Sony unveils third-gen 'portable' PS2
Less baggage
Sony has confirmed rumours of a PS2 redesign and said that the lighter, third-generation model will be released in Japan later this month.
Sony's new PS2: in black, white or sliver
The new model is almost exactly the same size as the current model - it's a mere 1mm shorter - but it weighs a lot less: 720g to the current model's 850g. As expected, Sony has integrated the AC power brick into the new version and will offer gamers a remodelled stand too, although it’ll be sold separately.
The launch is undoubtedly timed to help the company achieve its ambitious forecast of selling a further 12m PS2s by March 2008.
But there's no price cut - at least not yet. Japan will take first delivery of the new model – dubbed the SCPH-9000 – on 22 November, in a choice of either charcoal black, ceramic white or satin silver colours for around ¥16,000 (£67/€90/$130). That's what Sony charges for the current PS2.
The new model will be coming to Europe in 2008, Sony told games trade site GamesIndustry.biz.
COMMENTS
XBOXes burn houses down
I've been using my original, mod-chipped XBOX now for 5 years. And in that time, it has spent maybe a grand total of 2 weeks powered off.
It runs XBMC for all my media and plays all my games.
Yet somehow it hasn't burnt my house down, even with that ~44,000 hours of usage.
There were some isolated cases of the power coard causing problems, but Microsoft replaced them for free years ago now. I've not heard of anybody's house burning down due to the (original) xbox itself.
As for the PS2.3 - I agree, I don't see the point. Yes, it's currently outselling all of the current gen consoles. But that won't last. This is a last ditch attempt to cash in on a dead platform.
Publishers are NOT going to continue publishing games for this old thing long term, and even if it was just 50 quid to buy it, I'd feel rather ripped off when I can't buy a single new game in 12 months time. Or 6. Or 3. Aside from the Japanese (language) releases, how many are really scheduled into the Euro/US/Australian markets?
Progress
@ SeanR
it would indeed be cheaper and easier, but my interests are in another direction.
[1] i don't want an XBOX that i then have to mod. the PlayStation platform will run Linux without modification, i just have to get the right distro.
[2] i like the low profile of the PS2, and the newer box will have lower power requirements, is RoHS-compliant, and likely has updated components (if for no other reason than they couldn't get any more of the original low-end stuff that went into the original PS2).
[3] buying used electronics in the US is chancy, unless it's a certified Apple refurb or similar (where you have some recourse if it goes ugly). i don't want a console that some 12-year-old twitch gamer (like the thoughtful, articulate Julian from the first post) tried to run into the ground and failed; it wouldn't be worth the £50 (or, in my case, $110-$120, at the current exchange rates).
[4] XBOX has a history of electrical problems (houses have burned down because of it).
@What's the point
It takes less juice to power and is lower profile. No doubt it's cheaper to produce too.
What this actually means
is that PS3 sales are so dismal SONY has to some out with a different color PS2 to give a XMas bonus to the CEO.
Ain't it sad ?
What's the point?
It's the same size (what's 1mm?)
The same price
The fact it weighs a bit less is irrelevant as the console is stationary.
The only difference is it comes in a different colour - Wiite
