Yeah thats the way it is in Europe. I think its sad I would at least have the option to buy a PS3 with BC. On the other hand I have exactly played a PS2 game once on my 60Gb PS3.

I liked it that the original PS3 had everything in it from the hardware side. A really complete package. On the other hand going down in price really is the most important thing Sony has to do. They need to reach 300 as fast as they can and they haven't crippled anything important for playing ps3 games.

this is important why? give me your reasons JL.

this is news...

Well I would guess it hints to me that they lose the less money on the 40 GB. I think it is not that much, and there will be another price drop this year. Sony needs sales. The 40 GB most likley support a 65nm Graphic Processor. Once that thing is in, the price of the PS3 will drop.

Where do you think the production cost of the 40 GB is right know? I have it somewhere between 450$-520$. Its hard to guess, but lets check something.

Launch Production Price: $820 (about that).

Removal of GC EE Ram: 50+30+30 = 110$
Price drop on Blue Lasers: 120$
New motherboard (USB ports, Cheaper items): 50$
New CPU (65 NM): 30$
Other "Optimizations": 20$
----
Makes about $330 or production cost of $490.

A smaller Graphic chip should save another 20 bucks, the costs of other things should also come down (Ram, Blue Ray, Semiconductors used, etc). 45nm is not out of the question this year (would save another 20$ I would guess) They should be break even this year. And since they need more sales than money, I would say, they drop it again by $50 €100 (Bigger drop in EU an JP due the $). Somewhere between April and August. The $ has been working for them, thats their damn luck. Otherwise they would sit in deep problems right know.

A other node: The PS3 is listing for 399€ in Europe. If you calculate out tax thats  332,5 €. Lets just calc out another 2% just for the sake of a higher margin in shops: 325,98. Thats about 480$. I expect the $ to rise more (since thats something the US goverment seems to like, they don't do something against it) so by the time we should have broken the 1.5 $ for an €, maybe its heading to 1.6. Even if it stays at the current price, consumer prices follow suit to exchange rates, normaly 3-12 month afterwards (depending on product). Gaming is due a price drop in europe and it will come this year. Expect a cheaper PS3, 360 and maybe even Wii in europe. The 1$ = 1€ thing will fall this year. I am sure about it.

johnsobas said: I'm pretty sure there never was an 80 gig system in Japan, they just stuck with the 20 and 60 gigs the whole time. Could this be a hint of what's coming for the rest of the world?

80GB model is for NA only. Japan had 20, 40 and 60GB models. Europe had 60GB (which is similar with 80GB model in NA) at launch and when 40GB came out, the 60GB was discontinued. NA had 20GB and 60GB (both similar to the japanese models) at launch, 20GB was discontinued and then NA got the 80GB (similar to the european 60GB) and the 60GB was discontinued and 40GB was introduced. I'd say that this is hints for 80GB model soon being discontinued in NA, since after this 80GB model (in NA) is the only non-40GB still manufactured. And i think Just Ben gave good reasons why Sony is leaving only the 40GB SKU.

bdbdbd said: johnsobas said: I'm pretty sure there never was an 80 gig system in Japan, they just stuck with the 20 and 60 gigs the whole time. Could this be a hint of what's coming for the rest of the world?   80GB model is for NA only. Japan had 20, 40 and 60GB models. Europe had 60GB (which is similar with 80GB model in NA) at launch and when 40GB came out, the 60GB was discontinued. NA had 20GB and 60GB (both similar to the japanese models) at launch, 20GB was discontinued and then NA got the 80GB (similar to the european 60GB) and the 60GB was discontinued and 40GB was introduced. I'd say that this is hints for 80GB model soon being discontinued in NA, since after this 80GB model (in NA) is the only non-40GB still manufactured. And i think Just Ben gave good reasons why Sony is leaving only the 40GB SKU.

 They initially launched the 80gb in South Korea, and I'm pretty sure it's the only model there.  That's also where they debuted their HD downloading stuff.

The bad: Sony seems to be forgoing backwards compatability.
The Good: With no units seeing any hardware BC in japan there is a much higher chance of Sony developing a software emulator for those that nabbed a 40gb.

Nintendownsmii said: The bad: Sony seems to be forgoing backwards compatability. The Good: With no units seeing any hardware BC in japan there is a much higher chance of Sony developing a software emulator for those that nabbed a 40gb.

It would be great.

Nintendownsmii said: The bad: Sony seems to be forgoing backwards compatability. The Good: With no units seeing any hardware BC in japan there is a much higher chance of Sony developing a software emulator for those that nabbed a 40gb.

 I hope you're right.

THe 80gb has been released there so I dont see any problem .