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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."

13 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:Well...duh! by Yaztromo · · Score: 1
      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

      I'd like to love the Tivo, but it's availability worldwide is really quite narrow -- according to their own FAQ, they're only available in the US and the UK. Sony's unit, OTOH, is selling currently only in Japan (or will when it launches).

      Those potential buyers in Japan _might_ be better off getting a Tivo, but as they aren't available in Japan, I don't think that's going to be an option.

      (I've been wanting to buy a Tivo pretty much since they were released, but I live in Canada. I've been tempted for some time to import one from the US, but I'm not sure how valuable that will be without its listings service).

      Yaz.

    3. Re:Well...duh! by AllenChristopher · · Score: 4, Funny
      "If you do have satellite you can get both these devices for under $400"

      However, if you have a satellite, you've already spent many millions, unless you're just very large.

  2. Product in search of a market... by cgranade · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It's not that the PSX is a bad product, but who's the target market? The /. geeks decry the price, lack of MP3 support and DVD-RW support, ordinary folks will say, "eww... a PlayStation- now folks will think I hate Haitians," and gamers don't often watch TV- too busy playing games. Can it PVR and play at the same time? If so, then maybe gamers would want it, but if not, then what's the point? Point in case, they haven't aimed for a specific market, which is a nessesity in any marketing.

    --

    #define DRM chmod 000

    1. 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.
    2. Re:Product in search of a market... by bigman2003 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Sad to say, but I never really realized something about myself until you pointed it out...

      I thought that my not watching TV was because I'm better than everyone else, just too intellectual for Paris Hilton.

      Now that you point it out, it's because I sit around playing video games all the time.

      Well, gotta get down from my high horse YET AGAIN! When will I get a permanent place up there?

      --
      No reason to lie.
  3. One of the annoying things about Sony by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative
    "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."
    They overpromise and overhype the hardware specs to generate hype only to say later on "Oops! Sorry, turns out that we couldn't deliver on it after all!"
  4. 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.

    1. Re:Another fine example... by AvitarX · · Score: 1

      Cell is definatly not hype.

      We will be able to use the network to tap other peoples unused machines.

      We will definatly have UNLIMITED power for our games.

      How could you even think otherwise.

      --
      Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
  5. Hardware spec not changed by News+for+nerds · · Score: 3, Informative

    Part of this story is bogus. The official spec of PSX is lowered to make it ship at scheduled date as the in-house validation to the first-announced spec takes certain amount of time, but the hardware is not changed. At least Japanese media reports so. Those dropped capabilities are offered later as free firmware upgrade via internet.

    1. Re:Hardware spec not changed by suyashs · · Score: 1

      Thats the same excuse that Sony had when the shipped the Original Model PS2 without Progressive Scan support...

      --
      http://chrono.posterous.com/
  6. Happened before by Hamster+Lover · · Score: 1

    I remember the original PS specifications never quite measured up with the actual hardware, the same with the PS2 and now the PSX. Given this track record, should we ever trust the features and specifications given by Sony?

    The PSP and PS3 are coming and while I am sure they will be fantastic machines, I don't think they will be as fantastic as the numbers spun by Sony.

    Just my thoughts.