Optical drives need to be kicked to the curb! Flash is the next-gen future.

[Katilian]

Feylic said:

Squilliam said:

Feylic said:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136195

thats an 80GB for $36, a company such as sony, or microsoft could get those for less. I don't see that as driving up the price, especially when the hardrives were only 20GB, or 60GB.

Try http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2000150380%204025&name=%2425%20-%20%2450

$45 is the floor price for retail at present.

 

 

You're assuming too much. Why does it have to be a laptop sizes hardrive?. Why does it have to be 80GB, and even so, that $45 is not what sony/microsoft/nintendo would pay.

From what I understand, HDDs have a certain "overhead" cost which can't be reduced all that far. The cost of producing a drive generally only changes with the cost of the platter. You still need a controller, casing, motor, etc... all of which are a fixed cost per drive.

This is one of the reasons that MS now has a 60gb drive instead of a 20gb drive in the 360. The cost to produce a 20gb drive, especially in small amounts, is possibly more expensive than producing a 60gb drive.