Sony hasn't changed its stripes

OK the PSP was already sold at a loss. Its one of the most widely known things about it, they had to make the loss back somehow and if its by making it so people have to buy enough games to make up for the loss wheres the problem? If you go for good games then you would have bought them later anyway.

OK the PSP was already sold at a loss. Its one of the most widely known things about it, they had to make the loss back somehow and if its by making it so people have to buy enough games to make up for the loss wheres the problem? If you go for good games then you would have bought them later anyway.

in response to kht Thanks for your response. I agree with you that Sony is dropping the ball on some things - and they are in danger of diluting the brand. But as a platform Memory Stick is very well thought out. Consider that it is the smallest form factor (Duo), and that it is available on larger screen TVs; I can even buy a mouse with a built-in reader. Although the need for it has diminished, with the advent of micro hard-drives and high-density Flash memory, Minidisc was revolutionary when first introduced. Keep in mind that at the time, Sony had a large part of the blank casette tape market, yet they still went ahead and marketed a technology designed to replace it. What I am getting at is that the company has shown courage and brilliance in pushing the edge - even though they do not consistently do so.

in response to kht Thanks for your response. I agree with you that Sony is dropping the ball on some things - and they are in danger of diluting the brand. But as a platform Memory Stick is very well thought out. Consider that it is the smallest form factor (Duo), and that it is available on larger screen TVs; I can even buy a mouse with a built-in reader. Although the need for it has diminished, with the advent of micro hard-drives and high-density Flash memory, Minidisc was revolutionary when first introduced. Keep in mind that at the time, Sony had a large part of the blank casette tape market, yet they still went ahead and marketed a technology designed to replace it. What I am getting at is that the company has shown courage and brilliance in pushing the edge - even though they do not consistently do so.

In response to djg: Now, when it comes to the PS2 and PSP, I agree that Sony has a unique product that customers may well want to pay a premium for. Sony's biggest problem is that this does not apply to all their other products. MemoryStick? How is this superior to other memory formats? MiniDisc? Sony had the opportunity to make this both a music standard and a computer standard, but failed. Now MP3 players and USB Flash devices are winning this market, and Sony is still in denial. Sony TVs? Years ago, Sony had the best CRTs available with Trinitron. Now who cares about CRTs? Sony is buying LCD panels from the same fab as Samsung, and I have no indications that the Samsung TVs and monitors are not every bit as good as their Sony counterparts. I think Sony is losing it in all other areas than gaming, and the gloss of the Sony brand name is starting to come off. I bought Sony consumer goods almost exclusivly a few years ago, now I look elsewhere.

In response to djg: Now, when it comes to the PS2 and PSP, I agree that Sony has a unique product that customers may well want to pay a premium for. Sony's biggest problem is that this does not apply to all their other products. MemoryStick? How is this superior to other memory formats? MiniDisc? Sony had the opportunity to make this both a music standard and a computer standard, but failed. Now MP3 players and USB Flash devices are winning this market, and Sony is still in denial. Sony TVs? Years ago, Sony had the best CRTs available with Trinitron. Now who cares about CRTs? Sony is buying LCD panels from the same fab as Samsung, and I have no indications that the Samsung TVs and monitors are not every bit as good as their Sony counterparts. I think Sony is losing it in all other areas than gaming, and the gloss of the Sony brand name is starting to come off. I bought Sony consumer goods almost exclusivly a few years ago, now I look elsewhere.

(in response to the original article) I wonder if you have taken the time to consider that if you do get your wish, and Sony takes a bath on the PSP, that this will have the effect of chilling the market, delaying the arrival of the next generation or even causing the current product to be prematurely discontinued. I am prepared to pay a premium for Sony memory sticks because they are better than the competition, and because I prefer Sony products in general when it comes to consumer electronics. It comes down to design, and brand image. Your argument is about as useful as a complaint about the price of designer silk ties. The PSP is not for everyone, thid is just another way to regulate demand. I'll be curious to see how long your son holds out, before giving in to his first inclination. Please keep us posted.

(in response to the original article) I wonder if you have taken the time to consider that if you do get your wish, and Sony takes a bath on the PSP, that this will have the effect of chilling the market, delaying the arrival of the next generation or even causing the current product to be prematurely discontinued. I am prepared to pay a premium for Sony memory sticks because they are better than the competition, and because I prefer Sony products in general when it comes to consumer electronics. It comes down to design, and brand image. Your argument is about as useful as a complaint about the price of designer silk ties. The PSP is not for everyone, thid is just another way to regulate demand. I'll be curious to see how long your son holds out, before giving in to his first inclination. Please keep us posted.

I strongly feel that another reason for the bundling may be to forestall the use of PSP in non-game markets. When you look at the hardware, there are probably more than a few niche applications where you could use the PSP in ways unintended by the designers. Although this would not be on the scale of what we saw with that barcode unit a few years back (the "Kat", if memory serves), it wouldn't be insubstantial and might make a difference on the bottom line, at the end of the day.

I strongly feel that another reason for the bundling may be to forestall the use of PSP in non-game markets. When you look at the hardware, there are probably more than a few niche applications where you could use the PSP in ways unintended by the designers. Although this would not be on the scale of what we saw with that barcode unit a few years back (the "Kat", if memory serves), it wouldn't be insubstantial and might make a difference on the bottom line, at the end of the day.

If the 'fair market value' is greater than the market will pay, your product fails. The PSP is a beautiful product, maybe, but this isn't art, it's business. The tone of the market has been set by the GameBoy DS, a pretty cool product at 150 bucks. I'm not sure how great a product occupying similar space would have to be for me to go along with coercive bundling. Fair market value be danged. (I work in R and D, and get reminded a lot that it's expensive...)

If the 'fair market value' is greater than the market will pay, your product fails. The PSP is a beautiful product, maybe, but this isn't art, it's business. The tone of the market has been set by the GameBoy DS, a pretty cool product at 150 bucks. I'm not sure how great a product occupying similar space would have to be for me to go along with coercive bundling. Fair market value be danged. (I work in R and D, and get reminded a lot that it's expensive...)

If the 'fair market value' is greater than the market will pay, your product fails. The PSP is a beautiful product, maybe, but this isn't art, it's business. The tone of the market has been set by the GameBoy DS, a pretty cool product at 150 bucks. I'm not sure how great a product occupying similar space would have to be for me to go along with coercive bundling. Fair market value be danged. (I work in R and D, and get reminded a lot that it's expensive...)

If the 'fair market value' is greater than the market will pay, your product fails. The PSP is a beautiful product, maybe, but this isn't art, it's business. The tone of the market has been set by the GameBoy DS, a pretty cool product at 150 bucks. I'm not sure how great a product occupying similar space would have to be for me to go along with coercive bundling. Fair market value be danged. (I work in R and D, and get reminded a lot that it's expensive...)

I think you're being unnecessarily tough on Sony. R & D is very expensive, and costs need to be recouped somehow. If the PSP had been priced closer to it's fair market value of $350-400, with no bundling req't, would you have been a happier consumer? Marketing leading edge technology in the sub-$500 space is difficult enough to begin with - be thankful that they at least are giving it a shot, and have IMHO produced something of beauty and value which is unique.

I think you're being unnecessarily tough on Sony. R & D is very expensive, and costs need to be recouped somehow. If the PSP had been priced closer to it's fair market value of $350-400, with no bundling req't, would you have been a happier consumer? Marketing leading edge technology in the sub-$500 space is difficult enough to begin with - be thankful that they at least are giving it a shot, and have IMHO produced something of beauty and value which is unique.