@Iain

I truly can not believe that mate. The only peeps to actually buy a PS3 for the BR purely would be a (and I use this term loosely due to these guys paying stupid money for AV hardware) cheap-skate AV-phile. Again, the vast (VAST) majority of PS3 owners ARE buying games. It's only (and even though this is a guess, it's probably VERY true) a % or two that would consider buying it for just that. No one in their right MIND would buy a PS3 purely as a BR machine... I agree with you, it was the best BR machine out there, but even so! If anything, the PS3s AREN'T being used for BR, but that's another topic, and flame-war that is already going on.

Every single person I know that has one is a hardcore gamer. The majority have a Xbox360 and the majority of the latter majority (still with me?) have a Wii. Yes, some do own just a Xbox and wii, and no I'm not going to get into who has what.. Counting off the top of my head, that's approximately all of my mates, brothers mates, and people at work (guessing around about 40-50 peeps). So say 30-35 have a PS3; ALL of them have and play games. Not one has just bought it for a BR..

Iain, mate, not trying to antagonise you - just my experience.

Maybe it's the social circles we mix in ;o)

Anyway, prices change, and it's not surprising that the SCC isn't going to announce a price cut 4 months before Xmas (Naughty El' Reg for trying to stir...). It's a prize time for console sales. I would expect a price cut on all consoles for Xmas (apart from handheld NDS and PSP)

@Timi

Agreed with the more realistic pricing, Timi. But I'll bring you up on one major flaw in your theorem:

I very much doubt that the majority of PS3ers bought the console PURELY for BR. Nope, not even a single percent (i'm sure). BR is an added bonus. The PS3 was benefited by sales coming from peeps buying it becasue it had BR INCLUDED, yes, but I can not accept your comment. Put it this way: would you prefer to have an off contract certified boiler engineer fix your boiler, or your Gas Supplier? (I know which one will be cheapest AND be certified at the same time! ... yes your supplier) So why buy a standalone player, when for the price of say 90 pounds, you get BR as well. Job done

Correcting the ps3 fanboy's comment on MS pricing

errr as an xbox 360 owner i would like to correct this 'anonymous coward' above me on a couple things, -

Want to play online? £35 a year. Fair enough its more than the Playstation's free network but its also a couple hundred times better

Want to connect wirelessly? £50 please. You win this one lol. But when added onto the overall xbox 360 price its still the cheaper console

Want to play HD moves? Sorry HD DVD is dead. True, but how many blu-ray dvds do you have? how many do you buy a year? buying a ps3 just for the blu ray is a waste of money. It would be smarter to get a fully dedicated blu ray player. Put it this way, - would you prefer a Handyman to fix your plumbing? or a certified plumber?

Want to play and charge? £9.99.

All in all youre source of information sucks. With MS you get great service for what you paid for (apart from RROD lol)