Sony execs talk PS3, 360, and PC

Kutaragi says next-gen console is like a PC, Stringer jokes he has an "obsession" with Microsoft's next-gen console.

Last week, Sony Worldwide Studios president Phil Harrison caused a semi-furor by insinuating the PlayStation 3 could replace the PC in the home. While his comments were mainly directed at the console's entertainment and multimedia capabilities, Sony has long said that the PS3 will have some PC-like functions.

That line was repeated again today by Sony Computer Entertainment president Ken Kutaragi. Speaking with Japanese site PC Impress Watch, the executive defended the PS3's high $499/$599 price points by saying it was not just another console. "Unlike previous PlayStations, it is clearly a computer," he said according to a GameSpot translation.

Kutaragi went on to talk about the need to be able to expand the PS3's technical functions, just like one would with a PC. "Because the PS3 is a computer, we need to do more than just lower the costs, but the console must be able to evolve," he said. He said one of the first tasks at hand would be to introduce a hard-disk drive with higher capacity that the currently scheduled 20GB and 60GB models.

Kutaragi even raised the prospect that, further down the road, Sony might release a PS3 peripheral that could burn Blu-ray discs, the company's high-capacity successor to DVD. "We might want to add a BD drive, a writable drive," he said before quickly reversing himself. "Well, maybe not BD."

Kutaragi also said that, other than the PS3's current read-only Blu-ray drive, the main reason for the console's high cost was the built-in HDD. "For a game console, to add a hard drive puts pressure on cost," he said. "Unlike a semiconductor chip, HDD cannot help lower the cost of the product. ... As a game console, the price has to, over time, be reduced to the 100 dollar range, but that is hard to do with an HDD. ... That [is why] PS3 pricing is not conforming to conventional pricing for a game console."

Meanwhile, Kutaragi's boss, Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer, had a few choice words to say about one of the PS3's rivals, the Xbox 360. Actually, it was more like one choice word. During an on-stage Q&A at last week's D: All Things Digital conference, which is organized by the Wall Street Journal, he was asked about the mixed critical reception of Sony Pictures' blockbuster film The Da Vinci Code. He misspoke when responding, saying "Xbox 3" instead of "X-Men 3," prompting laughter from the audience. The Welshman then joked, "There's an obsession!"

Stringer recovered quickly, talking up the PS3 in no uncertain terms. "It's got more bells and whistles than a 747," he boasted. "That Cell processor is extraordinarily powerful and you have nine hours of high definition on the Blu-ray disks alone. ... The reason it's expensive [is that] instead of concentrating on just the games player, which would have been done in the past, PlayStation 3 is designed to go somewhere else, where it's the center of the living room."

425 Comments

  • chickmagnet_1

    Posted Dec 11, 2006 10:28 pm PT

    It would be a great system if they decided not to shove that expensive hard drive in there. Just think of how much cheaper it would be without a 60 GB hard drive in it. It would be smart for Sony to market a model without a hard drive in it, not even the 20. Just think of how much money people could save.

  • Chebwa

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 9:26 pm PT

    Hey... 02EclipseGT...

    HAHA, WHAT?!

    What... are you TALKING about?!

  • 02EclipseGT

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 11:16 pm PT

    Hay I knowone thing I got a sighned PS3 comming from this model Vida Guerra. Some may not know her. But when it come out mines gonna be sighned by her. Her favorit machine I gues is the PS2. Im the guy who made the Blue photoshop of her white shorts and made them siler you see sometimes? Anyone.

  • lrsp

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 5:16 pm PT

    Whatever dued, Sony rocks. Go PS3!

  • kurtven

    Posted Jun 22, 2006 3:51 pm PT

    I think its fun to read all these comments, and I think that Fony has lost it, this battle. They will lose everything. On the Other hand Xbox 360 hasn't anything new to offer besides better Graphics and sound. Personally I would never ever touch at PS 1-2 or 3, because I don’t think, that most of their game selection is worth anything. Final Fantasy, GTA are 2 very good games, but nor reason enough for buying at PS, then you take Tekken it's the same dull game, except the graphics should be better (NOT). I'm a (Extreme) hardcore gamer on PC and Nintendo Console, and I only buy good games, and the GameCube has a lot of good games, not all though. The same goes for the Xbox, the Xbox is a good console besides the power consumption and the extreme size, and it’s bigger than my 500 Watt Amplifier.
    So in the end, I Chose Nintendo Wii because of the Quality, the hardware, the quality of the long play hours and the playtime.
    The new way to play games is so cool if you are not FAR and lazy.
    So if gaming means something then buy at Wii.
    Do you self a favor, don't waste money on a PS3, buy a Wii and a 360.
    It's cheaper than at ps3

  • evil_fantast

    Posted Jun 21, 2006 11:09 am PT

    I want a gaming console to play.....Come on the PS3 being comparable to a pc??? lets just say that is true. then for how long will that stand out a week, a month b4 something new comes out for actual PCs and the ps3 can't deal with the new stuff.....a PC definitely cannot be replaced with a gaming console

  • AARONRULZ1

    Posted Jun 14, 2006 5:30 pm PT

    Well Im Getting it Anyway But WHO CARES IF ITS A ''PC''

    PS1-CD Player
    PS2-DVD Player/CD Player/PS1 Compatible
    PSP-Game/Movie/Music/PS1 Emulator
    PS3-BD Movie/DVD/CD/PS2 Game Player
    PSP 2-Game/Movie?/Music?/PS2 Emulator
    PS4-PS3 Game/New Disc Format Player/CD?
    Hey At Least PS ITS BETTER THAN XBOX(ES).

  • Ant_17

    Posted Jun 13, 2006 1:12 am PT

    i dont care
    you dont care
    he,she,it dont care
    WE ALL DONT CARE

  • 2p4eva

    Posted Jun 12, 2006 1:26 pm PT

    Can't believe they are trying to make a pc. Don't sony already make those? If i want a console to make a movie and watch porn i'll buy a PC. Just can't believe the guys who designed it tryed to not listen to the gamers. WE WANT GAMES.i want good graphics but i don't want all the rest of the $%^&. Just a shame nobody except fanboys will buy.

  • 2p4eva

    Posted Jun 12, 2006 1:24 pm PT

    Can't believe they are trying to make a pc. Don't sony already make those? If i want a console to make a movie and watch porn i'll buy a PC. Just can't believe the guys who designed it tryed to not listen to the gamers. WE WANT GAMES.i want good graphics but i don't want all the rest of the $%^&. Just a shame nobody except fanboys will buy.

  • saugh

    Posted Jun 12, 2006 8:44 am PT

    Dissapointing

  • caguiojl

    Posted Jun 11, 2006 9:11 am PT

    Eh, i would pay $1000 for an HD player with 9 hours of High definition video, but why pay that when i could get a PS3 for almost half that! anyways, when the BD camcorders come out, that's when the 9 Hrs. of HD will be great.

  • rich639

    Posted Jun 11, 2006 5:23 am PT

    sounds good but the price is nowhere near what i can afford.

  • Death_Masta187

    Posted Jun 10, 2006 4:50 pm PT

    I think sony just says it will replace the PC because it will cost damn near what a lowend PC costs. the Ps3 is not and never will be a PC. But I guess I may buy a PS3 just to resell it on ebay around christmas time. that is if sony comes out with the PS3 by then...lol thanks sony

  • Stephen5148

    Posted Jun 10, 2006 10:23 am PT

    the PS3 to me is way overpriced the xbox 360 has about the same power as the PS3 sony is adding more features to it's console and blu-ray player and a bigger HDD if you want it but the xbox 360 can do all this stuff if microsoft decides to add it on and since the system can be updated it might happen.

  • mattxavier

    Posted Jun 10, 2006 8:42 am PT

    Sony is doomed

  • tricky_d

    Posted Jun 9, 2006 5:25 pm PT

    What the PSwii60 is actually going to play games as well?

  • gt4freak1985

    Posted Jun 9, 2006 4:19 pm PT

    The silent shark. the ps3 uses a laptop hd. Laptop hds are far more exspenive dude. Do your search. pc hds are 3.5 and laptops are 2.5? hello? am i reaching you yet? 300 gig hds arent cheap either dude. especially sata. ide is slightly cheaper. this is why i stick to pc gaming. I will get the ps3 but dont know if right away.

  • gt4freak1985

    Posted Jun 9, 2006 4:14 pm PT

    god people are dumb. they werent talkin about gaming pc, but media center pcs. I agree a ps3 will look much better and sexier in an entertainment center than some crappy suare black box, a media center pc cost around $1500 mine for something nice. $599 for a ps3 with blu ray and ps3 games, or a crappy media cneter pc. a blue ray rw is like $1000. so whats the comparison here. Poeople cried abou the ps2 price. but everyone got one who wanted one. dvd wasnt cheap then either. I hate how everyone is closed minded and not willing to understand sonys decision. They are not alienating the hardcore games or newcomers. They dotn want the ps3 to be inferior like the ps2. Id rather have a system that is built for longevity and not a 4 year life span like the xbox.

  • EddyPee

    Posted Jun 9, 2006 11:51 am PT

    Kwzy...one exclamation mark is needed.
    More than one is a sure sign of a demented mind.
    See what Sony have done to you?
    I'll stick with my PC and Wii-I get Halo and the best games to play in a revolutionary way.

  • TheSilentShark

    Posted Jun 9, 2006 11:42 am PT

    All I can say is that he's talking out of his rear end when he starts blaming costs on the HDD.

    HDDs are cheap (particularly 60GB ones these days). If it's a problem, let people get their own drive. Then I could get a 300GB one for £80, those who couldn't afford or justify a 300GB drive can spend about £30 on a 80GB drive and we'd all be happy.

  • asrab

    Posted Jun 9, 2006 9:27 am PT

    From the days of the Nintendo entertainment system I have owned the Sega master system, the Sega megadrive, the super Nintendo, the play station one, the Nintendo 64 the, the Sega Saturn, the Sega dreamcast ,the play station two, game cube and the Xbox,

    I bought all the above for one reason and one reason only and that’s to play games, I have never used my consoles to play movies or audios, any company trying to sell any consoles to me other than a games machine can get stuffed, I have a PC for all my multimedia needs,

  • Maquis_UK

    Posted Jun 9, 2006 7:33 am PT

    Fony = more broken promises, both for software and hardware... you pwn yourself by believing the lies. i stopped a long long time ago, and my gaming life is all the richer for it.

  • jaefrmbk2k

    Posted Jun 9, 2006 6:20 am PT

    does anyone care that i don't care? well iss too late naow. the cat's already out the bag, and he's already skinned.

  • 9symonal

    Posted Jun 9, 2006 1:23 am PT

    what if we get a 60gig ps3 and then decide that we want a a bigger hard drive will we have to trade in our old ps3? Because the hard 60gig hard drive is imbulit.

  • eric_k43606

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 11:58 pm PT

    I can't understand Sony's reasoning behind their marketing strategy. The PSP's media capabilities were advertised over the fact that its a video game machine. It seems like they're making the same mistake with the PS3. The PSP isn't doing that badly, but it's not as big a hit as they were hoping for. I would venture to say that the PSP could have had a much better start if it'd had better reception amongst gamers. If Sony honestly thinks they can compete in the PC market with the PS3, then more power to them. A lot of people have classified Sony and Microsoft as the "number/power" war while putting Nintendo in the "innovation" category. I agree with this, but have also noticed another trend. Nintendo and, recently Microsoft have been avoiding the numbers and sticking to promises for content and user friendliness. Sony, on the other hand, has stayed diligently by its numbers, but avoided the content. I am not expressing a negative opinion toward any company, just noticing that Sony's path seems to be leading away from what is best for the consumer. I own a PSP, DS, and a 360. My opinion is that the DS is better for portable gaming, while the PSP wins out while at home, or for media. 360 is a great system, and xbox live is icing on the cake. Obviously, having not played a PS3, I can't compare it to 360, but I do know that when it comes out i'll be excited to try a friends, even though i'll wait for the outrageous ebay prieces to deflate, unless there aren't supply issues, which I doubt will be the case. Though arrogant, Sony is right. "The PS3 will sell even if it has no games at launch."

  • kissfreak107

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 11:23 pm PT

    I'M NOT A FANBOY OF ANYONE OF THEM EITHER .I HAVE AN XBOX,XBOX360,AND A PLAYSTATION2 AND I WAS PLANING ON BUYING A PLAYSTATION3 UNTILL I SEEN THE PRICE.I REALLY ENJOY MY XBOXES AND MY PLAYSTATION2.BUT IN NO WAY I'M SPENDING $600 ON ANY GAME SYSTEMS.I RECIEVE 3 DIFFERENT ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE IN THE MAIL AND THEY ALL SAID THAT HD WILL PROBLY WIN THE FORMAT WAR OVER BLUERAY BECAUSE BLUERAY IS TO EXPENSIVE AND TO HARD TO PROGRAM AND IT WILL COST COMPANIES A HELL OF A LOT OF MONEY TO START PROGRAMING BLUERAY AND HARDLY NOTHING FOR HD.AND AS FAR AS THE GRAPHIC THEY ALL SAID THAT THEY WILL LOOK MOSTLY THE SAME.THEY SAID SOME GAMES WILL LOOK BETTER ON THE 360 AND SOME WILL LOOK BETTER ON THE PS3 BUT MOSTLY THERE NO DIFFERENCE IN THEM.AND IF PEOPLE WILL ADMITT IT THE TRUTH IS NEITHER ONE OF THEM IS GOING TO LAST OVER FOUR YEARS.SO LIKE I SAID I'M NOT A FANBOY OF ANYONE OF THEM AND I DON'T CARE WHO SALES THE MOST BUT I THINK THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO'S GOING TO BUY A PS3 WANT ADMIT IT BUT THEY ARE FANBOYS OF SONY AND THEY WILL BUT IT EVEN IF IT'S THE SAME AS THE PLAYSTATION 2.BUT IF THEY DID WHAT I DID ,READ ALL THE NONPARTIAL ELECTRONICS MAGAZINE INSTEAD OF THE PLAYSTATION AND XBOX MAGAZINES WITH AN OPEN MIND I PROMISE ATLEAST 60 TO 70% WILL NOT BUY A PS3.

  • rick27nyc

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 10:47 pm PT

    FACT ........MICROSOFT IS THE MOST POWERFULLEST COMPANY IN THE WORLD and what ever BILL GATES wants he gets and he wants to take over the game industry and no SONY FANBOY can stop that .

  • SicsStringFreak

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 9:09 pm PT

    now matter what kind of a fanboy you are or what kind of gamer you are, you still cant change the truth, which is all 3 systems have something great to offer. so i recommend getting all 3 if you can.

  • ElementalFire

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 8:59 pm PT

    "We might want to add a BD drive, a writable drive," he said before quickly reversing himself. "Well, maybe not BD."

    Another typical example of overreaching on Sony's part. "We'll get you the moon!"

  • superpokemob

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 8:17 pm PT

    PS2 ran Linux, and I used before I sold by big PS2 and let me tell you it sucked, it's way too slow and it doesn't do one thing that waht a PC could do which I think is very Important, Expand, I could get a TV tuner on my PC and get it to watch TV, I could make my computer burn DVDs, all I have to do is install a DVD burner, I could buy a photo printer and print photo or scaner to scan photo, however, if we have to expand our future PS3 we have to buy stuff from Sony, which we are going to paid a lot more for, while features like playing music, movies, it's nice, the PS2 replaced my DVD player, but it would never take PC, it is just impossible to see Sony tried to out sell PC.

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 7:20 pm PT

    But I already have a PC. Just give me a game console. Sheesh!

  • hyuga232

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 6:53 pm PT

    First... people please shut up about the price... you and i know that numerous Xbox 360's were sold for well over $1000 on eBay... get over it...
    Second... who cares if the PS3 is a PC? i say more power to them if they want to break the mold of the Playstation line... just like any other console out there the PS3 has great potential to dominate the market... whether the do or do not is unpredicatable right now...

  • saragat

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 6:05 pm PT

    sony is clearly going for the high-end fo the market with the PS3. Face it, the XBOX360 this generation will simply be a cheep games mechie, while the PS3 is going for a more integrated entetainmebt interface(While not being much more expecsive than a X360).
    Frankly, if the PS3 has mouse and keeyboard suport, a full browser, e-mail client, text and .doc editor, spreadsheet program, digital media player (With network access), alonw with full network browsing, and maby .torrent support, I would have little need to use a PC at all.

  • i_love_my_ds

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 5:38 pm PT

    I think Sony is going way too far with their new console.......... If people really wanted all that they could just get a PC...... sorry to say it, but sony really is digging its own grave.....

  • zoalord

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 5:24 pm PT

    To think they want you to use the ps3 as a multi media pc
    for the price it would be cheaper to build a pc put a 500 gb harddrive inside it maybe not a blueray drive but a dvd drive and a graphics card they can support HDTV will not brake the bank.

    The thing with the ps3 that is putting people off is the price now if they stripped the blueray drive from it and the hard drive the price would be pretty low compared to what they asking for it now.

    I think ill get one when MGS4 comes out as the price will lower (hopesXD)
    other than that it is eithere gonna kill sony or is atleast test the sony fanboys to see how loyal they are.

  • FuguNabe

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 5:09 pm PT

    I think Sony is confused what to market it as dues to the unconventional cost os the PS3 gaming system hence spilling all these BS. They say it's agme system then moves on to say 'but it's a cheap BD player player/gaming system'... now it's it's a cheap gaming PC that plays BD. WTF... Seriously practically everyone in gaming already knows it's made to play games. People however already know that Sony are gambling their company on this crappy proprietary format BD thing and the Cell (and hoping the PS3 will push HDTV sales as well). I don't really know what to say other than to question 'does Sony really think people are that dumb?' That's enough crap already Sony, as it's certainly no PC because I can't do my office applications with it. I'll only be buying it for the games only as a gamer (just like I'll be buying the Wii and X360 for the games) so why try so hard to justify the price. Sony have lost their mind and are losing touch with the consumers with their lies and arrogance. Although I'm getting a PS3 I can see Sony losing much of it's coveted marketshare to it's competitors this gen.

  • vdo2004

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 4:40 pm PT

    all you guys whine about is how much it cost, peple pay $300.00 for an IPOD, people $300.00 bucks for a music player, come on, PS3 is cheap compare to other electronic

  • FruitCakesRUS

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 4:31 pm PT

    gotta love how MS fanboys all say "HA just goes to show how stupid Sony is..." and then the PS3 fanboys go and tell'em to shutup and that they shouldn't say nething if it isn't good. Then when anything relating to Xbox 360 comes all the PS3 guys go and say..."ohh I'm cool Xbox 360 sucks and who cares about this news anyway?" then I say "muhhahaha look at all you immature fanboys fighting about nothing...honestly IMO fanboyism is just an opinionated view and then they get hated on it by other fanboys. So fanboys can go throw themselves off a cliff and recognize what each system has to offer and realize that each one is unique and offer different things...so get what you want and don't hate on others. It's basically racism in relation to gaming consoles. grow up

  • jaefrmbk2k

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 4:25 pm PT

    woot. eighth page.

  • cardiac_cat

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 3:54 pm PT

    You people need to realize that PS3 is going to dominate, can you not see it coming? You are all in denial, wii and the 360 are fine, but why not spend a little more money (that is well worth it), and get the top of the line console, you can settle for what you want but im no idiot i will enter the real next-gen gaming on November 17th!!!

  • sandjar

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 3:28 pm PT

    Mr Flesh,
    I like your logic.
    Kamikadze 2, I like your avatar

    And people, stop being so frustrated about the price. X360 and Wii fans, it wouldn't matter to you if ps3 cost 600 400 or 200, you'd still be same old X360 and Wii fans.
    If you are not ready for the true NEXT GEN games, then go with PS2 for $130, which I think still looks better than Wii. If you don't want to pay $600 now you are more than welcome to wait 2 years and get it for half the price. What's the big deal , you'll just miss out on all the fun.

  • gt3killer

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 3:24 pm PT

    "Moptop
    Man.. fanboys get more and more immature with each generation of consoles. Why do so many of you feel the need to justify your decision to purchase a specific console(s) with these pointless pissing contests? Just buy the console you like and shut up! You're like a bunch of 5 year olds saying "my dad can beat up your dad!""

    Thats awesome well said. All this complaining makes me think most people on this post is 10 years old, hahahhahah!!

  • kamikadze2

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 2:54 pm PT

    iy's a good deal if u ask me..600$ for 60GB HDD blue ray player PC like functions amazing graphics and power of a cell chip..cmon now who doesn't want that..first BR player is said to cost about 1000$ and sony is includinmg it in..looking forward to november 17 thats fo sure

  • strife22

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 2:43 pm PT

    i am a nintendo fan but i love playstation too, wasnt much of xbox fan but loved halo. now i say big deal wot the console of this generation do, get ur cash out and buy which ever one u are gonna buy. me personaly im gettin the wii but that dont meant i wouldnt get a ps3 ( i would wait till it came down in price ). i think of it this way when i was little i played nintendo and i still do but nothing is wrong with me buying a playstation tooo which i did and i loved it. i dont think a person is gamer when they slag off consoles , which they dont know much about or even played like so many i know.

  • Mr_Flesh

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 2:33 pm PT

    actually if you read the article you will be able to run programs on the ps3 just like it was a computer

  • Mr_Flesh

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 2:31 pm PT

    Some of you are missing the point.............

    PS3 is not so much about graphics as it is about physics. Somewhere I read that it can handle 30,000 physical interactions on the screen at once. Physics is where PC gamers are headed. Sony has chosen to jump on this band wagon now rather than wait a generation when it becomes cheaper. In order to take full advantage of physics in PC games not only will PC gamers have to do the usual graphics card upgrade but they will have to buy a second card as well. The PS3 is offering an alternative to the $600 + PC upgrade.

    Is the living room the place for a tv? Actually yes. Since HD plasma/ lcds are becomming more prevailant wouldn't you rather be playing your games in the highest definition possible on the largest screen in the house. you can go all your comupter functions in one place. Which lets face it other than gamming all most of us use our PCs for is email, IM, and web browsing

    Some have said all they want it to do is play games, they don't want the HD player. You fail to realise that you will not have a choice in upgrading to hd player. it's just like when things went from vhs to dvd.....eventually no new movies will be sold on dvd and you will have to buy a player.

    The hard drive is mandatory....everyone will have a hard drive, unlike the 360 . This means that games will be able to use it more than just saving info.

    Don't mistake me as a fanboy cause I'm not I'll be buying a wii first mainly because I don't see a point in owning a hd console if i don't have an hd tv namely a 1080p...which still has to drop $600 in price before I'll even think of buying one.

  • mezonesxbox

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 2:20 pm PT



    YEAH SONY Screw yourself!

    SONY, you are to ARROGANT!! GO AWAY

  • tsiper

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 2:15 pm PT

    I don't know why a few of these idiots think every 360 owner bought it on ebay for 3,000. Most of us knew it would rock and pre-ordered, or camped out to buy it or sad to say had to wait 3 or 4 months till it was in stock. But if reasoning that every or most 360 owners paid 3 grand makes you feel better about sony's extremely over priced box then rock on punk. I have to say though I really think sony is making the biggest mistake, theyre heads got to big from last console round.

  • Kwzy

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 2:10 pm PT

    In my vision Xbox360 is expensive!!
    with just 200 bucks you can buy a hi-end PS3 with Blu-ray, cell, 60Gb HDD and HDMI!!!
    no way Iam getting a 360 since PS3 has a lot more to offer!!

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