$500 PS3 to lack HDMI, WiFi, card reader

When Sony gave out the specs on the PS3 earlier tonight, the company mentioned that there would be two configurations: a $500 version with a 20GB hard drive and a $600 edition with a 60GB drive. Turns out that was only half the story. Yes, that pricing and storage info is accurate. But it turns out that there are a lot of other things missing from the lower-end (we can't bring ourselves to call a $500 console "cheap") version, besides an extra 40GB of storage. According to the specs released by Sony, the 20GB version will lack WiFi, a memory card reader and, most significantly, HDMI output. While you could probably get along without WiFi in a home-based console that already has Ethernet, and you can always presumably hook up a memory card reader via one of the unit's four USB ports, the lack of HDMI output makes this pretty much a non-starter for anyone hoping to actually use the PS3's Blu-ray drive for anything more than playing games. Sure, we can understand Sony not wanting to undercut sales of its own dedicated Blu-ray players by offering the $500 PS3 as a cheaper alternative. But if the company was hoping to use the gaming platform as a way to build a base of fans for HD discs, chances are the strategy is going to backfire the first time someone tries playing a Blu-ray flick in their 20GB version and discovers that the unit's lack of HDMI limits them to analog 1080i output (or worse, depending on a disc's use of HDCP).

[Via HD Beat]

[Derek @ May 9th 2006 12:05AM]

son of a.....

[r3dir @ May 9th 2006 12:05AM]

Dont be stupid sony. Get HDMI in it!! This is a big deal!

[DjFIL @ May 9th 2006 12:05AM]

On top of that... I thought it was to have 2x HDMI output... is there no longer dual display support?

[John Hinds @ May 9th 2006 12:06AM]

I thought they said last year that it was going to have 2 HDMI ports so you could play using 2 screens.

[Camperton @ May 9th 2006 12:07AM]

analog 1080i is still HD.

[Ethan @ May 9th 2006 12:08AM]

Well, there goes my preorder hopes. I ain't droppin' $600 for a console on launch. PS3 or not PS3.

[jdb @ May 9th 2006 12:08AM]

hey thats sony for ya lying about a bunch of stuff that they promised to sony fanboys!! duall monitor display hahahahah

[Shmoe @ May 9th 2006 12:09AM]

For $600 in November when(IF) this launches, you'll be abel to get a premium 360 with HD-DVD after MS cuts the price. Plus, I noticed a mention earlier about PS3 games only doing 1080i. Seems like MS is justified in their comments that developers will only support 1080i.

[CODY @ May 9th 2006 12:10AM]

SCREW THAT! LOL DAMN...I WAS THINKING MY XBOX 360 WAS EXPENSIVE!

[jeff @ May 9th 2006 12:10AM]

Well I don't think it's that surprising. MS did something like that with the 360 as I recall.

[Ryan H @ May 9th 2006 12:10AM]

Good-bye, Sony market dominance.

Hello Nintendo. [retarded name aside]

[seamus @ May 9th 2006 12:10AM]

This seems more like a clever ploy to get everyone who was going to buy one, to buy the $600 one for sure---especially considering most Sony fans were probably assuming they'd be able to use the memory cards they bought for their PSP's on the PS3 as well.

That, and some unfortunate forsight on how much this was actually going to cost them to make.

[puhala @ May 9th 2006 12:11AM]

Can't Blu-Ray output to Component Video? Component Video is certainly capable of producing an HD signal all the way to 1080p and does so without the cost of 'automatic' copyright protection (which is the primary purpose of HDMI in the first place)...

[jdb @ May 9th 2006 12:12AM]

ms didnt lie about anyhthing on there core package. they told you what it was about and that it would be a start into the next generation of gaming.

[r3dir @ May 9th 2006 12:12AM]

No HDMI means no HDCP when movies begin to be released with it. That means SD movies for a majority of people. I can live without 2 outputs (first of all, systems out now can barely handle one display at 1080p, let alone 2), but with no HDMI ie. no future HDCP support = sh*t hitting sonys fan.

[Ryan H @ May 9th 2006 12:14AM]

The difference between what MS did and what Sony is doing is that you can upgrade your 360 to the same as the premium package eventually.

You can't add an HDMI port.

[Matt @ May 9th 2006 12:14AM]

So sad that Sony really DID price it like crap. I think their move with the controller was a smart one, but this is just ridiculous. The "cheap" version costs more than the best 360... that's ridiculous. The specs are amazing, the features are there, but the price is the real killer here. :/ such a shame.

I guess it's between the 360 and the Wii now.

[Flying? @ May 9th 2006 12:15AM]

There is an error: without HDMI, it will be impossible for most of the BR Disc to be played on the PS3, beacause of the lack of HDCP !

So the lack of HDMI doesn't just mean only analog 1080i !!! No BR-D at all (except the first movies which won't require the HDCP protection!)

[Kevin M. @ May 9th 2006 12:16AM]

See, I like this move. XBOX 360 was a SCAM because if you bought the Core you lacked ESSENTIAL parts (hard drive anyone?) but Sony's "step-up" console has features won't affect a great deal of people. I consider the 360 a "scam" because you'd end up spening WAY more than the premium cost to add on the extra features.

[Cam Thesen @ Jun 28th 2007 3:14PM]

Thats where you are wrong. microsoft had the core edition out so that people with no money, or had no internet could still play the next gen games. there is no scam in that. and if later down the road, if some one did get more money, or internet for that case, they could buy the parts for the system extra, not like sony and their 500 dollar(569 can.)unit where there was no hdmi slot or wifi, so if someone did get money, they couldnt upgrade their system. and 360 is still cheap and still alot better. sony has no games for its system. (all stolen titles from other systems, or sports games.) and nots exclusive titles for it suck. so if you had the money, 360 is the way to go, and you get really good games for your money(gears of war, crackdown, and soon to be halo 3.)

[jdb @ May 9th 2006 12:17AM]

i love how sony is trying to push blu-ray on you unlike ms whitch gives you the opportunity to upgrade to hd-dvd at your own will if you want.

[r3dir @ May 9th 2006 12:17AM]

Just to add, i dont think xbox360 has any support for HDCP. Buying an HD DVD drive to watch movies will in the future be useless if this HDCP thing goes through, and considering how hollywood is, it will.

[modifiedbears @ May 9th 2006 12:17AM]

sony is the king of lies, and with their hardware track record this will be the most bug ridden piece of machinery.

[funkbass @ May 9th 2006 12:19AM]

There had to be some bigger incentive for people to upgrade to the higher end machine than just a larger hard drive. I see the incentive for people who really want to do it, but then again I also still see the lower end model being really good.

Last time I checked, the Xbox 360 has component HDAV cables for a connection to an HD source and it doesn't play next generation movies without the additional attachment. So, a PS3 will do all that for the same price as an Xbox 360 premium + the expected price for the HD-DVD add on. Then they upsale it by offering HDMI connections, a memory card reader and wireless (which Xbox 360 doesn't have out of the box at either model).

If you ask me, the best deal is to get the lower end model. I will, however, get the higher end most likely through the profits I reep from selling a few pre-ordered models I receive on opening day to desperate parents before or during Christmastime.

[r3dir @ May 9th 2006 12:22AM]

The LOWER END MODEL WILL BE USELESS FOR MOVIES!!!!!
Without HDMI, you will be forced to get a BD player or a HD-DVD player.

I hate this new content protection garbage, but since they release the movies, we have to play ball.

[modifiedbears @ May 9th 2006 12:23AM]

funkbass you need to check your facts. 360 premium = $400, low end ps3 = $500.

[Logan @ May 9th 2006 12:24AM]

yup, sony blew it big time. they did nothing new just tried to be like the other two. http://dirtstache.com//article.php?story=20060508192118534

[L-Unit @ May 9th 2006 12:27AM]

yep, again sony did nothing new, just poorly tried to be like the other two...
http://dirtstache.com//article.php?story=20060508192118534

[Sean @ May 9th 2006 12:28AM]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the 360 doesn't come with:

1. HDMI
2. Next-gen DVD drive
3. Hard drives in both SKUs
4. Free online gaming subscriptions

And for this Sony's price is $100-200 more than Microsoft's? Sounds like a deal to me, of course those of you who seem to have a chip on your shoulder concerning the $100-200 difference and are exhibiting a horrendous case of class warfare seem a bit foolish. I suppose y'all were the same people who stated that Apple missed the boat when they priced the iPod at $399 - $499 for a simple music player before they added video content and were saying Microsoft would never move the Xbox at $499.

The simple truth is, if you add up the economics of the two systems the PS3 is a good deal. Imagine the savings alone on the online subscription ($70/year) over a two to three year period makes up for the price difference all by itself. When you include the Blu-ray capabilities and the fact that both SKUs include a HDD the console really isn't more expensive than the 360, its less expensive.

Now all we need to know are the prices of the games. If the games cost $100 a piece then the sony bashing would be expected and fully warranted.

[funkbass @ May 9th 2006 12:28AM]

modifiedbears,

You need to read and understand what I'm saying in my post. I said the price of the premium Xbox 360 console plus the expected price of it's HD-DVD attachment (which is expected to be released at $100). That will level the playing field here where you'd have both systems with HDAV component cable connections for 1080i, and a next generation movie format player.

In this case, as I said before, $500 total for the Xbox components is equal to $500 for the base PS3.

[Thill @ May 9th 2006 12:30AM]

Is this for real? So basically, in order to really watch movies in HD you need HDMI and the $500 version HAS a BR player but no HDMI????? This just cannot be right. I can live without wifi and a 20GB hard drive, but no HDMI is ridiculous..

Sony is doing just what Microsoft did.. They are forcing you to buy the premium model. The difference is the PS3 will cost $600! Ouch. I honestly thought that there would be one PS3 console that sold for $499 ... Looks like I am keeping my 360 until the price drops on the PS3.. I am also curious about the cost of the games for the PS3.. I am starting to think that they will retail for $65-69...

There are gonna be a lot of 360's and Wiii's under the Christmas trees this year.. I just don't see parents dropping this much money for a console and a few games ($600 for the console, $120+ dollars for two games, another $50-60 for a controller, $25-30 for a few BR movies).. That comes to 800+ dollars and tax... If you can get one... Wow....

Too be fair.. It is still an impressive system. If you tried to build a gaming system with these specs (especially with a BR drive) it would cost you a ton more than $600.. But I think Sony may have alienated many American families. Especially if gas prices keep rising...

[mark b @ May 9th 2006 12:30AM]

NO Wifi = NO PSP intergration (unless u want to wire it up via usb, but lets face it who wants that?).. maybee the PSP2 will be more compatable.. shame, i was thinking that they may intergrate the PSP with the PS3!

[Chad @ May 9th 2006 12:30AM]

Whatever Nintendo has them right where they want them. That kind of $$ is insane.

[modifiedbears @ May 9th 2006 12:31AM]

funkbass what you don't understand is the 360 hd-dvd player will play HD movies while the ps3 without HDMI will be downscaled to DVD quality genius.

[Chris @ May 9th 2006 12:34AM]

30: price drop for the 360 will counter the hddvd price as expected in q4 of this year


as for the dropping of hdmi #2 thats just part of it notice the lack of lights 5-7 on the controller picture... ya it appears to me there original toting of 7 players able to play on 2 highdef screans was a bunch of crap

[James @ May 9th 2006 12:35AM]

29. Sean, you are assuming all online services for PS3 is free. Xbox Live Silver is free too. Sony will be charging for the microtransactions, music, blah blah blah. You will be paying a fee to use the Sony's "premium" online services. Keep diluting yourself and think that. PS3 is cheaper than Xbox 360. PS3 is cheaper than Xbox 360. PS3 is cheaper than Xbox 360. PS3 is cheaper than Xbox 360. PS3 is cheaper than Xbox 360. PS3 is cheaper than Xbox 360.

[Chris @ May 9th 2006 12:36AM]

lets see problem #xxxxxxxx

the hard drive is builtin i dont see any removeable cartridges and this hasnt been discussed

the lack of hdmi and wifi in the low end model makes me wonder since the ports are built into the ps3 unlike the xbox360's extension cables... does this mean .... *SHOCK* there is no upgrade path to hdmi for the lowend nor wifi?

[Offtopic Man @ May 9th 2006 12:36AM]

How much does a middle-range HD DVD player cost right now? How much does a Blu-ray player cost right now?

Lets say its $300 (to be on the conservative side). The gaming part of this console is only costing your $300 in the worst case scenario!

I personally am a Gran Turismo nut, so I won't buy PS3 until the next GT-series game comes out.

[funkbass @ May 9th 2006 12:39AM]

No, the 360 with the HD-DVD player will play HD movies in 1080i using a Component HD AV cable connection instead of HDMI (remember it doesn't have HDMI connection itself and HDMI is not the only way to receive HD, but could be argued to be the best).

The PS3 at the low end model will still play Blue Ray movies in HD through other means than HDMI, since there are other ways to connect to a HD source other than HDMI. Most likely, it will *gasp* connect using HD AV Component Cables, just like the HIGHEST capability of the 360 at the current time.

Do you not know that this will still play HD? It's just (again I say arguably) not going to be as high of quality of HD in the lower end of PS3 when compared to the high end. It will be exactly the same quality as what the 360 can do though. Not to mention price, features, etc.....again.

[Chris @ May 9th 2006 12:44AM]

hehe 8x dvd read on the ps3 ;)

[seamus @ May 9th 2006 12:45AM]

Meanwhile, Nintendo does a dance, because people have stopped mocking the name "Wii" and are focusing on the actual specs of gaming counsels...

[r3dir @ May 9th 2006 12:47AM]

DOES NO ONE GET IT!!!!?

Both systems (with the exception of possibly $600 ps3) will not be able to play soon to be released HDCP protected movies as of this moment.

Not the XBOX 360
Not the low end PS3

Without HDMI connections, HDCP does not work, and if a movie is encoded with that, you revert to a resolution a little above SD.

For games your safe. Little to no issues using Analog. But if you planned to have a movie player for the new content that is future safe, better stick with the High end PS3 or hope microsoft has support for HDCP and HDMI connection.

[Ian @ May 9th 2006 12:50AM]

Thats pretty fucking dumb, unlike with the 360 you can't really upgrade all of that stuff later. Plus no wifi means no PSP connectivity, no card reader means no save games on the go, and no HDMI means no 1080p. What a way to welcome change.

[funkbass @ May 9th 2006 12:52AM]

Well said r3dir.....

[funkbass @ May 9th 2006 12:56AM]

Adding onto r3dir's comment, I would conject that if Microsoft is planning on adding HDCP support in their drive then it may not cost only $100. It might cost more like $150 but we'll have to see...tomorrow?

[theoneandonly @ May 9th 2006 12:58AM]

Sony is f**ed

[Jake @ May 9th 2006 1:02AM]

Way to shoot yourself in the foot, Sony. The only people who care about Blu-Ray also care about HDMI. The only people who were going to think $500 was a good enough price for the PS3 were ones who cared about Blu-Ray. $600's too much for any console; and besides, customers don't react well to having a cheaper, dumbed down system available. Look at how well the Xbox 360 Core sells.

[Ton @ May 9th 2006 1:04AM]

Erm, who said the online service for PS3 was going to be free? If I recall, they said there would be a lower version (Xbox live Silver) for free and a better one (XB Live Gold) for a price.

[seamus @ May 9th 2006 1:13AM]

Hmm....the PS3 weighs 11 pounds...and I don't know if that includes controllers/accesories and the like.

The Xbox360 weighs 12 pounds, but that's with the AC Adapter, a controller, and some cables...and if you stack on that external HD-DVD drive, it'll be a workout.

The xbox was shot down for being a beast at 8.5lbs. It'll be interesting to see if gamers start bulking up, or just stop lugging their gaming systems around.

[Chris @ May 9th 2006 1:14AM]

oh btw for those of you that are all gung ho on the "ps3 graphics are so much more rocking than xbox360 and the xbox360 cant compete" BLAH BLAH... ill just paste this from another forum....

"it's funny that you say that because Hideo Kojima himself said that it could be done on the 360

http://www.joystiq.com/2005/11/16/kojima-mgs4-demo-could-run-on-the-xbox-360/"