting it in. It crashed and had to rebuild it's database then I would ocasionally get a cannot start error. Now my blue Ray drive is dead.
0 up, 0 down
tes37
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 5:56:18 PM
It's not likely, but not impossible. Sony wouldn't allow you to change it out, without voiding the warranty, if there were problems. I have heard that it's not recommended to use a drive speed of 7400 rpm, because of overheating issues.
1 up, 0 down
LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 6:23:14 PM
2 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 7:05:40 PM
1 up, 0 down
Ricochet
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 7:07:49 PM
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0 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 8:15:15 PM
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And also, at the very least, I think Sony should either, stick with their 160 hard drive, or bump it up to a 320, just to combat any of MS's counter-price dropping shenanigans.
That way, even the noobieist's of noobs can actually "SEE" for themselves the PS3's "direct benefits" right away, and not just all of the PS3's other indirect, but hidden assets.
And, if after all that, they still can't see the PS3 experience, then may I suggest they get a seeing-eye dog with the "Warning, I'm with Stupid" embroidered right onto their service dog's vest.
Last edited by BikerSaint on 6/30/2009 8:18:04 PM
0 up, 0 down
Ricochet
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 6:12:32 AM
1 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 10:05:31 AM
1 up, 0 down
Robochic
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 12:26:26 PM
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Little curious what they have cut out of the fat model to make it a slim model?
0 up, 0 down
Nick Maim
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 5:33:59 PM
- prolly an external power supply, or smaller internal one
- usb ports on back
- no hard power switch on back
- smaller component all around, including the blueray drive
- removed any actual animal fat that was in the current ones
All down to the cpu's, really. The smaller they are, the less friction electrons create and less resulting heat. They can then tighten up internal components without them melting during peak cpu draw.
0 up, 0 down
BlaiseShirow
Thursday, July 02, 2009 @ 4:18:03 PM
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1 up, 0 down
Gone
Reply
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 10:51:27 AM