[The News Bot]

Sony has confirmed prices for the UK PlayStation 3 and its peripherals. The 60GB HDD console will sell 425 UK pounds when it goes on sale March 23. The cheaper 20GB version will not be made available. Its future will be decided at a later date, dependant on retail demand. One million consoles will be [...]
More...

[Max Payne]

........or €645, what a crazy amount of money!!!

Here's looking at Microsoft to introduce a new XBOX 360 package with a reduced price, really stick it to Sony for this rip off!

[Cujo101]

£425! No 20Gb version! What a rip off! With the the current exchange rate, even if you add taxes this is robbery. I have been much of a fan of the Microsoft machines but I am backing them all the way now. I hope MS bring a X360/HD-DVD drive package for around £350 and stick it to Sony they are taking the p***. Are us lot in Europe being treated like 2nd class consumers again? Absolutely.

[dso]

Its not too bad when you consider it has Blu-Ray player in it as well - with the 360 you have 2 components (360 + HD DVD drive) and loads of wires.

I'll still get one but only when the price drops - including the games

[jon smith]

Originally Posted by dso

Its not too bad when you consider it has Blu-Ray player in it as well

Isn't that the problem Sony have created for themselves though, £425 is a good price if you want a BluRay player- but way too expensive if you only want the gaming.

[barijohn]

Is it just me but

XBox 360 £280
HD DVD Drive £130

= £410. Not to different. I imagine there will have to be a price drop on the 360 in the next couple of months. It is a year old now.

[johnnyjb]

I hate it when people compare the price of a 360 and HD DVD add on against PS3.You have no choice in the matter but accept the blue ray with PS3 and thats a total and utter scam.Besides the money its about choice and Microsoft give people this with option of HD DVD and thats what i personally prefer.Obviously MS wont give their drive away but make it alot easier to purchse a games console

I know these are two greedy companies but sony seem to be pig ignorant and cant see in front of their eyes,i havent played PS3 but to be honest the two consoles must be similiar,both are top of the line techology (at some stage)

[barijohn]

To be fair I don't care either way. But I do think the consoles should be compared like for like. I imagine Microsoft at some point will include the HDDVD drive inside the 360.

Anyway if people want to pay it that is up to them, I think we expect too much to cheaply these days.

For me it is the games that matter and I haven't seen enough of the games I like on either the 360 or the PS3. Still no rush for me.

[Rasczak]

Originally Posted by barijohn

I imagine there will have to be a price drop on the 360 in the next couple of months. It is a year old now.

So is the PS3 - it's just taken longer for Sony to bring it to market...

[barijohn]

Originally Posted by Rasczak

So is the PS3 - it's just taken longer for Sony to bring it to market...

What annoys me is that it's on sale at the equivalent of £240 (60GB) in Hong Kong, which even after a period of deflation isn't that cheapest place for most consumer electronics like it used to be. Most gear can be found 10 - 20% cheaper but not this much. We're paying for their R&D costs that haven't produced all that was promised.