[quote name='graf1k']Yeah, what the
is that about? It's like Sony is trying to keep up with Microsoft in the "let's release 1000 SKUs of the same console" race.
Lets see:
Microsoft: Core, Arcade, Premium, Halo 3 Edition, Elite
Sony: 20GB, 40GB, 60GB, 80GB
Getting there Sony.....[/quote]
Best Buy and Sony are both silly or perhaps, the $499 80GB was not a big seller, in the wake of thousands of Americans at the verge of losing their homes, maybe the $499 didn't make sense? Maybe to stay competitive with other console prices, the $399 was a smarter buy at the hands of most average Joe or Jane the soccer mom buyer.
In any case, Best Buy is the one choosing to omit the console from their stores, If the other big stores follow suite then we may have some sort of strategy from Sony themselves.
At least with the 360, a core or arcade versions have the potential of becoming like its more "endowed" siblings, whereas the 40GB Playstation 3 will never be more than it is.
IN ANOTHER NOTE:
As for BC, this was a hot issue for all 3 companies when they were launching the next generation platforms. All three touted on "full backwards compatiblity", which was most likely to ease the EA's of the bunch with their 100+ games in the current generation gaming system. With MS being the first to bow out and claim that they are not 100% backwards compatible. Of course shortly after learning this Sony touted their next gen system not be one better than the 360 in the realm of BC. They did this at the cost to them of over $400 net loss for every console sold.
Using newer processes in manufacturing allowed them to pack the same number of transistors in a smaller package which streamlines production, along with the removable of the old Emotion Engine has cut their costs in half, enabling them to break even per console.
So I guess the true winner of BC is the Wii. BC is important to many of us who still enjoy PS2 games and is quite disappointed with the choices presented to us with the current PS3 library. I bought the PS3 for the "open" architecture in the sense that I may remove the hard drive and easily, without risk or violation of the warranty replace the OEM hard drive. So the 20GB offered with the 80GB console with it's lack of features did not make sense fiscally. Especially since I can always buy a 120GB or larger SATA 2.5" drive for relatively low prices. But I can not install the emotion chip in the 80GB PS3. I also like the PS3's ability to use USB external drives for Multimedia content, freeing the 60GB drive for game data. Region-Free gaming, Blu-ray player and Backwards compatibility with my current PS2/PS1 library makes the PS3 a sensible addition to my console collection.
So with all that said, ease on the comments regarding our decisions in which we buy certain things, because to many of us, this makes a lot of sense. Even if it does not to you. The assumption that we must be morons because we want the smaller hard drive for only the sake of BC is really prejudicial, you may find that some of us who chose the 60GB are actually pretty smart. LOL.