Analyst expecting $100 PS3 price cut before Fall 09

Actually, with the supposed rumor of the PS3 Slim, I think this will happen:

Sony will announce the PS3 Slim near the end of their presentation. It will come with a 120 GB hard drive and will go on retail for $399, the same price as the current PS3. There will be no price drops of any kind (sadly) because of their continued net losses:

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/14/sony-reports-continued-loss-expects-games-division-to-remain-un/

Basically, this will be a repeat of what they did with the PSP Slim, except without the bundles...even though I hope they package a game or something with the console...

here's my thoughts on the whole PS3slim and price cut buzz:

those PS3slim photos have too many details right to be fake. it's the real deal. and if they are at the stage that they are being made in the production facilities where people would be willing to risk their job taking photos, then it's in mass production. i suspect, based in part on the excellent comparison photo [thanks Hyams] that they aren't taking anything out, just optimizing the system for the reduced chip sizes and the like. probably 120 GB HDD.

i figure they will announce it a E3, big reveal, major PR coup, "win E3" that kinda jazz. it will debut at $399, older systems will drop to maybe $350? maybe $300? i'd guess 350 to minimize losses on the system. clear out old stock over summer, like when the 60GB dropped to $500 (when I picked mine up =).

then around fall, drop the slim to $299, which i'd guess sony can handle due to reduced cost of components in the slim, particularly after production has fully ramped up. that plus the excellent software lineup means sony can finally reap the holiday sales bonanza. that'd give them the 30% increase in hardware sales they are predicting.

Bound to get it right one of these days. Keep on trying! You are an inspiration to us all.

I would call it at Fall 09 flat. September, just like 360's last cut.

A PS3 slim would be a good centerpiece for E3, too.

this is straight booty chatter

I am NOT trying to incite a flame war but why is it ok for the 360 elite to sit at the $400 price point but not for the PS3?

The extra 100 bones is worth it to have a Bluray player, IMHO.

I think a price drop on the PS3 is possible especially for this year. SCEE's head, David Reeves, had an interview with The Guardian where he mentioned the manufacturing transition from 65 nm processors to 45 nm processors happening some time this summer.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/feb/05/david-reeves-sony-europe-losses

I kind of doubt that the PS3 slim rumor would be real at this point in time. Maybe in another year or so, but probably not this year.

This just in; Analyst predict old hardware depreciates over time.

So, making an assumption that analyst's are always wrong, or that they say the same thing until it comes true is one of the worse assumptions I've ever seen. Secondly, Sony probably spends a shitload of money having people analyze their markets, and what the reaction of consumers would be when they do prce cut. And if you think analyst don't know what they are, then apparently the majority of the world except for you of course, must be idiots, seeing as we rely on analysts for almost everything. Secondly, the hole, they make money of the games not the consoles arguments, if that were the case, then they would just give you the damn console for free, and raise the price of games by a small enough amount, that you would still take their free console. too bad its not true, of course they make a lot of money on their consoles. saying they dont just makes you sound stupid. Thirdly, as far as a price cut would just be $100 out of their pocket, so they would be "losing" money, thats why their are analyst that people listen to and not you. Simple put, they are only going to price drop, if they assume the quantity sold will offset the revenue to an even amount. Even at an even amount, saying profit = 0, they would still price cut, because they would be increasing the amount of consumers, which is good. So saying they aren't going to price cut, based on only your opinions, backed by no fact, well is your opinion, so dont pretend you know anything your talking about