PS3 launches in Korea with 80GB hard drive

The translation from Korean to English is a little icky, but it looks like the PlayStation 3 launch in Korea which took place earlier today went ahead with an 80GB hard drive, in line with previous reports from Sony. It still confuses us as to why Sony is so adamant that the rest of the world won't be enjoying this same capacity anytime soon: it's not a justification to say that Korea has better broadband and therefore more capacity is required (Europeans and North Americans will just have to wait longer to fill the drive!) But hey, we're not ones to get all huffed and puffed about a measly extra 20GB of space; you've already "freed your hard disk" by now, right?

[Thanks, Jayoung]

[ElGouldo @ Jun 16th 2007 2:40PM]

You know, I live in Seoul, and I happened to drop by Yongsan today to pick up some Wii games, and I couldn't help but notice a litany of PS3 boxes marked 80gb. It didn't even register as anything new until I read this post. I'm quite amazed how quickly this hit the 'streets'. This is one of the few things I saw in stores before I saw it on Engadget.

[Bobo @ Jun 16th 2007 2:43PM]

I highly recommend placing the individual on the right on suicide watch.

[Ismael @ Jun 16th 2007 3:01PM]

LMAO!! He looks damn depressed

[alex @ Jun 16th 2007 6:02PM]

I second the sentiment. Man, it's like he wishes he was anywhere else but there. I just hope he isn't the marketing director for SONY.

[McGinley @ Jun 16th 2007 3:10PM]

The guy on the right owns a factory that specialised in 60 GB hard drives for PS3's.

[chad @ Jun 16th 2007 3:12PM]

Americans get screwed because korea gets an 80gb for $550 and the US gets a 60gb for $600.

[TJ @ Jun 16th 2007 3:31PM]

Screwed? PS3 was available in America since November. Sure Koreans get an extra 20 GB but they waited 6 months to get their PS3. You cant have everything...

[William @ Jun 16th 2007 3:41PM]

As mentioned above they do get their PS3 a lot later also South Koreans though fully industrialized have an average per capita income of $US 24000 while the US has one of 44000. therefore in real terms a $550 PS3 costs about $1000 for a S. Korean. Granted these are average figures and many other factors such as income spread between top earners and bottom earners has to be taken into consideration but i am sure you get the picture.

[Chris @ Jun 16th 2007 5:03PM]

William, according to your pricing rule, I guess Iraqi should get PS3 w/ 1TB HD for free.

[meh @ Jun 16th 2007 6:14PM]

William, that's median you're thinking of. The average income in the US is more around the 25k mark.

[Alex @ Jun 16th 2007 3:23PM]

Ruliweb has some more pictures from the event:
http://ruliweb.empas.com/data/rulinews/read.htm?num=15482

[Kamalot @ Jun 16th 2007 10:17PM]

That looks like a VERY empty event. They should have paid uninterested strangers to sit in those seats to at least LOOK like the event was a success.

[Angelo @ Jun 16th 2007 3:49PM]

What is the big deal? Buy a used 20 gig, spend the "extra money" you've saved and buy a larger hard drive and dump that 20 gig and you'll still have a larger hard drive for less money than the 80 gig Super-K version. I mean they even tell you in the manual how to upgrade the hard drive!

[Tech^Cellfish @ Jun 16th 2007 4:02PM]

Sony is cool enough to let use replace the drives so it's no biggie. 60 vs. 80 is not a lot (well, you get a free "other os" install) cash wise.

[RKN @ Jun 16th 2007 4:40PM]

Angelo, remember that the 60gb model also has the memory card reader opposed to the 20gb as a few extra things I think.

This 80gb model will also most likely have removed the Emotion Engine chip and be using software emulation for PS1/PS2 titles which is no where near as good as the older PS3s with the EE chip.

[JohnDoe303 @ Jun 16th 2007 5:09PM]

I dunno who needs a card reader when we all have PCs anyhow.. You could always go to a store and get a cheap >10$ USB Card reader.. The selling point is the Wifi, some need it, and some don't and are resourceful like me. I run a dual AP network here, I got a 20GB saved 100$ and spent that money plus a bit more on an external enclosure and a MUCH larger HDD. Not only have I increased capacity but I've removed a source of heat from the console.

[KC @ Jun 16th 2007 5:38PM]

@JohnDoe303, that card reader on the PS3 is very useful to move stuff directly from your digtal camera and camcorder. Some folks don't want "anothing thing" hanging off their entertainment system area, and I certainly do not want to add the noise from another HDD there.

[Ed @ Jun 16th 2007 6:38PM]

One word... failure.

[Aaron @ Jun 16th 2007 8:31PM]

kekekeke 80 gb ^_____^

[BigD @ Jun 16th 2007 10:49PM]

The 80 gigger being released in Korea may or may not have something to do with the fact that South Korea is widely regarded as one of the top test markets in the world. Japanese companies regularly release products (albeit less-heralded products) to Korea before it even comes out in Japan.

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2003/tc2003034_4357_tc105.htm

[nedkelly @ Jul 18th 2007 6:45AM]

u think ur paying for ur dollar mate
in australia here i payed $1000 aus dollars for my ps3 60gb