The 40GB model with stripped down features is very unlikely for the simple fact that they have already tried to make that type of unit sell with the 20GB. Ultimately I think the $500 price tag for the "stripped down" version didn't do well because people found it absurd to spend $500 on a lackluster model.
But how much would they really be changed by a $400-450 stripped down unit? It is still a lot of money to be paying for a "Lite" machine.
If I had to take a guess at what the next few months will be like I would say that Sony is going to ride the current 60GB stock until its completely gone, which should be sometime in Dec-Jan if the 2.5 million number was correct. If they run out in Dec they will probably hold position until January but either way it will be January or later before there is a price drop on the 80GB model and it most likely will be down to $500 since it costs them less to produce than the 60GB. We might see the 80GB move from $600 to something like $470-480 depending on how long it takes for the 60GB stock to sell out. Regardless of the amount of the price cut I seriously doubt they will introduce a new model, however if they do introduce a new model its far more likely to have more features and a higher cost than vice versa. Regardless there will not be another price cut after the lowering of the 80GB model until at least Spring '09, probably later.
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