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PS3 European Launch 23 March, $835
Andy_R writes "Sony has finally committed themselves to a European launch date for the PS3, after disappointing European fans by not having the promised worldwide simultaneous launch, then missing the lucrative Christmas period. The BBC is reporting that the console will arrive on the 23rd of March. EU fans will only be getting the 60Gb version at first, and it will be priced at 599 Euros or 425 pounds in Britain. At today's exchange rates, that's US$ 835.99! From the article: 'A problem manufacturing blue diodes, used in high-definition Blu-ray disc drives, forced the Japanese firm to announce another delay but only for European customers. Sony said the decision was made because Europe was logistically the most complex market for distribution."
Delay for months, don't sell the version most people wanted to buy and thereby put yourself 200€ over the closest competition (unless you count the MacMini which is more expensive than a PS3). Sony's statement? "Europeans are used to waiting". Gee, thanks for demonstrating that you're not going to do something about that like your two competitors have done (360 and Wii were released less than a month after their US release). Next thing you know SCEE is wondering why we don't buy any PS3s.
Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
Dont worry too much, not too many people will buy it at that price anyway ;-)
It does not matter when it will be released, because it is out of christmas and hollywood season, and it is too expensive.
Add to that the fact that hdtv has not such a big impact here than it has in the USA, so blue ray is a non argument for a lot of people.
No, it's perfectly acceptable to compare the prices in GBP against the price in dollars, for two reasons.
1) Most (all?) of the PS3 isn't made in America, so the price should be the same once they are imported.
2) If Sony wasn't such a git, if I wanted one I could just import one from America at America's prices, which would force Sony to make them the same price in all countries (except sales / import tax obviously).
Combination - fun iPhone puzzling
WiFi bridges that get connected to the network port. Those were available for the last gen consoles for much less than 100€ and should work on a PS3, too.
You can get a 60GB (2.5") HDD for 50€ already and bigger ones for only slightly more. You'd spend the same on a 120GB HDD whether you already have a 60GB one or just a 20GB.
Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
"The current exchange rate is irrelevant...."
:-P
Haha, right now I would be laughing my ass off except it's just too sad. The exchange rate may be irrelevant to you, Mr. I-Spend-$15-on-a-Fish-and-Chips-Every-Day, but for Americans who might want to visit or study in England, it's as if half of our life savings just became worthless. (2:1 exchange rate)
America really does seem to be becoming a 3rd-world country in the world marketplace. I don't like to think about what will happen when the next depression sets in....
Oh well. At least there's another excuse for Americans not to leave their own country.
I don't - the tax is not something that you are paying to the retailer, it is something that you are paying to the state. If the government is going to force businesses to take my money on its behalf, it should at least be clear that the government's take is not part of the price from the retailer's perspective.