Yes, you read the title right. Japan and North America still get their new Sony console this November, but the PAL territories won't. They have to wait until March of next year! What insanity is this? According to a Sony representative, "the delay in the mass production schedule of the blue laser diode within the Sony Group, thus affecting the timely procurement of key components to be utilised in PlayStation 3" is to blame. Instead of a shortage this holiday season, half of the world simply won't be getting one. Don't be fooled, though. Sony intends to ship 2 million units by the end of this year, a far more reasonable effort than the prior 4 million. They're only planning a total of 500,000 units to get shipped when the launch date rolls around (remember -- the more money you put down on a preorder, the higher you go on the list come launch day!).This could spell trouble for Sony. Analysts are already dropping Sony's chances for market success and lowering their expectations. Alternately, it may be for the better, at least for the US and Japan. More people in those two territories will be able to get their hands on the machine and in turn will educate Europe, Australasia, Russia, the Middle East, and Africa. If the system is amazingly amazing, those other territories will be more inclined to buy. If it doesn't fare well in the US and Japan, it probably won't fare any better in those areas. Was it wise for Sony to drop the PAL territories for now? Or should they have gone ahead and given extreme shortages to each territory?
[Update: added the 500,000 launch quota and some good advice for us fanboys]
