Nerd News: PS3 With Blu-Ray?

Sony made its big announcement just before the start of E3 this week --- Sony's latest incarnation of its video game console, the PLaystation 3, will be released in the U.S. on November 17th, just in time for Holiday shopping. Additionally, Sony announced it will come in two incarnations --- a version with a 20 gigabyte drive for $499 and a second version with 60 gigs for $599.

Reaction was mixed --- August Pollack, one of the left's best cartoonists and commenters, expressed surprise at hearing of a game console selling for $600. Yet, he overlooks the fact that the PS3 has been advertised as being much more than just a game console. It provides a digital music center than can be plugged directly into your home entertainment set up (see ya, cds) and, most important to the high tech geek, its supposed to include a blu-ray DVD player (this is Sony's version of high definition dvd --- a technology that will blow away the current DVD format in terms of clatirty).

Upon release as a stand-alone, a blu-ray dvd player is expected to cost in the neighborhood of $1,000 and, with a game console comparable to an Xbox 360 that goes for $400, a PS3 for $600 actually comes off sound like a bargain.

But as I previously, and correctly, doubted Sony's prior assertions of a Spring release for the PS3, I was skeptical that Sony could actually pull off all that it is now promising.

Lo and behold, the BBC has an update in which Sony is already doing some backstepping:

Sony announced the launch date and price for the PS3 at a big news presentation at its studios in Culver City in Los Angeles.

At the time it only talked about the difference in the size of the hard drives. The basic model has a 20GB drive, while the model costing $599/599 euros comes with a 60GB one.

Only later, after detailed press releases were distributed, did it become apparent that there were other key differences.

The lower end model lacks wi-fi, a slot for memory cards and, in particular, a port to hook up a HDMI lead for high-definition programmes.

The decision to offer a model without HDMI has raised concerns about the high-definition compatibility of the PS3.

Mr Harrison shrugged off these fears, insisting that the both models would offer full HD output.

My guess is that the PS3 will launch on November 17th but that the blu-ray player will not be included but available as an add-on.