Sony Launches PSX in Japan

Joshua · 12-16-2003, 08:09 AM

This weekend, consumer electronics giant Sony launched its most
recent PlayStation 2 version, the PSX, in Japan. Although Sony had
promised that the original PlayStation 2, with its DVD playback
capabilities and external expansion, would be a hit crossover product,
the popular system has seen the most traction in the traditional video
game market, where it has dominated rivals such as the Microsoft Xbox
and Nintendo's GameCube. With the release of the PSX, however, Sony is
finally moving the PlayStation 2 into new functional areas that will
attract a much wider range of users. Specifically, in addition to the
standard PlayStation 2 capabilities, the PSX includes digital video
recording (DVR) capabilities that let users record as much as 100
hours of TV shows on the system's 250GB hard disk.
The PSX isn't cheap, however. In Japan, the device is selling for
about $925, although the price should fall before its release in the
United States and Europe sometime in 2004. This price is significantly
higher than competing products such as the TiVo, although the PSX has
more storage capacity than most DVR devices. In addition, the PSX's
DVD recording functionality lets users burn their recorded TV shows
and movies to disk. Users can also store photos and copy CDs, making
the PSX similar to Media Center PCs.
Despite the device's high price, the gadget-friendly Japanese have
been snapping up the PSX in record numbers, with some stores
immediately selling out of the device. Sony expects to sell more than
1 million PSX devices in 2004, although whether that figure includes
US and European sales is unclear.

gear02 · 12-16-2003, 08:14 AM

NINE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS?????

This thing will not take off the ground. Even if the price point drops when it reaches the US, it won't drop the necessary $700 to be accepted by the US market.

VTGreg · 12-16-2003, 05:12 PM

I wouldn't be so sure. If it gets priced at $400 or $500 then they will go like hotcakes. Everyone thought $300 was outrageous for the PS2 when it came out but they bought it nonetheless. Now this one is also going to be DVR that also burns DVDs.

If the sticker is $500 or less they won't be able to keep them in stock.

Bires · 12-16-2003, 05:44 PM

Eh...I'd rather have:

A standalone PS2 ($130 at compgeeks)
A hacked TIVO DVR

I don't trust do-it-all machines.

bachviet · 12-16-2003, 09:19 PM

Darn expensive if you ask me.

Memo · 12-16-2003, 11:00 PM

I agree with VTGreg. If this thing falls around the $500 range I bet it will sell.

gear02 · 12-17-2003, 06:38 AM

I doubt it. The $300 PS2 sold because it was the newest thing. The next thing better at that time was a very old PSOne or an N64. This was technological leap.

Now you can buy one for $179. Everyone has one. The price difference between a PS2 and a PSX would be too great to spur people to get one, especially when they're used to the lower price point.

Memo · 12-17-2003, 08:58 AM

Well, true. Perhaps if the PSX wasn't incorporating PS2 technology. If it was a fancy PS3 then it would sell. But the PS2 has been around 3 years already.

Showtime · 12-18-2003, 12:23 PM

I agree with the price will kill it here. One thought though is that it will shine where space or clutter is an issue. It would be perfect for those who travel in RV's for extended periods of time. I dont care for all in one devices but this things does 4 things... Games, DVDs/CDs, burner and Tivo. I would rather have a device like this than 2 or 3 settop boxes in my room. $700 would be about the right price if you consider everything you get. Tivo is a few hundred, PS2 is a buck fifty or so, not sure about burners right now...

I think ill pass on this one because its a ps2.
If the PS3 has all these feature for under $800 it will be my next game console/prog dvd/tivo/set top burner.

-jel

Cubsfan · 12-18-2003, 12:27 PM

I don't know if the price is all that far off...

$179 (PS2) + ~$1000 (Pioneer TiVO w/DVD Recording) = $1179

For people in the market for both of those, I don't think it's priced more expensive than it should be. unfortunately, there aren't a whole lot of people in that market.

12-16-2003, 08:09 AM	#1
Joshua Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 3,390	Sony Launches PSX in Japan This weekend, consumer electronics giant Sony launched its most recent PlayStation 2 version, the PSX, in Japan. Although Sony had promised that the original PlayStation 2, with its DVD playback capabilities and external expansion, would be a hit crossover product, the popular system has seen the most traction in the traditional video game market, where it has dominated rivals such as the Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo's GameCube. With the release of the PSX, however, Sony is finally moving the PlayStation 2 into new functional areas that will attract a much wider range of users. Specifically, in addition to the standard PlayStation 2 capabilities, the PSX includes digital video recording (DVR) capabilities that let users record as much as 100 hours of TV shows on the system's 250GB hard disk. The PSX isn't cheap, however. In Japan, the device is selling for about $925, although the price should fall before its release in the United States and Europe sometime in 2004. This price is significantly higher than competing products such as the TiVo, although the PSX has more storage capacity than most DVR devices. In addition, the PSX's DVD recording functionality lets users burn their recorded TV shows and movies to disk. Users can also store photos and copy CDs, making the PSX similar to Media Center PCs. Despite the device's high price, the gadget-friendly Japanese have been snapping up the PSX in record numbers, with some stores immediately selling out of the device. Sony expects to sell more than 1 million PSX devices in 2004, although whether that figure includes US and European sales is unclear. __________________ The Apexer formerly known as SnotRocket. "Like I **ing said, "Ok, so I hear it may be a repost. Blah But I had never seen it, so..." ** you Canta." -Jenny 12/4/2003

12-16-2003, 05:44 PM	#4
Bires Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 5,064	Eh...I'd rather have: A standalone PS2 ($130 at compgeeks) A hacked TIVO DVR I don't trust do-it-all machines. __________________ Five years...

12-16-2003, 09:19 PM	#5
bachviet What's Da Pho*? Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SoCal (714) Posts: 13,296	Darn expensive if you ask me. __________________ Dell Dimension 9200 \| Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4GHz) \| 4x1GB DDR2 \| 256MB nVidia GeForce 8800GT Dell Studio 17 \| Intel Core i7-720QM (1.6GHz) \| 2x2GB DDR3 1066MHz \| 1GHz ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 Intel P4-C 3.0GHz \| ECS 865PE-A \| 3x512MB PC3200 \| 128MB PNY GeForce 6600GT

12-18-2003, 12:23 PM	#9
Showtime Lakers fanatic Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: L.A. ->SoCal<- O.C. Posts: 7,338	I agree with the price will kill it here. One thought though is that it will shine where space or clutter is an issue. It would be perfect for those who travel in RV's for extended periods of time. I dont care for all in one devices but this things does 4 things... Games, DVDs/CDs, burner and Tivo. I would rather have a device like this than 2 or 3 settop boxes in my room. $700 would be about the right price if you consider everything you get. Tivo is a few hundred, PS2 is a buck fifty or so, not sure about burners right now... I think ill pass on this one because its a ps2. If the PS3 has all these feature for under $800 it will be my next game console/prog dvd/tivo/set top burner. -jel __________________ NBA REPORT 10-11/ The 3-Peat! 1948 1949 1950 1952 1953 1954 1972 1980 1982 1985 1987 1988 2000 2001 2002 2009 2010 Reigning NBA CHAMPS!

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12-16-2003, 08:14 AM	#2
gear02 Admiral Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 7,223	NINE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS????? This thing will not take off the ground. Even if the price point drops when it reaches the US, it won't drop the necessary $700 to be accepted by the US market.

12-16-2003, 05:12 PM	#3
VTGreg Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 2,533	I wouldn't be so sure. If it gets priced at $400 or $500 then they will go like hotcakes. Everyone thought $300 was outrageous for the PS2 when it came out but they bought it nonetheless. Now this one is also going to be DVR that also burns DVDs. If the sticker is $500 or less they won't be able to keep them in stock.

12-16-2003, 11:00 PM	#6
Memo Admiral Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: East Village Posts: 5,659	I agree with VTGreg. If this thing falls around the $500 range I bet it will sell.

12-17-2003, 06:38 AM	#7
gear02 Admiral Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 7,223	I doubt it. The $300 PS2 sold because it was the newest thing. The next thing better at that time was a very old PSOne or an N64. This was technological leap. Now you can buy one for $179. Everyone has one. The price difference between a PS2 and a PSX would be too great to spur people to get one, especially when they're used to the lower price point.

12-17-2003, 08:58 AM	#8
Memo Admiral Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: East Village Posts: 5,659	Well, true. Perhaps if the PSX wasn't incorporating PS2 technology. If it was a fancy PS3 then it would sell. But the PS2 has been around 3 years already.

12-18-2003, 12:27 PM	#10
Cubsfan Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,743	I don't know if the price is all that far off... $179 (PS2) + ~$1000 (Pioneer TiVO w/DVD Recording) = $1179 For people in the market for both of those, I don't think it's priced more expensive than it should be. unfortunately, there aren't a whole lot of people in that market.

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