Sony discontinues 20GB PS3 from SonyStyle store
By Jonathan Schlaffer
Sony has removed any and all listings of the 20GB PS3 from its own online store. This comes after Best Buy decided it was no longer going to sell the 20GB PS3 and opted to sell the 60GB version exclusively. However, what this action from Sony means isn’t exactly clear.
There could be a shortage of the lower end model or they could be phasing out the lower end PS3. They could even be getting ready to release some kind of newer PS3 model but about the only thing they could do to it is add a larger hard drive as it has just about everything else, Blu-Ray, WiFi, HDMI, et al.
With Microsoft releasing a XBOX 360 with a 120GB hard drive and HDMI the conspiracy theorists among us might begin to wonder if something big is going on within the walls of Sony HQ. Along those lines, Sony has indeed hinted at an 80GB PS3 on the horizon. Whether or not we ever see it is another story but I tend to think we will. That is, we will if Sony wants to keep the competition up. It would make sense for them to produce an 80GB PS3 but the XBOX 360 will still have 40GB more storage.
As for me, Sony still needs to do some work on the PS3 to get it up to snuff. If it’s still around in a year, I might consider picking one up if they manage to fix a majority of their problems.
I won’t say any console is perfect; the Wii has problems or rather “improvements” to be done on it and I think a hard drive for the Wii would be nice. Everything needs a hard drive, it makes things better. The PS3 has problems and the XBOX 360 has problems. The XBOX 360 has the fewest problems of them all and yes, it has a year and some months on the others but it still counts.
Maybe in that same time frame, Sony and Nintendo will be able to fix some of their ills as well.
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April 7th, 2007
iSuppli Applied Market Intelligence has pointed out that Sony actually has - not more to gain, but - less to loose by not offering their 20 gig model. At an estimated production cost of $805.85 for PS3’s 20 gig version, it would almost seem foolish to keep it in production.
It’s obvious that the 60 gig model is the better buy. I would gladly pay the extra money for the significant boost in enhancements; although, many gamers just aren’t ready to shell out the money for Sony’s 60 gig console, and would gladly accept the less attractive version for a more attractive price.
April 7th, 2007
That’s true and me, well, I’d rather shell out $600 for a graphics card though I would never actually spend that much on a graphics card. I wasn’t aware of that previous research, good point on that one. Still, it makes me wonder how many are going to pass over the PS3 because they no longer make the 20GB model and discontinued it after only five months…
April 7th, 2007
Uh… what kind of improvements do you refer? The PS3 “does” more than its competition. Can the Wii or 360 fold molecules or afford the user to make some serious home brew? The main problems with the system, in my opinion, are: 1. The price. a lower price will make it more attractive to the average Joe, aka teenager who doesn’t get a big allowance from his/her parents. 2. Library… no interesting games out, once again a subjective opinion. If Sony does indeed get rid of the 20gig PS3, kewl; I always thought it was dumb to copy Microsoft with multiple SKU. Users who shell out their hard earned money should be treated equally instead of being cajoled into greedy marketing scheme.
April 8th, 2007
I was referring mainly to some PS3 firmware issues that could probably be fixed in another update. The Wii is too weak to fold at home, the XBOX 360 MIGHT be able to do it if Microsoft really wanted to, they probably don’t. This much is true, only a few PS3s more than doubled perhaps tripled the work done on folding at home.
It took about a year for the XBOX 360 to get any games worth owning, let’s give the PS3 the same amount of time and there will probably be some good games on it. The problem is, at least some of those games out have found their way to a XBOX 360 port.
April 8th, 2007
Yes. I’m sure all those “hard-core” gamers out there are pleased as punch that their shiny new PS3 does molecule folding better than anything else available. I’m sure it makes them feel really good about the nearly $1000 hole in their pocket. the lack of innovative quality games, and the third-party companies jumping ship like it is infected with plague. If you really want to help, buy a Wii or 360. Take the money you save from not buying a ps3, (if you haven’t spent difference on fun games), and donate it to one various @HOME projects. Trust me, they would rather have the money more than counting on you to leave your power hungry PS3 on all night. Hey wait, what a bonus, you can fold molecules AND increase carbon output. All this while not having very good software support. This is nothing but sanctimonious drivel.
April 8th, 2007
Jonathan Schlaffer:
Thanks for the clarification. Your article’s a good read. Definitely some good food for thought and your responses are well-ballance and fair (which is really refreshing). I totally agree with you on the software argument. I personally think ports are good for the industry b/c they’ve always been there and are good for the consumer, as they foster competition, allow consumers to choose what platform they like, and make the console makers think about making the user experiences they offer paramount.
TT:
Ah yes… the pot calling the kettle black argument. Never heard of the PS3 and its attached brick catching fire… oh wait the PS3 doesn’t have one… “Our box is full HD”… oh wait, “Okay we lied guys, we’ll paint our box black, call it elite and you’ll buy it. Why? Here’s HDMI and last-gen DVD but that’s okay you’ll download or buy an add on… we don’t need the space, we have a magical thing called compression. We have a ton of episodic content, which should have been in the game from day one, but you’ll wait hours to buy and download it anyway. One day we’ll have 65nm chips, so you’ll be able to play your box without it burning out after 500 hours or have to buy a cooling station… yes that is NOT an airplane landing in your room… and don’t mind those foul-mouthed vulgar teens chatting up a storm… but hey, just wait guys, we’re going to release another SKU to fix, sorry improve, our box we rushed out to be first to market. Hey, you wanna free laptop? But first you must participate in our viral marketing project.” Sorry, being spurious. Vapid Sanctimony does that to me. ;^)
April 8th, 2007
I almost forgot. I wonder when the solar powered 360 is going to come out…? I also wonder, if it’s going to be made in China in a plant powered by Coal Fired Plants with no EV control… maybe a new SKU will make it “green”. I guess those face plate are recyclable…
April 8th, 2007
Alright JD, good (and entertaining) points. I am not really a 360 or M$ fan though. I would only recommend a 360 over a PS3 due to price and M$’s seemingly greater commitment to gaming. Sony keeps pointing out their non-gaming features as to why hard-core gamers will buy a PS3, which was driving my point. I did not mean to say that the 360 was in any way environmentally friendly or more so than the PS3. I believe they use similar amounts of power. And not catching fire is always a good thing. But the PS3 is overpriced, period. While it may be a good deal overall, most people don’t have that kind of money to spend on gaming. There is nothing the PS3 can do that a PC can’t do. Yes I understand the PS3 is significantly faster at some processes. But will this be the case in 6-8 months? Schlaffer mentions in his article that he is taking a wait and see approach. This seems to be the general consensus from both gamers and publishers. Consumers are waiting for better games to be published for it. Publishers are waiting for more consumers to buy it. This only spells doom for the PS3.
April 12th, 2007
[...] When the 20GB PS3 started disappearing from retailer’s shelves in the US we started to wonder whether this was a sign that the 20GB model’s days were numbered. Now it’s official. Sony has withdrawn the 20GB model from the US market, citing a lack of demand as a reason for the decision. [...]