It seems financial analysts always talk out of their ass and make shit up has they go along so I figure I'd give it a whirl as well.
Alot of folks always insist they'll wait for price drops on new hardware , in the case of the PS2 they had to wait damn near 2 years for that first drop and I've a feeling this generation will yeild similar wait times despite competition coming in just 1 more year. Now X360 has just launched at the much publicized pricepoint of 300 USD for a core pack and 400 USD for a premium pack, next year I predict the PS3 will launch for no less then 400 USD and possibly has much as 500 USD. This means worst case that MS won't nessicarilly even have to drop the price at all to compete. In fact I foresee the premium pack being replaced by an Xbox live themed bundle that contains a 40 gig HD preloaded with a bunch of demos all playable online , the headset, HD cables but no remote for the exact same price the 360 costs now OR if the PS3 does come out the gate for less , the same price as the PS3. The 20 gig HD from this year would get phazed out over about 6 months and be sold for 50 USD instead of 100 USD. The Core pack WOULD see a price drop of 50 USD OR retain the same price and come bundled with a memory unit and a 360 platinum line game like kameo. On that note, every first party 360 game out right now will be a platinum hit in time for PS3 launch. Any premium packs still on store shelves next holiday season would recieve the same offer the core pack had or a minimal price drop simply to clear them off shelves for the live bundle.
2007 on the other hand , for those that want to save money will be the first year I can gauruntee a price drop. With 3 systems available competition will be fierce, sony won't drop the price for atleast a full year on the PS3 unless it sells really poorly(which admittadly isn't likely) so those waiting for one of those at a price that doesn't involve not eating for 2 months will have to wait until atleast November 2007 I predict. The 360 on the other hand could see a definetive price drop as early has E3 2007 where they'll drop the core bundle down to 200 USD(still with memory unit included) and the premium/live bundle down to 300USD. The 20 gig HD by now will have ceased manufacturing and the 40 gig HD will sell for 70 USD instead of 100USD. I predict during holiday 2007 we will have a Halo bundle pack that will include 2 passes to see the halo film or perhaps a copy of it on dvd plus all the premium pack stuff and a copy of Halo 3 PLUS a halo 3 themed faceplate on the xbox itself - this bundle will cost 380 USD though so technically you'll be paying for all this extra junk.
So yeah , it's just wild conjecture but then so is most financial analyst corporate BS. Basically you'll have to wait nearly 2 years before a substantial savings will occur and it's even worse with PS3 becuase I can't see the thing hitting the mass market 200USD price until has late has E3 2009.
Alot of folks always insist they'll wait for price drops on new hardware , in the case of the PS2 they had to wait damn near 2 years for that first drop and I've a feeling this generation will yeild similar wait times despite competition coming in just 1 more year. Now X360 has just launched at the much publicized pricepoint of 300 USD for a core pack and 400 USD for a premium pack, next year I predict the PS3 will launch for no less then 400 USD and possibly has much as 500 USD. This means worst case that MS won't nessicarilly even have to drop the price at all to compete. In fact I foresee the premium pack being replaced by an Xbox live themed bundle that contains a 40 gig HD preloaded with a bunch of demos all playable online , the headset, HD cables but no remote for the exact same price the 360 costs now OR if the PS3 does come out the gate for less , the same price as the PS3. The 20 gig HD from this year would get phazed out over about 6 months and be sold for 50 USD instead of 100 USD. The Core pack WOULD see a price drop of 50 USD OR retain the same price and come bundled with a memory unit and a 360 platinum line game like kameo. On that note, every first party 360 game out right now will be a platinum hit in time for PS3 launch. Any premium packs still on store shelves next holiday season would recieve the same offer the core pack had or a minimal price drop simply to clear them off shelves for the live bundle.
2007 on the other hand , for those that want to save money will be the first year I can gauruntee a price drop. With 3 systems available competition will be fierce, sony won't drop the price for atleast a full year on the PS3 unless it sells really poorly(which admittadly isn't likely) so those waiting for one of those at a price that doesn't involve not eating for 2 months will have to wait until atleast November 2007 I predict. The 360 on the other hand could see a definetive price drop as early has E3 2007 where they'll drop the core bundle down to 200 USD(still with memory unit included) and the premium/live bundle down to 300USD. The 20 gig HD by now will have ceased manufacturing and the 40 gig HD will sell for 70 USD instead of 100USD. I predict during holiday 2007 we will have a Halo bundle pack that will include 2 passes to see the halo film or perhaps a copy of it on dvd plus all the premium pack stuff and a copy of Halo 3 PLUS a halo 3 themed faceplate on the xbox itself - this bundle will cost 380 USD though so technically you'll be paying for all this extra junk.
So yeah , it's just wild conjecture but then so is most financial analyst corporate BS. Basically you'll have to wait nearly 2 years before a substantial savings will occur and it's even worse with PS3 becuase I can't see the thing hitting the mass market 200USD price until has late has E3 2009.