$600 PS3 Ships Without HDMI Cable 416
Eurogamer reports that the $600 PS3, which comes available with an HDMI port, will not ship with the necessary cable to actually hook the machine up. From the article: "According to the specs page on the official US PS3 website, which notes: 'HDMI cable not included. Additional equipment may be required to use the HDMI connector.' Sony has long promoted the 60GB PS3's HDMI output as a key feature of the machine. The 20GB model, however, doesn't feature HDMI - and nor does the Xbox 360, as it goes, despite occasional rumours of a hardware revision in the offing." The machine will, of course, come with a composite cable.
Bastards! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Bastards! (Score:4, Insightful)
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Re:Bastards! (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Bastards! (Score:4, Informative)
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Actually, IME, most things that support more than one output mode (for instance, composite and S-video) come only with the worst cable.) And that's not just for video; the PS2, for instance, didn't include optical audio cables, though its supported them. The PS3 seems par for the course here in not including HDMI cables, even though i
Pinch Those Pennies! Ouch! (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Pinch Those Pennies! Ouch! (Score:5, Insightful)
Many users don't have the right screen so a cable wouldn't be much use for them. They'll just have to buy a cable when they are buying their screen.
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...except it's Sony and therefore the cable will no doubt be proprietary at the PS3 end.
Re:Pinch Those Pennies! Ouch! (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Pinch Those Pennies! Ouch! (Score:5, Interesting)
You are correct, however while you and I and the rest of the Slashdot readers realize this is the case I would bet the average consumer for the PS3 is not aware that just any cable will work. If Sony releases a cable that is sold right next to the PS3's (I would be very surprised if they did not) then from my experience most people would end up getting that cable since it says Sony on it and appears it is special made for the PS3.
They will probably end up charging a ridiculous price for this "extra" accessory that should be included with the base system and they will probably make a decent amount of money off of it. It is sad they decided not to include the cable that will give the user the best possible experience. Even if the user doesn't currently have a monitor with HDMI input it would still be nice to have the cable ready once a future upgrade is made.
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No, they're not. Peripherals are typically sold at a ridiculous markup. I mean, why does an 8MB memory card for a PS2 still cost 25 bucks? I guarantee the HDMI cable will be sold for between 30 and 40 bucks.
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You wouldn't believe how good Metroid Prime 2 looks in progressive mode via that component cable. On my Toshiba 36" CRT TV, anyway.
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http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=USDCAD=X&t=5y [yahoo.com]
Re:Pinch Those Pennies! Ouch! (Score:4, Funny)
But the copper in the $5 HDMI cable might be riddled with oxygen!! I'd pay any price to avoid that fate. I don't want my digital video experience ruined by oxygen.
Re:Pinch Those Pennies! Ouch! (Score:5, Informative)
It should also be noted that the traditional "digital" signals people like to argue over, for example SPDIF, also include no error correction whatsoever.
That is not to say that there is any merit in oxygen-free copper for HDMI cables, but rather that the world is a lot more complex than knee-jerkers on both sides of this particular argument realize.
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People buy expensive cables hoping for an improved visual experience, and in the case of digital signals they aren't likely to see a difference unl
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More improtant
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Um, isn't this going to backfire? Spectacularly? I mean, it's a goddamned cord. This isn't like picking out a monitor or a hard drive. "Joe's cord" will likely be just as useful as the "Excelsior(r) brand high-quality director's cut cord". People will get annoyed it doesn't come with the system, go to the store, and pick the cheapest one (sold at a mod
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I could never tell the difference until I started doing work in signal processing. Prior to that, I simply didn't know what an artifact sounded like, so I wasn't aware I was hearing them.
It's kind of like how Westerners generally
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Not only that, but why stop at HDMI?
They'd need to include component video, s-video, composite, AND HDMI in order to make the whole market happy.
And in the grand scheme of things, most DVD players don't come with anything other than
Re:Pinch Those Pennies! Ouch! (Score:4, Informative)
This is not news. (Score:5, Informative)
If you've got $600 to drop on a PS3, you've got another $20 for cables. Move along, nothing to see here.
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But if so few people have HDMI capable TV's
It's like you're saying they should support HDMI, but not enough to
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Sony has a 5 year cycle. In the last quarter their were 24 million HD sets sold, in two years almost half the market will be HD compatible. They will not have to spend more money on a redesign, the other console makers will. They are not going to include 4 different types of cables, NO company will.
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And, while we're at it, why not sell the games at production cost too?
I guess Sony is trying to minimize hardware costs in order to minimize loss on nicely rounded prices. $599.95 sounds so much better than $600.95
Re:This is not news. (Score:5, Insightful)
For the same reason the PS1 and PS2 supported s-video.
And btw, the PS1, PS2 and Xbox didn't come with s-video cables either, even though they supported it. The point is you put the cable in the box that's basically the lowest common denominator supported by all TV's, and then if someone wants to upgrade it, they can.
There's also the obvious question of if you're going to pay $600 for a console, would you rather Sony put $600 worth of actual machine into the box, or $600 worth of add-on junk that a lot of people aren't even going to be able to use?
But this is really nothing new, and I have no idea why it's become such a story the past couple days (it was on Joystiq too, and probably other sites) other than the fact that it's become de rigeur to bash the PS3 lately. Consoles never come with the best cable; they come with the cable supported by the most TV's.
The bigger, more important thing to note is that the PS3 has a standard HDMI port, meaning you can buy any HDMI cable for it. Why no bashing of the Xbox 360 for requiring a proprietary, MS-licensed cable at an inflated price?
btw, the PS3 will come with component cables, not just composite. Another sign of bias on the part of the submitter here...
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I think people are upset because the two different PS3 models make the upper one feel like a bundle of some sort. That's mostly what gamers have had experience with when it comes to two different models of basically the same thing. You either buy the bare bones unit with one controller and no games, or you buy the one with two controllers, a game thrown in, etc. everything you need to really hav
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the PS3 is trying to push HDTV and how great it will be for gaming. Shouldnt they make an attempt to make that a fact...
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Re:This is not news. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:This is not news. (Score:5, Informative)
This is a review from Top Gear: it's a great clip, however for the point I'm trying to make is about one third of the way in - check out . Things you would consider essentials on a sports car - the sports chrono package (500 pounds), 19" wheels (1260 pounds), fade free carbon ceramic breaks (5350 pounds!), an adaptive dampers (1030 pounds), the SatNav is an extra 1800 pounds - even the rear windshield wiper is an extra 260 pounds. This, all on a car that's already over 50,000 pounds. Tell me again why people are getting bent out of shape here - it's a cheap $20 cable that 5% of PS3 owners are going to want/need - you can't even begin to compare that to a $400 rear windshield wiper that every single person who owned the car (especially in the UK) is going to want AND need.
Re:This is not news. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:This is not news. (Score:5, Insightful)
Tell me again why people are getting bent out of shape here - it's a cheap $20 cable that 5% of PS3 owners are going to want/need
But that's my entire point -- Sony's fundamental premise for this entire console is that most serious gamers will want/need HDMI and blu-ray support. If this is not true, and the percentage is closer to the 5% that you claim, then Sony's entire strategy for this generation is invalidated, and they should have made a $300-400 console instead. If you're already assuming that the vast majority even of the self-selected population that is actually willing to spend $600 on a PS3 is still not going to be able to use the most expensive part of the system, then what is that most expensive part for?
$10 bucks at Sam's Club (Score:2)
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Isn't it obvious why they aren't providing one? It's so that you can spend $60 on the official Sony branded HDMI cable [bestbuy.com]. Or better yet, if you want to keep it a "pure HD" signal, you probably should step up to the $199 Monster brand HDMI cable [circuitcity.com].
Two reasons (Score:2, Insightful)
2) For most people, the cable won't be that cheap. They probably won't know about online cable warehouses, and how much cheaper they are. So they'll pick up an HDMI cable at Best Buy or wherever they got the PS3. There, it's more like $60, not $20. Cables are the big money maker for places like that.
I'm just saying at $6
Two reasons invalidated (Score:3, Insightful)
I'm in the alleged '5%'. I don't want the cable included. Why? Because it will be the wrong length. It doesnt matter what length it is, it will be just a bit too short or way to friggin long. Just as a cat is always on the wrong side of the door, the legth of OEM cables are always wrong. I'd end up buying a new cable to
so for $600... (Score:5, Funny)
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In other news... (Score:5, Funny)
HDMI for HDCP (Score:3, Informative)
Or... (Score:2)
Still, if you have a home theater setup, would a supplied 6-foot cable be enough? How about 3-foot, or should we push to 8? You can see where you'd be wasting a lot of people's money by including a cable that the vast majority can't use. Even if it would fit your system, you'd be in the minority for having HDMI. Yes, it
Hmmm (Score:2)
Blu-Ray curse (Score:5, Funny)
Now they have decided to release this ungodly expensive machine without an HDMI cable, which is required for playing Blu-Ray movies.
So for $600 dollars you are buying something most people don't want or need (Blu-Ray) but still will not even have the ability to use it.
Re:Blu-Ray curse (Score:4, Insightful)
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Yep! And enough DRM to not use any of it properly!
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Reports coming out of the PS3 launch developers indicate that they actually are using the extra space available, above and beyond the 9 gigs that a DVD gets you, to store high resolution textures, more sound effects, etc.
That PS3 is bringing a never-before-seen storage capability to console games does not mean that that extra space will never get used.
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I think they probably want to sell some games as well.
Wrong. HD movies will be viewable via component cables.
You sort of made their point - for many people, the HDMI ca
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Except, of course, the PS3's primary next-gen competitor, the 360, which comes with component cables included.
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The core system does not include it, but yes, you are correct in saying the high-end X360 bundle does indeed include a component cable.
PS3 - movie player (Score:2, Insightful)
FWIW (Score:3, Insightful)
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This isn't the first time in this discussion the "HDMI isn't for the lowest common denominator" hand-wave has been brought up, but I'll respond to this one nonetheless.
You're totally ignoring the fact that Sony is offering two models, and the $600 model in and of itself isn't supposed to be for the "lowest common denominator." If you don't want/don't need
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Proprietary connector? (Score:4, Interesting)
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Same as USB devices (Score:3, Insightful)
And for the ones that do use it they probably have some notion that whatever come with the system isn't good enough and will buy a Monster cable anyway. Or the one it came with won't be long enough, or what-have-you.
I have no problem with connecting cables not being included. It's a very customized component. No blame or ridicule here.
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Uh, all of them? With the exception of some that plug directly into the port (e.g. USB memory sticks), every USB device I've bought - wired and wireless network adaptors, hard disks, etc - has come with a USB cable.
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Now that I think about it, the trend has changed. But printers and scanners and such used to not include such cables. I suppose cameras, Mp3 players, and hard drives I've purchased recently all came with cables though.
So I retract my USB statement, but I still think the HDMI cable doesn't need to be included with the PS3.
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Bought anything LATELY? (Score:2)
I think manufacturers caught o that the customer caught on that they had to include the cost of whateve rextra cables they eneded to buy in the price. By including the cable, they give you $20-$60 of value (depending on the
No component video? (Score:2)
Digital doesn't guarantee delivery (Score:3, Informative)
Not 100% accurate, as HDMI (which uses DVI signaling for the video portion) does not have any error correction built into the signaling [ecoustics.com]. (See also the bottom of this page [ramelectronics.net] for similar info.)
This means that bit errors can creep in and degrade image quality when using low-quality cables, especially in an electrically noisy environment. I don't know about you, but I have a rat's nest of cables behi
I don't know which side of this one to take. (Score:2)
However, I think in most peoples cases, if they have the means to use HDMI, they probably already have an HDMI cable. Shops like monoprice.com sell HDMI cables for under $10, so that's not so big of a deal. Although, the majority of consumers won't know about this and will be forced to buy $75 ones off the shelf at best buy, probably more when they're conned into buying the M
Belkin stock (Score:5, Funny)
oh dear (Score:2)
If you drop $600 (or over £400 here) on a PS3 it will be because you really want the most amazing graphics and Blu-ray (which is pretty much all they seem to be marketing on at the moment... because its a blu-ray player). I doubt that many people who don't have a HDTV would get a PS3 because I can't really distinguish its advantages over the 360 other than offering a blu-ray player
Watch next week.... Non standard HDMI connector! (Score:2)
I'd make fun of sony but it's just another in it's long line of "screw the consumer" moves. All I can do now is shake my head and wonder when they will start medicating the designers.
Oblig. Xbox 360 Note (Score:3, Informative)
hmm... (Score:2, Funny)
Oh noes! (Score:4, Insightful)
Does the 360 ship with a component cable? Did the dreamcast ship with a VGA cable?
Will the Wii ship with a component cable, despite the fact that its required to enable progressive-scan mode? The GC didn't...
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Yes it does, My Sony Fanboi. And its also $100 cheaper. Any more questions?
Cables not included (Score:2)
I see this as more of a case of "letting the consumer figure out their own way to getting things hooked up" than "we're trying to shaft you by making you pay extra for HDMI cables."
And d
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Thats a good guess but your wrong. Having worked in retail computer sales, I can say with absolute certainty that with printers, scanners, etc... the store makes shit money markup wise (10-$30 most printers). Most cables COST less than $3. The stores mark them up 1000% or more. So you get a A-B usb cable costing $15, instead of the 50cents it costs the store to purch
1080p (Score:3, Interesting)
And this is especially true because although the component spec is capable of 1080p, the playstation won't do it.
call me when the power adaptor costs extra (Score:3, Insightful)
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You don't even want to know how much their "Geek Squad" USB cables cost. Oh, and I love how they no longer carry any brand except "Geek Squad".
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I recently had a sales rep tell me that all cables degrade over time and should be replaced every couple years, if not yearly. After I stared at him for 10 seconds or so he asked if I needed any replacements. I told him to save it for the customers whose IQ's were less than thier shoe size and go away.
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better if you've got gold plated connections. Either they don't
understand what they're selling or they think we're a bunch
of idiots.
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Re:'Cuz a cable costs $100... (Score:4, Informative)
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Re:$920 for the package? (Score:4, Funny)
$210 for the console (average of the high and low prediction), $0 for the cable, $80 for the controller (lets be cautions and over-estimate), $600 for 12 (non-VC) games, and $40 tax? That's a whole freaking $930 for the Wii!! Even more than the PS3!
I am a parent (well, no, but I have cats) of a household with income considerably less than yours, and there's no way in heck I'm buying 12 games for the Wii at launch! But that's just mostly cause my wife won't let me...
Re:My Dryer (Score:4, Informative)
The mains connection for your dryer may vary with local code requirements. Putting four moderately-expensive cables in with the appliance to cover all of the bases doesn't make any sense.
-a