From Kotaku http://kotaku.com/gaming/sony/sony-working-on-ps3-elite-model-247972.php In a filing dated earlier this month, Sony contacted the US Federal Communications Commission to request a "Class II permissive change" to the PLAYSTATION 3. This was done in accordance with changes to the included Bluetooth antenna and came from the Sony Coporation's Product Quality Office. While FCC filings are generally dry as dust, this one has an interesting addition. A new PLAYSTATION 3 model (CECHE01) with an 80GB hard disk was listed as an additional inclusion to the original FCC grant. The two current model numbers CECHA01 and CECHB01 specify the 60GB and 20GB versions, respectively. A 20GB jump from the top of the line PLAYSTATION 3 seems like an odd additional SKU, but we've seen stranger things happen. Could this new hard disk represent a totally new model or simply a storage upgrade? Will the 80GB PS3 at some point become the lower-end model? We've heard in the past from inside sources that the Ken Kutaragi was pushing for the introduction of a 250GB model PS3, so future models of the console may feature increased storage. We'll be contacting Sony in the morning to gather additional details. https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/forms/blobs/retrieve.cgi?attachment_id=764216&native_or_pdf=pdf
I want to believe that this is more in the lines of a PSX-like console, aimed at more sophisticated consumers. The 80GB capacity makes me think twice though about this assumption. Sony don't have money to spend, I can't see why they're segmenting their product line as such.
It does seem very strange - maybe Sony's just getting ahead of themselves regarding future plans, or maybe it's just going to be a 60GB/80GB option as opposed to a SuperPS3. I hope to god it's not a new PSX, haven't they learned since last time? Also, the PSX came with a 160GB or 250GB drive, so it's fairly unlikely that 80gigs is going to cut it.
This I find is strange. Why make a new unit to only upgrade the HDD 20GB more. Unlike the 360, on the PS3 you can swap out the drive for your own which ultimately would be cheaper then buying an official sony upgrade. Maybe their will be an 80GB model with HW ps2/1 support? In any case, if it's just an HDD upgrade then it's a stupid move.
That *is* very true, but I'm just assuming that (at least Sony thinks) a great percentage of people wouldn't be happy upgrading their HDD. Plus, if it's a complete console with an 80gig then it would have to be defined in an FCC ruling especially if the hard drive sizes are covered in the 2 current versions' documentation.
It's probably just to replace the 60GB HDD version. Perhaps they can get the 80GB for the same price these days?
yeap, probably a deal with their hard drive provider (the provider shifting production costs etc). @taucias: who knows, maybe they ll come pre-installed with a remake of Ridge Racer 1
It would guarantee a sale if it did. I loaded up the US version of the RR1 tech demo the other day and it comes with a nice little history section. I was thinking of ripping it off the disc and putting it up online (since it is a demo). Anyone interested?
all in all this tells me never buy launch machines. A year later there is always a better one around the corner
Wait a second... Didn't Sony already say the PS3 wasn't a gaming machine and was going to be targeted towards a more sophisticated consumer in the first place! I'm kind of fed up with all these "different" flavors of the same console. Why can't they just release one damn machine, and it's not just Sony I'm talking about, it's Microsoft too.
Personally, I just wish Nintendo would release a Wii that has better storage/HD capabilities. I can tell that there will be a time when I will run out of space for Virtual Console titles.
Who said anything about the Wii? Are you assuming that just because I'm criticizing Sony's and Microsoft's methods that I think the Wii is perfect? Not even close, but at least Nintendo is only offering one system, and not a normal version, a deluxe version, and in 6 months a super deluxe version which causes the regular deluxe version to stop being supported, etc.
I hate this. Consoles are supposed to be static. You buy one, you use it for a few years, you buy a new one. Its not a PC.
I'm not assuming anything, I just wanted to state that if Microsoft and Sony are getting into the habit of releasing a new model system (Granted, Microsoft did it better then Sony by not dropping a major feature and replacing it with a half-assed version of it), then Nintendo should try to improve on their model as well, or at least try to be competitive. For example: Firmware upgrade for a USB External Hard Drive + Higher resolution support can be done, while the upgraded model itself can add features that wouldn't hurt people that already bought it (Like a HDMI port or a Ethernet port).
