I think they will instead drop the price to 299 next year on march.

I think 349 dollars later this year. (Selling at a significant hardware loss, but compensated by great software sales)

probably about $50, but it's getting cheaper and cheaper to produce the console..that doesn't mean they still aren't losing a lot of money on it, but think about it. Sony's strategy has almost never been to make money on hardware..they may take a slightly higher drop to increase console sales to ultimately boost software sales by a large amount.

If I've learned one thing, its that Sony is pretty unpredictable at times..

This is possible.  Two of Sony's three biggest exclusives this holiday season are first party (LBP and Motorstorm), so they could rake in a lot of cash off software.

But there wont be a cut larger than $50.

I don't anticipate a price cut this year, just the new 160GB PS3 in October. However, if they feel the need to cut the price, I'd say 50 at the most, but we will more likely see holiday bundles before that.

The PS3 wont get a price cut this year, but if it got a $100 slashed right now it would be bye bye 360 this holiday season...hard.

this holiday season is all about bundles and special deals. but expect the big $100 price cut 2009 holiday time. so till then its gonna be all about the bundles and special deals (i.e. buy a tv get a free ps3, ps3 w/2 Ds3 +2 games, etc)

I think the price cut will be in march on and it will be $299 for 80 GB core

They aren't going to drop the price, they're just going to drop a SKU and release another one.

The top Sony executives have said no price cut.

So I think a game bundle will be their strategy for this year's holiday season. And if the title is good, it is effectively a $60 price drop -- $10 more than they could afford to go.

Mike from Morgantown