Sony criticizes Microsoft for leaving Core customers out in the cold
By Darren Murph 
posted November 7th 2006 7:16PM
posted November 7th 2006 7:16PM
Ah, how we adore a textual / vocal slugfest between two mega corporations who should certainly be focusing their efforts on more pressing matters (like ramping up production for launch day). This matchup sees a mysterious (if unknown) Sony spokesperson supposedly criticizing Microsoft's latest Live Video functionality, claiming that the poor ole Core customers are getting hung out to dry when it comes to downloading HDTV flicks and programming. It was stated that the "PlayStation 3's content is designed for everyone to enjoy right out of the box, no matter which configuration is purchased," which is indubitably accurate, except the fact that Sony's cheapest offering sports a $500 pricetag, while the Core Xbox 360 only demands three-fifths of that. Digging that hole even deeper, they went on to say that "[Sony] would never segregate or shut out any of our consumers from our entertainment experience because they didn't buy the top of the line system," which seems to omit the lack of memory expansion slots and built-in WiFi on the "low-end" PS3. Nevertheless, Microsoft does give consumers the option to snap up a $99 20GB hard drive if they so desire, and just might be ready to drop an even larger version for the heavy downloaders out there -- but regardless of who's right here, we can't wait to hear Microsoft's sure-to-be-forthcoming reaction.[Via Joystiq]
How is Sony gaming ONLY?
Gaming- You used one of the advantages of the 360 as gaming...well we know the PS3 has that and its actually better game quality.
Movies- Does the 360 come with a HD DVD player automatically? Have you heard of something called blu-ray that is included in the PS3?
TV- MS just announced this, when did the 360 come out? About a year ago? PS3 is coming out in like two weeks. MS has had some time to think.
Online Computing- What?????? You'd have to explain this to me a little bit more...whaaaaat?
BTW, Sony Computer Entertainment has nothing to do with the battery malfunctioning. That is another division.
Yay for Anti-Sony propaganda!
Seriously, could you read anymore into that?
Why do engadget/joytiq have so much hate for sony. They spin every new article to make it negative and the mindless nutheads read that and take it to be the absolute truth.
Mayb they should consider having neutral reporting..how the heck did "blake Snow" ever get a job on joystiq.
Neutral reporting?!
Neutral reporting my dear friend doesn't exist. Never has, never will (unless you work for Fox and get paid enough to believe that)
...and if it did, it'd be dull. Like reading out a press release.
Blogs especially are (and should be) more or less polarised. Which is why for every MicroSonyPod ranting article out there, there is another blog which raves about the same piece of news.
Ah! The InterWeb! ;-)
Typical Sony. If Sony pulled out a last second delay (number 4?) on the PS3 would anyone really be surprised?
The Core purchasers can buy the HDD just like Sony users with an HDTV can buy the HD cables since none are included.
There is a difference between buying HD cables and the HDD.
The high-end Xbox 360 gets the HDD as the major added benefit of coughing up the extra $100, which is also the cost of the HDD if bought separately, but since you get it bundled with the Premium 360, you also get a few other perks, such as HD cables.
The PS3 totally screws you for buying the low-end model by limiting the ports and completely removing memory card readers from the low-end model (the model that would need it the most with the smaller HDD). Not to mention you can just detach the HDD from the 360 and take it over to your friends place and I have done this. Let's see you do this on the PS3 since the HDD is not on the outside--your friend with the low end model is screwed and you're stuck either bringing over your entire PS3, or you're stuck buying a memory card if you AND your friend both bought the high end model.
Not to mention, both models require the HD cables, which are probably at least around $40-50, while the Premium 360 comes with the HDD and HD cables (coincidentally, both are the reason to buy the Premium 360 instead of buying a Core 360 and upgrading).
Sony makes a very good point here. Frankly, I have never met anyone who has a Core Xbox 360, cuz there is just so little you can do with it. With the Core Xbox 360, you'd spend more money trying to catch up in the seventh-generation than you would just buying the premium Xbox 360. With the PlayStation 3, this isn't a problem because while there are many great features missing in the 20GB version, pretty much all the major features are good enough to be deemed 'next-gen'.
A lack of memory expansion slots and built-in WiFi for the PS3-20GB is hardly the same as not having a hard drive at all for the core xbox 360. You can't knock on sony for prices if your not going to knock on microsoft for theirs.
Somehow people are comparing the two gaming systems prices when thats almost completely uncalled for. If you want to gauge their gaming ability, ok do it. But pricing comes down to hard drives, Blu-ray or HD DVD drives, controllers, and a subscription to the gaming service.
Sony is just doing what it thinks it has to do to win people over towards a better more expensive product. (keyword BETTER)
I dont think MS will officially respond.
Gates will just hijack Sony's next shipment of blue laser diodes.
Better game quality? That's a mighty big statement. PS3 games are only slightly better graphically, if at all, and the 360 has a pretty solid line-up at the moment. So whichever way you meant, that's a pretty hard statement to back up.
I agree with you, that JasonX is an asshole. You were stating the facts; PS3s graphics is much better due to its Cell Processor; native 1080p and better AI engine, better physics. See, look that asshole, he could not even reply to you.
What microsoft fails to realize is that
SONY OWNS A MUSIC AND MOVIE STUDIO!!!
They have access to ALOT more content than Microsoft!
Yeah, but I don't want a rootkit on my PS3 as well!
Who cares? The blu ray will fail like the mini discs and the bunch of other stupid proprietary technology they try to force onto the mass.
Regardless of how much we all hate Sony, I have to kind of agree, sort of. At least in terms of the fact that MS was stupid to offer 360's without a hard drive. They really should have just skipped the whole "core" thing and made the only option the $399 premium edition. Seriously - no one wants the core edition, the only people who have one are probably those that couldnt stand waiting for a premium edition to come into stock back when there was a shortage, and now they're hating it. Anyone who bought a core edition for any other reason is dumb (sorry, it's true). While I do like that both editions of the PS3 have a hard drive, Sony should have learned that no one wants the tard edition of a console, and just offered one package. If someone is willing to spend $500, they are willing to spend $600. Shit, some people are already spending over $2000 on eBay.
This is all of course ignoring the fact that I hate Sony and will never support Blu-ray or the PS3.
Ok this one is for billy people are not dumb for buying a core unit you dumbass its for the people that dont have rich mommys and daddys like yourself to buy em a 360.See im what you call independent i buy my own shit so you sit over there and play your pro system and shove the wireless controller up your ass while im over here buyin my own things the difference between a core system and a pro system for the people that dont know.The core system comes with a wired controller it dont have a hard drive and it dont have the chrome touches like the pro system does.As for the pro system it comes with a wireless controller a 20gb hard drive an ethernet cable and all the chrome touches.Hell keep it real cheap buy a refurbished xbox 360 $269.99 and a refurbished hard drive (20gb) $79.99 its your choice microsoft did a pretty good job with letting you pick and choose what you will actually FUCKIN use, tons of people dont even have an hdtv to get the full experience so theres my two cents.Dont dog on the not so fortunate that cant afford this shit to begin with but microsoft gave choices and i appreciate that.So tell mommy and daddy ps3 is commin out and so is the wii and have them buy your ass one.Xbox 360 and Halo 3 is going to fuck up the ps3 anyway.Long live xbox!!!
"Regardless of how much we all hate Sony"
Who hates sony?
"This is all of course ignoring the fact that I hate Sony and will never support Blu-ray or the PS3."
Ah, I see.
"Sony should have learned that no one wants the tard edition of a console"
Except you know, people who don't need wi-fi and would like to save $100 on something they can live without in their PS3.
360 FTW
"...who should certainly be focusing their efforts on more pressing matters (like ramping up production for launch day)"
because the pr people making these statements are the same people in charge of production. seriously, why is there a retarded comment like this on basically every sony post?
Engagdet and Joystiq do not hate Sony, Sony keeps shooting themselves in the foot. Engadget/Joystiq just point out how Sony keeps screwing the average consumer on a consistent basis.
haha sony's pissed
Getting the Core system was a CHOICE. If they really want their 360 to be a media hub, they can go to Target and get the hard drive for $100.
My 360 does one thing: play video games. And it does that just fine.
It's nice to see that APPLE fan boys has nothing to say about this, I wonder why.
Oh yeah, they don't have a gaming console. LOL.
@ DM, I use everything Apple, and I have an Xbox 360. I once had the PSX and PS2...but the PSX became obsolete and the PS2 (launch PS2) broke and stopped playing PS2 games (but it did play DVDs! exactly what I wanted from a game CONSOLE).
Sony = cheap new age crap = PS2 = PS3
apple yay.. sony sucks btw
Oh yeah DM? We have the ibox!
Apple's have Intel and run Windows now, stuptard.
http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4154&Itemid=2
"Sony has issued a statement criticizing its rival Microsoft's TV and movies announcement..."
A spokesperson for Sony offered, "PlayStation 3's content is..."
-------------------------
Call me ignorant and/or stupid, but can average Joe even find this statement anywhere, and can we find out who the "spokesperson" was? Someone in PR, obviously, right? Still, it would be nice to see the actual document from the source rather than this "he said, she said" stuff.
I love how everyone who likes anything Sony always tries to defend Sony against engadget whenever Sony says something stupid. The price chart was stupid (I repeat, REALLY STUPID) and so is this comment. Honestly, the point of the Core is to play games only. I'm pretty positive these Japanese and their small ... cannot comprehend the option of "opting out" of certain features. In short, Sony's press releases on nearly everything has been terrible in the past few months.
You think you got a bigger one then? LMAO!
@ stevo.
LOL. what i meant by "they don't have a gaming console" is that apple don't have game console products. I thought that was clear.
If Microsoft left the 360 Core buyers out in the cold, then Sony left all of the PS3 buyers out in the cold by not providing a HDMI cable or at the very least a component cable to go with their FullHD gaming.
sony is stupid imo.... the people who bought the core arent the people going to be buying the movies and tv shows (generally) as they cheaped out since the beginning, there is no reason all of the sudden they would go and drop $ for hd shows and movies. And if they want to all they need to do is go find a hd and they are good to go.
How about reporting that this comment from sony was in response to the earlier comments from Microsoft
"This really highlights the difference between us and Sony. Sony has a very hardware-centric approach. You have to buy the Blu-ray drive whether you want it or not. The fact that we're a software company gives an enormous competitive advantage, because we can add capabilities like this. This is totally integrated seamlessly for our users."
All wrong.
Sony is totally in the right when they say that Microsoft has alienated the Core adopters because having the HDD is a necessary component to use one of the features.
Lack of wi-fi or memory slots is not going to affect one's ability to use every feature provided by Sony, either through the system or online services.
Stop criticizing because you can.
it would appear as though sony had a qoute of insulting microsoft every week until launch and then shut-up right after because they have nothing to brag about since they actually have a product that tey cant twist the facts about. well either way we are talking about them now, and unlike nintendo sony can't do it while keeping all to themselves. hmm well i know who the really winner is here.
Why does Sony keep knocking on Microsoft for the Core? I mean the 360 Premium is still cheaper than the PS3 "core" so Sony really has no leg room.
My prediction
xbox still is not making a profit. It never will. MS will keep pumping money into it until it finally calls it a day.
zune will flop. they will pump money into it and finally call it a day.
This is because MS flops with everything except Windows and Office, and it's only the monopoly position that keeps those two going.
waddo
http://www.waddo.net/
It may be true that Microsoft is losing money on the Xbox, but it's worthwhile to note that virtually every console loses money for its respective company. Historically, the profit comes from games bought for the systems. Add to that the fact that in this generation there's also the possibility of making money off of digital marketplaces. While, Microsoft's game division lost overall on the Xbox it's reasonable to assume that much of that money was creating the infrastructure for releasing the original Xbox. As to whether they'll do better this time around, and whether Sony will keep their grasp on the console market and profit margin is something we won't know for a while.
My prediction
your site will always look terrible yet you'll continue linking to that crapsite hoping that people won't notice.
Later, Stevie J will have Apple's legal department launch a suit against you for using the "Made on a Mac" logo on that awful site and making Mac's in general look bad.
By introducing a movie/TV download service Microsoft has simultaneously exposed the weakness of the 360 with its small hard-drive and hightlighted the strength of the PS3 with its much larger drive. In a way, this could hurt MS and benefit Sony in the long run. It might have been better if MS to offer a larger hard-drive option or upgrade for the 360 BEFORE declaring the media download service.
From a marketing perspective, it makes perfect sense for Microsoft to announce a movie/TV download service BEFORE they announce a larger hard drive. It doesn't expose any sort of 'weakness' compared to the PS3, it creates a DEMAND for a larger hard drive.
Had they announced a larger hard drive first, most owners of the xbox 360 would say 'eh, what do i need a larger hard drive for? all my game saves, trailers and demos fit on a 20 gb hard drive.' By announcing the movie/TV download service, the people that want to utilize that service now want a larger hard drive, so when microsoft releases one, they'll be tons of people buying them.
That was marketing, now my opinion. Since the xbox360 has been out for a year, the manufacturing costs must have dropped at least a little bit. In my opinion (again my opinion) the biggest advantage sony ps3 has besides the blu-ray (which a lot of people don't want to pay for cuz they dont' have a 1080p set, yet...) is the larger 60 gb hard drive. If microsoft has reduced costs on manufacturing the xbox 360, I propose instead of dropping the price on the 360 (i know they're still losing money), they instead include the 20 gb hard drive with the core version of the 360, and a 60 or 80 gb hard drive with the premium version of the xbox 360. Then the only comparison between the core 360 and core ps3 will be blu-ray and hdmi which most people don't have and $200 difference. Same goes for the premium edition of both consoles.
To give sony more credit, I believe I read somewhere that Kaz Hirai said they're trying to make the ps3 'future-proof'. So maybe two or three years down the line, the ps3 sales will pick up or stay steady, and the xbox 360 will seem outdated with the lack of blu-ray and hdmi (although microsoft might release the hdmi option as well... updating their console the way they update their windows software, through the life of the product).
That's my piece, someone correct me if I got the Hirai statement or any other FACTS wrong, don't even try to say my OPINIONS are wrong, cause that's just stupid and ignorant.
It's a little unfair towards those who own core system. I nearly got one myself.. phew.. I think Microsoft shouldn't have cast aside the lower end group, even if they did they should have mention from the start about those movies so that people can consider the 20gb hdd.
My prediction:
Sony will fall bankrupt after the numerous failed media types, loss of console market share, and generally poorly produced "batteries of doom."
Microsoft:
Inevitably, Microsoft will attract extraterrestrial viruses and cause a world take over. I personally salute our future alien overlords.
This would be a little more interesting if Sony included HD compatible cables out of the box, but since they don't, they are even leaving their high-end customers in the dark.
I totally agree that it is and was a mistake to even release the Core without the hard drive, since I think most people would accept the cost especially seeing as the PS3 includes it in both models (though obviously this was not known over a year ago around the 360's release).
Still, the only major difference in it is the lacking hard drive, which can be purchased for $100, which makes it equal to the premium bundle, ignoring the headset, cables, and controllers, which can all be replaced as well. The PS3 Core on the other hand has less ports and cannot be upgraded in a similar fashion. Not to mention, as I said before, they are leaving the good cables out of even the good PS3 model, which is rediculous if you ask me.
I'll be the first to admit that I am anti-Sony, but I have not always been this way. I own a Sony 42" LCD HDTV (bought in May 2006 too) and a Sony LCD monitor (bought in 2005). They do that stuff really well in my opinion (I love the monitor and TV), but I think their executives have lost touch with their consumers, and they are quickly and not-so-quietly sinking their ship.
I don't think I even need to mention Sony's unproven network compared to Live.
Picky - the PS3 doesn't come with an HDMI cable, but it does come with a component video cable. Just to give you a frame of reference - the 360 doesn't even have an HDMI port (only component).
Sony isn't leaving anybody "out in the cold" .. they've at least got enough sense to include an HDMI port, so I will still be able to use my PS3 when they stop putting component video inputs on new TVs in a few years. Not sure what I'll do with my 360 at that point.. maybe I'll be able to spend $150 to get an external HDMI port to go with my $200 HD-DVD drive ($399 + $150 + $200 = $749!).
Core model might be the way to go if MS releases a larger drive that can be plugged into the bay.
me being a sony hater and all after there lil lik-sang event. Still I'm a ps3 fan. but a sony hater...odd combo... anyways all i have to say it.... SONY! SHUT THE HELL UP!!! (still prefers ps3 over xbox, but has no grudge vs microsoft)