Sony is a fixture of Japanese corporate-culture icon, they are NOT about scrap that to fit some western perceptions. Sony's problems started YEARS ago, so it's hard to blame the current economic downturn. When I did alot of day trading, and I'd watch the market like a hawk, sony really benefited heavily on years of Spider-Man releases, due to all the upside benefits, just go look at the data...

Sony Ericsson is so popular....why would they shut it down

Popularty <> Profit. The division loses money.

thats far worse then i thought... they do need to sell stakes in sony pictures to cover that.... and in sony BMG ... bad tome to try and renigosiate debt...  they could try and offload debt drowned divisions.... apple has 25 billion and no debt burning a whole in its pocket some movie deals cut favorable for itunes, and music deals might get apple to part with some of that 25 bill

yea its tough to call what will happen with PS3. I mean they can't have a price cut if this is going on. They need to sell it at, at least breaking even. They can't afford to sell at a loss anymore with this stuff going on.

Some of you need to realize that no one is immune to going bankrupt or loosing it all. Nintendo is lucky that they have their type of business plan and are doing well. In a position like Sony is in right now with the gamble they used with PS3/Blu ray and the $600 price it failed and is hurt them big time.

Now it is all up to what they do next, if they take another big gamble and fail or don't see the results they need they could very well be the end of Sony

Not a complete shutdown i'm not saying anything drastic. More like a slight downisizing of workforce and merging studios to save on bills.

more like hemorrhaging money due to R&D. Sony has a few departments that have good branding public image that dont turn enough money... if your selling premium products your margines should reflect it, sonys do not... Look at apple for a good example of how a healthy company in the premium market space places its self their hardware normally has margines 20%+ I know the Ipod no longer has this, but the iphone and other hardware goods do. 

Bankruptcy is a near impossibility. They will have to make major changes to the company however, which may involve sales of assets, layoffs and restructuring.

Right now its up to sony to see would they can do and they are.

I agree they have alot to sell off before they consider bankruptcy.