Anyone care to guess the impact of the announcement of the new 80GB model on the price of the current 80 GB model? I ask because I prefer the SACD option and BC of the current model.

I have no regrets in buying my 80gb model because BC was important to me. I also USE the card reader, and I like having 4 USB ports built in.

I also don't regret buying my $399 40gb model, because it came with a $100 WalMart gift card that I promptly used for filling up my gas tank.

Yep, I like the BC, use the card readers, and enjoy having more than 2 USB ports. No regrets.

It's interesting the they said they've been listening to the community and what they want, and then say they're just doubling the HDD size of the 40gb.

Since the new 80GB model was referred to as 'the Core', this leads me to speculate that Sony will continue to market an upscale model. It's likely the 80gb model with backward compatibility will stay at it's current price, but will receive some other incentives to make the $100 price difference more enticing. For example a game bundle or maybe even a larger hard drive would not be out of line.

I think the main reason that Sony decided to make an 80gb drive standard, was the fact that they are now selling a lot of content over the PS store in the form of movie/video downloads. Obviously it behooves them to make it as easy as possible for end users to have the storage necessary to take advantage of this content, and 80gbs of storage on the *Core* system goes a long way to making that a reality.

I also have to wonder if they are trying to distance themselves from people who play PS2 games on the PS3. Perhaps they want to encourage developers and end users to shift their focus to the PS3, and going forward it looks like backward compatibility is going to remain a premium option.

For new PS3 owners the move is good. You get more storage and likely a DS3 controller for the same price that you were paying for a 40GB system with a Sixaxis.

For existing PS3 owners, we see no incentive to 'trade-up' to the new system with increased storage. This is because all PS3 systems can easily have their storage upgraded with a standard SATA laptop hard drive.

I think it's a good move. Also lets you know that hdd is going to be important for future applications of the PS3. They want make larger HDD's more accessible.

I can see some fence sitters waiting until the 80GB version ships in Sept. Personally, I will still be picking up the 40GB version this Friday. BC, card reader and extra USB ports aren't a high priority and I will be installing a much larger HD anyway. Also, aren't the fans on the 80GB models louder?

I can see some fence sitters waiting until the 80GB version ships in Sept. Personally, I will still be picking up the 40GB version this Friday. BC, card reader and extra USB ports aren't a high priority and I will be installing a much larger HD anyway. Also, aren't the fans on the 80GB models louder?

The *new* 80gb is exactly the same as a current 40GB PS3, except you get 40GB of extra storage and a dual shock 3 controller. Noise levels should be identical.

What you are referring to is the *current* 80GB PS3, which comes with backward compatibility, memory card readers and a Sixaxis controller.

I already own an 80 gig. My dilemma is that I was planning on buying a 40 gig this week for upstairs. I don't really want to wait till September for the new player but I am going to be pissed if I pay 399 and the price on the 40gb drops in the next few weeks.

It seems silly to me for them to announce this now. it seems like it will hurt sales for the rest of the summer.

The good news: it sounds like Sony is trying to move away from the whole multi-sku madness by having a single sku (for a while at least). The only way they could make that work is by making it cost effective for them and appealing to consumers.

The bad news: they have yet to say anything about the exact features. Jack Tretton made it sound like it'll just be the 40gig with a bigger HDD. If so, they have yet to offer any substitute for the absent BC on that sku. No download service, no word of a software solution, nothing. If they really are, as he said, trying to market the PS3 as an "upscaled" PS2, they'll need to figure out how to solve the BC problem.

As for the other features "missing" from the 40gig model, I don't think they're that important to most potential consumers. And most (except for SACD) have alternate solutions anyway.

The *new* 80gb is exactly the same as a current 40GB PS3, except you get 40GB of extra storage and a dual shock 3 controller. Noise levels should be identical.

What you are referring to is the *current* 80GB PS3, which comes with backward compatibility, memory card readers and a Sixaxis controller.

Actually it comes with a DualShock controller.

I don't really want to wait till September for the new player but I am going to be pissed if I pay 399 and the price on the 40gb drops in the next few weeks.

You're joking right? I mean, just buy the 40 gig PS3 at any store with a 30 day return policy. If the price is dropped in the next 30 days, return and rebuy (if they refuse to price adjust). Better yet, just buy it from Target. They have a 90 day return policy. If Sony is going to drop the price prior to the new system coming out, a 90 day return window will cover you no problem.

What is the effect? The effect is that maybe, just maybe, I might no longer be the only person I know (in "real" life) that owns a PS3. All of my close friends are Wii fanatics and it pisses me off sometimes.

You're joking right? I mean, just buy the 40 gig PS3 at any store with a 30 day return policy. If the price is dropped in the next 30 days, return and rebuy (if they refuse to price adjust). Better yet, just buy it from Target. They have a 90 day return policy. If Sony is going to drop the price prior to the new system coming out, a 90 day return window will cover you no problem.

If I buy it I am not going to return it. in 30 days it will be full of music/ photos / DLC and it would have to be a pretty big price drop to make it worth while to return it and rebuy.

and I am guessing price adjust won't really work because I doubt there will be an official price drop. more likely something like the $100 Walmart gift card.

I just wish they would clarify what the deal is with the upcoming SKU's.

Since this 80gb will be a "core" pack, i wonder if this means that the 120gb (or 160gb) console rumored late last year/early this year will surface as the "premium pack" at $499?

http://kotaku.com/350285/scee-scuttles-playstation-3-120gb-that-no-ones-announced-yet

Since this 80gb will be a "core" pack, i wonder if this means that the 120gb (or 160gb) console rumored late last year/early this year will surface as the "premium pack" at $499?Not any time soon. The whole point of this new sku is to have only one console sku in active production.

Not any time soon. The whole point of this new sku is to have only one console sku in active production.

It could be just way of giving more to new customers without a price cut. They also just one-up'ed the new 60GB 360.

I fully expect a new premium 120 or 160GB version with BC and no MGS4 for the holidays. If MS can get away with three active SKUs, Sony can have two.

I also wonder if they are going to clear the current 40GBs with a $50 cut.

Keep in mind this only applies to Europe right now, but David Reeves of SCEE dropped a little more info:

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/31271/E3-08-80GB-PS3-coming-to-Europe

SCEE president David Reeves confirms 40GB will be phased out as new SKU launches on August 27th

Sony will launch a new 80GB SKU in Europe and PAL territories on August 27th.

The company will phase out the 40GB model, and the new higher capacity machine will cost £299 - or €399 in wider Europe.

SCEE president David Reeves told an exclusively invited PAL crowd in Santa Monica tonight:

"In PAL, we will introduce an 80GB PS3 80Gb on August 27th. It will be a simultaneous launch across all PAL territories, and reach Russia two weeks later, due to compliance issues. "It will cost 399 Euros or £299. Promotional bundles will arrive between mid-September and mid-December at various prices.

"The 40GB model will be replaced by 80GB. Don’t ask if we’re going to go down in price on 40GB – the answer is no.

"This has been planned by Kaz [Hirai] for months. There are very few 40GB models left - especially in UK. We predict we'll be out of stock by the time we launch."