Do you think this would be a good idea? (regarding PS3 SKUs)

Here are three models of the PS3 that I think Sony should be offering (and really what they should've done from the beginning):

• $300 PS3 (low-end model) = no hard drive, no wi-fi, no PS2 backwards compatibility, no multimemory card readers
• $400 PS3 ("regular" model) = 80GB hard drive, wi-fi built in, no PS2 backwards compatibility, multimemory card readers
• $500 PS3 (high-end model) = 160GB hard drive, wi-fi built in, built in PS2 backwards compatibility (actual hardware), multimemory card readers, bonus HDMI cable

I think this is the best possible combination of SKUs to reach the broadest and largest possible PS3 audience. Each model is distinct and easily distinguishable from the others. Each one has it's own advantages and disadvantages and reaches a certain type of gamer.

The low-end model is for the person just looking to play PS3 games and is not interested in downloading videos, demos, or games from the PSN store - and wi-fi is removed to help reduce the cost, but Sony would offer a wireless adapter just in case he/she can't have a wired connection. Also, the hard drive is obviously upgradeable at any time in case he/she becomes interested in downloading anything in the future.

The regular model is for your average gamer who wants to make use of the PSN store and the video store and needs a wireless connection to do so. He/She just wants to get the PS3 home, and immediately start gaming online and downloading demos and videos off of PSN. There's plenty of space there for a bunch of demos, games, and movies whether or not the person plans to use the PS3 to save all of his/her media.

The high-end model is for the Sony fanatic who needs to play his entire library of Playstation games on one console. This is also for the movie-buff who needs all 160GB of space for his/her movies and needs all of his/her media in HD, so the HDMI cable is included in the package as well. While it is the priciest, it is also the best value of any console package on the market.

This way, the most expensive model offers the highest value, but there is still a low-end model for those looking just to play games and maybe watch some movies without spending too much. Furthermore, the cheapest model can still be upgraded to do what the regular model does. Both the regular model and the high-end model have multimemory card readers so the PS3 can function as an all-in-one media hub for games, pictures, music, and movies. Also, there is a model with backwards compatibility for those who really want and/or need it.

So, what are your thoughts about this idea? Do you think it would work? Why or why not?

So for the SKU with no Hard drive, what would the gamers do for the games that require a certain amount of space to be written onto their hard drive? You can argue that developers can just stop doing that, however, there are already quite a few games with the mandatory hard drive installations, not to mention firmware updates take up hard drive space.

I understand you are thinking of ways to make PS3 more affordable to casuals, but it would not work without a hard drive.

Here are three models of the PS3 that I think Sony should be offering (and really what they should've done from the beginning):

• $300 PS3 (low-end model) = cheapest hard drive, no wi-fi, no PS2 backwards compatibility, no multimemory card readers, 1 USB Port, Wired USB controller
• $400 PS3 ("regular" model) = 80GB hard drive, wi-fi built in, no PS2 backwards compatibility, multimemory card readers, 2 USB Port
• $600 PS3 (high-end model) = 160GB hard drive, wi-fi built in, built in PS2 backwards compatibility (actual hardware), multimemory card readers, bonus HDMI cable, 4 USB Port

abdelmessih101

changes are in red

So for the SKU with no Hard drive, what would the gamers do for the games that require a certain amount of space to be written onto their hard drive? You can argue that developers can just stop doing that, however, there are already quite a few games with the mandatory hard drive installations, not to mention firmware updates take up hard drive space.

I understand you are thinking of ways to make PS3 more affordable to casuals, but it would not work without a hard drive.

JCMac120

Or they could allow you to download firmware updates and mandatory installs onto external media storage devices using a PC and use them on the PS3 until they decide to get an internal hard drive. It's a little farfetched, but it could work.

[QUOTE="abdelmessih101"]

Here are three models of the PS3 that I think Sony should be offering (and really what they should've done from the beginning):

• $300 PS3 (low-end model) = cheapest hard drive, no wi-fi, no PS2 backwards compatibility, no multimemory card readers, 1 USB Port, Wired USB controller
  
• $400 PS3 ("regular" model) = 80GB hard drive, wi-fi built in, no PS2 backwards compatibility, multimemory card readers, 2 USB Port
  
• $600 PS3 (high-end model) = 160GB hard drive, wi-fi built in, built in PS2 backwards compatibility (actual hardware), multimemory card readers, bonus HDMI cable, 4 USB Port

samuraiguns

changes are in red

The cheapest hard drive made commercially is the 80GB I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) because that's the smallest one they still make for laptop. Also, the USB ports and wired controllers don't make any significant difference on price.

Uh.... yeah it does.

Considering some USB Ports cost from 5.00 - 20.00, it does make a difference.

Considering (controller) Bluetooth connectivity HUB's cost from 20 - 50, it does make a difference.