Sony planning 80GB version of PlayStation 3

[dmiller68]

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. is planning a new version of the PlayStation 3 game console with a higher-capacity hard-disk drive, according to a U.S. regulatory filing made by the company.

The filing to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission was made earlier this month to notify the FCC of a change to the game console's Bluetooth module. The FCC is the radio regulator in the U.S. and as such all new products that use radio or changes to these products must be submitted to the organization for approval before they can be sold.

Included in the filing's cover letter is notification of the new model: "The model CECHE01 to be added by the difference of the capacity of hard disk." It then says the new model will have an 80G-byte drive.

Sony currently sells two versions of the PlayStation 3. The cheaper model has a 20G-byte drive and the more expensive model has a 60G-byte drive.

Hard-disk storage technology is advancing all the time and higher capacity drives are regularly coming available. As better drives come on the market drive makers cut the price of drives or discontinue then altogether because they become uncompetitive against newer models.

Thus the new PlayStation 3 could be an evolution of the product forced by economics of the disk-drive industry or something more important in Sony's strategy.

A spokesman for Sony Computer Entertainment in Tokyo declined to comment on the company's plans for future upgrades to the PlayStation 3.

On Wednesday Microsoft Corp. announced plans for a new version of the competing Xbox 360 console. The Xbox 360 Elite packs a 120G-byte drive -- against 20G bytes on existing machines -- and an HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) connection not offered on current models.

Source

They are scared...

[Gordon]

Only a twenty gig addition? Blah.

[GoatMother]

who gives a crap, you can add you use non Sony HDD's

[Peench]

Yeah, being able to use any old HD off the shelf is pretty cool. Kinda random to only add another 20 GB though.

[dmiller68]

Originally Posted by GoatMother

who gives a crap, you can add you use non Sony HDD's

I'm just reporting the news....

As far as why they are doing it not all people are conferrable yanking the drive out of their $599 device. What does the warrantee say about doing it yourself. I will say 20GB seems like a whimpy upgrade.

[Jon Liu]

Well, not sure about the warranty, but if they have instructions in the manual on how to do it, then I am assuming that it doesn't void the warranty.

[GoatMother]

Originally Posted by dmiller68

I'm just reporting the news....

As far as why they are doing it not all people are conferrable yanking the drive out of their $599 device. What does the warrantee say about doing it yourself. I will say 20GB seems like a whimpy upgrade.

I know, I wasn't directing it at you

I'm pretty sure the warranty is still good if you swap out the HDD.

[BrewCityUpstart]

Originally Posted by Jon Liu

Well, not sure about the warranty, but if they have instructions in the manual on how to do it, then I am assuming that it doesn't void the warranty.

x2

[MadBryan]

I asked this once before and didn't get a responce (that I saw anyway's) but where is the OS stored on a PS3. Is it a seperate flash chip or do you get a bootup disc to load onto your new HDD.

[Peench]

Hm.. that's a good question. There is no bootup disc included in the box so not sure if you have to replicate the drive data to the new disk before installing it.

[CamDawg]

I think I remember reading that it's on a ROM chip (I'm not sure if it's flash-based or what).

[lovekeiiy]

Well, unfortunagely most people who use computers probably don't have the skill set to change a HDD. I've gotten it because of a few HDD crashes.

Unfortunately, laptops HDD are just expensive compare to their desktop counter part. I know because I had one crash like four days before school started, and I had drive around thrity to closest computer store that had a laptop HDD in stock; I would have just order it online, but no time for shipping. I would be more concerned on what jumper setting to put the HDD.

Honestly, 60G is probably big enough for most users unless you're don't want to delete to the demos and trailers you DL. If Sony does something similiar to the video market place on the 360 or creates something were games are distributed via download instead of via a disc, then a larger may become neceasary.