Sony shipped 27 million PS3s (i.e. Sony sold 27 million PS3s to world retailers) through September 2009. I had been expecting them to ship 34 million PS3s through the end of December 2009, en route to their target of 35.7m PS3s shipped through March 2010.
Given that you want ample supply built up ahead of December, rather than during Deptember, I see no reason why Sony couldn't have shipped 33 million PS3s through early December (probably through December 5/6) which Stringer refers to as "Sony sales" in the link above, i.e. what Sony has sold to retailers. Stringer certainly wouldn't quote sell-through figures when giving a wide ranging interview, as the 33m sounds far more impressive than 'about 27 or 28 million'
There are always millions of systems in stock on shelves during the Christmas quarter that have not made it into homes except in cases of extreme shortages/screwups. Odds are Wii shipments (56.2m through September 2009) for instance have already surpasses NES shipments (61.91m lifetime).
People are difficult to govern because they have too much knowledge.
When there are more laws, there are more criminals.
- Lao Tzu
