Within a few days of each other, both Microsoft and Sony made announcements that are both good for consumers. Both of which I suspect have technical backgrounds.
Microsoft announced they would fix broken Xbox 360's because one lot had some production issues and had a higher rate of failure then they were comfortable with. Shortly after they announced they would move the processor production from 90nm to 65nm, and that it will reduce the failure rate of units. This indicates that the failures are heat related, because the 65nm process will reduce the power use of the main chip and reduce heat problems.
This move is refreshing in face of Sony's refusal to ever admit there were problems with their early PS1's and PS2's (more so the PS1's). Probably because the units took a year or more for the disc drive to give out. Still, I'm sure Microsoft knew that if someone else put out proof that their units failed at too high of a rate, it would have serious damage to their gamer reputation.
Sony's announcement was a bit more interesting. They decided to include the HDMI port on the basic PS3 model. This is huge because it addresses the main complaint people had with the basic model, that is was a lesser system. The reason for the second unit was the same as the reason Microsoft releases their gimped pack, have a lower priced unit at retail for people who didn't know better and price was an issue. While Microsoft let you upgrade the basic 360 for quite a premium the HDMI port would never be an option for the basic PS3.
Now, most people don't even have TV's that can use HDMI so why was it such a big deal? Because both the MS and Sony units were lesser units. the 360 is at it's best when it connects to live, and without the HDD, well... The PS3 was going to blow us all away with brilliant graphics and great movie viewing, but, without HDMI, well...
Sony was talking up the abilities of their new unit and then the "cheap option" wasn't really an option at all if you wanted to get the most out of your system. Talk about a slap in the face. But Sony decided to give HDMI for all. In some interview (I lost the link) someone at Sony revealed they thought people would see the HDMI as an unnecessary expense (I suspect Sony didn't want to eat the $10-20 it would cost to put it in). With all the complaining, it seems Sony listened and made the change. Now the cheap PS3 is a viable option.
But did Sony really listen? I think we'll know when one of the tech sites
disects both PS3s. I suspect that the motherboards may be the same, with the
basic model boards missing the chips for the extra features. But if the wireless
networking is done from a daughterboard (i.e. not on the motherboard itself) the
two boards are very similar. I suspect that the shortage of Blu-Ray drives has
left Sony with extra boards for the $600 units, and it would not really cost them
much to put them in all the PS3s. Giving them all HDMI gives the kind of good
press they really needed. Smart move.
