PS3: 20GB & 60GB PS3s Discontinued In Japan

[Just_Ben]

Well I would guess it hints to me that they lose the less money on the 40 GB. I think it is not that much, and there will be another price drop this year. Sony needs sales. The 40 GB most likley support a 65nm Graphic Processor. Once that thing is in, the price of the PS3 will drop.

Where do you think the production cost of the 40 GB is right know? I have it somewhere between 450$-520$. Its hard to guess, but lets check something.

Launch Production Price: $820 (about that).

Removal of GC EE Ram: 50+30+30 = 110$
Price drop on Blue Lasers: 120$
New motherboard (USB ports, Cheaper items): 50$
New CPU (65 NM): 30$
Other "Optimizations": 20$
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Makes about $330 or production cost of $490.

A smaller Graphic chip should save another 20 bucks, the costs of other things should also come down (Ram, Blue Ray, Semiconductors used, etc). 45nm is not out of the question this year (would save another 20$ I would guess) They should be break even this year. And since they need more sales than money, I would say, they drop it again by $50 €100 (Bigger drop in EU an JP due the $). Somewhere between April and August. The $ has been working for them, thats their damn luck. Otherwise they would sit in deep problems right know.

A other node: The PS3 is listing for 399€ in Europe. If you calculate out tax thats  332,5 €. Lets just calc out another 2% just for the sake of a higher margin in shops: 325,98. Thats about 480$. I expect the $ to rise more (since thats something the US goverment seems to like, they don't do something against it) so by the time we should have broken the 1.5 $ for an €, maybe its heading to 1.6. Even if it stays at the current price, consumer prices follow suit to exchange rates, normaly 3-12 month afterwards (depending on product). Gaming is due a price drop in europe and it will come this year. Expect a cheaper PS3, 360 and maybe even Wii in europe. The 1$ = 1€ thing will fall this year. I am sure about it.