Sony promise AV-centric (more expensive) PS3

[StooMonster]

Engadget reporting that according to an interview conducted by Japan's Impress, Sony's Ken Kutaragi has gone on record with a "promise" for what he's calling an AV-centric PS3. In other words, audio and video capabilities first, gaming second (if at all), in a device built around the Cell-processor platform.

Ken says that the device would certainly be more expensive, reflecting the prices and margins expected on high-end consumer electronic devices such as TVs, Blu-ray personal video recorders, etc. -- not the relatively cheap, but powerful gaming rigs sold at a loss under Sony's Computer Entertainment division.

Impress speculates that the device could cost as much as ¥300,000 or about $2,500. The new Sony-branded living room box would, in Ken's (translated) words, "be a standard AV component sized box with a more powerful, power supply unit, anti-shake insulator, twice the main memory, and 2x HDMI to split sound and video output."

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/20/k...v-centric-ps3/

More expensive PS3 but with gaming features played down? Winner or loser?

StooMonster

[[nothing]]

Originally Posted by StooMonster

More expensive PS3 but with gaming features played down? Winner or loser?

StooMonster

I see Sony learned nothing from the ill-fated PSX experiment then..

[DocDVD]

I vote for Looser...

Either I buy a high end HiFi component or a gaming rig - but not some hybrid that tries both (probably lacks on both ends) and costs premium....

Sony propaganda talk if you ask me...

[MDX]

Loser if you ask me, i hear the PS3 is a decent Blu-Ray player so why pay so much for somthing that might lose the PS3 gaming power?

[StooMonster]

It does seem an odd strategy that when criticised on price Sony goes for even more expensive solution.

It seems illogical, can't think of what's behind such a strategy. Any thoughts?

StooMonster

[tryingtimes]

I haven't really been following the PS3, but does it have a really good interface for media browsing/playing?
If it was a lesson in media player interfaces and Sony really want to push their av downloading services, then I can understand this approach.

[StooMonster]

It's got the same AV interface as PSP.

I was thinking along similar lines as tryingtimes, especially as I was recently reading about Sony offering movie downloads for the second edition PSP (now with hard disk, and likewise more expensive). Maybe they are planning HD movies downloads as per Microsoft's marketplace ... and whatever it is Steve Jobs announces in January that Apple is doing in 2007.

StooMonster

[tryingtimes]

iTV was the internal apple name, but they have to come up with a new one.

Microsoft's on demand service is already big - Lovefilm are really pushing movie downloads and you get a portable license for it so you can move the download to a device which supports the relevent DRM.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if this is what Sony are thinking. Obviously PS3 can do it as it is, but I guess they're targetting the higher-end consumer who can buy this as the only add-on to their TV. If they could add PVR features too, it could be a winner.

I suspect as always though that there will always be advantages for people like us to buy seperate devices, but for someone who just wants a slick living room setup, it could work. Especially in Japan where these types of all-in-one devices are already common.

[LOXjet]

Originally Posted by StooMonster

More expensive PS3 but with gaming features played down? Winner or loser?

Looser... if people are going to spend that amount on AV equipment (for the main) they will go the separates route.

The brand name won't help either... Sony will find it very hard to shake off the image of the PS as anything other than a games console.

[[nothing]]

Originally Posted by tryingtimes

I suspect as always though that there will always be advantages for people like us to buy seperate devices, but for someone who just wants a slick living room setup, it could work. Especially in Japan where these types of all-in-one devices are already common.

Which is why I brought up Sony's first attempt at trying this (the PSX), beforehand. It didn't work then and I can't really see it working now.

Most people don't really seem to be a fan of these all in one units. People like to be able to upgrade certain parts of what would comprise a media center at different times, since the lifecycle of one of its parts may be eclipsed by the invention of something new, rendering part of the device redundant. This is why I can't see why this would be successful, targeting the high end of the market is targeting the same people who enjoy the benefits of having more expensive seperates. Granted, space in Japan is often as issue, but Sony are really showing themselves as a company that almost refuses to learn from previous mistakes.

If anything, sales of machines like the Nintendo DS against the PSP have proven that doing 10 things 50% correctly is far worse than completing one primary function.

[MDX]

Originally Posted by StooMonster

It does seem an odd strategy that when criticised on price Sony goes for even more expensive solution.

It seems illogical, can't think of what's behind such a strategy. Any thoughts?

StooMonster

Its Sony, they have been doing strange things for years....

Somthings they do are amazing, others.... are just complete flops.

[peterweg]

Lets all jump to conclusion about something we know nothing about, shall we?

[tryingtimes]

Originally Posted by peterweg

Lets all jump to conclusion about something we know nothing about, shall we?

Oh go on then - just this once

[StooMonster]

Originally Posted by peterweg

Lets all jump to conclusion about something we know nothing about, shall we?

So why did you post a thread about too?

StooMonster

[Bald Monkey]

I think Sony have completely loss the plot..

How can they contemplate a new version of the PS3, when they can't make enough of the PS3? it could be long term planning for when they can, and for future download content etc... It seems to me they should perhaps concentrate on the here and now a little, every now and again!

Besides even if it did go into production it probably would just be in Japan, like the PSX...