Sony US yanks 20GB PlayStation 3
Demand for 'budget' console too small
It's official: Sony has canned the 20GB PlayStation 3, a version of the console never seen in the UK, Europe and PAL territories, but released in the US and Japan.
The 20GB model's status in Sony's home nation remains uncertain, but in North America, we can say it's history.
"Due to the overwhelming demand for the 60GB model from both retailers and consumers, we have ceased offering the 20GB model here in North America," Sony Computer Entertainment America's head of spin, Dave Karraker, told wesbite DailyTech.
"Initial retail demand in North America was upwards of 90 per cent in favour of the 60GB [version], so we manufactured and shipped-in accordingly," he added.
It's worth recalling the 20GB PS3 not only contained less storage space than its pricier sibling, but also lacked the 60GB model's memory card slots and Wi-Fi connectivity. Sony offered the 20GB model as a 'budget' version designed to attract buyers put off by the full-feature version's high price. It certainly looks like North American consumers have largely opted for the 60GB model in any case, but it's nonetheless telling that, in the UK at least, anecdotal evidence suggests the 60GB model's price is a disincentive for many would-be PS3 owners.
COMMENTS
No it isn't.
"Remember 50% increase on 1 sale is 2 sales" ?
No it isn't.
A 50% increase on 1 sale would be 1.5 sales.
A 100% increase on 1 sale is 2 sales.
A 50% decrease on 2 sales would be 1 sale.
BD Sales fiasco.
To the poster who claims BD is outselling HD DVD, you do realise the Blu-ray association include titles bundled with PS3 in the US, so to prove BD is outselling, (notice the word SELLING) a movie that it is GIVING away for free with 500,000 PS3 consoles these are somehow classed as sales.
People are not actively going out and buying those disks so how is that proof of demand.
PSP UMD sales are superior to Video CD sales in the US & UK but no one will say UMD is new standard and Video CD is the looser. Neither is a contender for world domination.
Remember 50% increase on 1 sale is 2 sales, whenever percentages are used then you know sales are not strong, whenever freebies are counted as sales again sales are not strong.
Re; What about choice
What I am doing, is stating that if you want to mould the Xbox 360 into the same kind of hardware available by spending money on a PS3, then it'll cost you more.
Of course you don't have to buy those add ons, but to get a console of similar capability, then you pay extra.
That being the case, you get what you pay for and the 360, when having these 'add-ons' doesn't seem quite the 'easy choice' its made out to be.
I'm not defending the pricing, merely pointing out the differences and what you'd have to spend to get something similar from Microsoft.........
Re. BTW... the survey they did that says we wanted BD???
Sorry, Kain, but BDs are outselling HD DVDs in the US, or were as of 18 March, which is the last set of stats I've seen.
Nielsen Videoscan numbers put the number of pre-recorded BDs sold this year to 18 March at 549,730. The equivalent figure for HD DVD is 249,451 - fewer than half the Blu-ray number.
Total sales of discs to date is BD: 844,000, HD DVD: 708,600.
Unless there has been some major HD DVD sales since then, I can't see the BD vs HD DVD content ratio shifting in HD DVD's favour.
Mind you, both figures were undoubtedly microscopic compared to DVD sales...
What about choice?
You are not quite comparing like with like Gavin.
For £280, you would get at least one bundled game with your console, probably more if you shop around.
Wireless adapter - not required if you have a physical cable connection or an existing wireless bridge.
Play & Charge Kit - again not required. You can use normal or rechargeable AA's, you don't HAVE to use a play and charge kit.
Xbox Live for £40? Better deals are available if you shop around. It would also be churlish to point out that the PS3 equivalent is far inferior, but I've no problem with being churlish. The PS3 equivalent is far inferior to Xbox Live.
But of course the biggest difference is £120 for the HD-DVD. This is all about choice. If you WANT to play HD-DVDs, then this is a cheap option. You are not FORCED to pay for it.
It is amusing to see someone defending the cost of the PS3. Sales would seem to show that most do not see it as value for money.
