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UPC numbers and retail inventory documents point to 40GB PS3 incoming

According to Sony’s original estimates, stock of the 60GB PlayStation 3 should be nearly depleted from North American store shelves. With the $499 machine soon gone from retail, the effective cost to buy a PlayStation 3 would be the $599 charged for the 80GB model – that is, unless Sony changes its pricing model.

In addition to analysts expecting the price drop of the $599 model, stronger evidence of an even cheaper PS3 SKU with a 40GB hard drive is now surfacing from various sources. The UPC database lists product codes specifically for a “SONY PLAYSTATION 3 40GB.”

An internal document from big box retailer Best Buy also lists a 40GB PS3 machine for $399. The product description also includes the word “SPIDER,” leading credence to a previous report of Sony bundling Spider-Man 3 on Blu-ray Disc with PS3 consoles this holiday season. According to the document on Engadget, the new 40GB PS3 is listed with an in-stock date of October 28, 2007.

The lower-cost PS3 will also likely hit in Europe as well, with UK online retailer Play.com listing new product “Sony Playstation 3 PS3 Console With 40GB HDD” as coming soon.

Rumblings of a new PlayStation 3 model were strongly sparked earlier this week when an FCC filing by Sony revealed new model number CECHG01. Furthermore, existence of this new model was again proven with the CECHG01 number being listed explicitly as a qualifying device on the Blu-ray Savings “Five Free Movies” promotion.

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Why HDD's
By bhieb on 10/2/2007 5:12:43 PM , Rating: 5
There must be something on the wholesale side that I just don't understand, but the cost difference between a 40GB and an 80GB drive is almost nothing (maybe $20 retail?). I know it is all about margins, but I think the tiering based solely on very similar drive sizes is crazy. If you want me to pay more for the "premium" version then give me a 250GB or 160GB. Hell it is hard to even find a 40GB drive on the market, let alone justify not spending the extra few bucks for the 80GB instead.

It is just a confusing way to try and add "preceived" value where there is none. Sell me the enlosure and do away with this teiring crap based off what is essentially a commodity in the PC market.




RE: Why HDD's
By psyph3r on 10/2/07, Rating: -1
RE: Why HDD's
By bhieb on 10/2/2007 5:20:38 PM , Rating: 1
I don't know, but I am sure there will be.

My point is that it is a sleezeball used car salesmen technique that servers no purpose. Think about all the backlash and just the logistics involved with this whole hard drive mess.

We are going to have a 80 and 60, no wait lets just phase out one, then add a 40. WTF come on just slap an 80 in there and be done with it. If it is driving the price enought to have distinct seperate sku's then at least make it something important (more memory, HDMI, BR burner...). Anything is better than the lowly HD driving the pricing tiers.


RE: Why HDD's
By chaos386 on 10/2/2007 5:32:16 PM , Rating: 5
You can replace the HDD in the PS3 with any 2.5" SATA drive. The manual even tells you how to do it.


RE: Why HDD's
By erikejw on 10/3/07, Rating: -1
RE: Why HDD's
By afkrotch on 10/3/2007 5:13:16 AM , Rating: 2
I'm guessing they haven't read other articles as from the rumour mill, the 40 gig PS3 will have other differences, possibly.

Like less usb ports, no media card reader, and god knows what other items get cut out. Again, all rumours, so we really don't know what we'll see.

For all you know the 40 gig PS3 might get the 65nm cell proc, no media card reader, less usb ports, no hdmi, no wifi, smaller heatsink, and overall a completely new redesign and dubbed PS3 Slim.


RE: Why HDD's
By Torched on 10/3/2007 10:26:48 AM , Rating: 3
quote:
For all you know the 40 gig PS3 might get the 65nm cell proc, no media card reader, less usb ports, no hdmi, no wifi, smaller heatsink, and overall a completely new redesign and dubbed PS3 Slim.


Leave the rumors for the tabloids. Take a look at the FCC filing linked above. It lists irrefutable facts about the new model. HDMI and wifi 11b/g are tested and will be included. Less USB ports and no card reader are inconsequential to the functions of the unit even if they are included.


RE: Why HDD's
By Bigjee on 10/3/2007 7:11:03 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Leave the rumors for the tabloids. Take a look at the FCC filing linked above. It lists irrefutable facts about the new model. HDMI and wifi 11b/g are tested and will be included. Less USB ports and no card reader are inconsequential to the functions of the unit even if they are included.


Inconsequential to functionality but not the price.

Its the little details in hardware that can drive the cost up or down. (When it comes to custom building a high tech machine such as even a gaming computer you'd know exactly what i'm talking about) For example the Premium 360 got an added HDMI without any increase in cost but the Elite still doesn't have any WiFi. Its all in the details.

Also with Foxconn getting the manufacturing share, costs are going to go down.


RE: Why HDD's
By Torched on 10/3/2007 10:10:00 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Its the little details in hardware that can drive the cost up or down. (When it comes to custom building a high tech machine such as even a gaming computer you'd know exactly what i'm talking about) For example the Premium 360 got an added HDMI without any increase in cost but the Elite still doesn't have any WiFi. Its all in the details.


The details are nearly inconsequential to the PS3's price if you look at the overall cost to manufacture the unit.

HDMI was added to the X360 at Microsoft's expense, not the consumers. Little details help but the big details are what make price cuts possible(i.e. chip consolidation/size reduction).

As I said below, I'd prefer there be only one model per platform. It would be better for the gaming industry as a whole. However, In order for Sony to compete this generation they need the lower price point. How they are going about it is now obvious.


RE: Why HDD's
By psyph3r on 10/11/2007 9:44:41 AM , Rating: 1
why are you talking about an xbox fanboy? why would he even buy a ps3. However, i agree with you. I'll never get an xbox variation, but if all it is is a sata 2.5" in a ps3 then I'll definitely be getting one. i would love to put sabayon and beryl on it. and make a kick as htpc/ps3


RE: Why HDD's
By Murst on 10/2/2007 5:31:29 PM , Rating: 5
You can use any notebook HDD in the PS3. The PS3 instruction manual even provides steps on how to change your hard drive.


RE: Why HDD's
By bhieb on 10/2/2007 5:36:40 PM , Rating: 2
Then good for them that is great, and I sincerly applaud the effort.

However even more reason not to confuse the market with so many useless sku's. Instead sell one model and advertise "ugradeable hard drive". If you cannot do it yourself the GeekSquad boys can help you out. Or at best have 2 sku's one with and HD one without.

Plus it is one more thing you can plug as a benefit over your rival the 360. I can hear the add now "Gaming with no boundries, now with user upgradeable harddrive" xbox owner in the corner crying.


RE: Why HDD's
By NaughtyGeek on 10/2/2007 5:56:43 PM , Rating: 2
It's not just the HDD that's different. It is also rumored that the WIFI and memory card readers will be missing as they were with the 20 GB model.


RE: Why HDD's
By chrispyski on 10/2/2007 7:09:01 PM , Rating: 2
If you check the hyperlink referring to the FCC filing, the new model is listed as having Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.


RE: Why HDD's
By afkrotch on 10/3/2007 5:22:01 AM , Rating: 2
Yes, it's really confusing having currently only 2 available PS3s for purchase and only have 2 available PS3 types at one point in time.

They've had a lot less skus at one point in time than Microsoft has done.

Currently you can get Core, Premium, Elite, and Halo. For PS3 you have 80 gig and 60 gig. If you can't remember 2 or 4 options available to you, how do you survive? Do you sometimes forget to wipe your ass and flush the toilet, cause you can only remember to sitdown and crap, completely forgetting to wipe and flush?

You can bring up the other SKUs that they did have, but guess what? They aren't part of the market. I can bring up all the different SKUs of the Xbox 360, which was usually nothing more than crap bundled in with the 360.


RE: Why HDD's
By acer905 on 10/3/2007 7:45:24 AM , Rating: 2
Before i say anything i must say that i have neither the 360 or the PS3, but i have to say that the current lineup of 360's makes sense. 1 barebones, which would be an LS trim. One with most of the features, the LT. One with everything, the GT. And then simply a special edition paint job with all the features. If you are gonna have different ones, i agree ya gotta make it at least more than just the hard drive size thats different.


RE: Why HDD's
By Torched on 10/3/2007 11:24:05 AM , Rating: 2
Sony does have a few things different than the HDD size between the different models(for better or worse). But the thing that sets it apart from Microsoft lineup is the inclusion of the HDD in every system. "Barebone systems" maybe great in the world of the PC but console developers must develop games that work on 100% of the systems. With this in mind I do not see the advantage of Microsoft's hardware model. With the Core model developers cannot rely on the inclusion of a HDD.

I think it will be better for all console gamers once the companies realize that multiple SKU's hurt the industry. Look at the FUD that has spread in the comments here. It has only worked to inflame more stupidity.


RE: Why HDD's
By joemoedee on 10/2/2007 5:46:18 PM , Rating: 2
No modifications needed, from my understanding.

You just unscrew the old hard drive, pop in a new 2.5" SATA drive, and turn it on. It states the drive must be formatted, you format it, and you're ready to go. You don't even lose your console settings. (Just your saved games, obviously)

It's all about perceived value. Sony's not the first to use it to increase profit, and certainly will not be the last.

In doing so, they get increased profits from folks willing to fork out the extra dollars for twice the HDD capacity, all the while not alienating those customers that aren't afraid to use a screwdriver.


RE: Why HDD's
By softwiz on 10/2/2007 5:22:16 PM , Rating: 4
quote:
I think the tiering based solely on very similar drive sizes is crazy.


Tell that to Apple.