Sony is certainly not going to raise the price, but I have my doubts about a cut. If this topic would have been posted a month ago I'd consider it gospel, but with the continuing rise of the Yen (relative to other currencies) the only place Sony can afford to make a cut is in Japan. With FF13 not having a release date yet, there's no reason for them to cut in Japan in the spring, and even if it was enough to turn the tides Japan won't win them the world.

Still, I'm not counting it out. Multiple reports suggest the parts of a PS3 cost ~$400 now meaning they are close to profitability and probably making money in Europe and on bundles. If they have the 32nm Cell and 45nm RSX in production now (allowing them to have units on shelves by Mar/Apr) they might be able to cut the costs enough to justify a price cut.

There will be a price cut soon. IMO, don't buy until then. :P

I don't know why a price cut in spring makes sense. Who was the last vendor to cut price in spring? Especially when the price cut would only make it competitive.

Sure it would help sales, but this is the time of year when game and console sales are overall low. It makes more sense to cut price in September when you are entering the Christmas rush where half the yearly console sales are made.

Can't take "No" for an answer can you OP?

I'm not so informed: are all Sony plants in Japan? If they have plants both in Japan and abroad they should be less damaged by strong Yen.

About costs, if they are ~$400, they are still far from profitability, resellers don't sell PS3 for nothing. Sony should be close to profitability in USA and profitable in EU if costs are ~$300 (not impossible, as some reports estimated costs to be ~$400 in January 2008, in 12 months they can drop by 25%, as mechanical parts drop less, but electronics, particularly IC's, drop more in that timespan).

With the PS3 getting all the great games it is, why does it matter if the price is cut? I assume most people here already got one right?

It looks like more and more sites are giving credit to the new oracle (yes, Pachter):
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10141989-1.html

I'm sure hope sony has a price drop.

Why drop the price in the spring, thereby allowing several months for MS to follow suit and steal all the momentum again in the run up to Xmas? They would be wise to hold off till Sept - Oct time and then make a $100 cut then, maximising sales/publicity over the peak Xmas period.

Prachter is suddenly the most popular person in the Sony community.