Sony cuts PlayStation 3 production cost in half
In a piece primarily focused on Blu-ray over at Business Week, a bit of scrolling led to quite the interesting tidbit: Sony has apparently been able to slash the production cost of its PlayStation 3 in half. More specifically, it was noted that the firm has been able to "shrink the PS3's chips and tweak its design," which aided in getting the cost per machine "to around $400 now, from above $800 just before it went on sale in November 2006." According to Nikko Citigroup's Kota Ezawa, the biggest culprit for such an improvement is the "reduction in the parts count." Still, we wouldn't get our hopes up for yet another price cut just yet, but at least things are moving in the right direction.
[Via PS3Fanboy]
[Via PS3Fanboy]
























Its also half the machine. No BC, no rumble controllers, and no decent games... blahh.. I own both and I use the PS3 mostly for playing Blue Ray, albeit pooooorly. Even after system updates, its SLOW to respond to play/rw/ff/pause. Could be the IR remote I'm using -wait a minute... oh yes, thats right a THIRD party IR remote, because SONY DOES NOT HAVE ONE! DUHHH... they instead have a bluetooth remote. Not only is this a piece of crap with horrible battery life... it eliminates itself as compatible with any universal or home automation system. Its ugly, and adds more crap to your coffee table. Probably the crappiest part is that the only power switch is on the damn unit itself too. Nope, the USB-IR power switch doesn't exist, because the damn ports turn off with the machine. This is why it will never be the center piece of any 'serious' home thearter system...you can't turn the damn thing on.
"because the damn ports turn off with the machine."
Yes but the 360 is constantly listening and some people have reported it interfering with other devices even switched off. Not noticed this myself and I have my 360 right next to my wireless router. Also here in the UK the government is looking at forcing manufacturers to not include a stand by mode on devices since such things as TV's stil draw a lot of power when in stand by.
Well, here in America, we like to sit on our fat asses and not have to get up to hit the power button. The thought of all my devices off, and not contributing to global warming or a rolling blackout at some senior citizen's home appalls me. I think the 5v @10 milliamps to keep an IR LED lit isn’t asking to much –its asking too little!
Actually most research suggests that 10% of your electric usage is for devices in stand by.
My USB ports stay on when the PS3 is off, something is powering the Playstation Eye.
Oh that's just the Sony and the RIAA keeping an eye on what music you are ripping so they can take you to court for it.
I can turn on my PS3 with the controller. Sometimes I'm using my laptop and WMP11 as a wireless media server and the navigation freezes when there's an ill timed DLNA hiccup or the wireless network breaks, so I turn it off with the control and then turn it back on with the controller.
Also, how would having to be near it to turn it on be a problem? It's a disk player, you have to be near it to push the damn disk in, so is pressing the button really that hard? But wait, you don't even have to push a button because all you need to do is move your finger across the general area. Or is that still too hard?
Its still to hard... jk... but I do think that the total disregard for home automation integration by NOT having a power button on the IR (not bluetooth) remote sucks. My home theater configures itself via IR to the various components using a harmony remote. Further more, my HDMI autosensing switch falls out of sync because it expects the first powered on source on its lines to activate its internal switch.
Other high end home theater equipment also are at a loss like Crestron, etc. Alot of 'elite' a/v buffs (the type that pay hundreds for tube amps and other crap) would expect some RS-232 or IR compliance. So this is why PS3 will never make it as a significant HD component for high end systems. -well, at least not until that high end system's power switch will work.
wow... you just floored me with that comment. the insite is astonishing
my life will never be the same again
that was for viva la matt but why should the reply work right...
I really hope that the PS3 has a huge comeback in 2008. I think it's an incredible machine and there are a few wonderful creative games out / coming out for it.
I don't own any of these funny next gen systems, not too keen on zonking out to the testosterone fest that is most console games, but if the PS3 starts looking like it'll be staying around for a long time, I'd totally consider taking the plunge!
Next-gen? The Wii, PS3 and 360 have all been out for over a year now. I think we can safely say that they are current-gen consoles.
Backwards compatibility is not needed. I own the 60 GB with BC, and I've played maybe one or two of my PS2 games. Also, PS3 looks pretty promising, in terms of games this year, even better than 360, at least for me. Resistance 2 (60 player online will be amazing), Haze, Little Big Planet, MGS4, Killzone 2, InFamous, Motorstorm 2, and White Knight Chronicles. I'm pretty hyped for the PS3 this year.
I was so hyped up over getting the PS3 and when I got it I realized it wasn't that great. There are great games but with too many bugs that I get irritated. I do prefer the PS brand over XBOX but I ended up getting a 360 to actually enjoy games.
I remember I fell in love with COD4 online but after a while I got sick of the problems with the PS3 not connecting and when it does it d/c b/c of the PSN logged out for no reason, so that's what made me switch to 360. I heard it got better though but I'm already too far and used to the 360 that I won't change back. My PS3 is now just a Blu Ray player and that's all. Maybe when Haze and MGS is out I'll play with it again. But to me it's a waste of time.
YAY Orange Box I can actually play properly!
Sony are using Foxconn to manufacture the ps3 so it’s not surprising production costs have lowered using Sweat Shop Labour!
Foxconn purposely employees prominently women from far away villages forcing them to stay in the factory's huge squalid dormitories charging them $25 per month for the privilege, half of the employee’s wages, forcing them to work 15hrs+ days
Foxconn were exposed by Mail on Sunday journalists! But according to China's law slave labour is legal.
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060612-7039.html
But is it right to knowingly use SLAVE LABOUR SONY!
Forcing them how? With like whips and chains? If they're forced to work as slaves, why pay them? You don't need to pay slaves. Maybe you're using the term incorrectly. Perhaps a dictionary might help.
You've said that TWICE already. Shut up and deal with it. This isn't even close to "slave labor" as the workers can leave and get other jobs at anytime.
@ flamezheath
you think they have a choice, you are very deluded try reading what the WTO has done to Asia, Africa, South America and Mexico to turn them into the largest slave workforce on the planet so western companies and central banks can profit from the peasants misery!
Pigfister you are a complete moron...you really should chk the fact you tool the pos 360 that is and should be called a temporary gaming soloution is made using foxconn boards too bub. so where is the grounds of you comment???? If I remeber its the pos 360 and only the 360 that breaks if you look at it wrong. I know I went through 4. I would much wrather have a system that will last that a temp gaming soloutin that leads to more frustration than any thing. I lost over 1600 on that 360 pos due to microsfts subpar quality standards. Thats also whay the ds, wii,ps3 psp and ps2 all out sold it during the holidays. I did support the 360 until I found out what a shoddy built system it is and that microsoft has no real fix just refurbs for all... I will take a ps3 with no failure and some great games that I can play and MY crysis on max playing pc ftw.
Oh and again 360 uses foxconn too so you are a tard.
@ belial20xx
OMG does it say m$ in the thread title does it?
But i suppose sony's posistion was well M$ use them so that justifies us to sell our soul to make a few extra dollars!
the difference is ppl knew it was slave labour when sony decided to use but sony didn't care, when m$ decided to exploit the local populous no body knew about foxconn's work conditions being sweatshop style!
@ belial20xx
OMG does it say m$ in the thread title does it?
But i suppose sony's posistion was well M$ use them so that justifies us to sell our soul to make a few extra dollars!
the difference is ppl knew it was slave labour when sony decided to use but sony didn't care, when m$ decided to exploit the local populous no body knew about foxconn's work conditions being sweatshop style!
Dear PS3 fanbois:
Just because it's powerful, doesn't make it better.
Just because you may get better games, doesn't give a reason to buy it now.
Just because you get something for free (PSN), doesn't make it better.
The reason most people buy the Xbox360 isn't for the exclusives, it's cause it's cheaper and plays the same games, often times better.
Just because a Ferrari has more power than a Ford, it doesn't make it better.
Just because a Ferrari looks nicer than a ford, it doesn't make it better.
Just because you get loads of free extras with the Ferrari, like warmed massaging seats, it doesn't make it better.
The reason most people buy a Ford is because it is cheaper and they both drive on roads.
That's how ridiculous your arguement sounded. Which would anyone rather have, a ford or a ferrari?
Wow, u screwed up big man! Your comment has served the opposite purpose that u had in mind.
Which company has a larger amount of cars on the road?
Wow... I'm surprised at the comments, really. This is some really good news to me (possible price drops), but there are so much bashing for this good news. Yeah, Sony dropped the BC support... but that seems to be the only thing that is cut off... Yet, I'm seeing stuff like no rumble, which is stupid. Sony did not cut rumble to reduce the cost because the PS3 did not have rumble in the first place. It added rumble. -_-" I thought that changing to 65nm chip dropped the cost a lot too... I don't get all this need to be pessimistic here... seriously...
Welcome to "teh stoopid" which is fanboyism.
i would be quite happy to buy a PS3 if the price was cut as the result of this, even by just 100 or 150 dollars. well, blu-ray winning the format war would help a lot too.
I dont think we will see a price cut more than $50 or so.
Considering they were taking a huge loss on the units, I think they might cut it a little to make it cost the consumer roughly the manufacturing cost, maybe a little less, but now that it costs them less, I would assume they would want to make up for alot of that loss they had earlier on.
I wont buy one without it being $350 or lower, and having backwards compatibility with the PS2. My PS2 is about shot (second round release of them) and I dont want to have to buy a new one just to play a few good games.
@ belial20xx
OMG does it say m$ in the thread title does it?
But i suppose sony's posistion was well M$ use them so that justifies us to sell our soul to make a few extra dollars!
the difference is ppl knew it was slave labour when sony decided to use but sony didn't care, when m$ decided to exploit the local populous no body knew about foxconn's work conditions being sweatshop style!
Dude wake up man Microsoft still knowingly uses foxconn.And did you even read the article?? It only mentions HP and APPLE mostly apple with no mention of the ps3 or microsoft. Microsoft is no better than sony there but where sony is better is that the can actually design a product with quailty and system life as a whole in mindi as a priority while microsoft chose to rush the 360 and jump the testing faze it seems to beat sony and the Big N to the market. Not only that but microsft is nickle and diming just as bad as sony but instead of taking away from systems they keep adding new stuff dicking early adopters with refurb after refurb of the same flawed design. Microsoft will lose this round when the dust is settled due only to the lack of quality and it ever so short life span of 6-14mnths then its rrod or no video for you. Microsft needs to get there head out of their asses and fix that pos. And sorry falcons did not fix crap.
And again Microsoft's 360 is crap and should not be bought buy people whom have to work hard for their money. They deserve somthing that works and that will last more than a year or so. At least the ps3 was made with the intentions of a 10yr end user life.
"where sony is better is that the can actually design a product with quailty and system life as a whole in mindi as a priority"
Oh is that why they went on about 100% PS1/2 support? Is that why they started with hardware PS2 support then went on to software PS2 support and now NO PS2 support? Because Sony sat down and thought about their design more than MS did?
AND BlogSmith/Engadget get this PoS blog sorted out. For a company that sells/uses a blog to make it's money you're doing a half arsed job.
not surprising given they took out the PS2 chipset and ended BC. I have the 60gig model from launch, and am able to play loads of PS1 and PS2 used games for cheap (plus my original library). Between that, the 2 PS3 games that have been worth buying, renting BD movies, and playing my other videogame systems, I'm all set for whatever comes out.
To whomever said that ppl bought 360 because it was less, that is partially true---however, most people typically buy a system for the exclusives (Halo, SuperMario/Metroid, MetalGearSolid, etc). The ones who buy on price are typically parents.
This is excellent news for those on the wall about buying a ps3. Because with the production costs coming down more and more with time, Sony might just have another price cut this year.
really don't get all this fanboyism. But this is good news for Sony I suppose!
cost cuts might (hopefully) lead to price cuts! I've worn out the ps2 and its games so BC isn't much of an issue for me...