PS3 Launch: Analysts Say 80% Will be 60 GB

Sony is on track for launching 1.2 million PlayStation 3 units by year's end, but the launch breakdown will heavily favor the more expensive $599 60 GB models.

Expect roughly an 80/20 split between the premium and core PS3s at launch

Expect roughly an 80/20 split between the premium and core PS3s at launch

Lazard Capital Markets analyst Colin Sebastian sent out a "clarification" of this report, noting that the 80/20 PS3 unit breakdown was an "estimate of retailer demand and not a set allocation percentage indicated by Sony." Hence, Sony has not officially announced launch allocation numbers and these figures are based on Lazard estimates.

After a recent meeting at Sony's US headquarters, analysts at Lazard Capital Markets have confirmed that there will be an approximate 80/20 split between the number of premium (60GB) and core (20GB) PS3 units available at retail outlets through the end of the year. Roughly 80 percent of the intial shipment of 500,000 PS3s will be of the $599 60 GB variety; the remaining 20 percent will be the cheaper $499 models.

After the initial launch of 400,000 PlayStation 3 units in the US, Sony plans to ship another 800,000 by the end of 2006, making a total of 1.2 million units available by the end of 2006.

And by January, Sony predicts that improvements in Blu-ray production and easing of component shortages will allow the company to ship roughly 1.2 million units per month. Lazard suggests that 14 million PS3s will be shipped through 2007.

THE VERDICT by Sid Shuman Sid Shuman's Avatar

Definitely a shame...I was dead-set on getting the el cheapo model, too. With these prices, I can see I won't be buying a PS3 for some time.

Read on for more insights into the PS3's online service, as well as plans for the PSP and PS2.

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