Non-Blu-ray PS3 on the way?

[admin]

Sony could be about to announce a PS3 price cut "in the next couple of days", according to one analyst, who says rumours persist that the company's planning to introduce a non-Blu-ray PS3 to the market.

"Recent channel checks indicate increased speculation for a PS3 price cut announcement from Sony in the next couple of days," said Janco Partners analyst Mike Hickey on Tuesday.

-- snip --

"We are also hearing continued speculation that Sony is working on a non-Blu-ray PS3 console, which could enable them to make the aforementioned hardware price reduction," he said.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=209135

Never going to happen (in regards to Blu-ray-less PS3). All PS3 games are on Blu-ray discs, so unless they're going to introduce DVD versions of games, it won't work. Unless they mean it won't have Blu-ray playback (only gaming), in which case the only savings are license/royalty based, of which Sony gets a large part of it back anyway.

[chrisjkirk]

It depends how much of the cost of the PS3 is royal payments for the Blueray license. Yes the money eventually goes back to Sony but that's no good to them if no-one is buying the console in the first place.

I agree the idea of them releasing a completly Blueray-less PS3 is laughable. Sony knew when they released the console that they were tying the fortunes of the PS3 and Blueray together. It's a gamble they were willing to take to get Blueray on to its feet.

[drfsupercenter]

Isn't it like how the original Xbox used DVDs but wouldn't play DVD videos?

God, I hate proprietary software... why can't they just leave the Blu-Ray player in there? At least I have the $400 one with one, so I'll be good for a while.

[dr_ml422]

These Sony Execs are the most obstinate bunch of businessmen I've ever heard n read about. The writing's on the wall for a while now. It don't matter what they come out w/but they better come out w/something n pronto. There's 1 entity that'll decide this eventually, and IMHO I think it's the same morons that chose to go w/Sony in the 1st place. $$$ will decide everything in the end. It always does.

[PurpleDemon]

Funny. I have friends that never bought a Blu-ray disk until they bought a PS3. Now they have a whole library just because of the very capability they are trying to take out.

Real smart one Sony

[dr_ml422]

If their strategy is to see who goes for the PS3 w/out the Blu-ray option so as to lower costs on both ends it's the stupidest marketing ploy in history. Suppose to be other way around. Start w/regular player then slowly ease in the Blu-ray. Too much too soon. Not enough time for the avg. Joe or even anyone for that matter to buy into it.

[gadgetman2]

If they do it it's obviously a desparate move to just reduce the cost of the PS3 to compete with the Xbox in terms of price/sales. Sony are in a difficult position. There are losing maket share because the console is too expensive but if they reduce the price they are losing even more money.