Sony says NGP will be 'afordable', wont cost 599$ Wi-Fi only version coming

[Grimes]

heruamon said:

Zlejedi said:

heruamon said:

Well...I look at this amazing device, NGP, and the closest thing I can see to compare it to are Smart Phones.  Now, MOST unlocked Smartphones go for around $599-$699, so I’m not sure how much cheaper Sony can get than that, and have a sound strategy to breakeven in a reasonable amount of time.  Maybe $499, but any lower than that, and SCE will be DEEP in the red again, which will put them a precarious situation, since M$ and Nintendo are going to be launching new console in the near future (regardless of what they say.)  Have 2 platforms slamming you into the red is probably going to make Sony shareholders scream for austerity quickly!

Do smartphone prices really suck so badly in USA?

I can get Galaxy 9000 S or HTC Legend for <400 euro and those are on the expensive end of android prices.

Well...I don't know of anyone in the US who buys a smartphone off a 2-year contract, so it really depends...btw...400 Euros is $544 USD at the current exchange rate.  What is an IPhone going for?  Most people get smart phones for $199 to $299 in the USA, AT LAUNCH, but about 3 months laters, you can usually get that phone for $99, and about 7-8 months later $49.

Prices don't come down that fast, especially for the best phones. Maybe the crappy phones that don't sell very well. It's the contract where most of the money is made anyways. Usually $70 per month since you have to buy a data plan. If you terminate the plan, there is a penalty which starts at a couple hundred dollars and goes down the longer you stay on the plan.

So in the end it doesn't really matter what you pay for the phone, since in reality you're buying like $2000 of service.