Analyst: 80% of launch PS3s will be 60GB ($599)

by Blake Snow { Sep 12th 2006 at 5:55PM }

A financial analyst estimates that 80% of retailers will demand the more expensive 60GB PS3 at launch (the oh-so affordable $599 one). If Sony then allocates according to this estimate, that would mean only 80,000 of the 400,000 available US launch units will be of the cheaper $499 kind. This would be consistent, however, with higher sales of Microsoft's 360 premium package last November, and what Sony would obviously hope for while still being able to market their console as "starting at $499!"

The report also quotes one Sony manager suggesting the unlikelihood of both full-game downloads on the PS3 due to "storage and bandwidth constraints," and a holiday price reduction of the PS2. So for those already sold on the PS3 at launch, which version do intend to buy?

[via Slash Gear]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

cringer8 @ Sep 12th 2006 6:00PM

So only people expecting to buy at launch should comment? This is going to be one *slow* thread.

I'm getting the expensive one at launch. Hell, it'll be a collector's item for at least a month. Can't beat that.

Blackmoon @ Sep 12th 2006 6:00PM

I think I'll attempt to get the 60 GB version.

Todd @ Sep 12th 2006 6:59PM

Sadly, there's no chance I can afford a PS3 without ducking out of paying my rent. Maybe some time in 2007.

PSWii360 Fanbot @ Sep 12th 2006 6:03PM

No thanks. Keep it for the spoiled kiddies. Let the parents drive the sales of the PS3.

Jeremiah @ Sep 12th 2006 6:04PM

The Nintendo Wii version...

Fuzz @ Sep 12th 2006 6:07PM

60 gig. Preferably several.

It'll be worth more when I hawk it on Ebay :P

DBX00 @ Sep 12th 2006 6:08PM

60GB...

JodyAnthony @ Sep 12th 2006 6:08PM

if i could afford one, I would get the $599 one. Too bad that's almost 2 weeks of work for me.

The sad thing is I (and many others) will probably end up spending that within the first month on wii+games.

shirizaki @ Sep 12th 2006 6:17PM

I am buying one, a game, a blu ray movie, and making a "PS3 Holiday funpack" I'll sell on Ebay for $1200 - $1500.

Then I'm going to put that into $1 and roll around in it naked.

Strike Man @ Sep 12th 2006 6:24PM

I'm going for the 60GB model, but I also pray that Sony hasn't reversed their stance on replacing the HDD with another (larger) laptop HDD. PSM's latest seems to indicate that they've changed their mind on the region coding since E3, so I'd hate for that feature to be scrapped too.

I'm getting that one more for the internal Wifi and HDMI, just in case I ever do decide to upgrade my TV.

Cage @ Sep 12th 2006 6:23PM

What was the purpose of having 2 options again?

azesino @ Sep 12th 2006 6:22PM

i wish I could get my hands on one or 2 so i could make my holyday hustle on ebay :)

JJ @ Sep 12th 2006 7:29PM

Well i originally intended to buy the 500 dollar version, but since i'm getting a 42 inch 1080p LCD TV for my birthday, may as well just get the 600 dollar once, since i've basically ben relieved of having to spend 3grand on a TV for my apartment =)

aZn_1080p @ Sep 12th 2006 6:25PM

I will buy the premium version, and if possible 2 of the cheap version to sell on ebay, stupid kids on there won't know the difference.

Kelso @ Sep 12th 2006 6:25PM

I'm going to try for the more expnesive one, unless I am hooked on my Wii.

cubbiechris @ Sep 12th 2006 6:27PM

I'm content buying 'Gear of War' for my 360...

Turken @ Sep 12th 2006 6:29PM

@ shirizaki -

What's so great about rolling around naked in dollar bills anyway? If they're crisp new bills, you're just asking for loads of papercuts in uncomfortable places, and if they're circulated bills, you're just smearing yourself with who-knows-what bacteria and muck. Seriously, you should check out some of the studies people have done on the sort of stuff that grows on circulated bills. You may want to change your PS3 profit plans...

Aaron @ Sep 12th 2006 11:04PM

Wii60 for me.

W!!On360 @ Sep 12th 2006 6:31PM

all you M$ fanbitches whining about the prise of the PS3 are just trying to make yerself feel betterabout wasting you're money on the shitbox. your box can't do trueHD, which is totally a real actual thing and not just a made up word. you can't play games on the slow as hell blu-ray format! without that you are living in last generation!!!! engoy ypur xbox 1.5 cuz it is sux

thare has never bin a game worth playing that was in a resolution loweer than 1080p! I defy you to name me one single game in a lower resolution thn 1080p that is worht playing!

i guess i put you fanbitches in your place

now i'll go eat my own feces

cubbiechris @ Sep 12th 2006 6:33PM

Name one PS3 game that will be in 1080P?

redspear @ Sep 12th 2006 6:37PM

@ cubbiechris #18

It is extremely obvious that comment #17 by W!!On360 is 100% sarcastic

Ritz @ Sep 12th 2006 6:37PM

Bravo W!!On360. Bravo.

Honestly, if I could afford the 60 GB system, I would go and get it. But, I will be sitting with an empty account if I tried that. Not such a great thing with monthly bills always waiting to bite you in the butt.

aZn_1080p @ Sep 12th 2006 6:45PM

cubbiechris, I guess you missed that the first PS3 game ever shown, Gran Turismo HD, was running in trueHD at E3.

striderhayasa @ Sep 12th 2006 6:44PM

Which am I buying? neither. I refuse to be fleeced. It's the Wii for me.

The Origin Of Species @ Sep 12th 2006 6:43PM

"Name one PS3 game that will be in 1080P?"

Super Mario Galaxy

Duh!!!

AzN-ten8Tpee @ Sep 12th 2006 6:45PM

I will buy both cause then i have one for games and one for movies! i=smartest! this is the way you are nmeant to play it and the only way to game n the next generation

youa re all moreons for thinking otherwise! PS3 only system iwht trueHD (real word! check your PlayStdictionary) and blu-ray, which is the onlly format that videogames can fit onto because they have so many gigobites they can't fit on DVDs so there! end of discussion!

Ritz @ Sep 12th 2006 6:53PM

aZn_1080p: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TrueHD

Just because 1080p is the highest /current/ standard, it doesn't make it any more or less true or real than other resolutions above PAL or NTSC. Just to clarrify :)

Jason W @ Sep 12th 2006 8:11PM

Best of luck getting one guys. I know it was tricky at the 360 launch. I wish you all well.

heh @ Sep 12th 2006 7:02PM

I dunno, at that price the PS3 better give good head.

Dasgooch @ Sep 12th 2006 7:03PM

Since aZn_1080p was ignorant enough to say it again that 1080p is the only "trueHD", here it is for the 1000th time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-definition_video

HD Resolutions are commonly agreed upon as being (unless you believe sony saying it doesn't start until they say so):
720p
1080i and yes wait for it...

1080p

Please stop using this argument it only makes you look stupid(er?)

Art Guy @ Sep 12th 2006 7:15PM

"I guess you missed that the first PS3 game ever shown, Gran Turismo HD, was running in trueHD at E3."

So, many factual errors...mind...reeling...Nothing you just wrote was true.

1. GT HD was the NOT the first PS3 game ever shown.

2. TrueHD is a Dolby sound codec and has nothing to do with screen resolution. (Where do you get this stuff???)

3. GT HD is just the GT4 PS2 game running on the PS3 at 1080p, which means it is not indicative of what a real PS3 games will be able to run at with high resolution textures and advanced physics.

HelpLine @ Sep 12th 2006 7:27PM

Dear Art Guy,

You're a nerd.

Yours Truly,

Help Line

B33 @ Sep 12th 2006 7:29PM

I'll believe it when SONY says it. No analysts who predicted the PSP would sell for $400... Or the PS3 would be $800... I don't trust analysts at all. They blow everything out of proportions to make a big scene...

B33 @ Sep 12th 2006 7:31PM

"Name one PS3 game that will be in 1080P?"

Resistance: Fall of man...

Joystiq must be having a slow news day to post false rumors...

GamerZero @ Sep 12th 2006 7:35PM

I already have my PS3.Ken said that if I stop promoting the 360 that I could have one,so now I'm a PS3 fanboy whoohoo!
Thing is,I can't play it cuz there's no games out for it yet,nevermind!I got some Blu-Ray movies to keep me going...erm...well...when they fix that diode which will be soon I'm sure.Well the menu looks nice...for five minutes and then I get a strange sceen saying 'CODE 351111 CPU error contact your local dealer!'.That's ok,it says SONY on the box,oh my!It's the PS3,oh God,in my grasp,uh,uh,I gotta go to the bathroom......

EP @ Sep 12th 2006 7:39PM

Gee, let me think...None, I'm poor. I'll get the Wii version.

Strike Man @ Sep 12th 2006 7:43PM

"Joystiq must be having a slow news day to post false rumors..."

What's false? Joystiq didn't say that 80% of the launch PS3s WILL be the 60GB model, the post says that an analyst predicts that will be the case. That may be a rumor, but Joystiq claiming that the analyst came up with those numbers is not false.

If you had actually read the link, it was also amended with:
Lazard Capital Markets analyst Colin Sebastian sent out a "clarification" of this report, noting that the 80/20 PS3 unit breakdown was an "estimate of retailer demand and not a set allocation percentage indicated by Sony." Hence, Sony has not officially announced launch allocation numbers and these figures are based on Lazard estimates.

ill trooper @ Sep 12th 2006 7:50PM

I believe the question was actually "So for those already sold on the PS3 at launch, which version do intend to buy?"

If you're buying one, it OF COURSE has to be the 60gig hdd version... So put me down for the 60gig. Who bought a 360 core system without getting a hard drive for it?

Drew @ Sep 12th 2006 7:59PM

8 of the only 10 people who acually buy this dumb thing are going to get the more expensive version? lol

Dux @ Sep 12th 2006 8:27PM

Finally Sony does something right.

Bill @ Sep 12th 2006 8:34PM

Frankly I'd probably rather get the 499 and hope the lack of HDMI never bites me in the ass.

Fuck it I changed my mind. For that price might as well get the real deal.

360 it really doesn't matter what you buy because you can always add the HDD later. Only thing was at launch HDD add on was kinda hard to find. Not the case anymore though. This is what I had to do. I was like the 42 person in line and they only had 40 premium's. It was core or nothing for me. I added the HDD later. Months later actually.

You can completely transform your core 360 to premium later if you want by buying all the accesories seperatly. Not the case with PS3.

PS3 actually seems pretty cool. I would never buy a PS2 because the hardware design's graphical capabilities was so garbage. But I would buy a PS3. It's decent kit. Cell sucks but the CPU doesn't matter that much. The GPU is solid though.

Deejay Knight @ Sep 12th 2006 8:51PM

I don't know whether or not I'll attempt to get one at launch due to the high price and low probability of actually getting home with one in the first place, but if I had to choose:

$600 version. Is this even a worthwhile question? The HDD is 40GB more on the higher model, it has WiFi, the memory card readers (if they weren't scrapped), and HDMI. The amount of tech you get in that package is worth more than the $100 difference.

Why would you even buy the lower model? (Other than to hawk on eBay for double it's price ^_^ )

WiiOn360 @ Sep 12th 2006 9:04PM

"all you M$ fanbitches whining about the prise of the PS3 are just trying to make yerself feel betterabout wasting you're money on the shitbox. your box can't do trueHD, which is totally a real actual thing and not just a made up word. you can't play games on the slow as hell blu-ray format! without that you are living in last generation!!!! engoy ypur xbox 1.5 cuz it is sux

thare has never bin a game worth playing that was in a resolution loweer than 1080p! I defy you to name me one single game in a lower resolution thn 1080p that is worht playing!

i guess i put you fanbitches in your place

now i'll go eat my own feces"

This man speaks the truth. Also he did not mention that before Sony made a console, fun games were never available. Sony revolutionised console gaming & made fun games & now they are enhancing the experience to unparalelled levels with 1080p & 25gig storage. These features are sure to enhance the FUN of gaming, especially considering that us lucky, superior beings in the under 2% hd tv owning category are lucky enough to get all the benefits. All you other lazy, poor, retarded ghetto hoodrats like SquirrelPhucker will have to suffer with downloading supermario bros from 20yrs ago onto your wii (or GC with a gimmicky controller & new case, as I call it).

How does my feces taste, ya jism swallower, Squirrelphucker

nikk @ Sep 12th 2006 9:17PM

Already have a 360, so ps3 is "redundant" for now.

I'll have a blast watching people fight over ps3 on launch day!

bearatttack79 @ Sep 12th 2006 9:18PM

"TRUE HD" sucks. I like the fake HD on my 360

darryl @ Sep 12th 2006 9:21PM

Already pre-ordered a 60GB version...

daddycool @ Sep 13th 2006 11:03AM

I dont know what you mean by "AT LAUNCH, which one do you intend to buy?"

When I do get one it will be the 60GB one.

I can easily afford the 6 bills retail, Im not ballin nearly hard enough to drop 1800 on ebay though.

Dux @ Sep 12th 2006 9:33PM

WiiOn360. Your kidding right?

LaughingTarget @ Sep 12th 2006 9:36PM

$499 version, because the profit margin will likely be higher on the secondary market. Just say it is a PS3 and the price will explode, EBayers won't care if it isn't the beefier 60 gig model.

know my s*** @ Sep 12th 2006 10:11PM

Sooooo. I've got this 60 widescreen phillips hi def rear projection tv that only does 1080i (lol @ "only") and the picture looks down right shitty when i play games in anything other than... wait for it... 1080i! Now, with that said, I've got a 32inch flat CRT that all of my games look great on even though it's 480p. Now, if you're thinking it's the "p" that fixes thing lemme tell you now you are wrong. I think we all know that the "p" stands for progressive by now... right? ok, cause I also bought a 60 inch rear projection by mitsubishi diamond and that one does 1080i and 720p and my games look pretty good in 1080i on that one. What gives?

I'll tell you what the deal is. You get what you f***in pay for and sometimes that's just a name unfortunately. Today. Tomorrow. Ten years from now when one of the big three goes third party (oh it'll happen, just don't know who and don't act like you know) and a new company comes in there'll still be the TV factor which accounts for everything in my opinion. I've also got a couple of 32" lcds and a 50 inch samsung DLP that kick the shit outta every other tv I have.

Now's a good time for Sony fanboys to rejoice, SONY HAS THE BEST OVERALL TVs. Between that and the Walkman how else do you think they got into position to create gaming systems? didn't think it was the mp3 player or the computer did you?

You buy a smokin computer with quad cores and 4 gigs of ram but run dial up, then that's ultimately what you get is dial-up. So, I know what a dream set up looks like cause I have more than one. I NEVER think to myself, "Glad I'm playing in here instead of in there cause I spent an extra 15 grand on this setup. I'm TOO into the game to notice. Windwaker, Kingdom Hearts, and Halo will go down in history as great games.

Oh yes I'll be buying PS3. I'm no fool, won't pay double on EBAY. If I can't carry a box out or see the box carried out of the store I don't want it.

I feel I need to say this though, some things in life shouldn't be saved for and a $600 dollar video game system is one of them. If you are an adult reading this and it applies to you: Invest in SOMETHING THAT APPRECIATES FIRST. Then buy three PS3s or PS4s or whatever is out when you reach that point.

If you're a teen/preteen/jobless/depending on someone-else-to-buy-it just know that you're killing two birds in a bad way.