Would YOU SACRIFICE HDMI for a Cheaper PS3?

Rumors have been spreading that a new 40 GB PS3 will be released at a lower price point of $399.

Personally, I think this is a really stupid rumor because I don't think there is any need for ANOTHER model. I think they should just drop the 80 GB model to $499, bundle in a good Blu-Ray movie like Spiderman 3 and throw in a Blu-Ray remote. That is plenty good enough in my honest opinion.

Nevertheless...IF SONY decides to make a $399 PS3, I would beg to reason that they would remove some of the less essential features.

1. Kiss the media card slots goodbye.

2. Goodbye Wi-Fi.

3. HDMI 1.3 to be replaced with HDMI 1.2.

Believe it or not, adding an HDMI connection greatly inflates the cost of consumer electronics. One of the cool things about the PS3 is that it supports HDMI 1.3, the newest and fastest version of HDMI that allows for greater bandwidth capacity and speeds.

The competition upgrade their console to support HDMI. Unfortunately...it is HDMI 1.2.

If SONY makes a cheaper PS3, I would imagine that it would support HDMI 1.2 as using the HDMI 1.3 protocol costs more money. Nobody really NEEDS HDMI 1.3 at the moment, it's just something that is there; for the FUTURE.

For you techies out there, what do you think? What could SONY get away with removing from the 80 GB PS3 without making any drastic changes?

I thought for a minute that maybe they could get rid of HDMI all together, but they would be a REALLY DUMB IDEA. Maybe sinking to Microsoft's level and settling for HDMI 1.2 would be the best alternative...

You sound jealous because you spent alot of money on yours and now there could be a price drop.

If there is indeed a price drop I'm buying the PS3 and the big reason I'm picking a PS3 and not a 360 would be because of the integrated Wi-Fi and it's ability to process media better (i.e. install linux and have a working computer also). So if they take things away it won't help Sony with sells at all and it would be a repeat of the 20gb model.
xooco

It depends on what they take out, the 20GB model was just the barest of bones. My guess since they have changed around the way they produce the PS3 (Toshiba producing the cell, another company to build the PS3 cheaper, etc.) that it is cheaper to produce and can cut the cost even more. So if they take off anything it will probably be the card slots and a few USB ports.

About the HDMI issue, it really depends at who is will be making that component to put into the PS3. If they found someone cheaper to put it in and such then it will probably be in there.

Hey...I spent $599 plus tax on my 60 GB PS3...now you can get one for $499. I could be pissed off, but then again, I've been able to enjoy my PS3 for almost a year now so it doesn't bother me too much. I also liked being the first one of my friends to get a PS3. Now, 8 of my friends have joined the dark side.

SONY is taking a loss on each console. They cost about $800 to make. You can't drop the price a couple of hundred dollars and expect everything to be ok.

IF they were to drop the price ANOTHER $100, it would make a lot of business sense to take out the premium features. You don't NEED HDMI 1.3 to get 1080p, you don't need Wi-fi, and you don't need media card readers. In my opinion, that's the most practical way get your $100 drop.

You sound jealous because you spent alot of money on yours and now there could be a price drop.

If there is indeed a price drop I'm buying the PS3 and the big reason I'm picking a PS3 and not a 360 would be because of the integrated Wi-Fi and it's ability to process media better (i.e. install linux and have a working computer also). So if they take things away it won't help Sony with sells at all and it would be a repeat of the 20gb model.
xooco

Hey...I spent $599 plus tax on my 60 GB PS3...now you can get one for $499. I could be pissed off, but then again, I've been able to enjoy my PS3 for almost a year now so it doesn't bother me too much. I also liked being the first one of my friends to get a PS3. Now, 8 of my friends have joined the dark side.

SONY is taking a loss on each console. They cost about $800 to make. You can't drop the price a couple of hundred dollars and expect everything to be ok.

IF they were to drop the price ANOTHER $100, it would make a lot of business sense to take out the premium features. You don't NEED HDMI 1.3 to get 1080p, you don't need Wi-fi, and you don't need media card readers. In my opinion, that's the most practical way get your $100 drop.

knicknut17

That 800.00 figure is now considered obsolete. One thing you will find with brand new technology becoming more mainstream is that prices drop at an extremely fast rate. Blue ray components have gotten cheaper, the cell has gotten cheaper, no emotion engine (since emulation is doing just as good), new company manufacturing the PS3.

These all factor into the overall cost to produce the PS3 and its getting cheaper really fast, so yes they can afford to drop the price more than likely so coming out with a cheaper model that cuts some of the non-essential components would further cheapen that price.

[QUOTE="xooco"]You sound jealous because you spent alot of money on yours and now there could be a price drop.

If there is indeed a price drop I'm buying the PS3 and the big reason I'm picking a PS3 and not a 360 would be because of the integrated Wi-Fi and it's ability to process media better (i.e. install linux and have a working computer also). So if they take things away it won't help Sony with sells at all and it would be a repeat of the 20gb model.
kentaro22

Well, look at it this way. Price drop = me a self proclaimed Sheep and Hermit a new customer for Sony that will buy lots and lots of games and make them money. I'm sure many others will follow.

Also, integrated Wi-Fi not needed? c'mon, most people have internet connections in their rooms or rooms with computers not with their tvs, my whole house runs on Wi-Fi, my Macs, My PC's, My Wii, My DS all have Wi-Fi, why should I buy a $400 product and not even have a feature that my DS has. No Wi-Fi = No PS3 for me and many other people.

Also, why go down on a version of HDMI? technology prices go down real quick so I'm sure they are less expensive now that when it came out. You buy a $500 video card now and in 6 months you can get it for $200 or less. The PS3 was promoted as a computer it makes sense the price would go down on it like one.

Last thing, even if they loose money with the console if they get enough people to buy it they will make profits in games.

Umm actually Wifi is still there and so is HDMI I believe. I remember the article stating that the new Model still has the huge functions it'll just lack a few USB ports and the memory slots.

EDIT: Plus the EE isn't in there so cost is lower and at TGS Sony said they had a new way of cutting down the cost for the PS3.

HDMI 1.3 Supports uncompressed audio up to 7.1 channels, they did that to match up with the capabilities of the BluRay Discs and uh, yea I am using that feature with my A/V Reciever with HDMI 1.3 switching.

Saying that they are gonna take HDMI 1.3 away is like saying they're gonna release models w/out BluRay.

Who cares about price drops or what they're doing with the system I have mine already it works PERFECTLY and I suppose you do too. All I care about are the games and firmware updates.

NO. the whole point of the ps3 isthat it is better in every way. Beside the only thing sony should be worrying aboutis making more ps3 only games

I don't even see the point of a cheaper PS3. I think it's great value as it is. What makes it great value is all of the extras included as normal such as HDMI support, wifi, Gb networking, etc. So hell no I wouldn't want to get rid of HDMI to save a few bucks.guyhunter

I think the point is to move more consoles, to some people 500.00 is a lot. I know if people saved and such they could afford it but really that isn't the point. A few of my friends (about 6) want to get a ps3 but with tuition, school, bills, while getting a job that pays around 7.00/hr (around where I live this is almost high end for part time). They want a cheaper PS3 so they can get one.

A 400.00 unit will move consoles, more consoles will cause developers to stop with the "well we have to see how Sony is doing" everytime they get a 3rd party exclusive. Also a cheaper console will appeal to the more casual crowd than a 500.00

I'm sure the memory card slots will be gone, along with the WiFi, but in terms of this being dumb, I must disagree. I will say that for what you get, the PS3 is an amazing value. That being said, the price prevents Sony from growing it's installed base, thus preventing developers from taking advantage of everything the PS3 has to offer. There is not enough users out there to buy the software for developers to recoup costs, let alone make profit.

This leaves Sony to start publishing games, or offering huge financial incentives to developers, which they've clearly stated they won't do. The only way for us current PS3 owners to experience what the PS3 can really do is for Sony to greatly expand it's installed base, and cutting the price of hardware to a more reasonable price of $399 is the biggest step.

The Playstation 3 needs to be marketed as a video game console, not a Blu Ray player that also plays PS3 games. The features included in the system are fantastic, but at the end of the day, it needs to play games, and more importantly, it needs to offer games that you cannot buy on other platforms.

With the hardware inside this system, combined with Blu Ray, Sony said we would see games that no system could come close to matching, yet thus far, that statement has not been true. Granted, it's still early, but if Sony wants people to buy the PS3 then they have to be more reasonable. Games such as Killzone 2 are really showing what the system can do, but that game isn't coming out for a while, presumably not until late next year.

I think the PS3 already has a great lineup of games, but admittedly, many of it's good games can be had on the cheaper competition, and usually the superior version is on said competition. If Sony wants people to buy into the PS3's potential, that's fine, but that potential will go untapped if there isn't enough PS3 owners out there to buy the software. Developers have to see that Sony is committed to selling the hardware to get the users before they are willing to commit millions of dollars to exclusive game development.

I have total confidence in the future of the PS3, but Sony cannot afford to wait too long, and if they can get the PS3 to a more market friendly price of $399, they will see a huge surge of sales as well as third party support. I, as a PS3 owner, want Sony to make this move because more sales of hardware means better software for us all, and isn't that what we all want?

I'm sure the memory card slots will be gone, along with the WiFi, but in terms of this being dumb, I must disagree. I will say that for what you get, the PS3 is an amazing value. That being said, the price prevents Sony from growing it's installed base, thus preventing developers from taking advantage of everything the PS3 has to offer. There is not enough users out there to buy the software for developers to recoup costs, let alone make profit.

This leaves Sony to start publishing games, or offering huge financial incentives to developers, which they've clearly stated they won't do. The only way for us current PS3 owners to experience what the PS3 can really do is for Sony to greatly expand it's installed base, and cutting the price of hardware to a more reasonable price of $399 is the biggest step.

The Playstation 3 needs to be marketed as a video game console, not a Blu Ray player that also plays PS3 games. The features included in the system are fantastic, but at the end of the day, it needs to play games, and more importantly, it needs to offer games that you cannot buy on other platforms.

With the hardware inside this system, combined with Blu Ray, Sony said we would see games that no system could come close to matching, yet thus far, that statement has not been true. Granted, it's still early, but if Sony wants people to buy the PS3 then they have to be more reasonable. Games such as Killzone 2 are really showing what the system can do, but that game isn't coming out for a while, presumably not until late next year.

I think the PS3 already has a great lineup of games, but admittedly, many of it's good games can be had on the cheaper competition, and usually the superior version is on said competition. If Sony wants people to buy into the PS3's potential, that's fine, but that potential will go untapped if there isn't enough PS3 owners out there to buy the software. Developers have to see that Sony is committed to selling the hardware to get the users before they are willing to commit millions of dollars to exclusive game development.

I have total confidence in the future of the PS3, but Sony cannot afford to wait too long, and if they can get the PS3 to a more market friendly price of $399, they will see a huge surge of sales as well as third party support. I, as a PS3 owner, want Sony to make this move because more sales of hardware means better software for us all, and isn't that what we all want?

nyc05

I totally agree with what you said. Personally, i hate the idea of a stripped PS3, but if that will sell consoles...so be it i guess.

[QUOTE="nyc05"]

I'm sure the memory card slots will be gone, along with the WiFi, but in terms of this being dumb, I must disagree. I will say that for what you get, the PS3 is an amazing value. That being said, the price prevents Sony from growing it's installed base, thus preventing developers from taking advantage of everything the PS3 has to offer. There is not enough users out there to buy the software for developers to recoup costs, let alone make profit.

This leaves Sony to start publishing games, or offering huge financial incentives to developers, which they've clearly stated they won't do. The only way for us current PS3 owners to experience what the PS3 can really do is for Sony to greatly expand it's installed base, and cutting the price of hardware to a more reasonable price of $399 is the biggest step.

The Playstation 3 needs to be marketed as a video game console, not a Blu Ray player that also plays PS3 games. The features included in the system are fantastic, but at the end of the day, it needs to play games, and more importantly, it needs to offer games that you cannot buy on other platforms.

With the hardware inside this system, combined with Blu Ray, Sony said we would see games that no system could come close to matching, yet thus far, that statement has not been true. Granted, it's still early, but if Sony wants people to buy the PS3 then they have to be more reasonable. Games such as Killzone 2 are really showing what the system can do, but that game isn't coming out for a while, presumably not until late next year.

I think the PS3 already has a great lineup of games, but admittedly, many of it's good games can be had on the cheaper competition, and usually the superior version is on said competition. If Sony wants people to buy into the PS3's potential, that's fine, but that potential will go untapped if there isn't enough PS3 owners out there to buy the software. Developers have to see that Sony is committed to selling the hardware to get the users before they are willing to commit millions of dollars to exclusive game development.

I have total confidence in the future of the PS3, but Sony cannot afford to wait too long, and if they can get the PS3 to a more market friendly price of $399, they will see a huge surge of sales as well as third party support. I, as a PS3 owner, want Sony to make this move because more sales of hardware means better software for us all, and isn't that what we all want?

JudgementEden

I totally agree with what you said. Personally, i hate the idea of a stripped PS3, but if that will sell consoles...so be it i guess.

Yeah man.

I mean the option for a full featured PS3 will still be available if the consumer wants it, but they will also have an entry level model for those who don't need the bells and whistles. Sony tried this with the 20gb, but at $500 and many key features being stripped, it was not an attractive alternative, especially when you consider that the early PS3 adopters were mostly the hardcore gamers who wanted the pimped out PS3.

Now Sony needs to focus on everyone else and a $399 model fits well within many people's budget. I sure hope they do this because it means better games or us all who already bought our PS3s.

FYI removing hdmi would at most save sony around 5 dollars... so its not worth giving up... wifi on the other hand would save sony 30ish dollars

cant belive that only one person here said it: THEY ALREADY TRIED IT WITH THE CORE. sony wont remove anything because the core didnt have wifi or card readers which is wat ur all saying to get rid of AND IT DIDNT SELL. u should have bought a core system if u didnt want any extra features.

btwwith sony saying the ps3 will last for 10 years then thats y it has 1.3 hdmi for future proofing just like how playtv will have 1080p hd tuners whencurrently no hddigital broadcasts are in 1080p

just be happy that sony didnt go ms way of selling u all the parts seperately: oh wats that u want a next gen disc format well go buy the hd-dvd attachment (also coming soon the bluray attachment: http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4996&Itemid=2)

so y change anything now all they will do is have smaller hdd andno emotion engine