We can't know for sure, but nothing Sony has changed when they introduced the 40GB and 80GB models actually had much of an impact on any of the most expensive components in the PS3; the Blu-Ray drive, Hard-Drive, Cell and RSX are easily far more expensive than all other components combined. With the exception of the Hard-Drive, these components will come down in price with time but are (likely) not going to be inexpensive enough to justify a $400 price yet; certainly a 65nm process helps, but that will only reduce the physical cost of the Cell and RSX by half but they will still have to pay their licencing fee on these processors which could be anywhere from $20 to $50 per processor produced. |
Sony is now mass producing blu-ray lasers so the blu-ray is much cheaper now then last year. When the PS3 come out over 50% of all blu-ray lasers where trash. They improved the process and now production is as good as any other optical reader and we all know how cheap they become to produce when mass production is reached. Who would believe a dual layer DVD-/+RW drive would cost $40 now?
Also, I'm pretty sure Sony is buying the 65nm processors from IBM. They do not have a 65mn facility to make them, that is why they sold the 90ns facility to Toshiba.
Overall I believe Sony is probably close to breaking even on the 80Gb and they might be loosing a little over $50 on each 40Gb.
But again, I have no inside information so we will have to see when they release their earnings report in January.
