For Sony Inc. -Bad News- They had fully intended to launch in Spring. You can make the argument that Spring was always a smoke signal just to divert attention from the 360 but i think there's a few points contradict that. Not to mention the fact that they flat out said BR IS holding the launch back...
First off, BR is definitely behind schedule (as is AACS for both HD optical formats). This was not forseen and has shifted their timeline out by <X> months. Second, missing holiday 2006 ANYWHERE is not something they were ok with obvious by the fact that they are launching in all 3 regions with only a few million units. Theyre going to be rushing to make this launch by this year with a woefully inadequate amount of product to meet demand. If this November launch was 'planned' and not delayed, they would surely have more units available to supply it.
For Sony Fans -Bad News- Aside from the 8 or so hours where there was a rumor that EU may get the PS3 in 2007, the net/net is that the release was pushed back from Spring to November, 6 months. And the fact of the matter is that for quite a few users, the low number of units available for a 2006 launch does essentially mean a 2007 launch. There will be many PS3 fans without a PS3 under their tree this year(just like the 360 last year).
For MS -Good News- I'm not saying their plan is right or wrong however, based on their strategy, this news has to be very good for MS. MS jumped through flaming hoops to have the market to themselves, right or wrong they felt it was critical. Well they just got a 'buy 6 months, get 6 months free' coupon on their early launch. Obviously they need to take advantage of the lead but based on their research they must figure this is a big deal. We'll see but i'm sure MS is happy with the news.
(Another good news/bad news for MS is the announcement of the PS3 online service. The features read like a feature set for XBL as it stands today. This is 'bad' becuase PS3 will have somethign to compete in this area. The good news is that it validates XBL and gives MS a chance to be 'better' in this regard. Sony is a hardware company and MS is a software/services company, they should have an advantage in this area. Sony goes out on a limb here because if their service is inferior to XBL, it probably would have been better to play it cool and only have a simpler version of XBL rather than compete feature-for-feature.)
For developers -Good News- Assuming they had the hardware they needed to release games for launch in June, they now have 6 months more to polish the games. Seeing what was accomplished with an extra 4 months for games like GRAW, i think the launch games could be more fully realized than they would have been. (It doesnt mean theyll be any better than 360 games being released at the same time, but there should be higher qaulity software for PS3-only owners.) If there other reasons the console is being pushed back besides BR, like Cell or RSX, then they may be no better off, but i'll stick to the facts and figure theyre getting 6 more months.
For the "Indsutry" -Bad news- The fact is that there are people who will not enter the next gen in 2006 because of this late launch and small amounts of PS3 hardware. This coupled with the spectre of the PS3 being more widely available in 2007 will keep them, and their money, on the sidelines.
For MS Fans -Irrelevant- What do you care? Youve got your console and lots of games this year. Mind your own business and go play your 360.
For the multi-console fan -Irrelevant- Theres plenty to play if you own a 360, so its not like youll be bored this holiday season without a PS3. The revolution doesnt seem to have any technology in it thats going to delay its mass production in 2006. SO between the Rev and 360 there should be plenty to keep the hardcore console gamer busy until they can get a PS3 in their filthy hands.