Ars' mole calling not only a PS3 price cut and Slim introduction but 360 price cut too

[Queasy]

Link - This is the same mole that has been pretty accurate in past predictions.

Sony and the PS3

The 80GB model is going to see some serious hardware constraints in the weeks ahead, and retailers have about 60 days worth of inventory before the systems will become hard to find. Expect to see many more 160GB units on store shelves. Those units have no constraints yet, but if the retailers sell through that supply as quickly as they did the 80GB, Sony is in a good place for the final part of its plan in 2009: dropping the price of hardware and launching the PS3 Slim in the fall.

We have absolutely no information on what to expect from that price drop, so we don't know how large it will be... yet. Still, hearing confirmation from the Mole that it's coming is great news. Sony has had much success getting people excited about the PSP platform with a raft of new games and the PSP Go hardware, so launching the PS3 Slim and dropping the price on the hardware that's out now should give the platform its own boost.

Microsoft and the Xbox 360

Expect the Xbox 360 Pro to disappear in July or August, but you're going to see some solid bundles to get those systems moving off store shelves. The Halo 3/Fable 2 bundle the Mole previously tipped us off to shows that Microsoft is willing to put some good games into the box to get people buying.

So what are we going to do without the Pro systems? Nothing. The Elite units, with the 120GB hard drive, are going to become the Pro-level system after an early September price cut. We'll be on the lookout for another holiday bundle as well, and that should hit around October. What titles will be included? We should be able to break that story as well, but we don't have the information yet.

 

[erwos]

Interesting move, making the 120gb HDD standard.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Making elite the new pro makes sense given the tiny difference in 60 vs 120 GB prices for standard laptop hard drives. Hopefully they'll still include the optical dongle.

 

[blurredvision]

Walked by the Gamestop across the street from work while heading to lunch, and noticed a new sign on their door stating they were giving 30% extra on trade-ins towards the purchase of a Pro or Elite 360 system. Maybe they have started the push to get current consoles off the shelves.

 

[UpgradeFailure]

Originally posted by: peritusONE
Walked by the Gamestop across the street from work while heading to lunch, and noticed a new sign on their door stating they were giving 30% extra on trade-ins towards the purchase of a Pro or Elite 360 system. Maybe they have started the push to get current consoles off the shelves.

I think that's just their summer promo. Last month was 30% extra towards a wii. Maybe next month will be PS3

 

[R Nilla]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Making elite the new pro makes sense given the tiny difference in 60 vs 120 GB prices for standard laptop hard drives. Hopefully they'll still include the optical dongle.

While they're at it they should throw in built-in wifi for the elite and cut the prices of the damn hard drives already.

 

[Aikouka]

My 20GB HDD feels so meager now .

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Aikouka
My 20GB HDD feels so meager now .

Heh. I've actually been considering getting one of those Datel 360 memory cards that you can put a MicroSD card into to have up to 16GBs of storage. Since I figured out that Netflix uses both your 360 and the HDD for hardware recognition (causing me to need to reset my Netflix activation each time I move my HDD holding my gamertag) it has been easier to use my kids' memory card to move back and forth between my two 360s. The downside is that there isn't enough room on the 256MB card to carry all my game saves along with it.

On a side note, there's a rumor floating around that MS intends to introduce a 1GB HDD sometime before Natal is released partly because of Games On Demand and the new 1080p videos they'll be offering for download. I'm not sure how much water this rumor holds because nobody even sells 2.5" HDDs yet but....is $inifinity a valid price?

 

[DaveSimmons]

> 1 TB drive
$1,000 to match the current per-GB prices? Or slash the price in half and just charge $500?

 

[ric1287]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
> 1 TB drive
$1,000 to match the current per-GB prices? Or slash the price in half and just charge $500?

they make 1TB 2.5" drives?

 

[Pheran]

Considering that 2.5" drives only go up to 500G right now (which Queasy alluded to), I don't think we will be seeing a 1T Xbox 360 drive for quite some time.

 

[SAWYER]

If the PS3 didn't include BR it would be killing the 360 now imo

 

[mmnno]

Originally posted by: Queasy


On a side note, there's a rumor floating around that MS intends to introduce a 1GB HDD sometime before Natal is released partly because of Games On Demand and the new 1080p videos they'll be offering for download. I'm not sure how much water this rumor holds because nobody even sells 2.5" HDDs yet but....is $inifinity a valid price?

I think the rumor was that the next Xbox would have a 1TB HD. That's still ludicrous.

 

[Drako]

Originally posted by: mmnno

Originally posted by: Queasy


On a side note, there's a rumor floating around that MS intends to introduce a 1GB HDD sometime before Natal is released partly because of Games On Demand and the new 1080p videos they'll be offering for download. I'm not sure how much water this rumor holds because nobody even sells 2.5" HDDs yet but....is $inifinity a valid price?

I think the rumor was that the next Xbox would have a 1TB HD. That's still ludicrous.

Yeah, a 500GB drive would make more sense right now, since they are now at the <$80 price point.

 

[mmntech]

Originally posted by: mmnno

Originally posted by: Queasy


On a side note, there's a rumor floating around that MS intends to introduce a 1GB HDD sometime before Natal is released partly because of Games On Demand and the new 1080p videos they'll be offering for download. I'm not sure how much water this rumor holds because nobody even sells 2.5" HDDs yet but....is $inifinity a valid price?

I think the rumor was that the next Xbox would have a 1TB HD. That's still ludicrous.

Seeing as how the 360 uses 2.5'' drives. I can't imagine what Microsoft would charge for a 1tb 360 drive though if they did exist.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: Aikouka
My 20GB HDD feels so meager now .

So upgrade it to 120GB. It cost me a tad over $50 to replace my broken 20GB with a 120GB.

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: mmntech

Originally posted by: mmnno

Originally posted by: Queasy


On a side note, there's a rumor floating around that MS intends to introduce a 1GB HDD sometime before Natal is released partly because of Games On Demand and the new 1080p videos they'll be offering for download. I'm not sure how much water this rumor holds because nobody even sells 2.5" HDDs yet but....is $inifinity a valid price?

I think the rumor was that the next Xbox would have a 1TB HD. That's still ludicrous.

Seeing as how the 360 uses 2.5'' drives. I can't imagine what Microsoft would charge for a 1tb 360 drive though if they did exist.

1TB in a game console makes me laugh. Even in a desktop system it takes someone who either has a really big porn collection or someone who makes backups of their DVD collection to use up 1TB. Sure, some people would buy in to it, but on a game console with a very strict set of standards and abilities defined by the manufacturer there isn't a whole lot that would require it unless you're talking full installs/downloads of Blu-Ray caliber.

 

[PianoMan]

Originally posted by: Sawyer
If the PS3 didn't include BR it would be killing the 360 now imo

With a price cut, I'd agree. I think the PS3 has the more capable hardware and a Blu-ray player thrown in is a bonus.

But XBOX's got that online portion of this right, and did so early. Even if Sony replaced the drive with a DVD, they'll only catch up, not "kill".

And don't get me started on the title selection on the PS3 - but it looks like it's getting better. This holiday might be interesting - especially depending on how big a price cut the PS3 gets...

 

[ShawnD1]

Originally posted by: Injury
1TB in a game console makes me laugh. Even in a desktop system it takes someone who either has a really big porn collection or someone who makes backups of their DVD collection to use up 1TB.

So you're saying a 1TB hard drive in an Xbox would work great for installing your entire Xbox game library to the hard drive just like a computer? I agree!

While they're at it they should throw in built-in wifi for the elite and cut the prices of the damn hard drives already.

This will absolutely never happen. They screw you on these two things because they took a huge loss on the console itself when they sold it to you. I remember asking why the Playstation 1 needed those stupid $20 1MB memory cards when a simple floppy disk stores just as much data and costs maybe 10 cents. The console itself is a loss leader; they make the money back through accessories and game licenses.

 

[mmnno]

Originally posted by: Injury

Originally posted by: mmntech

Originally posted by: mmnno

Originally posted by: Queasy


On a side note, there's a rumor floating around that MS intends to introduce a 1GB HDD sometime before Natal is released partly because of Games On Demand and the new 1080p videos they'll be offering for download. I'm not sure how much water this rumor holds because nobody even sells 2.5" HDDs yet but....is $inifinity a valid price?

I think the rumor was that the next Xbox would have a 1TB HD. That's still ludicrous.

Seeing as how the 360 uses 2.5'' drives. I can't imagine what Microsoft would charge for a 1tb 360 drive though if they did exist.

1TB in a game console makes me laugh. Even in a desktop system it takes someone who either has a really big porn collection or someone who makes backups of their DVD collection to use up 1TB. Sure, some people would buy in to it, but on a game console with a very strict set of standards and abilities defined by the manufacturer there isn't a whole lot that would require it unless you're talking full installs/downloads of Blu-Ray caliber.

Well, the rumor was that Microsoft and Netflix would push a complete DD HD video service in the next Xbox. So yes, full downloads of Blu-Ray caliber, plus full (previously disc-based) game purchases over XBL which are already available.

It's not ludicrous because there's no use for it, it's ludicrous because 1) the goal for console manufacturers is to slash entry prices as low as physically possible and 2) Microsoft makes disgusting margins on their hard drives so there's no way they're selling a 1TB HD at a price anyone will pay.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: ShawnD1

While they're at it they should throw in built-in wifi for the elite and cut the prices of the damn hard drives already.

This will absolutely never happen. They screw you on these two things because they took a huge loss on the console itself when they sold it to you. I remember asking why the Playstation 1 needed those stupid $20 1MB memory cards when a simple floppy disk stores just as much data and costs maybe 10 cents. The console itself is a loss leader; they make the money back through accessories and game licenses.

Dont say that here. Some people think that the 360 and PS3 are the first consoles to be sold at a loss. You might confuse some people.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: ShawnD1

While they're at it they should throw in built-in wifi for the elite and cut the prices of the damn hard drives already.

This will absolutely never happen. They screw you on these two things because they took a huge loss on the console itself when they sold it to you. I remember asking why the Playstation 1 needed those stupid $20 1MB memory cards when a simple floppy disk stores just as much data and costs maybe 10 cents. The console itself is a loss leader; they make the money back through accessories and game licenses.

Dont say that here. Some people think that the 360 and PS3 are the first consoles to be sold at a loss. You might confuse some people.

No one ever said that. I don't remember anyone posting any proof that any consoles other than Playstations, Xboxes or Dreamcasts have sold for a loss though. I guess you must have some proof though, right? Since it's a fact and all.

 

[ShawnD1]

Originally posted by: mugs
No one ever said that. I don't remember anyone posting any proof that any consoles other than Playstations, Xboxes or Dreamcasts have sold for a loss though. I guess you must have some proof though, right? Since it's a fact and all.

You realize that Playstation, Xbox, and Dreamcast describes the past 14 years of game consoles right?

 

[Ackmed]

Yes someone said that. And others agreed.

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...310694&highlight_key=y

Some people think that consoles didnt sell for a loss, and that this generation are the only ones that ever have.

But lets get back to how MS screws customers by charging too much for HD's, and doesnt include wifi in any model, even the "elite".

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Ackmed
But lets get back to how MS screws customers by charging too much for HD's, and doesnt include wifi in any model, even the "elite".

Yes, because that dead horse hasn't been beaten before...