In the
neverending
speculative battle between the bundled versus
non-bundled camps regarding the hard drive for the upcoming
PlayStation
3, info straight from the horse's mouth now puts the odds squarely in favor of the non-bundlers. Eagle-eyed reader
Ameya spotted the list of disclaimers above under the PS3 specs section on Sony's official PlayStation website, with
the top one clearly stating that the HDD is considered "storage media" and will therefore be sold separately.
Unfortunately, we are unable to verify the veracity of the screenshot due the fact that we can't navigate the Flash
buttons on the PlayStation site in any of our three browsers. And even if this is what we'd see if we could actually
scroll down that far, it doesn't rule out the possibility that Sony will release the PS3 in different bundles a la the
Xbox 360. Still, it sure looks like those folks who were looking to get some serious storage in the bare-bones
configuration are probably gonna be out of luck.
Update: Duh, even our own screenshot
indicates that the nav arrows are of the "drag" and not the "click." variety. And yes, a quick
check verifies that the pic you see above is indeed a screencap from the official PlayStation site. Thanks for not
harshing on us about our oversight---
that much.
[Thanks,
Ameya]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
G @ Feb 15th 2006 5:25AM
The scroll works by dragging, not clicking. I had no trouble seeing it! Bad day at the engadget office?
xiro @ Feb 15th 2006 5:27AM
yep, detachable 2.5" HDD slot x1
and the screenshot is true.
neg @ Feb 15th 2006 5:29AM
CRAP! the screenshot is right!
it says under 'HDD' :Detatchable 2.5" HDD Bay (or words to that effect, anyways)
Doesnt rule out the multibundle possibillity...
--neg
Mark @ Feb 15th 2006 5:53AM
Yep, it's true!
Drag the scrollbar instead of clicking it. It shows that message at the bottom.
trovster @ Feb 15th 2006 6:15AM
No look in for the UMD slot I wanted to warrant buying a PSP then... :( Another proprietry Sony format only on one device, nice one!
Chris @ Feb 15th 2006 6:22AM
Too bad... But with some luck the h/w won't be too mutch of an hassle to adapt to our hdd'in needs!
chods @ Feb 15th 2006 6:22AM
One thing I noticed as I happily 'clicked' on the left hand buttons is that there are no dimensions for the machine? Are they having problems fitting all that technolgy into the boxes on display?
Ben @ Feb 15th 2006 7:25AM
Not sure if this has been mentioned at all, in any of the sony releases, etc, but under "Controllers" it mentions the obvious BlueTooth and Wired controllers, but also Wireless (PSP).... Reckon we can actually use the PSP as an idependent controller? Would be good, as actually got used to the buttons on my psp now, heh - saves me using a boomerang!
Apologies if im behind the times, and the "PSP Controller" is a well known fact :D heh
matthew @ Feb 15th 2006 7:28AM
They have been saying that on their site since the news release back in may last year.
http://www.us.playstation.com/PressReleases.aspx?id=279
Elie @ Feb 15th 2006 7:54AM
I have a question.... It says clearly on the website that there are 6 USB ports where controllers can be placed, and up to seven bluetooth controller ports, and PSP wireless controllers. Does this mean that people could have at least 14 controllers running at once without including PSPs? If so, will the games have support with this many players?
nizzy1115 @ Feb 15th 2006 8:05AM
My guess is that it will cost $399.99 without the hard drive, and an option to buy a 40-60 gig PS3 hard drive to stick in the slot for an extra $99.99.
I bet the sole reason they are leaving it out is because of price. If people see that the console costs $100 more than the xbox premium bundle, they probably wouldnt buy it.
My question is why is it that only 7 controllers can connect to the system. Since it has 2 HDMI ports, thats 2 TV's. Shouldn't they have made it support 8 controllers so 4 vs 4?
I love this though...compare the max output of the ps3 to the xbox 360. It is a matter of being 3-5% better at most. I guess they really did exaggerate on the 2x better!
nizzy1115.tripod.com/blog/
Norma @ Feb 15th 2006 8:25AM
nizzy1115
"My question is why is it that only 7 controllers can connect to the system. Since it has 2 HDMI ports, thats 2 TV's. Shouldn't they have made it support 8 controllers so 4 vs 4?"
The PS3 is only capable of 7 controllers because it uses the BLUETOOTH wireless specification which only allows 1 master (e.g. PS3) and 7 slave devices (e.g. controllers) in the piconet.
wazza @ Feb 15th 2006 8:26AM
i cant wait till i own 1 of these suckers, hey cool page
wazza @ Feb 15th 2006 8:30AM
http://thesoundofsight.blogspot.com/
hard drive or not it should be cool
daaper @ Feb 15th 2006 8:33AM
really nizzy? what are you comparing when you say "max output"? If you look at "overall system floating point performance", the PS3 is 2x the performance at 2TFLOPS compared to the 360s 1TFLOP. In no way am I saying that this means the PS3 is 2x better at everything, but there are aspects of its performance specs that are.
here are 360 specs from CNET
http://news.com.com/Xbox+specs+revealed/2100-1043_3-5705372.html
Nihls @ Feb 15th 2006 8:37AM
Just wait only sony brand HDD or Mem Cards will work you will have to by a 10gig duo card that only works with this device and a special TV that can only receive input from the sony gaystation3.
saboola @ Feb 15th 2006 8:46AM
@#9 - The two HDMI ports are for 1080p. 1080i x 2 = 1080p.
Fuzz @ Feb 15th 2006 8:55AM
Even more surpirsing is that it will take memory cards other than just a stupid Sony Memory Stick. Amazing.
Michael Harris @ Feb 15th 2006 9:13AM
Two things stand out for me.
1) The Spring 2006 introduction date, and
2) The thing not only reads Blu-ray it also writes Blu-ray (BD-E) as well as writing DVD's and CD's. This says something about Sony's plans. They may not intend to position this as a game station at all. It may be leaning more towards an all-in-one media/entertainment device that also plays games.
Michael
Daily World News @ Feb 15th 2006 9:17AM
Todays headlines:
No bundled HDD w/ PS3,
Sony's foot meets mouth,
and Bat boy found in cave!
Anthony Jackson @ Feb 15th 2006 9:17AM
By spring do they mean spring for japan?
Also if so when is it gonna make its way over here? November maybe?
Kenban @ Feb 15th 2006 9:41AM
#16 Where does it say it writes BD-E? Above the CD, DVD, and Blu-ray Disc list it says "Disc Media read only"
If you go and check the specs of the PS2 it lists DVD-R, DVR-RW, DVD+R, and DVD+RW. This does not mean it can burn the disks it just means it can read them the same is true of the PS3.
pedro @ Feb 15th 2006 9:44AM
saboola, the specs state "Full HD x2 (up to 1080p)" , so this would seem to infer that both HDMI ports can each display 1080p.
The 1080p spec does not need 2 HDMI connections, it should only need one.
Jaysins @ Feb 15th 2006 10:42AM
I really can't see this thing costing under 500 dollars, more likely 600 or even more, even without the HDD but hopefully I'm wrong. It's just there is a lot of exotic and expensive hardware in this thing. I think sony is taking a huge risk because they have to price it this high. Also, I don't think initial sales, except when the diehard sony fans get their preorders, are going to be high at all. Anyone think this one is going to hurt sony bad for a few years?
Philip @ Feb 15th 2006 10:52AM
@#20 it would if they were displaying different screens ;)
Omat5e1 @ Feb 15th 2006 11:57AM
Let's review some of the claims that have been made about the PS3:
1. "It will be 2x more powerful than the Xbox 360." That turned out to be bullshit.
2. "It will be able to output 2 1080p @ 60fps through 2 HDMI ports." At present, that would require a single video card outputting 3840x2160 worth of video at 60fps, presumably with AA turned on. There's not a video card in existence, including the prototypes that NVidia and ATI are working on, that can do that... ESPECIALLY with 3d images.
3. "It will be a wireless access point." They changed their mind there after they realized they were full of it.
4. "It will be a Blu-Ray Writer." Uh huh... and why, exactly is that necessary? Oh wait, it isn't. Especially not for a game console that should weigh in at under $500. Maybe that's why you haven't heard anything about it since 2004.
I could go on for a while, but you get the idea. Sony has been putting out bullshit press releases about the capabilities of the PS3 ever since they announced it. At the point, I'd be surprised if it actually could do 1080i, or had an ethernet port built in, or even if the wireless controllers don't do a U-turn and hit me in the head if/when I throw them. Sony is full of shit. They've always been full of shit. They will likely remain full of shit for a long time.
MikeM @ Feb 15th 2006 12:16PM
To 14: That's the dumbest thing I've read all morning.
1080p for starters isn't just double the resolution of 1080i. Secondly 1080p only needs one HDMI to be sent, but that's assuming the device can even send a true 1080 signal in the first place, or even if the TV can accept it.
Joel Miller @ Feb 15th 2006 12:26PM
Cant wait, HD or not!
Mark Santora @ Feb 15th 2006 12:59PM
What I find more interesting about this is that if you look at the Disc Media section it says that there is a PS3 DVD Media disc. In other words games maybe coming on DVD for the PS3. Lends a bit more to the 2 PS3 units one with Blue Ray and the other without...
Mark @ Feb 15th 2006 2:24PM
Spring? Does anyone really think they'll release before E3? If so great, I have a friend in Japan.
LongshotX @ Feb 15th 2006 2:53PM
Some games will probably come out on DVD. Blu-ray is backwards compatible. It will still suck regardless. Fuck a Blu-Ray.
netboolie @ Feb 15th 2006 3:10PM
Everytime I look at that controller, it makes me cringe... I hope Sony re-designs that thing... it's awful, along with the lame Spiderman font... and Spring? yeah right.... We'll just see about that.
NB
play free games @ Feb 15th 2006 3:24PM
Finally some straight dope from Sony. Spring of 2006? That's only about 3.5 months away max, that's pretty soon. It also has adapters for CF and SD cards. That's thoughful of 'em. I don't think the talked about DVR functions are gonna be included, but some similar media streaming ala the 360 should be available.
Ace Of All Ace @ Feb 15th 2006 3:31PM
Wow, i spotted this yesterday.
http://forum.xbox365.com/ubb-data/ultimatebb.php?/ubb/get_topic/f/4/t/023436
(Scroll Down)
Lumpy @ Feb 15th 2006 8:25PM
A single HDMI port can output at 1080p.
2 * 1080p is 3840x1080, _not_ 3840x2160 (that's 4 * 1080p).
Martini @ Feb 15th 2006 10:15PM
"5. No look in for the UMD slot I wanted to warrant buying a PSP then... :( Another proprietry Sony format only on one device, nice one!"
Now that's a shitty statement, almost every cartridge for any other handheld has been proprietary, last time I checked, nobody gave a damn about a GB cart not having a slot on their goddamn computer.
And yes, the fact stands that the PS3 has about two times the processing power of X360. But don't be idiotic about that statement, PS2 had about 3 times the processing power of Xbox and look at which one [generally] had better graphics. It's all about architecture and utilization people.
It all depends on how easy developers can utilize the system, considering the PS2's fault in that area, we can't just assume one system will be better on specs alone- if the most developers can milk out of the SPEs on the Cell can do is run your toaster, chances are that X360 will have better graphics. If for some reason, developing on PS3 is incredibly easy and all sorts of code can be thrown at any SPE, PS3 will probably come out on top.
We've seen the articles with developers saying it's 'mad easy' and we've seen the ones with a developer getting fired over critisizing how tough it is. Take your pick, it all comes down to fandom, but in the end, they'll probably be extremely similar in graphical quality. Possibly so close, that the lowest common denominator will be applied to both systems.
mark @ Feb 15th 2006 11:51PM
I am a spammer: mkda85@gmail.com
Frank @ Feb 16th 2006 12:29AM
Spring 2006 does leave open the possibility of a launch right after E3, but I guess we'll have to wait for official news. And anyone who remembers the launch for the PS2 will know that Sony really hypes up its systems, only to be forced to cut out features to sell at a reasonable price (the PSP would've cost well more than $250 if the publishers had not interviened and put their foot down). With all the specifications listed, I wouldn't be surprised if they had to make Blu-ray optional as well to launch the system at a competitive price to the 360 (don't forget, Microsoft could drop the price after Sony's announcement at E3). Since I'm a poor college student, High Definition (HD) or a hard drive (HDD) seem frivolous anyways. Wait, that applies to the 360 too. Oh well, viva la REVOLUTION!
nathan @ Feb 16th 2006 8:13AM
I can't blame the engadget crew for thinking that you click rather than drag that thing on the right. This is the reason that I firmly believe that flash and skinning are a really, really bad idea.
Standard controls for standard functions please. Why does every second person to build a web site think that they can do a better job of making widgets that have been refined by professional interface designers for 20 years?
Odium @ Feb 16th 2006 11:25AM
Now that we know the HDD will not be included, that means that the rumored Tivo capabilities will not come with the system.
gta_playa @ Feb 16th 2006 4:38PM
Will the ps3 support the hdd hard drive that you could buy for the ps2?
Ahrel @ Feb 17th 2006 5:09AM
This isn't news, Sony said at last years E3 the exact same thing you guys are reading here (and was posted on Gamespot and other such places). Watch Sony's conference from E3 2005, 15 minutes 30 seconds in.
College Student @ Feb 25th 2006 9:36AM
yep, detachable 2.5" HDD slot x1
and the screenshot is true.