Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Japanese Analysts Not Hot On PSX

Posted by simoniker on from the definition-of-lukewarm dept.

Thanks to GameSpot for their article discussing the potentially subdued reception to tomorrow's Japanese launch of Sony's PSX media center, which twins a PlayStation 2 with a digital video recorder and other multimedia options. According to a Japanese analyst quoted in the story: "The PSX is perhaps more of a publicity stunt. It will probably sell well for a month or two but the momentum isn't likely to hold up after that." It's also noted that "the main reason for analysts' lessened enthusiasm for the PSX is because the machine being released tomorrow isn't the same one that was unveiled at CEATEC in October", with analysts' consensus being that "lowering the specifications of the PSX hurt Sony's image."

4 of 24 comments (clear)

  1. Well...duh! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    But I'm kind of hoping they left the hardware there to let you do all the stuff they wanted to initially. Then possibly they can release firmware updates that unlock those features as the software for it matures.

    Just a crazy hopeful idea.

    Then again, if they go with a US release, hopefully they'll just put all the features back in. All in all it sounds like a reasonable device for $700+. So long as you can burn the stuff recorded via DVR onto DVD, that'll practically cover the $700 right there (comparing against current market offerings). Anything extra beyond that is gravy.

    Mmmm....gravy...

    1. Re:Well...duh! by Babbster · · Score: 4, Insightful
      It just barely stands up in the area you're talking about (recording programs to hard drive and then saving them to DVD). The Panasonic 80GB DVR/DVD-R/RAM goes for $600 or less. Both Pioneer and Toshiba have Tivo/DVD-R units going for under $1,000 with mature PVR functionality.

      When it comes right down to it, this technology just isn't the pricing sweet spot yet for widespread adoption. At the moment, you're better off getting a Tivo (preferably DirecTivo or the DishNetwork equivalent if you have satellite) and then getting a separate DVD-R unit, not only for the potential cost benefit but the increased versatility (recording two sources at the same time, one with PVR and one with DVD recording).

      If you do have satellite you can get both these devices for under $400 - usually $100 for the satellite PVR and about $300 for a DVD recorder - Lite-On has a DVD+R/+RW device (yes, it's a standalone as opposed to PC component) that is available for about $285 at Best Buy.

      This time next year, I think you can expect PVR/DVD recording units $500 and under which might start enticing more people. Until then, it's solely early adopter territory.

  2. Re:Product in search of a market... by gl4ss · · Score: 2, Insightful

    the same market as aibo is marketed for.

    public relations, the press.

    in it's watered down form it's not really much of anything..
    .

    --
    world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
  3. Another fine example... by dafoomie · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ...Of Sony's hype machine making promises the hardware can't keep. Remember the grossly inflated statistics when the PS2 first came out? Dreamcast games looked better at the time. I bet what we've heard about the Cell processor so far is all hype as well.