Sony files for 80GB PS3, says there are no current plans

by Christopher Grant { Mar 29th 2007 at 12:30PM }

Seems like the totally secret announcement of the Xbox 360 Elite -- and it's strapping 120GB hard drive -- may have spurred Sony to consider bumping the PlayStation 3's already user-replaceable 60GB hard drive to ... an 80GB hard drive! An FCC filing dated March 2, 2007 announces the addition of a new model, CECHE01, which includes some tweaks to the Bluetooth antenna and, notably, a larger hard drive. Unlike Microsoft's latest SKU, the CECHE01 will replace the anemic 60GB CECHA01. Or maybe it won't.

According to Sony, "The 80GB we're not making a comment on, but we don't have any plans at the moment." While it's true that the interior workings of giant megacorporations confuse and bewilder us, we're still left pondering how they managed to file a "Permissive Change Letter" with the FCC with no "plans at the moment." With the 20GB PS3 model being a no-show in Europe, and increasingly so here as well, maybe Sony just wants to stick those missing gigabytes back into the marketplace. Or something.

[Thanks, Cosmo & Dolla Dolla]

Read - FCC "Permissive Change Letter" for 80GB PS3 (via PC World)
Read - No current plans for 80GB PS3 (Eurogamer)

Tags: CECHE01, Harddrive, PS3, SKU, upgrade

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Todd @ Mar 29th 2007 12:35PM

Hmm, I wonder how much this will up the price.

Colin @ Mar 29th 2007 12:36PM

Its amazing how fast news travels around the tubes...I only just found this (and told Kotaku (who posted the story first on the tubes, credit due)/posted at SimExchange) late last night and now everyone is on the case.

I want my 80GB PS3 and I want it NOW!

JodyAnthony @ Mar 29th 2007 12:36PM

completely pointless. They need to bring the 20 gig ps3 back.

AirIntake @ Mar 29th 2007 12:37PM

80 is a pretty stupid size to introduce as an 'upgrade'. Even the 360 120G drive is not really that large. I'd like to see 250+ if they really want me to do IPTV PVR type crap with it.

Josh @ Mar 29th 2007 12:38PM

Seeing as how 80GB 2.5" HDDs cost within a few dollars of the 60GB variety due to being produced in larger quantities, Sony is probably just considering making a 80GB PS3 the standard SKU. The 20GB SKU is pretty much discontinued. Sony probably found ways to cut costs with a change to the Bluetooth antennae, so that's probably why they're filing a change with the FCC.

Fatass of Kickassness @ Mar 29th 2007 12:39PM

@Colin

Just replace the hard drive in the 60-gig version. After all, knowing Sony and their business tactics (especially in the computer industry), they'll overcharge.

Ricardo @ Mar 29th 2007 12:51PM

"80 is a pretty stupid size to introduce"

Come on dude...! This is SONY! They thrive on stupidity!!!

Neal @ Mar 29th 2007 12:41PM

This sseems like a waste to me. But, I don't really give a shit either. 60 seems like plenty, and if its not, 80 probably wouldn't help that much.

Roger Rees @ Mar 29th 2007 12:49PM

I get the feeling that they are doing this solely to prevent Microsoft from claiming that they offer twice the hard drive space of Sony's 60GB offering.

C. Grant @ Mar 29th 2007 12:51PM

Well, thanks for the tip Colin!

TomC1234 @ Mar 29th 2007 2:02PM

I think some third party should just repackage a bunch of large capacity OEM drives and sell them as "PS3 compatible drive kits" for cheap. That way the no tech-heads can easily install larger drives without being ripped off by the low capacity "official" drives.

oZone @ Mar 29th 2007 12:58PM

80GB PS3 replaces the 60GB as the "Premium".
60GB PS3 current "Premium" becomes new "Core".
20GB PS3 is discontinued.
Prices remain the same.

=D LOL, that'll be the day. *crosses fingers*

PS - Speaking of fingers, why do they call them fingers? I've never seen them fing...

scott @ Mar 29th 2007 1:12PM

colin, you are seriously pathetic. How many websites have you gone around on and complained that they aren't giving you credit for the article?

samfish @ Mar 29th 2007 1:43PM

And you can see own the "PS3 Beau Monde" for only $700.00 US dollars!"

mccomber @ Mar 29th 2007 1:46PM

Does anyone really think they'll up the price? At 20gb of difference it's just going to replace the 60gb. I think Roger Rees is on the right track for at least one of the reasons they are doing this, it's simply so there isn't a "well, the elite has twice as much space" argument.

The Jeremy @ Mar 29th 2007 1:56PM

I would expect another FCC notice in the next few months as it becomes apparent to Sony that for the $600 price point, they'll want to bump up the PS3's wifi capabilities up to draft-N specs.

I'd also wager that near-future PS3 models will get 2nd gen (err, maybe its considered 3rd gen) Blu-Ray updates to coincide with the newest agreed upon specs from the Blu-Ray Disc Association concerning beefed up BD-J support.

Hey Sony, how about a PS3 branded draft-N router, perhaps with your location-free tv support built in?

Flit @ Mar 29th 2007 2:17PM

Why bother? Can't you yank out the 20gig and replace it with whatever size? I thought that was something the sony fanboys were touting about the PS3, is the ability to use any size hard drive that's ide (or whatever connection they use.)

Am i missing something?

Lou D @ Mar 29th 2007 2:23PM

maybe they'll throw in that second HDMI output so it can do dual-screen 1080p like they originally promised...and stay 1 HDMI port ahead of Microsoft...

WexusNexus @ Mar 29th 2007 2:33PM

this is simple... they are simply going to take all of the unsold 20GB drives, strap them to 60GB drives, and package that as an 80GB drive... solves both problems simultaneously

vaylen @ Mar 29th 2007 7:04PM

The thing is that unlike the 360, the PS3 doesn't need to rely on the mother company to have a bigger hard drive. If you're a PS3 owner and you're jealous that your friend with a 360 just got a 120GB HD that's twice the capacity of your stock 60GB drive... just use Sony's very easy to follow instructions and drop a 750GB drive into your PS3 and watch your 360 buddy turn green with envy.

Jonathan Tran @ Mar 29th 2007 3:44PM

an 80GB PS3 is just one core and one premium PS3 duct taped together.

FrankTheCrank @ Mar 29th 2007 2:54PM

@oZone

Your right. They'll just make a 60GB model with the same hardware as the 20GB and make the current 60GB the new 80GB with the same hardware.

FrunkTheCrunk @ Mar 29th 2007 4:02PM

My 20GB will become the new 160GB soon.

160GB HDD from newegg is about $120....by the time I actually need it, it's probably drop another $20.

MK2 tonight....YES!!!

Colin @ Mar 29th 2007 2:59PM

@scott...

Again Scott...try and read...I am suggesting that the 'credit' go to Kotaku for breaking the story...since Joystiq is refrencing PC World who do not credit their source.

I don't want anymore credit for this than any other news story I give to blogs in the background (about 4 exclusives this year and a ton of links) but it would be nice to see the blogs themselves give proper credit to sources (for instance this story launched on Kotaku).

ackmondual @ Mar 29th 2007 3:05PM

@ #19
lol. If only the PS3 did have 2 hdd bays. That would be the shitzzors!

Andrew @ Mar 29th 2007 3:10PM

@12

Dude...are you stalking Colin or something...he gives good info (most of the time) and he submits ALOT of stories to the blogs...what have you submitted? Thought so...STFU.

Cheesehead @ Mar 29th 2007 3:10PM

My PC has over a terabyte of storage space, and its full of tv I get for free off bit-torrent... up yours console fanboys!!

HotDog&Fries @ Mar 29th 2007 3:22PM

Cheesehead...

Um...not sure about Xbox but the PS3 can have easily upgraded HDD and external HDD and run Linux (and thus torrent searches/downloads). Not exactly sure what your point is.

Or they can just stream it all from their PC to their console and watch those torrents on their TV.

Oh...and I would guess ALL of the people making comments here have a computer as well as perhaps a console...so what is your vulgarity in aid of again?

Neal @ Mar 29th 2007 3:25PM

Congrats for downloading TV episodes you dumbshit.

Who gives a shit you downloaded a bunch of TV episode reruns? Now you can see the Soup Nazi episode of Seinfeld 60 more times. Do you have all the Seasons of the simpsons, Seinfeld, southpark, family guy??? You do? Oh wait, who give a shit, they're all avaliable to watch anytime online, and they're all streamed. No need to download anything.

::slow clap::

jsn @ Mar 29th 2007 3:25PM

HAHA, you PS3 FOOLS, SONY IS RIPPING YOU OFF!! OMG LLLOOOLLNNNGAY!

Ok Sony Fanboys, it's time to act like men. You deride Microsoft for releasing an update to a 16 month old product and claim they are ripping people off. Now Sony is obviously planning on making changes to their lineup, so where is all hatred? You just paid $600 for a 60gb console and in less than a year, they are going to put out an 80gb model? Be men and tell us all how sick you are of this. BEeeee MEEEEEN!!

HotDog&Fries @ Mar 29th 2007 3:32PM

@JSN....

MSN added more HDD AND HDMI...in otherwords they have added FUNCTIONALITY that the other/previous consoles don't have.

The PS3 FCC submission ONLY talks about tweeking bluetooth/wifi and a larger hardrive...they are not changing the functionality of the console...thus, I don't think any PS3 fanboy would be upset as this has NOTHING to do with functionality of the machine(unless they buy a 60GB and the next day they can get an 80GB for the same price)

By the way...you can get keyboards cheap nowadays...you might want to fix those locked caps of yours.

jsn @ Mar 29th 2007 4:03PM

hotdog&tardfries:

Microsoft isn't changing any functionality of the console. They've added a newer spec output connection and a larger HD. What functionality change did they make to the console? NONE.

You're telling me that you'd be pissed that after 16 months Microsoft updates their console with a larger HD (which wasn't even available back then) and a new video connection (which wasn't useful for 99% of users when it was built). Yet you wouldn't be pissed if within 6 months of release, Sony is already putting out a hardware revised console with a larger HD and a few other minor changes?

If you say no to the second part you're a damned liar. Anyone who acts pissed at microsoft for what they're doing is a hypocrite if they aren't equally pissed at Sony for doing the exact same thing in a far shorter time period. It's as simple as that.

Christopher7xii @ Mar 29th 2007 4:11PM

...Oh?

Neal @ Mar 29th 2007 4:20PM

@jsn

Its kinda different my friend.

360 added on HDMI which they promised was not needed, and they're adding a bigger (MUCH BIGGER) Hard Drive after they said 20 was plenty.

PS3 is adding aslightly larger Hard drive, (probably for the same price, maybe a little more) and just tweaking a few things that won't change the functionality of the system at all.

Adding something like HDMI, and getting 6x the hard drive space, is a lot different than tweaking the wifi a bit, and adding a drive 25% bigger.

jsn @ Mar 29th 2007 4:29PM

sorry Neal but it isn't that different. 16 months ago, 20gb wasn't small by 2.5" HD sizes. Microsoft built the console using what was most economical and readily available at the time. Now 120gb 2.5" drives are readily available and not cost prohibitive so they are making it an option to their users. You don't need it and you aren't missing out on anything if you don't have it.

HDMI isn't needed. You don't need it for HD content or to play games, but many TV's come with HDMI connections and it will be a consistent feature on every new TV that is made. Microsoft is simply extending the capabilities of the box. Don't be a fool and say that "you need HDMI" because you don't. It's simply an additional feature that allows people who have those connections to use them.

Next?

HotDog&Fries @ Mar 29th 2007 5:01PM

@JSN...

Let me say it a different way....

If I bought a 360 and a month later they offered the 360 with HDMI I would be pissed at the lack of this FUNCTION on my console.

If I bought a 60GB PS3 and a month later they offered it at 80GB I might be pissed at the perceived loss of value but I haven't missed out on a FUNCTION.

SquirrelPhister @ Mar 29th 2007 5:24PM

HotDog&Fries says:
"MSN added more HDD AND HDMI...in otherwords they have added FUNCTIONALITY that the other/previous consoles don't have."

you should go look up the word functionality. you're not using it correctly

SquirrelPhister @ Mar 29th 2007 5:34PM

Neal says:
"360 added on HDMI which they promised was not needed"

and that's still true, it's not needed. But a very vocal bunch of easily deceived internet users have gotten the false idea in their head that HDMI is in some way superior in picture quality compared to component and VGA. This is of course untrue, but that doesn't mean Microsoft isn't willing to take advantage of their collective delusion. Can you blame them?

Plus the fact that the HDMI spec wasn't finalized until months after the Xbox 360 launch, so even if they had included it from the beginning, that version of HDMI on the launch consoles might not be compatible with HDMI ports on TVs made today.