SCEA President Clarifies 20GB PS3 Specs

With the recent confusion about the difference in specs between the 20Gb PS3 and the 60Gb variant, Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) president Kaz Hirai has spoken and confirmed that the 20Gb model will not feature the High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) output and the data card inputs.

In a recent interview with CNN, Hirai said “[Sony] felt that if you want to save something on your Memory Stick, most people have those readers on their PC, which is easily adaptable to the PlayStation 3 with a USB cord… The only difference [between 20Gb and 60Gb] is HDMI – and at this point, I don’t think many people’s TV’s have that. The ultimate result, to my eyes anyway, is there’s not a discernable difference between what you get between HDMI and other forms of high definition.”

There is still confusion on whether the 20Gb PS3 will also have Wi-Fi functionality, which according to Sony spec sheets would only be available for the 60Gb variant. Mr. Hirai and other Sony execs have not yet shedded light on this issue. Although the Sony Station Launcher has been already announced, the Wi-Fi functionality is still an amorphous concept.

The Sony big boss also went on to defend the prices of the units by saying “I think when you look at what we put into the box – Cell, Blu-Ray, backwards compatibility, the ability to go online – I think it’s a very compelling package for consumers. The totality of what we bring to the table makes it a good value for consumers.”

He also said that they remain optimistic about reaching the targeted 4 million shipped PS3 units around the globe by the end of the year. Only the future holds the answer for that.

With the recent confusion about the difference in specs between the 20Gb PS3 and the 60Gb variant, Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) president Kaz Hirai has spoken and confirmed that the 20Gb model will not feature the High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) output and the data card inputs.

In a recent interview with CNN, Hirai said “[Sony] felt that if you want to save something on your Memory Stick, most people have those readers on their PC, which is easily adaptable to the PlayStation 3 with a USB cord… The only difference [between 20Gb and 60Gb] is HDMI – and at this point, I don’t think many people’s TV’s have that. The ultimate result, to my eyes anyway, is there’s not a discernable difference between what you get between HDMI and other forms of high definition.”

There is still confusion on whether the 20Gb PS3 will also have Wi-Fi functionality, which according to Sony spec sheets would only be available for the 60Gb variant. Mr. Hirai and other Sony execs have not yet shedded light on this issue. Although the Sony Station Launcher has been already announced, the Wi-Fi functionality is still an amorphous concept.

The Sony big boss also went on to defend the prices of the units by saying “I think when you look at what we put into the box – Cell, Blu-Ray, backwards compatibility, the ability to go online – I think it’s a very compelling package for consumers. The totality of what we bring to the table makes it a good value for consumers.”

He also said that they remain optimistic about reaching the targeted 4 million shipped PS3 units around the globe by the end of the year. Only the future holds the answer for that.