Sony releases $399 40GB PS3 for the US -- November 2nd
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Oct 18th 2007 3:00AM
posted Oct 18th 2007 3:00AM
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Sony will announce their 40GB PS3 today for $399. Right, the same PS2 incompatible, 2x USB port model already announced for the rest of the gaming world. That's $50 more than Microsoft's Xbox 360 (with 20GB disk) and $150 more than the Wii. Still no date, or official press release from Sony but that should be rectified on the quick as the US wakes up to a retrenched, domestic console war.Update: It's official! This from Reuters: the 40GB model will be on sale November 2nd and the 80GB model will be reduced to $500.
Update 2: Sony's press release is now out.
399(PS3) - 249(Wii) = $150 difference
Oh but when you add 3 more Wii Remotes, 3 Nunchucks, 4 games, twenty 2GB SD Cards to get 40GB, the price advantage disappears!
But when you add in 3 to 6 PS3 controllers and 4 games the price gap is definately there. You don't need 20 2GB SD cards because the Wii games don't use the storage space the same way the PS3 does. And if you really need more than two 2GB SD cards, you can always transfer the files to you computer if need to. Doesn't the PS3 put large sections of the games to speed up load times that the Wii don't have too much problem with?
It's like you're putting your water in a colander.
I feel bad for the guys who bought the 20GB....mmm....then again maybe not.
What will the 60GB drop to... $449?
I still see plenty of those in local stores.
Actually the 20 GB has full backwards compatibility so it's still better for people who have a PS2 collection that they still want to play.
That's a $150 dollar price difference between the Wii and the 40GB PS3
not when you consider that wii controllers are $60 each, compared to $40 for the ps3, plus you have to buy a memory card for the wii. I've spent over $600 for my wii. PS3 is a much better deal, though the 40gb version is really useless. I have the original 60 gig and i'm filling the harddrive very fast, plus the backwards compatibility is very useful.
Jonyah.....
You're either a fanboy or an idiot.
What do you think you'll buy more of in a consoles life? Controllers or games?
The Wii controller may cost more than PS3 controllers, but PS3 GAMES cost more than Wii games so the price difference still bends toward Wii there.
However, consider the PS3 has absolute CRAP for games and no exclusives....maybe you WILL buy more controllers.
Goddamn it.
I want to purchase a 20GB PS3, not this shit.
Then buy the 40GB and install a 20GB drive. Problem Solved.
Right, so where can I purchase the Emotion Engine add-on?
Oh wait, you can't.
I'm glad that in Europe 60GB PS3 is still avaiable. I bought Starter Version (PS3 with 2 controllers and 2 games) with 20% discount.
Seriously, who cares about backwards compatibility. Just keep your old ps2 if that matters so much to you. If you have nothing better to do then to keep going back to old games you used to play years ago then you should probably find something better to do with your time.. This release is great because it drops the price $100 and takes out things the majority of consumers don't care about.
I just picked up a 20gb PS3 off eBay for $311 shipped. Pretty good deal, if you ask me. To me, it was always the best valued PS3.
The emotion chip is a hundred and twenty nine dollars and is available at any electronics store.
yawn, i'll hook my ps3 back up when there's a real XBLive style system and some must have exclusive titles.
Should have spent my money on beer so at least i'd be able to enjoy that $600.
If you'd already have an Xbox360, and there isn't any PS3 exclusives you wanna play yet, you've only yourself to blame for spending that $600. Lol...you know what they say... a fool and his money is soon parted.
That beer seems to have destroyed your bain cells.
The PS3 online experience better than Xbox Live. It's free, and the content is more varied. It needs a makeover sure, but big deal, the content is there.
"The PS3 online experience better than Xbox Live."
Mak, that has to be joke. The Sony network is crappy at best. I can't beliew you just said that. Sony will need 2 years to come even close to Xbox live.
please say *yawn* once more time, because it's cool
Can anybody explain the euro - dollar difference? Is the US price without sales tax?
Tafkas,
http://tinyurl.com/2wmbxn
Yes, those prices do not include sales tax. They can't include sales tax in our prices because sales tax ranges from 0% to (I think) 12% depending on where you live.
Yes it's before the sales tax. In most places in the US, the tax rate is at slightly under 10%, so you will be adding that price on top of $399. It is possible to purchase products without the sales tax via online merchandise like Amazon (I know they don't charge tax for many electronics and also offer free shipping in the US).
With weak dollar, you are paying a lot less than what you will be paying in Europe. If you know someone in the states, or someone planning to visit, have them buy some electronics for you wouldn't be a bad idea. As for PS3 though, Europeans use PAL rather than NTSC so it might not work over there.
The euro price is about price fixing and making europe subsidise the rest of the world because of our strong currency and better standard of living.
if you take the ps3 from japan and add import and sales tax it still works out @ £317 from the £425 that was the price of the ps3. which is much closer to the price in america.
this is why sony sued lik-sang to death, they were going to import ps3 to the uk with all duties paid and courier costs from asia for a total of £300 but because sony didn't want the uk to find out just how much they were being ripped off they placed a gag order on lik-sang sued they out of business citing health and safety to stop the imports.
now they are able to make a lower cost ps3 because they are using foxconn to manufacture them, foxconn use sweatshop labour to cut costs, there was a huge spread in the uk daily mail with pictures of the squalid conditions, the workers were gathered from villages far from the factorys location so the workers had to stay on the complex and give half their wages for board and rent. they were earning around $25 per month.
KNOW WHAT TYPE OF COMPANY SONY IS PPL >> http://www.lik-sang.com/
Maybe $50 more than Xbox, but you're getting a Bluray player built-in... everyone seems to forget this. It'll cost ya extra on the Xbox, more than $50... Oh yeah, XBLive... that'll cost ya more too. Why is this always overlooked? Out of the box, PS3 has always been the better deal price wise.
But I agree... PS3 is really sucking with the lack of good games. I've bought more games for my Wii in the 2 months I've had it, than the PS3 which I've had for about 10 months now. If PS3 dosn't release some GREAT games within the next 6 months, they've had it.
I agree. I've had my PS3 since last Christmas and haven't purchased a game for it since Resistance. I've rented some, but my 360 is getting all the play with Bioshock, Orange Box, Halo 3, etc. Sony needs a slam dunk title in the worst way SOON
The whole Bluray thing isn't much of an incentive until the number of quality titles increases. Same goes for HD-DVD.
games for the wii and ps3 both are lacking right now. There are a lot more for the wii, but they all suck. the download games for the ps3 blow away the old 8-bit download games for the wii and most of the time they cost less too. This is there the ps3 is really shining and going to win. once home is out and the next big update, there won't be much of a comparison left. ps3 will be the long term winner.
including a blu-ray player is NOT a value add... sorry, it's just not. It's only a better value for those who want to use it as a blu-ray player.
it's like selling a car that is exactly like the Honda Civic, except it includes a built-in juicer, bread machine and a clothes steamer, and it costs more. Just because they built all that crap into the car, it doesn't make it a better value. I don't need a freakin juicer in my car.
Because 95% be are happy with a standard DVD player or not aware of what Bluray. For most that just don't care. Most people want a good console with good games.
Ah yes....because that's what most people buy a gaming system for.......movies.
Forget the fact that the #1 selling console can't even play a DVD.
So you guys have a hd video game console... so most of you probably bought or have a hdtv to go with that. You probably have a hd receiver or hd package from your local cable or dish. So what do you watch movies with ? If Sony is bringing down the price of the playstation 3 , that is good for people like me who enjoy high def movies , music, sharing pictures , storing home movies with ( i put 250 gb on mine )etc... Bringing down the price have benefits too. If you like games and a big online community then go with the Xbox 360 now.. If you love movies and want an all in one media center and eventually games later on or once in a while... then get a PS3 ..period.
I feel that week-long camp for the $600 PS3 almost a year ago was a waste of my time. I still haven't played the damn thing yet.
Yeah, we believe you.....
and please remind us WHY you didn't sell it on eBay 5 minutes after buying it?
Out in NZ as of 2 weeks ago... For once we aren't 1 day ahead and 20 years behind the times
Cool, a $400 blueray player.
Any HDMI out?
There will be quite a few good games out this fall/winter: WarHawk (already out), Uncharted, Ratchet & Clank, Assassin's Creed, Haze, Unreal Tournament 3 (hopefully they'll still make it this year), The Orange Box...they all look very promising to me. (Yah, some of them aren't exclusive, but honestly, who cares? They're still good games for the PS3, which is what PS3 owners want.)
But the really big hits (Metal Gear Solid, Gran Turismo, Grand Theft Auto) aren't coming till next year, unfortunately.
go away, Dustin. no one wants to go to your smelly site. and at least TRY and leave a coherent comment. you strike me as a PS3 owner.
My question is,
where in the hell is F/W 2.0?
No backwards compatibility no care. That was a big mistake taking that out. I've got so many PS2 games I still love to play and even some old PS1 games that are still fun.
XBOX makes me not want to buy it because of the charge for xboxlive. I guess I'll just keep playing my old ps2.
You already have a PS2, so why do you care so much about the backwards compatibility? Just hook them both up.
There are still quite a few 60GB PS3s in stores around me.. I wonder if they'll get a, I suppose, $50 drop...
What is the difference between the 40gig and the 80gig aside from the hard drive size? Are they seriously charging $100 extra for an 80gig drive that in reality is only about $10 more than a 40gig drive?
no, the 80 gig has the 'emotion engine' which allows for backwards compatibility. Also, you get 2 more USB ports and a multicard reader
Also, as is common when comparing hard drives for these, the hard drive is 2.5" so it is somewhat more expensive than the normal desktop drive
The 80 GB does not have the emotion engine it uses software for backward compatibility. It also has the memory card reader and 2 extra usb ports.
I believe the 40GB has no backward compatibility at all. And I quote:
"For the new 40-gigabyte PS3, Sony has removed its ability to play games for the predecessor PlayStation 2, which is still selling strong despite its aging technology."
You get 2 more USB ports and a multicard reader!!!!!!
I'm sold.
No, the 80GB does not have the Emotion Engine.
Could you not just plug a USB hub into the 40gig version and plug in a USB card reader to it which would then give you the same thing?
ok, sorry, i meant backwards compatibility, also the usb hub would cost money and take up space
Yes, but in theory you could do that if you wanted to if you needed a card reader or more usb ports?
The 80 gig unit doesn't have the Emotion Engine (the P2's main CPU), but it does have the PS2's Graphics Synthesizer chip, and thus 85% complete PS2 backwards compatibility.
I just checked at newegg.com .... differences between 2.5" drivers are less then $10. You can even get a 60gig drive for the same price then a 40. And you know that Sony is getting them even cheaper since they are buying in bulk. But this is how they make money on the system I guess.
Yeah I am currious how much a 60GB will run. If the 80 goes down to 499, they will have to drop the 60gig price (for the remaining stock) no?
I am really tired of the fanboys.
Sony this, Xbox that.
You are all LIARS! I am tired of the lies, you are all so disengeouos.
If you are a person who wants one side to "win" then you are also STUPID.
The only reason the Xbox and the PS3 have come down in price is the consol war.
If there were only one system you'd be paying 1000 for it and it would be CRAP.
Obvious liars:
"PS3 online experience is better"
"PS3 is a better value because of the BlueRay Player"
I have all three boxes and I like the Xbox more because:
1. More Games.
2. Better games.
3. XBox Live offers the best overall experience, and the most content.
4. Overall value winner (games, online content, price) is Xbox 360.
These are not opinions, they are FACTS, which are sorely lacking from 99% of the fanboy posts.
This may change when Sony gets some decent games for the PS3
This may change when Sony revamps it's online offering and presentation
This may change when(if) BlueRay becomes a standard
This may change when Wii gets its online act together
This may change, but so far 2 years in.. it hasn't.
Sony Fanboys can continue to lie all they want, it doesn't change the truth.
Next year it may be different.
Eric,
You may be surprised to find out that of the 4 items you listed only the first could be considered a fact.
1. More Games.
- This can be considered a fact. However, it can only be considered a fact if you are talking about current generation games. If you consider backwards compatibility such as is found on all but the newest PS3 then the PS3 actually has more games. I do agree with you though XBox 360 has more games. FACT
2. Better games.
- This cannot be considered a fact. One game being better than another game is purely subjective and up to the person playing the games. I for one do not like sports games or first person shooters. So for someone to tell me that Halo is better than Folklore this is not a fact. You like the games on the XBox better than the games on the PS3 and this is wonderful for you but not for many other people. NOT FACT
3. XBox Live offers the best overall experience, and the most content.
- This has to be broken down into two parts.
- First is the part about the most content. If you had stated this as a stand alone comment then I could have considered it a fact. The XBox Live content is probably greater then the amount of content on PSN; however, I have never counted the content on either of them and it appears to me that the content on PSN is growing quicker than the content on Live did in its first year. POSSIBLY FACT
- Second is the part about the best experience. This is again subjective and you should see my point from earlier. There are lots of people like myself that do not gives a rats ass how many skulls you have collected or how many achievements you have earned. NOT FACT
4. Overall value winner (games, online content, price) is Xbox 360.
- Again see my points about things being subjective. I have a 1080P 52 inch television. The Blu-ray drive turns out to be a major bonus for the PS3 for me. My XBox 360 does not have HDMI output and my television does not accept 1080P over component; therefor, I cannot get a 1080P image from my XBox or its HD DVD add-on. I guess I could go buy a NEW 360 to get these features they added a year after I bought mine but then that would not be much of a value. Furthermore, which price are you referring to: $279, $349, $449 or the older $299 and $399 prices? NOT FACT
Eric, here is some more information for you. The FACT that other people feel differently than you do does not make them liars. It simply means they disagree with you. In FACT if I were to use your logic here is what I would say: "75% of what Eric says is not fact. He is a LIAR." However, because I am not a prepubescent fanboy I will not say that. I will say that you seem to be confused about the difference between facts and opinions.
And for the record - just so you don't go off about me being a fanboy. I currently have six consoles hooked up in my house with games on the shelf for all of them: GameCube, PS2, XBox, Wii, PS3, and a 360.
Still no scaler, still no games, Blu-Ray at $30 bucks a pop, and no backwards compat.
That is stupid.
So Ummmmmmmmmmm
what about the 60GB Models some stores(Such as Sears.com) still have in stock???
They should drop to $300 just to get rid of them.........LMAO!!
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG
SHUT UP, MYOB, AND USE WHATEVER COMPUTER, GAME CONSOLE, MP3 PLAYER YOU WANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fanboyism leads NO WHERE. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, these aren't debates, there just 2nd grade, "my dad can beat up you dad " crap...
No news for Canada... this sucks :(
The Sony press release confirms that it will sell for $399.00 in Canada as well.
Great news for Canadian tech and gadget lovers. First Apple announced Leopard, with the same pricing in Canada as in the U.S., and now Sony announces the 40GB PS3 with the same pricing.
Awesome!
Just read in the press release link as well!
80GB PS3 here i come!
Here's a valuable resource for those of you with questions about PS3 model differences:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_3
Random thoughts:
For those who want a complete entertainment system, all three major consoles make sense--for different reasons already covered in this and other threads. Why not own all three? Brand loyalty should be left behind in a competitive free-market--the best products win (in this case all three consoles are pretty good, overall).
With Netflix (or similar), who rents both HD DVD and Blu-ray discs, either the XBox 360 (with upgraded HD DVD player) or the PS3 (Standard) both win... HD content is terrific.
On a 10-layer Blu-ray disc you can attain 250Gb of space... on a 10-layer HD DVD disc you can 'only' attain 150Gb of space... This format-war is certainly as frustrating as when mini-discs were introduced only to be usurped by CDRs and flash drives containing MP3 content a few years later. VHS, Beta... uugh.
I'm intrigued that you can openly install Linux on the PS3 (a clear advantage over the Wii and Xbox, from my understanding, at least without hacking it on there)... this PS3 Linux community ought to be interesting to watch.
Guess I'll have to by a TV before I can buy a PS3... :)
where did you see 10 layer anything? The one layer discs are $20. Most hd-dvd movies are 30GB 2 layer and most bluray movies are 1 layer 25GB. And again I say most PS3 games are NOT 1080p. This even includes Heavenly Sword that is suppose to be their super good looking game! It also only lasts like 3 hours. :(
I'd play Katamari Damacy for certain if they released it for the PS3 (although there's an XBox version finally...), which means I'll have to get the PS2 version of the game and PS3 that can play PS2 games... so much jumping through hoops these days... I guess it's worth it if reach happiness.
Ahh... my comments were pertaining to the ongoing development for the Blu-ray and HD DVD technologies. Here's a link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc#Ongoing_development
Cheers!
Why the hell would it need to be compatible with a dead system? Seriously, if you freaking love your PS2 games that much keep the POS PS2 hooked up.
And only 2 USB ports...eek. Wait, what the f^ck do you need with 4 USB ports? It's a game system, not a damned Dell.
You forget that most people don't want to bother investing in a port-switcher, and those that already own a media player of some sort (Tivo, whatever) and maybe one other console are likely to run out of HD-capable ports on their TV. I for one have a Wii, 360, and PS2 that I'd like to hook up by component cables, but only 2 component ports. If I got a PS3, and couldn't ditch the PS2 (which, BTW, is *not* dead -- read the other posts on the page; Engadget [or Joystiq?] just ran a "PS2 still selling well" article), I'd be placing yet more burden on an already overloaded structure.
That doesn't even get into the fact that the PS3 can upscale/make progressive-scan some games that the PS2 does not, or that the PS3 doesn't need memory cards, or that some people might have limited shelf space, or...
Fact of the matter is, there's probably far more people who would pay extra for bundled PS2 functionality than for bundled Blu-Ray functionality. I'm certainly one of them, and I think the rousing chorus of "BAD MOVE SONY" you've seen in the comments reinforces my point.
US version:$399, european version: €399 = $568. Thanks for tearing us a new one again sony. oh well, at least they're getting the same version this time. Paying much more and then getting an inferior ps3 (original euro edition)was a bit like getting raped twice.
I feel like the lack of good PS3 games is sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy/catch-22: there's no good games, so nobody buys the system, so there's no market, so nobody wants to develop for the platform, so there's no good games, so...
BestBuy Canada has already adjusted their prices. You can go right now and buy an 80G PS3 for $500.
This "no games" thing is kind of starting to wear on my nerves. It needs to be reprashed to "no games I want" because if you have not notice that WarHawk and Folklore have been getting high reviews (Highest I seen on both games were 9's) and Heavenly Sword, everybody I know who palyed it loved it. Their only beef was it was to short which is typical with games of that genre (DMC, GOW, NG, POP).
Not mention Resistance is still somehow selling and is over 2 million (i know nothing compared to Halo and BioShock right now) which was the faster than any Xbox 360 game in its first year.
I agree there are "not alot" of games but to say there are "no games" is a true sign of fanboyism because the true words would be there are "no games" that interest me.
People still are playing their PS3 more than their Wii according to alot of polls. Let wait till 2008 and talk about games since both the Wii and the PS3 will have their larger franchise hits and guranteed system sellers out next year.
I can do without backwards compatibility cuz ill keep my slim ps2
meh I want the white one from japan same price and Dualshock 3 :)
meh I want the white one from japan same price and Dualshock 3 :)
Anyone know how good or bad the blu-ray player is on the PS3? I'd consider buying it just for that given that most players-only are going for around $400+. I noticed the press release said there are limitations on the sound output.
I got the 60GB last month for 499, and now the 80GB WITH Motorstorm is the same price. That kinda irritates me. I'm going to try to return it for the Motorstorm bundle. Problem is....I removed the UPC from the box for the 5 free blu-ray movie deal.
Help me guys - I'm a single income Mom of a 12 year old video fanatic who wants the PS3. Suggestions about sites or stores with the best deals?? 20gb - 40gb??? Please give me some input!
GEEZ
with all the fanboy comments not one mentioned the SIXAXIS
i think its pretty awesome aand the 360 dosent have it
it work wirelessly with psp anywhere whith wifi
it has bluetooth
it has power
but the xbox is good just cause all my friends have live