Comments on: Rumor: PS3 Slim to be manufactured in July?

The Chinese-language site UDN.com is reporting that Sony has signed manufacturing agreements with two Taiwanese-based companies to build the new, smaller version of the PS3 in July.

[jrshorti]

first! I would like to see more ps3 owners. It would lead to more people to pone in COD MW 2

[jaguar717]

"pone"? The type of loser who still thinks it's cool to post "first" should at least know how to spell "pwn"...

[jrshorti]

Jag, you just corrected me on how to spell a made up word, who is the loser...?

[rich12313]

@jrshorti
you cant even spell a made up word correctly. ha give me a break...we just pwned you.

[Windywoo]

The word pwn (if you can call it that) comes from a common mistyping of own due to the p key being right next to the o. The word own in this context is itself an adaptation of the usual meaning. In these circumstances I think he can spell it how he likes.

[ellunchboxo]

SECOND

[MarkLatto]

I could care less about the slimmer feature, what is the positive of this? I mean the PS3 is huge but who cares, you're not carrying it around. My guess is its cheaper to manufacture or something of that sort combined with a possible rejuvenation of the brand are good for sony.

[don_bidarian]

Personally I prefer big PS3, it looks cooler.

[bobbyfly16]

Same here, the smaller something is to me, the less parts they need to use which leads to paying less to make up for those supplies. Thou I thing it might cost a little more since the parts need to be more advance.
Question, does the PS3 over heat like the 360 because I heard instead of a "Red Ring of Death", they get a "Blinking Red light of death". If it does, do you think making it slimmer might solve that problem?

@don psh looks cooler, but I doubt it will be cooler.

[Renegade Knight]

True enough. Smaller is less important than other feautres. Like PS2 compatiblity (bring it back), and using less power (which smaller may help with). Quieter would be nice.

[tmt345]

@bobby

Its called the yellow light of death, it happened with some 60 gb PS3's a long time ago. Sony was quick to fix it, unlike Microsoft.

[tmt345]

Honestly I don't think they need a new model for another year or so. Maybe a price drop though. If they do have a price drop I hope they have a $300 model thats like the PS3 now, and a $400 one that has 4 usb slots and a card reader and a larger hd. The PS3 is doing better than the 360 did in its first 2.5 years so I really don't see the need for a price drop. Can't wait for Uncharted 2!

[make_or_break]

The 2 1/2 yr mark is irrelevant and misses the point. Not too long ago Sony's box was catching the 360 but for a while now the 360 continues to hold the per week sales worldwide lead over the PS3...presumably because of the cheaper point-of-sale price point. Besides, even if you carried out the current PS3 sales rate for another year (in theory catching up to where MSFT is now), that rate barely makes a dent in the the overall lead that the 360 currently enjoys...plus it's not like in that time Microsoft is going to put the 360's retail sales on hiatus because they feel pity for Sony's problems.

[tomballmemphis]

The slimmer design is tied to lowering the manufacturing costs. I think it's a great move if Sony has reduced the manufacturing costs enough to break even AND offer a price cut to consumers. I also hope they put some USB ports in the rear of the console.

[blusky08]

It better have HDMI 1.4.

Sony has been talking about rolling out 3D media for the PS3. The industry is supposedly working to adopt 3D standards this year, and HDMI 1.4 will likely be part of that standard since one of its touted benefits is 3D capability.(BTW, it has a new smaller connector than previous HDMI versions). Also, by next season we'll likely start seeing HDMI 1.4 on HDTVs.

[make_or_break]

Savings? Big whoop.

If this redesign is more than just vaporware, how much more will they actually save? So it uses less plastic...how many saved PENNIES is that really worth? Sony has already edited out plenty of 'stuff' from the earliest PS3s, so is it really saving anything in a redesign? Hell, what about the added COST of the redesign itself? All the retooling and reengineering doesn't come for free.

[Mergatroid Mania]

When your manufacturing millions of units every penny counts. If the ICs Sony was using all get integrated into a single package, or at least they reduce the IC count by half, they not only save money in resources used to make the plastic case, but in the part count, in the actual populating of the circuit boards, and in other ways. If they reduce the heat they may be able to use a less expensive cooling system. Also, the reduced size and slimmer design may appeal to the ladies (the same ladies who bought all the "piano black" TVs making it hard to find a TV that's not piano black any more).
The actual engineering cost is small compared to the savings in the manufacturing. After all, it's not like you just lay off your engineers if they don't have anything to do. Especially in Japan.

[tcr071]

If it doesn't come with a slimmed down price no one is going to care. Maybe I can get a deal on left over stock from the old models or from people selling their "bulky" ones on craigslist.

[paulimusmaximus]

Oh man, another article about the ps3. Now we're gonna get comments from everyone about how they want it cheap, and others about how good a deal it is over the xbox for $399. And what are the chances it's gonna happen? Probably about as much as the supposed price cut that was supposed to happen a few months ago. If I was Sony I'd be pissed, because personally if I was considering buying a PS3, I'd obviously wait to see if they had a price cut, or a new version before I bought one, and then it probably won't happen anyway.

[MickeyRogers]

If the ps3 is real and it cost less to manufacture then i don't think there going to start the price tag at a reasonable price. Look at the PSP GO. Supposedly it cost less to make than the first PSP. Yet Sony price's it at 250. Sony needs to rethink there stragedy on trying to get back on top of the gaming market.

[Lerianis3]

You have a point there. Sony is getting their butt whooped in the gaming market right now, so it's NOT a good idea to keep on hiking up the prices on things when they cost LESS to make in the short or long run.
It's just STUPID, and Sony just cannot learn that lesson.

[Jayemmbee]

Slim better = Price Cut but not = Lack of Features

Sony better do something big and do it fast...xbox360 is holding all the cards

[Donniebrasco]

I still think I am going to pull the trigger on one at 339 on Dell Home. I've only waited this long because I don't have a ton of time to game anymore, and I already have a blu-ray I got with my TV free from Amazon. My guess is the "slim" thing is just a minor reboot to perk up sales and give an excuse for some discounts on the "big" version.

[mjw149]

But you can always get it cheaper at SonyStyle.

[Donniebrasco]

I know, but I've decided Its not worth getting a credit card to save another 40 bucks.

[clrgj2]

I waited for the slim ps2 and now i'm waiting for the slim ps3!

[clrgj2]

Of course you have to think when people buy it by the thousands, those PENNIES become DOLLARS. The difference they get from redesigning and selling these slim once are significant.

[roachbrain]

Sony should really address this rumor and state if any of this is true or not. All this does is delay people that were going to buy a PS3 to wait and see if it or the current models will be cheaper. Might not make much of a difference but it can hinder sales a bit.

[play7]

Well Late July and Aud is when sells of "EVERYTHING" IS GREATER :/

At the Moment their is "NO" reports of "ANY SUCH RUMORS IN JAPAN HERE" Its just ASSUMPTION as always. In a few weeks well know the correct answers and not a fact "CHINESE" Rumor........ :/ Never trust these things coing out of chinese the rumors. UCK :/

[ArsFragica]

PS3 is the worst hardware PR disaster in a matter of decades, I mean the thing just sucks plainly.....too expensive, features you don't need, long loading times, no backward compatibility, PSN sucks,still doesn't have more triple A quality games than xbox 360, I mean give me one good reason why I should buy a PS3?

[partoflife]

PR disaster yes... but if I recall correctly... what of the red circle of death for the 360??? Now thats a hardware problem. I've had my PS3 for two years now and no problems. Does your 360 play blu ray? Is your online network free? Does your controller not use batteries? Does your 360 have wifi? Sounds like four good reasons for me.

[zschork]

Yeah the free online was what got me since i rarely play and dont want to waste money on something i rarely use.

[kalel33]

All online content and access is free on XBL, except playing with others. You can still get everything else online.

[Lerianis3]

And playing with others is what people care about! That is the reason why people don't like the XBox360's online services: you have to PAY EACH MONTH to play people online, and frankly.... it gets too expensive after awhile.

[darkr]

@:Lerianis
ummmmm where are you getting your information

yoiu pay yearly at 39-50bucks a month (depending on whenever you live in the US or canada)

and you get much better service than the free PSN

everything from less lag to MORE people on the network when your playing games due to people actually on the service and a horrid interface compared to the Wii and the Xbox plus you can msg people accross games or even your non gaming friends due to the fact that MS uses msn sony could've went with yahoo but decided not to

if you think i'm a xbox fanboy i own a ps3 not a xbox and MGS4 and COD 4

the constant problem with playing COD 4 it takes too long and has too much lag also affects other games

[lordnykkon]

I imagine as other brands break the $100 Blu-ray player ceiling, Sony will follow suit with the PS3's price point. Certainly retail costs can also decrease as manufacturing a product becomes more efficient on the assembly line; however my question is how this beast of a system can get slimmer? Do we think Sony will go the route of the PS2 slim and place the power brick on the outside? Perhaps by gutting out components like the emotion chip and media card reader, they are now finally getting around to redesigning a chassis to accommodate this freed space?

[d--keller]

Why are they wasting time with a Slim PS3? It's not that big to begin with. Save it as a cool add on when you launch something non-fanboys might care about like bringing back PS2 emulation. Wasting their bullets again. Sony sure is dumb sometimes. They are really testing this 10 year cycle idea.

[partoflife]

I love my PS3 and looking forward to the slim version so I have an extra one for my bedroom and travel. So I think the slim down version is a good idea especially as they near the halfway point of it's console life. Though I am a fan and willing to buy the slim at any price... fact of the matter is blu-ray players even sony players are nearing the 200 hundred mark so I definitely agree; they now need drop it to 300 cause they are losing the blu ray incentive to buy the PS3. Part of the reason the blu ray format has emerged as the victor and is picking up speed as the next generation format is because of the PS3. They must keep the incentive within reach of the mass market.

[alpentalcharger]

Fat...slim? (yawn)

Games please!

[1kingsfan]

That's where I'm at! I've bought all the games I'm currently interested in and finally went back to monopolizing my husband's 360. . .AND I know what you're thinking (female gamer.....weird) :-) however, the lack of games is my main problem. I love the hardware and it's the best blu-ray player on the market. . .yet. . .the game selection is what I think holds it back. People would care less about the price if there were (a) more exclusive titles because we keep losing them to the 360 and (b) MORE GAMES SONY FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!