I remember even before (but maybe I mix-up USA, EU or WW), but that was in USA, while in the EU the 299€ PS3 broke even several months before and WW, obviously, somewhere in between, but overall, WW, it broke even around March 2010, so dropping price in Autumn 2011 would be at least 18 months after it broke even WW at $299/299€, dropping to $199 (and 199€ in EU) could make PS3 sell at a slight loss in USA, but break even or make a small profit in EU and profit where it's even more overpriced than in EU, compared to USA. The margin is there, but the decision will be taken considering a lot of other factors, that will be combined and weighted to decide whether the benefit compared to just dropping to $249 could be worth the lower profit margin until in the best case PS3 should have dropped to $199 anyway. Currently Sony looks like it prefers, after the huge initial losses, good profits and more than decent sales to stellar sales and low profit, so, unless their plans are less linear and obvious for the future, this year a drop to $249 looks more likely to me too, but the one to $199 is not to be ruled out, it wouldn't be a bloodbath by any means. BTW, when PS4 launches, PS3 should be dropped to $150 or less, so when PS4 launches plays a role too, price drops too close to each other should be avoided, if possible (this applies to XB360 too depending on XB720 launch date, while Wii is just one drop away from Wii max reasonable price when Wii2 lauches, so it should be fine whatever Ninty chooses, despite having very little room for price drops and strict timing to observe if it wants to launch Wii2 later than Autumn 2012, Ninty has no problems to make Wii reach the right price without hurrying drops up, instead it must be very accurate choosing when to drop if it wants to extend Wii's life as main console as far as possible).

I could care less about the differences, one advantage blu-ray has over DVD is the scratch-free surface which I really care about.

Chaps, does it really matter if system X sells a few thousand more units than system Y? This point may have very well been raised before, however I was once a rabid Sony fanboy, I would passionately defend the PS3 against everyone. And then I grew up and realised that it really does not matter how many units the PS3 sells each week. Just the enjoy your games!

I didn't know that the PS3 was profiting more in Europe early on, but anyway, your main conclusion is more or less the same as mine. They could probably almost break even with it, but it's highly unlikely that they'll try $199 so early.

Other than that, you just did some random analysis, :P, but thanks, I guess. Always nice to be enlightened.

So you can stop judging me right now.  Take you own advice.  And about being personal.  Stop calling me out, and I won't be responding to you.  You're not going to bait me to get that kiss from me.  It's not going to happen, ever.  I'm not even going to hold your hand.  It wasn't meant to be.  Please, find someone else.

^^^^ this. i love this. i drop my disk and move my ps3 all the time while the disk is in, and its always fine.

when gamestop 1st launched their game protection plan that for an extra fee, the would ensure your game in case it scratched, i laughed in his face. i was like, silly clerk, i have a ps3.

Wow someone has a case of self grandeur.

This is why I want a block button on this site... does it exist. The amount of crap that gets sprayed on this site sometimes...

xbox 360 50k above wii in NA, wow kinect is really doing wonders, or maybe a bit overtrack