PSX Details

ChryZ · Oct 17, 2003

Anyone remember "They Live" ? ... those white billboards "OBEY" ?

nondescript · Oct 22, 2003

Don't know if this has been posted yet -

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/54/33514.html

Sony to ship PSX for $750
By Tony Smith
Posted: 22/10/2003 at 08:23 GMT

Sony will offer its PSX PlayStation-cum-personal video recorder for under $800, the consumer electronics giant said yesterday.

Two models will ship later this year in Japan, one with a 160GB hard drive, the other with 250GB of hard disk storage - the latter enough to hold 13 and a half days' worth of TV programming, and both larger than the 120GB capacity originally planned for the machine. As yet Sony has not said which of these will be offered to overseas markets - or when.

The Japanese models - dubbed the DESR-5000 and DESR-7000, respectively - will be priced at a US equivalent of $750 and $907. In addition to TiVO-style features, the machines contain PlayStation 2, which also provides PlayStation 1 compatibility.

Programmes recorded on the hard drive can be transferred to DVD using the machines' built in DVD-R/RW drive. A DVD+RW version will be coming further down the line, Sony said. Current machines also provide a Memory Stick slot and a USB port for peripherals.

The PSX is the first Sony system to be based on the company's home grown 90nm EE+GS@90nm processor, which combines the PS2's Emotion Engine and Graphics Synthesiser chips on a single die. Sony is increasingly trying to pull chip development in-house, using its own silicon to drive all future hardware products.

Yeah, I know it is from the Register, but even the Register can't screw up on price quotes.

ChryZ · Dec 15, 2003

maskrider · Dec 15, 2003

So, can only be sure about GR chip from NEC, the 3D Y/C is from Panasonic, still unable to see the other MPEG chips. I thought that Panasonic was the MPEG-2 encoder from the previous pics (they are the same size as the 3D Y/C, unless they use CSP than FPGA).

PC-Engine · Dec 15, 2003

Yay the PCB inards fetish makes another appearance from the launch of a new piece of hardware....

Anyway it seems there's a big NEC chip on the underside of the mainboard.

Deadmeat · Dec 15, 2003

...

Does anyone see an IOP here, the one with "LSI" marking on??? I know SCEI did not integrate one into PSX2OAC and remains a separate ASIC.

I haven't seen one on the "PSX" board yet.

Panajev2001a · Dec 15, 2003

Re: ...

Deadmeat said:
Does anyone see an IOP here, the one with "LSI" marking on??? I know SCEI did not integrate one into PSX2OAC and remains a separate ASIC.

I haven't seen one on the "PSX" board yet.

I think it would not have LSI on any more, I think what you are looking for is the SCE chip you can see in one of the shots, the new "Dragon" I/O chip which includes the IOP or I/O CPU.

Deadmeat · Dec 15, 2003

...

Sorry, IOP not included in the dragon chipset. SCEI can't include it as long as LSI refuses to license it to SCEI, this is why it remained a discrete chipset until now and why SCEI wants to get rid of it from its design by all mean.

Panajev2001a · Dec 15, 2003

Re: ...

Deadmeat said:
Sorry, IOP not included in the dragon chipset. SCEI can't include it as long as LSI refuses to license it to SCEI, this is why it remained a discrete chipset until now and why SCEI wants to get rid of it from its design by all mean.

Ok, I was wrong then, sorry.

nobie · Dec 15, 2003

heh, $750 is still way too much for this thing, let alone $900. It would be attractive at ~$400.

nondescript · Dec 15, 2003

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=ret&aid=2710

PSX rolls out in Japan, but analysts are unconvinced

Rob Fahey 15:45 15/12/2003
Specification blunder bad for public image of new device

Sony's integrated games console, DVD recorder and digital video recorder has arrived in Japan, but analysts now seem unconvinced by the machine following the company's decision to scale back its specifications.

Speaking to the Associated Press, analyst Kazumasa Kubota of Okasan Securities described the system as a "publicity stunt" and predicted that it would "sell well for a month or two, but the momentum isn't likely to hold up after that."

His sentiments were echoed by Kazuya Yamamoto of UFJ Tsubasa, who claimed that "lowering the specifications of the PSX hurt Sony's image," and stated the belief that the system has failed to deliver on its promise to be a "superior machine as a DVD recorder."

Strong words indeed, but it's not entirely clear where the hostility towards Sony's new system arises from. Even without the features deprecated in the latest announcement (which include MP3 playback, display of certain image file formats and the ability to read CD-R and certain rewriteable DVD formats), Sony's PSX offering is still more feature rich than any rival DVD recorder, and crucially, is also significantly cheaper.

To top it off, it's now emerged that many of the features which have been removed from the specification will be added to the system using software updates over the Internet in the coming months - with MP3 playback and support for all the image formats, among other things, expected to be reinstated shortly, while other features which weren't even in the original specification may appear over time.

Comments from other divisions of Sony have indicated that by the time the PSX arrives in territories outside Japan, the full original spec will have been restored. Given the attractive design, comprehensive feature set and low price of the Sony system, it's hard to believe that the buying public in Japan - who were apparently so taken with the PSX at its public unveiling this autumn - will be entirely put off by the temporary removal of some minor functions.

cthellis42 · Dec 15, 2003

nobie said:
heh, $750 is still way too much for this thing, let alone $900. It would be attractive at ~$400.

Only if you're coming to it from a gamer's standpoint. If you're coming at it from the target audience, it's cheaper (by MSRP) than all but one Panasonic model (the only major company otherwise really delving into DVD-R/HD PVR combo devices), more feature rich (especially if software updates can add most of the things it's had to strip for holiday launch), significantly cheaper than other large-capacity HD equivalents, much cheaper also than media center PC's which haven't picked up much steam yet, and offering one particular capacity on top no one can but them.

It remains to be seen just what the public WANTS from these devices, though, and how much they are willing to pay. Will set-top DVD recorders be popular enough to be a necessary device that folks will look to merge it with hard-drive PVR's? Do they want to shell out more for large capacity, or do they just want "the abilities" right now and to save price in the meanwhile? Are they going to continue with more known and popular (and cheap) players like TiVo when competitors are getting more known and don't have a subscription upkeep? How low will retailers ultimately be offering players below MSRP, which is where the price difference matters to the consumer?

The market has only just started opening up so it's hard to see where it will go, but the PSX remains a solid entry all around.

akira888 · Dec 16, 2003

Question:

If the IOP is not on the "PSX" mainboard then how are PSOne games executed? Or are they?

maskrider · Dec 16, 2003

akira888 said:
Question:

If the IOP is not on the "PSX" mainboard then how are PSOne games executed? Or are they?

It is not on chip, but it is on board. I think should be that BGA chip at the back besides the EE+GS.

ChryZ · Dec 16, 2003

ChryZ · Dec 17, 2003

Deadmeat · Dec 18, 2003

...

I kind of feel sorry for these poor campaign girls who has to brave the freezing weather to stand outside in skimpy outfit. Evil Sony indeed.

cthellis42 · Dec 18, 2003

Yeah, but I always feel good for ME when good-looking girls are brave enough to wear skimpy outfits.

Funny how that works out.

'twer also in the 50's out there today--I certainly wish it was similarly freezing out here instead of my pleasant windy, overcast, ice-falling 30's.

maskrider · Dec 18, 2003

Re: ...

Deadmeat said:
I kind of feel sorry for these poor campaign girls who has to brave the freezing weather to stand outside in skimpy outfit. Evil Sony indeed.

Do you mean only Sony send girls on the promotion booth during this X'mas period ?

I am sure you can see this kind of promotional campaign easily in many places from many companies.

London Geezer · Dec 18, 2003

{sarcasm ON}

They probably patented it. In their supreme evilness, only they can strip girls naked and put them outside in the cold to promote their products. Should anyone do something similar, they would have to pay a royalty fee.

EVIL EVILLLLLLLLL SONYYYY!!!

{sarcasm OFF}

PSX Details

ChryZ

nondescript

ChryZ

maskrider

Henshin !

PC-Engine

Deadmeat

Panajev2001a

Deadmeat

Panajev2001a

nobie

nondescript

cthellis42

Hoopy Frood

akira888

maskrider

Henshin !

ChryZ

ChryZ

Deadmeat

cthellis42

Hoopy Frood

maskrider

Henshin !

London Geezer

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