40GB PS3 listed on FCC website
by Chris Powell 
{ Sep 27th 2007 at 8:00PM }
The rumors of Sony's mythical 40GB PS3 have been swirling around almost as fast as Lyndsay Lohan ruining her career, but until now, we haven't had any hard proof of the former. A recent Sony FCC filing suggests a new PS3 model, designated CECHG01, is coming, despite the company's recent denials.
Unlike what previous stories suggested, it looks like Wi-Fi and USB ports will remain in this new model, but there wasn't any information on the size of its hard drive, which I'm sure the ladies are just dying to know.
If Sony can keep everything inside the PS3 that makes it so great, but drop the hard drive down a bit and hit the more consumer-friendly price tag of $399, it could find that audience who has been reluctant to join the Sony Army.
[via Engadget]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mr. Volcom @ Sep 27th 2007 8:13PM
if sony is smart they'll unleash this thing around the time that those 360 bundles come out in mid-october........but I dont think they'll do it until the 60gb models are gone.
I'm liking the fact that they probably wont get rid of wi-fi
Kspraydad @ Sep 27th 2007 8:15PM
I tipped you guys on this on Sept 14th...PS3Fanboy could have 'broke' the story...ah well...
recon @ Sep 27th 2007 8:42PM
i still dont understand this, but is 20GBs gonna make that much of a difference in price. Enough for a 100 dollars. Whole well, whatever works.
gooftroop @ Sep 27th 2007 9:02PM
If they do release a 40GB model it probably means that production costs have come down or they are taking a bigger hit per console... going for a comparison between 40GB and 60GB drives its more often than not more expensive for the 40GB drive based on retail prices (which I know isnt really a good like for like comparison to industry prices), so unless a drive manufacturer has found a whole warehouse full of 40GB hard disks I dont think that reducing the hard disk capacity will facilitate that amount in price drop. Time will tell if any of this is true!
ruibing @ Sep 27th 2007 9:02PM
Hard to see from a FCC for radio freq testing what the difference is. It might be a small change or a big one. We'll know when Sony decides. I hope they lower the price and make some news, getting so tired of Halo and Wii news. But I know there will be people criticizing them for not doing a price drop earlier if they do it now.
Bluebrake @ Sep 27th 2007 9:16PM
Let's not get ahead of ourselves. There's nothing on that filing that says anything about 40 gigs. For now it's a "new model," and that's all.
WoLoCo @ Sep 27th 2007 9:38PM
Manufactured by MAINTEK??? so that means this model is still assembled by ASUS (Maintek is owned by Asus). I guess this model is not the rumoured "FOXCONN-CUTTING COST-MARKETSHARE GRABBING-SONY FIGHTING BACK" model. Mmmm..... Now I am really curious what this model will be... Maybe just increase the HD to 120GB?
Kspraydad @ Sep 27th 2007 9:55PM
@WoLoCo
That whole FoxConn thing...
FoxConn is NOT new to PS3 manufacturing...in fact...back in July I wrote a blog post with the following quote from FoxConn:
Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry), is expected to grow its sales by 30% sequentially in the third quarter thanks to shipments of components for Apple iPhone, Sony PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) and own-brand products, according to investment firm Credit Lyonnais Securities Asia (CLSA).
Josh @ Sep 27th 2007 10:18PM
there is no reason that sony coulnt have just kept the 60 gb model on shelves and dropped the price. If they only thing they are going to do is put in a smaller drive to drop the price it really dosent change the price difference to them. I highly doubt that buying 40 gb drives is much less than buying 60 or even 80 gb drives.
But, whatever I guess, as long as it increases the install base.
Heishiro @ Sep 27th 2007 10:37PM
Ok I own a PS3, 360 and Wii so I am NOT a fanboy, just a gamer, but doesnt this smack of desperation? They should have just released the system with DVD drive... price is KING, you know every person who heard I bought a PS3 shook their head and said, "You spent 600 bucks on a game system?!" although I dont regret it companies have to realize that these days, with and economy that isnt too great, price is king...
Maci @ Sep 27th 2007 10:47PM
@4 I bet Sony hasn't been taking as big as a hit per console as of late. I'm sure a price drop will occur soon, otherwise 360 will take too big of a lead in which Sony can't compete.
@10 I like Sony's strategy. They are planning for the "long term" (7-10 years) and are adding all the functionality they might need.
The PS3 was great and it lasted a long time but it doesn't come close to the technology of the original 360. When the 360 and PS3 are close in price within another year or so its value will be seen.
LeChuck @ Sep 28th 2007 12:55AM
I figured the 40 gig model would be the like 20: without wifi and card readers. If it retains built in wifi that would be cool. I won't really consider buying a PS3 until next year though when some of the games I'm interested in come out.
Consolcwby @ Sep 28th 2007 9:29AM
Hm... interesting. I wonder if this model is going to use a traditional hdd or solid state hd ala Sony's new notebook line. If so then 40GB is about right... Won't bring the cost down though...
Just me.. @ Sep 28th 2007 9:53AM
isn't this just an new color version.. a silver and white are supposed to come.. would fit with the new slim so...
Larz @ Sep 28th 2007 1:41PM
@10:
If you're ashamed of spending $600 on a game console, then why didn't you buy the 20 gig model? Essentially that's like the paired-down 360-competitor version.
Most of the people I've met say similar things about the 360 to my 360 friends. "Wow, you spent $400 on a 360? Don't those break frequently?" And I jump in and say "actually, he spent about $700, with the hard drive upgrade, HD-DVD upgrade, etc."
I also have friends that have said "there's no games that interest me on the 360, the PS3 (which will have the FF series, GoW3, etc) is more what I would buy." I mentioned Halo and Gears of War is what people are always boasting about and they say "yeah, I played those... meh, Gears was OK I guess."
I also bought a Wii and people get really excited when they hear that and talk about the "great gameplay" and "cheap cost" to which I have to point out that in order to have any fun you need 4 controllers--which brings the cost up to $400--and the controllers tend to break easily as people shake them vigorously and accidentally throw/drop them. And the "great gameplay" is fun in short bursts maybe once-a-month.
Dollar for dollar, I've gotten the most value out of my PS3 by far.