I personally think making a low end PS3 would help out with sales a lot.  I'm sure you could garner a boost and would be popular with casuals, amateur home theatre enthusiats that aren't core gamers and new parents with children under 10.

How about a 40GB PS3 with no WiFi?  If they are breaking even +/- on the $399 unit, remove WiFi and a smaller HDD and they can save about ~$50?  Sell it for $299-319 or something and take a $30-$50 loss.

A lot of parents with children under 12 will not spend $400 on a gaming system.  Neopets and a ton of games on PSN games aimed at under 10 are just around the corner.  At $299-$319 it will be easier to convince them to buy a PS3.

Non-core gamers that won't make any real use out of Wifi or 80GB and would most likely be buying casual games(Buzz!, Singstar, etc) plus a lot of old school styled shooter games(Everyday Shooter, Bionic Commando etc) off PSN but have been flirting with the idea of upgrading to BD will be a little friendlier to the PS3 if they can get their casual gaming plus BD for around $300-$330.  Just $20 more than a Wii.

If they cut the price of the 80GB anytime soon, then just readjust the price of the 40GB with no WiFi.

Thoughts?

Also sell an official PS3 WiFi adapter for the PS3 marked up a bit and make even more profit. Costs about $40 but sell it for $70.

You always hear about 360 fans saying PS3 is too expensive($100 difference for equivalent systems) and then burn $120 on a WiFi adpater two weeks later.

Could work, i dunno. But i like the fact that the PS3 got that exclusive feeling to it, and not being just another crappy plastic console.

There is already a low end model PS3,and its 399$,they should take out the wireless adp and throw BC back in.

good idea... that should take off like $50... i dont think the wifi thing is $100 like what microsoft charges u

garnetts idea is good too

Do you think that the casual buyer who's been flirting with the idea of paying $250 for a decent BD player BUT could see himself playing more casual stuff (Everyday Shooter, CashGunChaos, QBert, Rampage, BioCommando, Flower, Pixel Junk games and a ton of other casual puzzle games on PSN) wouldn't pay the extra $50-$70 but then be "Oh it's doesn't have that exclusive feeling"?

What is the exclusive feeling even supposed to mean?? It will still have the same shell and exterior design of the PS3 so it won't be another "crappy plastic console".

Heck throw in $20 PSN voucher to get them on PSN and hooked.

A WiFi receiever sells for like $30-$40.  Assuming 2/3 of that is markup; it should cost like $20-$23.

anything that has SONY costs more then normal :D

They can't make it much more low-end anymore. HDDs are ridiculously cheap and Sony is already using rather small ones. WiFi doesn't cost too much to Sony.