Sony to catch 360 by March 2008?

[shams]

your mother said:

Why doesn't Sony just sell a PS3 without a hard drive?

That would lower the PS3's cost substantially, and sans-hdd owners can just put a hard drive of their choice in the PS3, saving them money (and is probably something that many PS3 owners have already done).

They can't drop the hard disk. Its a required component. Various games require it to be present - and Sony (like MS) want to push consumers online.

Another point - if Sony *do* release a $399 PS3 - that's a 33% price drop in the first 12 months of production. Doesn't bode well for a 6 year (let alone a 10-year) lifetime for the product.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a $399 unit - but only early into '08. 

(remember that Sony are selling part of their financial division, which can cover losses from the PS division if they occur).

I think the real question will be how MS (and to a lesser extent Nintendo) respond to this price drop. And also how consumers respond.