Sony unveils cheaper, sleeker PS3 Slim
Summary
At the opening of the Gamescom Expo, Sony announced the highly anticipated PS3 Slim game console which is smaller and $100 cheaper than the current model.
Topics
For months, we've been blogging about rumors that Sony would cut the price of its PlayStation 3 game console from $399 to $299 and possibly announce a new trimmer model called the PS3 Slim. At a press conference in Cologne, Germany, preceding the opening of the Gamescom Expo, the company finally took the wraps off the new console.
Earlier Tuesday, Kmart.com jumped the gun on the announcement and accidentally posted an ad on its home page that revealed a price cut to the "old" 80GB and 160GB PS3s to $299 and $399 respectively and hinted at the impending arrival of the new PS3 Slim.
In Cologne, Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Kaz Hirai performed the unveiling, taking the stage and announcing the PS3 was "getting a new model" and that indeed it was called the PS3 Slim.
The Slim is hitting stores the first week in September and will cost $299 (or for those who live in other regions, 299 euros or 29980 yen). Hirai says it has the same features and functions as the "old" PS3 but is 33 percent smaller, 36 percent lighter, and comes with a 120GB hard drive.
It's unclear how Sony will sell the old 80GB PS3 at the same price as the new Slim, but we'll have more details as they emerge. Until then, feel free to comment.
This article was originally posted on CNET Crave.
Talkback Most Recent of 13 Talkback(s)
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Now just wait a cotton pickin minute here !!!!!
What good is a $299 paper weight if it is "lighter"?
kd5auq18th Aug 2009 -
is a paper weight that
can at least can play bluray movies.
flamebait note :take that xbox360! :-P
magallanes19th Aug 2009 -
That's it??
That's it? Just a slimmer console?
*yawn*. Consoles are getting old.
Wake me up when they start talking about the next gen.
CobraA118th Aug 2009 -
Uh oh, MS watch out
This new PS3 is slimmer with more disk space and cheaper than the Elite. There were some rumors that the XBOX 360 Pro was going to be phased out and the Elite was going to be reduced to $299.
MS better do this fast or the PS3 will gain a lot of momentum, I think.
markbn18th Aug 2009 -
RE: Sony unveils cheaper, sleeker PS3 Slim
this new ps3 can it play ps2 games and play blueray discs ??? answer me at jt061893@hotmail.com
abelsolomon18th Aug 2009 -
no, it can't play ps2
but is able to play "blueray disc" (usually called blu rays)
magallanes19th Aug 2009 -
RE: Sony unveils cheaper, sleeker PS3 Slim
Considering how long the 360 has been around and how many have been sold, MSFT should be able to BEAT those PS3 price points by now, and still be able to turn a profit per unit. I'm just wondering WHEN Nintendo will step up their game and drop the price on the Wii, especially considering the mountains of units I'm seeing unsold in stores lately. They're well ahead of both MSFT and Sony in terms of unit sales, had a cheaper and less sophisticated hardware config to deal with in manufacturing and should have more than paid for itself and its development costs by now. If both MSFT and Nintendo do that, despite their own price cuts Sony still will be fighting an uphill battle against a more "affordable" competition.
flatliner18th Aug 2009 -
can ps2 games be played on this new model
ok it may look nice and slim...but we all really want to know is can ps2 games be played...my bet is NOT!!
shadowmoove19th Aug 2009 -
Nope
I read on another site that the rest of the machine is the same, so no PS2 games.
In my case, I may actually buy one - cheaper, and less of an energy hog than the previous model (electricity rates are about to go up here, so 34% less power usage is a good selling point.)
Mike (not Cox)19th Aug 2009 -
RE: can ps2 games be played on this new model
http://www.techtree.com/India/News/Sony_announces_PS3_Slim_for_299/551-105648-585.html
A site that actually has some specifics...
Cyrorm119th Aug 2009 -
Not interested, few games that I like and sky-high prices
It's funny, I went on temporary assignment with a hotel room away from home. I went down to the local thrift shop and bought a used PS2 with nice controllers and a box of 14 games for less than what 1 new game costs for the PS3, don't even mention what the console costs.
terry flores19th Aug 2009 -
to all the haterZ
its more than a paperweight. its a paperweight
that will
play god of war 3. i doubt you naysayers own
one. there
are good games for it. it is more than a blu ray
player.
it streams video really well when used with
tversity,playon,and ps3 media server. its also
alot more pleasant to use because it is not so
loud, i love my machine and it is on for like 10
hours a day and running strong. now that they
are 299$ i hope it gives the console a much
needed boost because now it has alot more
features and is exactly the same price as a pro
or elite model now with the xbox pricecut. you
cant beat the price and you cant blame sony for
not trying there best to offer you the most
quality and features for your dollar. i will
remain a ps3 user until the next ps comes out
and i can afford it. i also look forward to the
games that are coming.
i would say a bricked RROD xbox is much more of
paperweight. ive owned one. ill take less games
for a
machine that doesnt fail nearly 50 percent of
the time.
take that microsoft!
aegis9322nd Aug 2009 -
RE: Sony unveils cheaper, sleeker PS3 Slim
Booo !!
So, it's smaller.
Big deal.
If Sony STILL won't listen to their
customers by not bringing the backwards compatability option to the plate, the slim aint worth squatt !
Looks like I won't be purchasing one.
drnpl22nd Aug 2009
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