Hopefully - no phone + no touchscreen + $200 price tag
but it looks like if the rumors are true it will have a touchscreen
Touchscreen is not expensive nowadays I believe. If 3G is expensive as to augment the hardware cost significantly, I want to see Sony release a wifi only option.
But here is what I really want Sony do. All SKUs have 3G for music, movies and games download.
Connectivity
1. 3G but with no data plan (like Kindle). Service providers can still subsidize the device a little by having a portion on each music,movies, apps and games sold on their network. So it will work as though the service provider is a retailer.
2. 4G with data plan. The device will be more like a smartphone, but the heavy focus will still be on the gaming features. It will be heavily subsidize by service providers and it will come with expensive plans.
Hardware
1. Low-end version. 8gb and 16gb with 5 megapixel camera and LCD screen (that is if OLED is crazy expensive)
2. High-end version. 32 and 64gb with 16 megapixel camera (i know megapixel is not everything but most of the public is still not aware of that), and OLED screen.
Pricing
1. Low-end, no data plan is $149 8gb and $199 16gb.
2. Low-end, with data plan. 8gb is free, 16gb is $99.
3. High-end, no data plan is $299 8gb and $399 8gb
4. High-end, with data plan. 32gb is $199 and 64gb $299
I would also like the high-end version to be a slide-out keyboard at one side and slide-out button on the other side. It will make it very much like a tablet smartphone. And I want Sony to call the low-end version as Playstation Tablet and the high-end Playstation Tablet Smartphone.
Actually I want Sony to release an ultimate version. The reason is I think Sony needs to make a statement through that to gain respect from consumers, Sony's public image as a hardware company is plummeting. For the ultimate version, aside from the 16megapixel camera, S-master amplifier with noise cancelling (ala walkman X), 128gb of storage and a more robust build quality. It will come with a heavy price tag and will be a niche product compared to other versions. But it can build a good image to Sony as a company.
/end of dreaming