i wrote this somewhere else, but i think this is the proper place to put this comment:
I think Sony really screwed the pooch with this one. Initially, it'll probably sell out, due to the larger numbers of early adopters in electronics today and possible "mismanagement" by production, creating illusionary demand.
They try to point out that the PS2 ushered in the DVD explosion, which is why PS3 has blu ray. However, most data on the subject point that around 75% of PS2 owners rarely use their PS2 for watching movies. The DVD explosion happened when DVD players became affordable along with the media, in the 100-200 range, well below the asking price for the PS2 5 years ago.
Gamers, hardcore and casual, don't care about the dvd capabilities of their gaming machine. All Sony had to do was focus on a machine that delivered high-res video and sound, and had a killer online environment, and they'd pretty much have a competitively priced unit. They already have the stable library. I mean, seriously, who the
cares about having a smartcard reader on your PS?
Sony thinks that they can pretty much do anything because they have the library locked up (VF, MGS, Tekken, FF, God of War). Except for FPS, they have the best games in every category exclusive to them.
We have to show them, as both gamers and CAG's, that they can't strong-arm us like this. I, for one, refuse to buy that machine for a penny more than $350-$400. For $800 (PS3, extra controller, and 1 or 2 launch games, +tax), I'd rather buy my awesome HDTV first, then wait for that crap to lower in price. For those of you that can afford the system, I won't blame your for getting it when it comes out. I'd probably do the same.
But for most of us out there, a price like that should be unacceptable. The thing isn't a computer, dammit.
I'll guarantee that Sony will have to drop the price by at least $50-$100 within 7-12 months, followed by another drop around 20-24 months. If they don't, they won't win the market share war with Microsoft, then we'll see where all those exclusives go......