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New 80GB PS3 hits market to occupy $599 price point

Sony Computer Entertainment America today announced the availability of the new 80GB PlayStation 3 at online and brick-and-mortar retailers in the United States and Canada. The 80GB model joins the existing 60GB PS3 that has been available at retail since launch last November.

The system, first announced nearly a month ago, is available immediately for a suggested retailer price of $599US/$659 CND and comes with the hit online-enabled off-road racing game MotorStorm packed in the box.

"The 80GB PS3 offers expanded options in the PS3 family of products for those who want to enjoy more downloadable content," said Peter Dille, senior vice president of marketing, SCEA. "The new model will provide ample storage space to meet the appetites of those who wish to download content today, and for many more years to come. With the expanded disk capacity and dynamic system upgrades, we have effectively created a system that is 'future-proof', providing consumers an exceptional entertainment value that will stand the test of time."

The 60GB PS3 is currently enjoying a surge in sales following a price reduction in the US and Canada on July 9 of $100 to $499/$549 CND. Sony originally told DailyTech that PS3 sales have increased 135 percent at the company's top five retailers two weeks following the price drop. Sony today adds that sales have jumped 113 percent when compared to the average sales of four weeks prior to the price drop.

SCEA will continue to sell the 60GB in the US and Canada at the new, reduced price until current inventory is depleted, which Sony predicts to be this fall based on current consumer demand.

Gamers who are interested in playing original PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games on Sony’s latest console are advised to consider the 60GB machine, as it still retains the backwards compatibility hardware that was removed following a recent hardware cost-cutting measure.

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Brilliant!
By FITCamaro on 8/7/2007 10:38:54 AM , Rating: 1
quote:
"The new model will provide ample storage space to meet the appetites of those who wish to download content today, and for many more years to come. With the expanded disk capacity and dynamic system upgrades, we have effectively created a system that is 'future-proof', providing consumers an exceptional entertainment value that will stand the test of time."


Yes....because 80GB is just such a huge upgrade over 60GB.

Nice try Sony. You've given us a console that costs more than its predecessor while delivering less value. What currently costs us $500, now costs us $450 if you take out the value of the game. Thats assuming you even want the game. For $50 we're getting 20GB. Not exactly a bargain.

At least with the 360 between the Premium and the Elite we're getting a HDMI interface, HDMI cable, and 100GB more for $100. With the PS3 you don't even get component cables much less a HDMI cable. You get both in the Elite box. As well as the adapter to route sound out of the standard connector to your receiver when using HDMI for video.




RE: Brilliant!
By michal1980 on 8/7/2007 10:48:43 AM , Rating: 2
just deny the exsitentance of that blu-ray drive in the m$ product why don't we.

oh wait because to add hd-video to the 360 adds 180 bucks.

hmm, wait we will also ignore wireless networking, why because that adds 100 dollars to the console as well.

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heres a hint, the 80gb ps3 will sell for 499 once the 60gb is gone.

this isn't m$ with its 10x different consoles.

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also I stated a long time ago the ps2 inside the ps3 will be removed in the n.a. market after some time.

it is all cost cutting.

----

sonys goal = mutli function console that does NOT BREAK with 1 sku.

M$ = POS console with games, that breaks every three months and forces people to pick from 4 different versions, taking up 4 times the amount of floor space.

---


RE: Brilliant!
By webdawg77 on 8/7/2007 10:55:55 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
sonys goal = mutli function console that does NOT BREAK with 1 sku.


That doesn't have any good games yet. No wonder no one was buying the PS3. Yes, it might change down the road; only time will tell. But, waiting for good games to come out is like waiting for that next CPU or GPU. If you keep waiting, you'll never have anything. The 360 has good games now. And if it breaks, M$ repairs it for free. So you don't get to play games for a week or so ... there are plenty of other things in life to do :).


RE: Brilliant!
By michal1980 on 8/7/07, Rating: 0
RE: Brilliant!
By webdawg77 on 8/7/2007 11:21:14 AM , Rating: 1
Repair time is 7-10 days. I talked with them on the phone this morning. If you are going to attempt an argument, at least keep your facts straight.

Isn't the point of a warranty to fix things for free? And not many other warranties that I know of include free shipping to and from the repair center. Sure, this wasn't the case from day 1, but Microsoft is fixing this.

And why exactly am I a M$ fanboi? Let's see, yes, I have a 360 and an original Xbox. I also still play a PS2 and a N64 on a regular basis along with my PC. Oh, what OS does your PC have on it? If you say something other than Windows, then what does the PC at work have on it?

There isn't a perfect console out there. At least the 360 is enjoyable for the reason it was created ... to play games :).


RE: Brilliant!
By deeznuts on 8/7/2007 1:33:59 PM , Rating: 2
Windows (an operating system) does not equal the 360 in any way shape or form. It's not even analogous.

Not liking the 360's hardware and using MS's OS (Software) is not hypocritical.


RE: Brilliant!
By vitul on 8/8/2007 4:08:46 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
by webdawg77 on August 7, 2007 at 11:21 AM

Repair time is 7-10 days. I talked with them on the phone this morning. If you are going to attempt an argument, at least keep your facts straight.

haha NO. that 7-10 days is when it hits the service center how long THEY WILL have it before shipping it out. They ship it to you via 3 day which usually takes 5 cuz they lag on sending the box.

Next you send it back to them which takes 3 days. Usually they dont say they accepted it for a day or 2 THEN which starts the 7-10 day process. From there they ship it back to you another 3 days. Keep in mind these are ALL business days. the normal process takes about 3-4 weeks. they have extendeed it you wont be getting it back in under 4-6 weeks now up to 8.

I have gone through this process 3 times and i just got mine back from microsoft 2 weeks ago after it was sitting there since may.

at 600 with motorstorm or at 500 with just the 60gig the ps3 is a better value then any of the 360 models. Its fact! sure the ps3 is more expensive and it doesnt have the cheapest price tag but ontop of just the console u also get 5 free games. AND they have 2 HUGE exclusives coming this nov in haze and UT3 which both will be competing right there with halo 3.

I don't even own a ps3 and i own a 360 but i will say the ps3 this time next year will be owning the console market to the console fans. i dont consider the wii in this race because its more of a casual system.

If that isint enough the ps3 has MGS4 coming as well as rockstars next exclusive after GTA4 drops. things are looking great for the ps3 in 3 months and beyond. While things for the 360 look shakey now and other then halo 3 they dont have as many great games coming out after. The fact gta4 got pushed back hurts them dearly since the 360 is getting exclusive live content.


RE: Brilliant!
By DingieM on 8/8/07, Rating: -1
RE: Brilliant!
By michal1980 on 8/8/07, Rating: 0
RE: Brilliant!
By DingieM on 8/8/2007 8:09:55 AM , Rating: 2
I'm no fan of M$, the reason I bought a console was the fact I didn't want Vista on my system. M$ Vista really sucks but "luckily" we have Windows XP as an option woohoo.

I don't like the fact that my jet-engine Xbox360 makes such a high-pitched noise its a blunder made by M$.
Luckily I never had my console broken otherwise I would be furious especially when it would have happened multiple times.

Its no secret I have a hate for $ony: it is fuelled by the blind arrogance of that firm stuffing all kinds "standards" through our throates and highly misleading the community with regard to the performance of the PS3. And yet what really pisses me off is that an extreme amount of blind $ony fanboys immediately believe that and fail to put off there pinky $ony love-glasses.
And even more the $ony arrogance and untruth that is coming out of their mouths is boldly copied to various newssites.

The added value of the whole PS3 package is quite good I admit that and if I was focused on the media center side I probably would have bought an PS3.

And I do have to dismiss PGR4 as being a systems seller. Further I stated Bioshock as a real exclusive but its out for the PC as well. Rumor has it that it will get an 10/10 by some reviewers. nonetheless it will sell a good amount of Xbox360's.

Ofcourse there are cool games on the PS3, and some nice inventions like LittleBigPlanet so I applaud the gaming community for that.
Some games on the Xbox360 also suck like those japanese fighting games and MMO's. I really find BlueDragon boring to hell and probably Lost Odessey as well although they look real good. DMC 4 I will not like either but that's the case with all japanese games.


RE: Brilliant!
By afkrotch on 8/8/2007 1:00:34 PM , Rating: 1
My take on things. I enjoy games on both system. For me, I'm on my 3rd Xbox 360. I bought my 1st one in Jan. That was 2 weeks after I bought my PS3.

My 1st PS3 runs great. Even after I got a nasty dent on the side, along with a chunk of plastic fallen off. That happened when I was hauling the box in my luggage on an airplane flight.

Sony actually seems to listen to it's community. There's tons of features we've been begging for and have received. Not all, but a good chunk.

Microsoft hasn't delivered us a browser, 16:10 ratio, or easy transfer of music. Maybe even the ability to save games on a usb key.

Also, WTF does not wanting Vista on your PC have to do with the Xbox 360?

As for the performance of the PS3 or Xbox 360. Both seem pretty even to me, with 360 developers pushing too hard. I don't know how many times I've had games on the 360 have a noticeable framerate drop. Course that's not Microsoft's fault or the consoles.

Blue Dragon looks good? Huh? Really? I own the Xbox 360 Blue Dragon bundle and I by no means find the game good looking. The game does suck balls though. I prefer Trusty Bell. It looks good and plays well. Great hybrid combat system.

The best game to ever come out on 360 was Gears of War. Probably the only good game. Lost Planet was trash, R6: Vegas has framerate drops that make me want to hurl, and Ghost Recon was only decent.


RE: Brilliant!
By DingieM on 8/7/2007 11:10:56 AM , Rating: 1
quote:
hmm, wait we will also ignore wireless networking, why because that adds 100 dollars to the console as well

What if we don't need it then we're stuck with it. Some of us want choice.
O and btw they are below 80$ or even less.
Second, I heard the Wi-Fi wasn't working that great on the PS3.
Third, physical cable network guaranteeds much better throughput and still is a nice solution.
Fourth, Wi-Fi hasn't matured enough.

quote:
just deny the exsitentance of that blu-ray drive in the m$ product why don't we

What if we don't need it then we're stuck with it. Some of us want choice.

quote:
heres a hint, the 80gb ps3 will sell for 499 once the 60gb is gone

Don't count on it again, they still loose an awful lot of money per console and will do that for a long time. Xbox360 65nm (hence considerable cost-cutting) versions are already in production for 2 quarters

quote:
this isn't m$ with its 10x different consoles

Actually they have two models: non-elite and elite.

quote:
sonys goal = mutli function console that does NOT BREAK with 1 sku

MS goal = give the customer choice and penentrate the mainstream market and not a niche market.

quote:
M$ = POS console with games, that breaks every three months and forces people to pick from 4 different versions, taking up 4 times the amount of floor space

Mine is 1 year old never broke always worked fine.
What do you mean with forcing the people? Its Sony who's forcing people with Wi-Fi, Blu-Ray etc. through their throats.
Maybe you don't understand choice?
And btw, my Xbox360 setup doesn't need much space, it just barely takes more space than a PS3. That isn't too hard is it?


RE: Brilliant!
By webdawg77 on 8/7/2007 11:14:56 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
And btw, my Xbox360 setup doesn't need much space, it just barely takes more space than a PS3. That isn't too hard is it?


I think he meant at retailers :).


RE: Brilliant!
By FITCamaro on 8/7/2007 12:27:20 PM , Rating: 2
It's still an invalid argument considering at Best Buy and every other major retailer, both consoles have the same floorspace for the actual console. If we wanna get down to it, the PS3 is taking up more due to them sitting on the shelf more from not being sold. If not for people wanting to get one before the current 60GB models, their sales would still be ungodly poor instead of just poor.

And as another guy said. I don't care about Blu-ray or Wi-Fi. If the Xbox 360 had Wi-Fi, I wouldn't use it. Nor will I use it when I eventually get a PS3 (when it hits $400). I don't feel like paying a premium for Blu-ray either when I won't use it. Microsoft made a games console with a media center extender addon. Sony made a media center with gaming functionality tacked on.


RE: Brilliant!
By webdawg77 on 8/7/2007 12:52:48 PM , Rating: 2
I wasn't validating the first argument. I was just pointing out what he probably meant :).

Floor space at the retailer VS space taken up in an entertainment center.


RE: Brilliant!
By darkpuppet on 8/7/2007 12:48:29 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
Second, I heard the Wi-Fi wasn't working that great on the PS3.


may want to back that up with some facts as it sounds like an argument based on wishful thinking.

I'll be honest, Sony has screwed up lots, but I personally don't want a console with choice, because then you have two choices, make software that addresses the lowest common denominator, or make software with minimum requirements.

Sega gave their customers choice, but the choices never added up to the experience of the homogenous machines... and while Microsoft isn't exactly on the same track, we still all know what happened to Sega.

I was seriously considering buying a 360, but I'm not going to go through the hassle of continuously paying to upgrade the machine as they continually add SKUs... And now that the PS3 is near the same price as what I paid for the PS2 on day one, thoughts race back to buying the PS3.

I personally think Sony got it right by including HDMI and not the cable... at least the machine supports it and you don't have to go out and buy a whole new SKU to get HDMI -- just the cable.

Same with Blu Ray... include it now, so people don't have to upgrade later, and hell, if BD dies, there's a good chance a simple firmware upgrade would have it reading HDDVD.. which can't be said the other way arond...

Continually upgrading hardware is fine for some (especially in this day and age of disposable consumerism), but I was fine with only having to buy 2 PS2s through the console's life (first blew a surface mounted fuse using an aftermarket lightgun -- whoops).

I've never seen so many people on a technical forum complain about something with so much cutting-edge hardware...


RE: Brilliant!
By FITCamaro on 8/7/2007 2:04:30 PM , Rating: 2
How is the PS3 anywhere near the PS2s original price? It came out at $300. The 60GB PS3 is $500. I'd hardly call a minimum $200 difference in price "getting close to". Unless of course you were stupid and bought one on ebay at an inflated price just to be first.