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Sony's 20GB PlayStation 3
Best Buy puts 20GB PS3 on the chopping block

A change is in sight when it comes to Sony's PlayStation 3 at Best Buy stores. Sony's PS3 currently comes in two flavors: the $599 USD 60GB version and the $499 USD 20GB version. Both consoles feature a Blu-ray optical drive, but the 60GB version adds 802.11b/g wireless networking and a MemoryStick/Secure Digital/CompactFlash reader for digital camera media.

According to internal Best Buy documents obtained by Joystiq, it looks as though the retailer is no longer going to stock Sony's 20GB PlayStation 3 console. The document lists the 20GB PS3's status as "discontinued."

The writing has been on the wall for the 20GB PS3 for quite some time now. It was revealed back in November that Sony is losing roughly $307 USD for every 20GB PS3 that it sells versus a smaller $241 USD hit for the more expensive 60GB version.

SCEA communications director Dave Karraker also told Joystiq last week that retailers have been overwhelming placing orders for the more expensive 60GB PS3. "Retailers have been requesting the 60GB model, the mix has been about 80 percent 60GB, 20 percent 20GB retailer orders. So, the reason you might not be seeing the 20 GB is simply that retailers have been ordering more of the 60 GB unit," said Karraker.

Sony still plans to make its 20GB PS3 available to retailers who want to sell it, but the number of retailers willing to stock the device may soon be dwindling. If that happens, the price disparity between the 60GB PS3 and the Xbox 360/Nintendo Wii will only grow further.

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Don't see why
By FITCamaro on 3/18/2007 6:39:07 PM , Rating: 4
Personally, I'd buy the 20GB over the 60GB one. I don't care about wireless or the memory stick reader. And since you can swap the hard drive yourself, whats the point in paying a $100 premium for 40GB more space.




RE: Don't see why
By cochy on 3/18/2007 6:45:48 PM , Rating: 5
For the silver trim of course!!

:P


RE: Don't see why
By agent2099 on 3/18/2007 8:21:46 PM , Rating: 3
agreed, I think the 20gb version provides the better value.

Also, this entire story is a little fishy. Amazon.com has been sold out of the 20gb model consistently, while the 60gb model is readily avilable.

I simply don't beleive that 80% of consumer demand is for the 60gb model.


RE: Don't see why
By nerdye on 3/18/2007 8:43:50 PM , Rating: 2
I agree as well that the 20gb version seems to provide a better value than that of the 60gb model. Wireless? I don't want to use wireless for my gaming, an ethernet chord is the only logical gaming connectivity solution for me, and sure some people will argue, yet I'll get a head shot on y'all while you look pretty with no wires and less bandwidth!

On the other hand, having a sony memory stick port on a ps3 will likely interface with the psp, which holds potential in their future collaborations, yet is in no shape or form materialized at the current point in time. This could be a bonus for the 60gb model, but that is yet to be seen and proven as only time and software can answer that question.


RE: Don't see why
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 3/18/2007 8:56:44 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Wireless? I don't want to use wireless for my gaming, an ethernet chord is the only logical gaming connectivity solution for me, and sure some people will argue, yet I'll get a head shot on y'all while you look pretty with no wires and less bandwidth!

Think about it this way. Most people have their Xbox 360/PS3 in their living room hooked up to the largest TV in the house. I don't know about you, but my router is not in my living room and my house (like many) is not hard wired for Ethernet.

In my case, the router (Linksys Vonage unit) is in the room that has the most computer equipment in it (cable modem, network laser printer, network AIW, central phone system that plugs into the Vonage router, etc.). Everything else in the house is connected wirelessly including my gaming console.


RE: Don't see why
By leexgx on 3/18/2007 9:23:21 PM , Rating: 1
its intresting why users would even get the 20gb model and intresting why user are not considering the 60gb model in here you get 40gb more disk space so that means once you filled that 20gb space up you do need to start removeing stuff of it

you get wireless as well i bet thay probly charge £40($50 in the UK thay probly match it to US price thay make more money out of us) for the wireless addon and the hdd probly be same ish price to the Xbox hhd price

its only $100 or £80 more for that model saves you haveing to mess about getting the wireless later on and an bigger hdd, not that i am buying one any way, maybe an yr or 2


RE: Don't see why
By Farfignewton on 3/19/2007 1:58:35 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
its only $100 or £80 more for that model saves you haveing to mess about getting the wireless later on and an bigger hdd


Believe it or not, some people (even with broadband!) have no interest in online gaming whatsoever, let alone doing it without wires. Didn't Microsoft just announce reaching 6 million subscribers to their online service? While that is quite a few people, how does that compare to the number of consoles they have sold? I suspect it isn't a very high ratio, though I can't be sure since total x-box sales seem to be one of the few things I haven't been able to dig up on google.

As for hard drives, I have yet to be convinced a console requires one, let alone a "bigger" one, though the $40 memory card for the the 360 does make it less appalling.

I for one, have been waiting for my local Best Buy to stock one of those 20GB unicorns.:(


RE: Don't see why
By ShapeGSX on 3/18/2007 10:35:08 PM , Rating: 3
My cable modem is right under the TV. Why? Because it needs cable, just like the TV does. My Media PC is right there, too. So is my XBox 360. And so is my Vonage box. And all of that is hooked up to my router. My other PC is across the room, and hooked up via ethernet through the floor to the basement.

The only time I ever use wireless is when I use my laptop, because I need wireless for the mobility. Wired is just so much more reliable and so much faster. Screw wireless. It especially sucks when you have more than one wireless device competing for your router's bandwidth. Bleah.


RE: Don't see why
By otispunkmeyer on 3/19/2007 4:24:35 AM , Rating: 2
wireless for me, isnt terribly reliable, so i always stick with wired where i can. the walls are too thick in my house to make WiFi that useful.

those plug socket things that route t'interweb through your houses wiring are a good bet too, though they are quite expensive.

in my room my 360 is hooked up with ethernet, and my PC, which i only use for web+email is hooked up with a USB wifi adapter that came with my router. its not the best, but it does the job.


RE: Don't see why
By aos007 on 3/19/2007 11:39:16 AM , Rating: 2
What do you mean your router is not in your living room? My ADSL modem, router and separate wireless router for my laptop (simultaneous wireless+wired is a recipe for instability on any consumer router) are all behind my TV, just a few feet from HTPC, Xbox360 and PS3. A separate gigabit switch and all other computer equipment are in my den. With 15+ wireless networks in range, as everyone and their dog is using wireless now, not to mention Bluetooth, relying on wireless for your connectivity is going to make your life miserable. I have my drawers full of various wireless cards and I went through several wireless routers as well... It's slow and unreliable and it only gets rid of a few wires. Not to mention that not all OSes I use support WPA2.


RE: Don't see why
By slashbinslashbash on 3/19/2007 9:40:56 AM , Rating: 5
quote:
I'll get a head shot on y'all while you look pretty with no wires and less bandwidth!


Uh huh. Because 11 or 54Mbps is SO slow compared to your DSL or cable connection. :rolleyes;

Furthermore, you seem not to understand the difference between latency and bandwidth. While there might be a tiny latency difference between wired and wireless, it pales in comparison to the overall latency of your internet connection as a whole.

*Mileage may vary for some people; if your WiFi setup is poor or over a long distance, then you may have some trouble. Get a better router, one with more power and multiple antennae.


RE: Don't see why
By tring on 3/19/2007 11:10:25 AM , Rating: 2
You have internet faster than 54mps! wow, that's impressive. If not, then wired or wireless doesn't make a difference for gaming bandwidth.


RE: Don't see why
By Spivonious on 3/19/2007 12:18:18 PM , Rating: 2
Bandwidth, huh? Let's see...

Standard cable modem: 6-8Mbps
Standard 802.11g: 54Mbps
Standard RJ45: 100Mbps

I don't think bandwidth is a problem at all.


RE: Don't see why
By static1117 on 3/19/2007 9:31:19 AM , Rating: 2
Uh.....think about it then.

If they buy 100 Units (80 being the 60 gig and 20 being the 20 gig), and sell 50 units (all the 20 and only 30 of the 60) then they still have 50 60gig units left.

This would be a condition in which the 20 gig were always sold out and the 60 gig versions were in stock.

Summary-
THEY BOUGHT MORE 60 GIG UNITS.


RE: Don't see why
By slacker57 on 3/19/2007 12:37:27 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
I simply don't beleive that 80% of consumer demand is for the 60gb model.


You're misreading. It's not consumer demand, it's what the stores want to sell is an 80/20 split.

quote:
"Retailers have been requesting the 60GB model, the mix has been about 80 percent 60GB, 20 percent 20GB retailer orders.


Given the comments I glazed over, I'd imagine consumer demand is more of a 50/50 split, but the retailers want to make more money, so they're not supplying a 50/50 split.


RE: Don't see why
By ViperROhb34 on 3/19/2007 7:21:17 PM , Rating: 2
Best Buy Carries ALOT OF Sony products.
Maybe Sony doesnt want BestBuy to say its Sony's best interest to do this. I mean the loss is purely Sony's loss on either consoles.. but the Income BestBuy gets on either console is like alot of consoles - worhtless-- I think when I worked at Compusa yrs ago.. they made 5-10 dollars per console of almost anykind/ brand.


RE: Don't see why
By Samus on 3/19/2007 10:42:48 AM , Rating: 1
This is VERY fishy. I'm sure you know where I'm comin' from. It's no secret that PS3 isn't selling well. Every store I go to have many of the 20GB and 60GB models in stock.


RE: Don't see why
By phil verhey on 3/19/2007 3:01:30 PM , Rating: 1
personally i dont know why anyone would ever buy a PS3..
lets see.. i can walk into futurshop today and buy:

PS3 ............$699
2x games... $140
----------------------
total =.........$839

Xbox360 20gb premium 2months gold COD3 and NHL 2k7 (which can be exchanged for any two games after purchase)
..................................$499
Wii with wii sports.....$279
Wii or 360 game......... $59
---------------------------------
grand total................$837

wow i can get a 360 and a Wii, plus 3 games for two dollars cheaper than a PS3... that's a hard choice.
.. i used the 60gb version of the PS3 in this example even though a better choice would have been the 20gb, but futureshop doesn't sell it.. and neither do most retailers. (all prices are canadian$)


RE: Don't see why
By Visual on 3/20/2007 6:22:27 AM , Rating: 2
well that is because you've already decided to be anti-ps3.
ps3 has bluray playback which is enough of a reason to buy it, even if you never play a game on it.
it supports running linux, and that's a good reason for me too. i can't wait to try how cell works as a pc.
as a reason for gamers that don't care for the more geeky aspects of it, there are the ps-exclusive titles. think whatever you want, but there are people that will buy a ps3 for these games even if they already own a 360 and a wii.

then, there is the point of the whole nonsensical nature of your calculations. the fact that you priced ps3 games each $10 above the xbox/wii variant for no obvious reason aside, you only consider 2-3 games, and if someone buys a console for just that i'd call them crazy no matter if it was xbox or wii or ps3. over time most people will have dozens or games, at a total cost way above any price difference in the consoles themselves. that's why such a price difference isn't really important.

what is important is the quality of the games, and not just the launch titles but the future potential too. ps3 has the other consoles beat at least in some aspects here. namely the large capacity optical drive, but some minor differences too - integrated bluetooth, integrated wifi instead of separate adapter, 7 controllers instead of 4, 6 usb ports instead of 3, larger by default standard (and user-replaceable) 2.5" hdd instead of the one with customized connectors of xbox. these are all pretty insignificant by each other, but they add up.

i don't know if it has 2 hdmi outputs as it was hyped at first... if so, thats a great feature too, even if current games don't make good use of it.

oh, and you have the LIVE subscription vs sony's free service.

if you still "dont know why anyone would ever buy a PS3", you are beyond help....


RE: Don't see why
By ViperROhb34 on 3/20/2007 9:58:13 AM , Rating: 2