NPD January 2010

[2real4tv]

They better get their butts together or they are going to lose out on a lot of sales...March is right around the corner.

 

[Rangers]

Exact opposite for Xbox 360 Elites in my area. I haven't seen this much stock on the Best Buy & Walmart shelves in a long time(15-20 units per store). Though I haven't seen a single Arcade unit. With MS stance on the limited edition SKUs(FFXIII & SCC) with the 250gb drive @ $400, I don't see any price drops or SKU changes for the Elite till May or June. Arcade might be a different story though.

Tommy McClain

Yeah thats strange because thats the same thing I've been seeing. All Elites, no Arcades.

I dont think MS would drop price of one and not the other. You dont want to make one SKU odd out by making the other too attractive.

My theory is the next drop (whenever) is to 169 Arcade and 249 Elite (comparable percentage drop on both)

 

[2real4tv]

Yeah thats strange because thats the same thing I've been seeing. All Elites, no Arcades.

I dont think MS would drop price of one and not the other. You dont want to make one SKU odd out by making the other too attractive.

My theory is the next drop (whenever) is to 169 Arcade and 249 Elite (comparable percentage drop on both)

Isn't the arcades the only ones they are losing money on?

 

[zed]

Checked BB, target and walmart and is sold out everywhere...whats going on? Are they having a parts issue?

I just had a look amazon, only a couple of 120gb ps3's left
Something is fishy, why on earth would the be having supply issues now, its not like theyre gonna issue a slimmer slim version,
perhaps theyre gearing up to release them with the wand included, about 3 years too late

 

[djskribbles]

Wow, even the 250GB PS3 is currently not in stock at amazon (says available on Feb. 28th). Unless they're having a big Feb., how could Sony let this happen? The 120GB were sold out online at times dating back to late December.

 

[patsu]

This may be one of the reasons:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/22/sony-slips-two-new-ps3-slim-models-through-the-fcc/

Our favorite pseudonym company out there, Sand Dollar Enterprise, is back with a pair of new filings with the FCC pointing to a refresh of the PlayStation 3 Slim hardware. We don't know specifically what has been overhauled inside, though the two new SKUs, CECH-2101A and CECH-2101B, mimic the coding scheme of the current hardware, which is CECH-2001A and B. The alphabetical differentiation relates to different hard drive sizes inside, with 120GB and 250GB options available today and likely to be replicated in the forthcoming consoles.

...

 

[djskribbles]

Maybe they're coming out with some bundles. Weren't there rumors of a GoWIII bundle? Or does a new FCC filing suggest a new hardware revision?

 

[patsu]

Yes it does. Different hardware, not new hardware. There is a slight difference in language.

 

[expletive]

I dont know what the latest is on the PS3 being hacked but...

Maybe from what theyve seen online about said exploit, theyve realized a clear and present danger to the security of the system and promptly revised the hardware in response?

 

[patsu]

I read somewhere (Can't recall where exactly) that newer PS3 motherboards already have security features not found in earlier models. So it may be a constant improvement.

The FCC discovery kinda ties in with a new PS3 SKU (after PS3 Slim) rumor last year. I thought it was a printing or translation error at that time since the source was an Asian contractor. The tight inventory also points to a possible new SKU.

May be coincidence, but we will know by end of the year.

EDIT: There are also rumblings that OtherOS will be removed from all models in the next firmware upgrade. Now, if true, that would be targeted at George Hotz' hack.

EDIT 2: Slightly more details about the FCC leak here:
http://www.sonyinsider.com/2010/02/23/two-new-ps3-models-show-up-on-fcc/

 

[Silent_Buddha]

Will be a blunder of epic proportions if they mistimed introduction of a new hardware revision and completely halted production of previous version, if they don't have sufficient supplies by March. The lineup for March gives them the best chance to move lots of consoles before the holiday season.

It's not like they didn't know what titles would be launching in that timeframe.

Regards,
SB

 

[patsu]

It is said that the Holiday performance exceeded their expectation. They probably have their own reasons why a new SKU is needed. Without any concrete info, it's hard to say what they are up to.

 

[upnorthsox]

Well a 45nm GPU and/or HDMI 1.4 would warrant a sku change, though a change in wifi or bluetooth chip suppliers could require an FCC filing. There's also Samsung now manufacturing XDR but I doubt that would warrant either.

Or it could be all of the above, you certainly can't rule out anything that might help bring down costs and if it ties in with an overarching corporate PR push (which hdmi 1.4 certainly would) that's definately in play.

At the very least, with stocks low and a big month coming up we won't have long to wait to find out.

 

[dobwal]

Well a 45nm GPU and/or HDMI 1.4 would warrant a sku change, though a change in wifi or bluetooth chip suppliers could require an FCC filing. There's also Samsung now manufacturing XDR but I doubt that would warrant either.

Or it could be all of the above, you certainly can't rule out anything that might help bring down costs and if it ties in with an overarching corporate PR push (which hdmi 1.4 certainly would) that's definately in play.

At the very least, with stocks low and a big month coming up we won't have long to wait to find out.

Neither addition would force you to dry up current supply so thoroughly. This would be a rather harsh transition for such simple additions.

Maybe its...

http://www.thestandard.com/news/2010/02/04/sony-returns-profit-cuts-full-year-loss-forecast.

Sony said it remains on track to achieve cost reductions of ¥330 billion this fiscal year. Sony is cutting the number of suppliers it deals with to reduce procurement costs and is ahead of target on realignment of its manufacturing plants. The company had planned to close about six of its 57 factories worldwide but by March 2010 it expects to have just 46 plants in operation with a further plant closure planned.

 

[PARANOiA]

I imagine it's going to be hard for Sony to meet their targeted sales number for the financial year given their supply cockup. Surely this couldn't have been a surprise at their last quarterly financial review.

 

[AzBat]

Yeah thats strange because thats the same thing I've been seeing. All Elites, no Arcades.

Well, I was at Best Buy again today. 99 Elite units!! Over half didn't even have the Holiday game bundle. They only had 8 Arcade units! This week they are running the $30 free gift card for the Arcade & $50 free gift card for the Elites. That's insane amount this soon after the holidays & crazy deals too.

I dont think MS would drop price of one and not the other. You dont want to make one SKU odd out by making the other too attractive.

Agreed.

My theory is the next drop (whenever) is to 169 Arcade and 249 Elite (comparable percentage drop on both)

The only I can see this is if the $249 price is a temporary drop to clear out the 120gb units right before they ship the new non-special edition 250gb Elite at $299. I'm thinking they'll want to time that announcement the week of E3. I really can't see them releasing a 250gb Elite lower than $300 until Natal ships in November.

Tommy McClain

 

[AzBat]

Isn't the arcades the only ones they are losing money on?

That's what a lot of people say, but I'm not convinced. I think they're probably at the least breaking even.

Tommy McClain

 

[NathansFortune]

Neither addition would force you to dry up current supply so thoroughly. This would be a rather harsh transition for such simple additions.

Maybe its...

http://www.thestandard.com/news/2010/02/04/sony-returns-profit-cuts-full-year-loss-forecast.

I think that's the point. The current lot of slims were obviously too costly for Sony to meet financial commitments so they slowed production before they had stockpiled enough of the new parts to make new ones. It shouldn't be a problem as the new shipments should arrive in March to quench the dry channel, probably a 12/13 containers from China will be enough to meet their fiscal requirements as well as monetary.