Sony Prices Self Out Of Market

Everyone is waiting for the PS3. It's the next generation of Sony's market-leading game console. Its groundbreaking technology allows it to play Blu-ray hi-def video discs, a first in the gaming market. Needless to say, any info Sony releases on this thing is a big deal, and is anticipated by everyone.

Except when the news is bad. Today, Sony announced the release date and price for the PS3. It comes out November 17 (waaaay later than the previously announced summer release), at a cost of (hold your ass) $499. And that's for the "base" model, which comes with, well, nothing. The most awesome part about this one is that it come with (get this) no HD video-out jack. It has an HD video player, but can't play them in HD. Talk about defeating the purpose.

However, this is a function on the "deluxe" model, which will cost you another $100. And, just for comparison's sake, the top-of-the-line XBox 360 costs $100 less than the base PS3. Oh sure, that PS3 come with USB ports and flash memory slots, but, did you need those things back when you were rockin' the Sega Genesis? Guess what: You don't need them now, either. (It's worth noting that $500 will buy you the deluxe XBox, two controllers, and a game. $500 buys a PS3 with...I don't even think it comes with a casing; it's just the guts.)

I'm not sure I understand Sony's gameplan on their electronics rollouts. First they get beat to the HD video market by HD-DVD, with a player that costs $500 less than Sony's still-unreleased Blu-ray player. And now, they're delaying the release of their overpriced game console, while Microsoft will have had the XBox 360 out for a year before PS3 debuts. Six months from now is a long time. I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft puts an HD-DVD player (their player of choice) in their machines, and adds $100 to the price sometime before PS3 debuts. Better machine, still cheaper than the PS3.

I've posted on Sony's missteps before, and they appear to be setting themselves up for another one. (Notice how my prediction of them getting a jump of the HD video market failed to happen.) We'll see how it pans out, but it ain't lookin' good.