The 40GB version of the PlayStation 3 still hasn't been confirmed in the US.
Industry analyst Michael Pachter has said that he thinks Sony America isn't announcing the
40GB version of the PlayStation 3 in the US because they are still trying to clear stocks of the 60GB version.
Speaking to
GI.biz, Pachter said that he thinks Sony had an "
inventory control problem" and is resisting loweing the price of the old 60GB model in order to leave room for the new 40GB version. This is exactly what's happened on this side of the pond after all.
Pachter thinks that the 40GB version will only see an unveiling in the US after enough of the 60GB stock has been shipped, or else Sony will have to "
accept reality and bundle [the 60GB with] a game and an extra controller for USD 499.99, giving consumers some value for their money".
Pachter, along with just about everyone with a shred of common sense, also thinks that a price cut on the PS3 would improve the sales of the PlayStation 3 line - estimating a 50 percent improvement in sales for every hundred dollars in reduction.
Pachter thinks the 40GB version is still competitive too, despite the
loss of backwards compatibility in that model.
"
I don't think most people who waited this long care enough about backwards compatibility to affect their decision either way," he said.
What do you think though? Is the PS3 really in dire straits, or is Pachter in Bill Gates' pocket and spouting gibberish? Let us know your views in
the forums.
IMHO i don't really care about BC, for BC i can buy a cheapo ps2 that works a ton better.
Wait another 6 months will it drop to £200?
The only thing I think is daft is releasing a lower spec model with smaller HD. Surely it would have been smarter to release a model with a bigger drive and drop the price on the 60GB. Is'nt Sony's big selling point its virtual network thing and getting download etc... The small HD is the problem with the 360 but 3 years ago 20gb probably looked sufficient esp as they were'nt planning on downloading movies on day 1.
I thought they shippped them with HDD's to avoid the stupid situation with the 360 whereby some owners have no HDD, you can use your own HDD anyway, and get afew hundred GB for like 40 pounds?
Might be worth a PS3 now there dropping in price :)
If they had anyone with even a shred of common sense, the sales wouldnt be doing so bad but greed totally took them over. Lower the price so its value and make your money back as millions buy the console lowering the cost of production. Sheer stupidity, i believe sony make revenue from the games licensed on the console right since the console is sold at a loss? jesus use some goddam sense sony, lower the price and do yourself a favour instead of shooting yourself in the foot, its what id like to tell those sony money greedy assh0les