Best Buy Discontinuing The 80gb Ps3 Model?

[Mana 3,867]

According to an email by a "Best Buy" employee Best Buy is planning on selling only the 40GB non PS2 backward compatible version of the PlayStation 3.

An anonymous Best Buy employee has sent us a scan of an internal letter, which notifies employees that the 80GB system is being discontinued. "The 80GB version of the PS3 is going closeout and won't be replaced at this time," it reads. "It will come off the planogram on Jan. 28. The 60GB version should already be gone from stores. Only the 40GB version of PS3 will be sold in Best Buy stores at this time."

The 40GB model currently costs $399, and is the cheapest PS3 available. However, it does have a few limitations: it lacks memory card readers, features only two USB ports, and most importantly, loses backwards compatability, as noted in the memo. "This means that there currently isn't a version that is PS2 compatible," it notes.

There have been very shady rumors suggesting Sony is planning on introducing a cheaper $299 version of its console (although that has been repeatedly denied by Sony). Earlier in the week, we also discovered an FCC filing for a white model PS3. Whatever's going on, it appears that Sony's making moves for a big change. Stay tuned.

Source:

<a href="http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2008/01/24/best-b...nuing-80gb-ps3/" target="_blank">http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2008/01/24/best-b...nuing-80gb-ps3/</a>

I actually asked a friend who is working at Best Buy. I was told that this could be done to sell more PS2s , but he didn't know much. I mean it would make sense... the 40GB model has no backward compatibility [as of yet]. And the 80GB has Software Compatibility while the discontinued 20 and 60 GB Ps3s had full hardware compatibility. If the 80GB model with mostly the same hardware can have Software BC why can't the 40GB model? We'll see what Sony/Best Buy comes up with as time goes by. And in the mean time I guess Best Buy will be selling a few more PS2s .

Any of you guys have a PS3 here?