PlayStation 3 delay meme part IX: are the delays over?

About the last thing Sony wants at this point is to see yet another disappointed PlayStation 3 delay meme post here on Engadget, which is why it's heartening to hear -- however uncorroborated -- that Asustek (Sony's supposed component partner in manufacturing PlayStation 3 motherboards) is said to be shipping 200,000 units per month now, and is ramping up to as many as 2m in October in preparations for that November launch. We have to voice a little skepticism though. No, not about the source of the information, but the causes of the delays. Despite Sony's variety of problems developing the PS3, it was never the Cell or the console's innards that seems primarily responsible for the delays to date; the finger we must point, dear readers, is to that Blu-ray drive, which has plagued product after product. Still, we have no way of proving the validity of the information to begin with, nor figures on these units or Asustek's supposed ramp-up schedule, so anyone taking heed is apparently trusting the reportage of Chinese newspaper Commercial Times on this one.

[Thanks, CoreyTheGent]

[JimmyHACK @ Jul 20th 2006 3:49PM]

it was only delayed once and for japan only, US and EU never had release times (but estimated end of 2006).... so what's with all the "another" delay....


oh well can't wait, system will be pretty sweet

[JimmyHACK @ Jul 20th 2006 3:56PM]

not "another" delay, i mean what is up with all this negative there were many delays when there wasnt. silly online blogs

[itanshi @ Jul 20th 2006 3:59PM]

o.o That thing is HUGE. I don't have room for it let alone what i can imagine in japan, please tell me they're joking.

[michael @ Jul 20th 2006 4:06PM]

that picture they use for the ps3 is that real

[existonfile @ Jul 20th 2006 4:07PM]

It may have only been officially delayed once, but it will feel like a delay when they launch with only 2 million units. At least half of those will be going to Japan. My prediction is that you won't be able to find a PS3 in store shelves until at least March '07. I hope this "really sweet" system has some superb software to back up the $1000+ ebay price tag.

I'm not trying to be a Sony hater, I just think they should ditch the world wide launch. They should launch those 2 million to Japan first, then launch in the US mid '07 with a stronger line-up, more units, and a cheaper price point. It would be a win-win for Sony all around.

[Jason @ Jul 20th 2006 4:07PM]

HOLY CARP!

That better be an off scale mockup of a TINY TINY man!

[Q @ Jul 20th 2006 4:08PM]

itanshi, you don't realize it's a photoshopped image?

[Jason @ Jul 20th 2006 4:09PM]

Um... scratch that ... make of an OR.

Had a Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka Moment.

So much time... so few things to do!

[anta @ Jul 20th 2006 4:11PM]

THE PS3 RULES JOO ALL!

[JimmyHACK @ Jul 20th 2006 4:12PM]

ha i just noticed the pic, funy photoshop, imma save that pic

[Jared @ Jul 20th 2006 4:13PM]

That's not the actual size of the system.

Blu-Ray may be the "official" reason for the delay, but I'm inclined to think that Sony didn't mind it too much given the high manufacturing costs of all the system's innards. Surely those have come down some by now, and will continue to do so as more units roll off the production lines.

[kelly @ Jul 20th 2006 4:15PM]

wasn't there just an article about how IBM is only getting 20% yields out of the CELL?

[Z @ Jul 20th 2006 4:18PM]

I love that photo!

Makes the PS3 look like the size of a house on his shoulder!

"And dis is mine ginormous PS3!"

[korey @ Jul 20th 2006 4:21PM]

I just got my GameInformer and it said sonys gunna offer customize your own to save costs for you and them instead of just one really expensive POS,So maybe its true it could be your new computer now only if it ran a Major OS instead of Linux

[Sam @ Jul 20th 2006 4:25PM]

Are we going to play INSIDE that box?

[Loban @ Jul 20th 2006 4:34PM]

That's not the actual size of the system people. It's actually much larger and requires liquid cooling, but that's a $200 addon that you must purchase seperately.

[Steven Kreschollek @ Jul 20th 2006 4:40PM]

Guys, you do realize that Austek is not the only PS3 manufacturer right?

Heres a snippet from PS3LAND.COM,

According to Forbes.com, the Commercial Times reported that Taiwanese Asustek Computer Inc. will be delivering PlayStation 3 consoles to Sony starting this month. The news comes amid concerns that Sony may not have enough Cell and RSX chips to meet production goals of 2 million units for launch.

The report also states that, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd, also a Taiwanese company, will soon begin making the PlayStation 3 consoles for Sony too. Total monthly shipments from manufacturers are expected to be 200,000 units per month.

[Rick @ Jul 20th 2006 4:41PM]

A delay only means more time to save up for the darn thing. $600 + games + extra controller + headset + etc. = BANK!!!

[Yellow Texan @ Jul 20th 2006 4:42PM]

Well Engadget is a day late...anyways here are follow-up stories from well known video game websites, Gamespot and 1up.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6154390.html?part=rss&tag=gs_news&subj=6154390 - "According to the report, Asustek is threatening legal action against any outlet for any erroneous reports that harm its relationships with clients. However, it did not comment on the accuracy of the original report about the PlayStation 3 entering production."

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3152347 - Although, 1up went aggressive by saying: "In other words, the anonymous source was right and PlayStation 3s should start rolling off Taiwanese assembly lines soon, even if an Asustek spokesperson told the Taipei Times they had no public comment on the situation. "

[Nick @ Jul 20th 2006 4:47PM]

delay no delay, delay no delay. I think the bloggers of the world are reponsible for making people hate Sony for the PS3. There is no delay, units are being produced and shipped back to Sony and we will have a hand full of products here in the U.S. lets just be happy that we can have a next gen system with HDMI!

[Matthew Clark @ Jul 20th 2006 4:50PM]

linux not a majot os -wake up. please.

[Sam @ Jul 20th 2006 4:52PM]

Well, I decided to check that image with a special utility and I can tell you now with 110% certainty that it's REAL!
For example, if you zoom a bit in his forehead you'll see he's sweating! And what about his expression, a mix of tiredness and frustration, (he is obviously frustrated because no assistant was available to help him lift it) ...and of course he's tired, he has that fake smile while trying to tell the photographer with a little opening in his lips "...can't stand it anymore...please hurry up!" and you can see that the image is a bit blurred, because he's actually shaking!
Moral: Take 2-3 buddies with you, to carry that thing... Of course you'll owe them..!

[peter @ Jul 20th 2006 5:15PM]

DUDE, THAT THING IS FREAKIN HUGE!!!

[Curt @ Jul 20th 2006 6:12PM]

What is Sony thinking? I coughed up $299 for a PS2, but I will NEVER pay $600 for a game console. Sony might as well be handing the market over to Microsoft.

[CharlieX @ Jul 20th 2006 6:28PM]

I think M$ made a smart decision to ship the 360 with DVD drives. Proven, cheap technology... and if they lose the format war they can easily build an external Blu-Ray drive.

[Blaine @ Jul 20th 2006 6:35PM]

i was led to believe that that was the actual size of the ps3 because they had to stuff in a ps2 for backwards compatibility purposes...I liked the idea of the ps3 being huge like the original xbox; irony/karma?

[Harry @ Jul 20th 2006 6:36PM]

The 'PS3' looks 'heavy' in the pic. I think Sony has felt the weight of the PS3, it's hard to say if it will be a success yet because of the hefty price you have to pay for it.

Maybe this time, they will have need more effort to keep the thing stay on top.

[Kyle @ Jul 20th 2006 6:44PM]

It looks heavy because the whole thing is made out of steel and the internals are filled with diamonds and gold.

Errr...it should be atleast for that $600 price tag...

[Erick @ Jul 20th 2006 8:01PM]

Seems like a really slow news day... great drop engadget!

[mike @ Jul 20th 2006 8:12PM]

is that the 1st computer ever?!?!?!?!?!?

that guys about to get a hernia! oy!

[sracer @ Jul 20th 2006 8:44PM]

I wish the author of the article used a little discernment. Sony flat-out lied about the reason behind the delay in the PS3 launch.

Sony "said" they were going to release in the Spring. When the Spring came and went, Sony claimed that the delay was because of Blu-Ray.

But if you look at what was exhibited at E3, there is no way they were ready (except for Blu-Ray) to launch in Spring. No way. Did Sony ever publish the dimensions of the PS3? I wonder if they had to scale the system up in order to fit all the components in.

[Dheeren @ Jul 20th 2006 8:55PM]

Either that Japanese fool is really short or the PS3 is really big. I think he's just short cuz if u check out the sony website they say the dimensions, n the PS3 isnt that much bigger than the PS2. Also, i believe that 600 is a reasonable price, cuz if microsoft was bout to launch a hd dvd w/ 360 it would cost the same, and this comes w/ a 60gb hardrive although it is a bit much, sony gives a lot in its system.
PS!!!!i pre-ordered mine n hope to sell on ebay n make some $$$$$$hope u did to

[Will @ Jul 20th 2006 8:56PM]

Personally I feel that Sony isn't going to be able to continously sell out, like the PS2. When the PS2 was release it sold out everywhere as soon as it was in stock, it sold out again. I pretty much expecting the PS3 sale to be like the Xbox and Gamecube release. There were still a bunch of Xbox and Gamecube systems on the shelf the day after their release. I feel 2 million to be shiped during launch is a bit much. The more sold out the more people want it. It's like kids, when they can't get something they want it even more. When they have it, they want the next best thing.

[feedie @ Jul 20th 2006 9:28PM]

the ps3 will launch in the US at $599 and will not sell out untill the end of the first month. by that time there will be another shipment. ofcourse the 20GB version will not sell out. the array of launch titles will give the ps3 record sales and revenues after the first owners pass on the rave reviews. i was told this by a profit and my own intellect.

[Jmiller @ Jul 20th 2006 10:35PM]

is it just me or are the japanese getting smaller?

[Faisal @ Jul 20th 2006 10:36PM]

that is photoshopped...you can see if you look closely on the bottom right (your right) of the PS3. That black lining near the edge of the right of the PS3 is like crooked. Also the bottom of the PS3, on the front edge, you can see it's also "broken". So it's obviously p-shopped. Plus the PS3 is only a bit bigger than the 360.

This is my theory...the PS3 will have slow sales at first because of the price point. But say some guy's friend has it and he goes to his house and plays with it. He would want one. Then it's gonna be all over the internet that it's ACTUALLY worth buying a PS3 and that's what will lead to more sales. Remember...Sony has sold more PS2s than Xboxes and Gamecubes combined.

[Guruboy @ Jul 20th 2006 11:29PM]

You guys are idiots. That picture is wicked old for one, and the PS3 is not that big. Either that guy is really small, which he is, or that's not an accurate model.

Here's a comparison morons

http://www.videogamesblogger.com/2006/05/31/console-size-comparison-xbox-360-playstation-3-wii-and-more.htm

[Cole Clark @ Jul 20th 2006 11:33PM]

Well screw PS3 serouly blu ray waht ok look at the stores what has more titles out HD DVD cuz there not hard to make and dont need a stupid extra layer to keep it somewaht but not really scratch resistant but fuck it serously it uses a 10 year old codec MEPG 2 jesus get with the times use VCI(ok it may not be the right acranom but its a very new encodeing technolgoy far supioior devolped by windows media) like HD-DVD and it can do 1080 P like BLU RAY but just the Toshiba player dosent have it built in but it dosent matter its not being streamed like TV and oh yea the Samsung BLU RAY player just up scans 1080i to 1080P woo hoo so much for being worth 1000 and well id say get a 360 and a HD-DVD ad on and still save money or just be right on 600 and get a beter High Def player HA death to BLU RAY!!!

[greenlight @ Jul 21st 2006 3:24AM]

@Cole Clark: Jeff K impersonations got tired back in 2001.

[Your Friend Billy Zane @ Jul 21st 2006 3:27AM]

Man - that was a big sentence. Take a deep breath, Cole!!

[Taj @ Jul 21st 2006 4:24AM]

THE PS3 WEIGHS 5KGs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
**eu.playstation.com/ps3/?locale=en_GB

[David C @ Jul 21st 2006 5:21AM]

Cole Clark, you are a disgrace to the english language.

Anyway, I don't want anymore PS3/Wii/360 news/debates/flamewars until all 3 are on the shelves.

serios...

[Ashley Allen @ Jul 21st 2006 7:13AM]

If Sony are going to have shortages then I bet they drop the EU Launch date. Sony don't care about Europe and treat us like mugs, so it wouldn't suprise me.

[gbxr @ Jul 21st 2006 8:09AM]

I understand that the initial price of $599 will be there to help Sony deal with the demand and milk the fan-boys, but they should really consider the competition and stop that Oh we are so much better biz.

[georgedakota @ Jul 21st 2006 10:43AM]

the picture may be photshoped but from what i heard its still going to be the largest system ever made, slightly larger than the 1st xbox from what i heard.

[Simon @ Jul 21st 2006 11:29AM]

They must have released this photo for all the yanks out there!!!

We all know the old Yankie saying!!!

Bigger is better!!!! (^_')V

[Z @ Jul 21st 2006 4:18PM]

Yeaaaahh, GuruBOY, we get it.

You ever hear of sarcasm and joking around?

Lighten up, please.

[Perrey Z. @ Jul 21st 2006 5:02PM]

This could be the official finalized device. The consoles i saw were 1/2" thinner that the PS2 V.1 and 3" longer when place on vertical position. That was back in March of this year, things could have change, Who knows.

[Jay @ Jul 22nd 2006 10:38AM]

Question, anyone that has posted actually bought an XBox360 for only $400? The reason I ask is that I visited my dada month ago and he tells me he bought one. I say well I hear it's not as expensive as the new PS3, what di you pay $400 + tax. His new wife replies: "Huh, try $1000 after you buy the extra controller, the wifi NIC, the online subscription, and another game." Wow, and you can't even run Word or Excel for college on it. And now as a "feature" they'll sell you a HD DVD drive for $200 more. Why is no one looking at the whole picture?

One other thing, my dad is watching/playing this thing on a 4:3 CRT 32" TV. Yeah, the 20GB PS3 would fit the bill just the same as the 360 in his case.

I only "track" these blogs to see how the cell will perform. It could determine the direction CPUs go in the future. I'm fascinated with the architecture and when applied for what it's good at (vector graphics).

Finally, I love the fact that you guys haven't mentioned that the guy in the photo is Ken Kutargi.

Anyway, I look forward to reading about the guy with too much $$ buying the first PS3 for $2000 on EBay ;)

Peace.