Slimmer PlayStations to boost sales.

[karl]

Sony is launching two slimmer versions of its PlayStation 3 console to boost sales of the ageing games machine.

One version will feature 12 gigabytes of flash memory, allowing it to become the cheapest PS3 to date.

The other has a 500GB hard disk and will be sold for roughly the price of the previous 320GB model.


See full story here: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19646137

[Darkness.]

Thanks, but no thanks. I'm quite happy with my 40GB PS3. Making something slimmer doesn't make it better.

[Azunite]

Sony's gonna bankrupt if they stop earning money from the PS. They need to think about something good.

Fast.

[Rayquaza]

12GB? Unless you have no interest in storing videos, music or downloading games then go right ahead, but that's way too small for me. My 250GB SLIM VERSION (Yes, they've already released a slim so what is the fucking point I don't understand) is good enough for me.

[Foamy]

Shouldn't they be focusing on the ps4? Why worry about "slimmer" when you could think "newer"?

[Sugaree]

Shouldn't they be focusing on the ps4? Why worry about "slimmer" when you could think "newer"?

Next gen consoles are at least four or five years off. This is why I don't get console gaming, because it takes too long for next generation things to be developed. Hell, the PS2 was manufactured for 10 years and still had a steady flow of games when the PS3 hit the market. Sony has a thing to keep their products on the shelves and upgrade them to the furthest extent possible before considering a new product. That's all well and good, but the PS3 has hardly improved to the point where I could say it's time for a PS4.

[TigerBoy]

Really can't see where 'slimmer' is desirable, let alone a selling point in a console.

Slimmer leads to hotter. Hotter leads to higher chance of component failure.

Compensating for this could just mean a fecking noisy fan working full time, and most likely just enough cooling to keep the failure rate outside of the guarantee period (not that I'm cynical).

No thanks.

[World Eater]

Next gen consoles are at least four or five years off. This is why I don't get console gaming, because it takes too long for next generation things to be developed. Hell, the PS2 was manufactured for 10 years and still had a steady flow of games when the PS3 hit the market. Sony has a thing to keep their products on the shelves and upgrade them to the furthest extent possible before considering a new product. That's all well and good, but the PS3 has hardly improved to the point where I could say it's time for a PS4.

Basically this.

I have a 160GB PS3. It's ok I guess. Sometimes I wish I had more space, but it is what it is lol. Speaking of which I need to erase some stuff off it anyway.

[TheMatrix]

My 160GB PS3 works just fine. I don't need a new one, and the size isn't really an issue as it just sits in the cabinet. It's not really a portable handheld, so it shouldn't make much difference.

[Lost in the Echo]

Wow that is pretty fucking stupid, this is the most idiotic thing i've ever heard. What the fuck are you trying to do exactly sony? You will probably lose more money making the shit you'll gain, you already have a PS3 slim. Also making it slimmer doesn't really do shit besides make it weigh less. Damn this so fucking stupid its unbelievable lol.

[Axw_JD]

Next gen consoles are at least four or five years off. This is why I don't get console gaming, because it takes too long for next generation things to be developed. Hell, the PS2 was manufactured for 10 years and still had a steady flow of games when the PS3 hit the market. Sony has a thing to keep their products on the shelves and upgrade them to the furthest extent possible before considering a new product. That's all well and good, but the PS3 has hardly improved to the point where I could say it's time for a PS4.

The first next generation home console is launching in a little under 2 months (Wii U). Next generation handheld consoles launched already (3DS and PSV), and one of them already passed the 10 million mark

This is just sony trying to minimize costs and maximize profit for the remaining PS3 models, and have something to say in the hardware front, while they are waiting to see what ideas they can steal from the Wii U and ready themselves for another embarrasing E3.

[Sugaree]

The first next generation home console is launching in a little under 2 months (Wii U). Next generation handheld consoles launched already (3DS and PSV), and one of them already passed the 10 million mark

This is just sony trying to minimize costs and maximize profit for the remaining PS3 models, and have something to say in the hardware front, while they are waiting to see what ideas they can steal from the Wii U and ready themselves for another embarrasing E3.

For what we've seen of the Wii U, I wouldn't call it next gen. It's basically Wii HD if you ask me. Wii U is what the Wii should have been and COULD HAVE been when it was originally released. I think Nintendo realized they were a generation behind too late, so they had no other option.

I wouldn't consider the handhelds next gen either. The same hardware capabilities are still on par with the regular home consoles. Handhelds were made to be convenient on-the-go gaming, and thanks to advances in technology, have come to par with consoles. However, it's just the mini version of the console and presents nothing new other than "Hey, you can walk around the Mall and play games!". Until a handheld gives me full enough assurance that it is running on new hardware not found current OR next gen consoles, where I can either use a disc or download format, and that I can have a smooth GPU and graphic renders, then I'll really take handhelds more seriously.

[TheMatrix]

I wouldn't consider the handhelds next gen either. The same hardware capabilities are still on par with the regular home consoles. Handhelds were made to be convenient on-the-go gaming, and thanks to advances in technology, have come to par with consoles. However, it's just the mini version of the console and presents nothing new other than "Hey, you can walk around the Mall and play games!". Until a handheld gives me full enough assurance that it is running on new hardware not found current OR next gen consoles, where I can either use a disc or download format, and that I can have a smooth GPU and graphic renders, then I'll really take handhelds more seriously.

And that's just the issue: You trade off size for picture quality.
Do you have the PSP-1000? It was a great console, and not too bad of graphics for its time. But it was heavy, and not exactly small or light. The PSP-2000 and 3000 were lighter and smaller, but they in turn didn't have as great of graphics.
The same applies to the PS2 and now the PS3. And the Wii as well.

This move from Sony doesn't make sense to me, for that reason. People still prefer better quality out of a console as opposed to size because it sits on a shelf anyways.

[Perfectly Flawed]

Well that's just great... How long again until consoles get within 8 years of a modern PC? What ever happened to old school consoles that strived to be the best and be better than their competitors? Now we just have 2 major companies taking advantage of very similar consoles and "fanboyism". Sony and Microsoft want you to hate each other, it's great marketing.

[Sugaree]

And that's just the issue: You trade off size for picture quality.

Pfft, no. I just don't want to get into handheld gaming until the picture quality becomes better. I simply want the size not to matter and picture quality and hardware capability to be on par, and it just isn't.

[IAMWILL]

I have a 160Gig Slim PS3 and love it. Plenty of space. I use it a couple hours/day on weekends and have only had it warn me of possibly overheating once in ~ 3 years.

[Magus]

That's quite funny.

They had a large PS, and a Slim PS(psone) a large PS2 and a Slim PS2.

They had the regular size PS3, Slim PS3 and now an extra slim PS3?

The only way to cure the slowed down sales is that game company should produce PS1 and PS2 physical reissues instead of PSN downloadsm and Sony should cheapen the licenses.

That's my only suggestion.

[james wolf]

I keep getting annoyed by this, and the previous slim. I bought an 80gb ps3 in around 08/09 for about £300 and now this comes with 500gb for a so liar price :(

[Azunite]

You know, Sony could actually make remakes of PS1 and PS2 games.

That will make them rich.

[Infidelitas]

The only reason I'll be buying it (I was going to buy one before I found out about the new model) is because I can get it cheaper at work for more storage.

[Skyhawk]

I'll stick with my craptop for games. :) The PS3 and the Xbox 360 are old, I actually sold my 1st gen Xbox last week because it was so old.