Lack of blue laser diodes responsible for manufacturing delay

[Acert93]

I guess this is affecting HDDVD manufacturing too, then. Only difference is that, unlike Sony, Toshiba doesn't need to get 6 million HDDVD players out of the door by March...

Correction I see that you are in on the conspiracy

Edit: looks like that horse was already beat to a pulp! Boy I was late...

 

[blakjedi]

I thought it was because of the HDMI 1.3 transmitters? I thought Sony was buying everyone that they could get their hands on!

 

[one]

If I underdtand this report correctly, the OEM manufacturers in Japan and China are claiming the BR diodes and CELL processors are both in short supply.

Who are they? I've not known blu-laser diodes and CELL are manufactured outside of Sony, except for Nichia in Japan for diodes and IBM in the US for CELL.

 

[liverkick]

And if I understand things correctly, it'd probably be a breach of confidentiality on behalf of OEM manufacturers to talk about specific component shortages. I don't really think they'd do that, so let's just say that any such rumors are likely to have other, less reliable origins...

Seriously. Its amusing how some are nigh eager to take this stuff at face value.

 

[scooby_dooby]

Who are they? I've not known blu-laser diodes and CELL are manufactured outside of Sony, except for Nichia in Japan for diodes and IBM in the US for CELL.

I don't know, that's just what this report is saying. it could be compeltely false for all we know, or not.

 

[one]

I don't know, that's just what this report is saying. it could be compeltely false for all we know, or not.

It's not what the report is saying.

Sony's OEM makers in China and Japan are still preparing for volume production of the PS3 and there is a short supply of blue laser diodes, a key component of Blu-ray Disc (BD) pick-up heads

Those "OEM makers" in China are mere assembly plants and chipset manufacturers. The second sentence is completely unrelated to the first one.

 

[scooby_dooby]

It's not what the report is saying.
Those "OEM makers" in China are mere assembly plants and chipset manufacturers. The second sentence is completely unrelated to the first one.

Well I'm not sure what report you're reading, but I;m reading the one at the top of the OP:

Sony's OEM makers in China and Japan are still preparing for volume production of the PS3 and there is a short supply of blue laser diodes, a key component of Blu-ray Disc (BD) pick-up heads, and cell processors, the sources pointed out,

 

[PiNkY]

Afaik Nichia is the prime producer of blu ray's laser diodes (having 70% market share in high end LEDs and laser diodes). But they entered a licensing agreement with sony in regards to the blu ray lasers, so sony can also produce them. However every company involved is clamoring about their short supply. Of course, sony is reserving high numbers for ps3 production. But as there obviously are supply problems for companies producing blu ray players in the 10,000s, securing enough for multi million product launch might be challenging.

 

[Powderkeg]

It's not what the report is saying.
Those "OEM makers" in China are mere assembly plants and chipset manufacturers. The second sentence is completely unrelated to the first one.

What second sentence? You cut the ONE sentence in half and left out the second half, but it was only one sentence.

However, Sony's OEM makers in China and Japan are still preparing for volume production of the PS3 and there is a short supply of blue laser diodes, a key component of Blu-ray Disc (BD) pick-up heads, and cell processors, the sources pointed out, noting that the situation may halve the total expected shipment volume for November and December.

That is all just one sentence.

 

[patsu]

My view is this:

Sony will probably have trouble juggling resources end of the year. The target numbers will likely be met partially (like all recent console launches). There may even be reports of lost sales to Xbox360 and Wii, plus the usual "My PS3 died !" complains.

The concerns raised by Sony manufacturing partners are not surprising since they serve as Sony's warning system (They can't meet their commitments if Sony don't give them the parts). The situation probably change by the day, and many PS3s will be shipped via air. I just don't think Sony is ignorant of all these possibilities ahead of time.

I feel that as long as Sony guarantees the following:

* Demonstrate PS3's best-in-class Blu-ray playback (especially dual layer ones), and constant supply of Blu-ray titles.

* Demonstrate great exclusive first party titles and promise more to come. Also remind users of great games in the existing PS2 game library

* 1 more alternative angle for cushion (e.g., open network platform with built-in Linux support, launch of living room standards like DLNA, or something useful and not gimmicky)

... they should do fine this generation. The tide will turn as supply goes back up, and price continues to drop to acceptable level (You don't want to go too cheap though).

PS3's vibe was very positive until the announced price. So people appreciate the values but are just unwilling to pay for it up-front. At this early stage, I believe there are still buffers in Sony's business plan. Come on MS and Nintendo... push Sony harder, so we can get good stuff cheaper, faster. ;-)