December 18th is Blu-ray/PS3 Day at Amazon.com
Those who have been patiently waiting for a great deal on a PS3 video game console/Blu-ray player or other Blu-ray-related deals should check out Amazon tonight and tomorrow for a special Gold Box deal and time-limited "Lightning Deals" on Blu-ray software and hardware. The deals are so spectacular that they can't even tell us the details. The PS3 gold box deal will start at 12:00 midnight Pacific time tonight/tomorrow morning (3:00 AM Eastern) and will run all day or until stock is depleted. Which of these conditions will happen first depends on how good the deal is, of course.
Here's the Link (deal will be updated at 12:00 midnight Pacific Time on 12/18 (3:00 AM Eastern Time):
Update: OK, looks like the deal is $449 for the 160 GB PS3 bundled with "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune" with a free Blu-ray remote. OK that's a savings of over $75 I guess (plus the free game), but did I really stay up until 3:00 AM for this??
Motorstorm Pacific Rift (game) is also $39.98 (33% off) with more PS3 and Blu-ray software deals to follow over the course of the day. Like, for example, these new Blu-ray Software sales on popular titles such as "Mad Men," "Hairspray," "I Am Legend," and more:
The Blu-ray Deals will continue all day Thursday with lightning deals on other Blu-ray products beginning at 9:00 AM Eastern (6:00 AM Pacific Time) and running hourly (or until stock is depleted) all day. Check back often for each new deal.
PS3 - Losing Its Blu-ray Edge?
Sales of the PS3 have taken a bit of a beating lately, due in part to the quicker than expected price erosion of stand-alone Blu-ray Disc players. Just a year ago, the PS3 was the least expensive - and most full-featured - Blu-ray Disc player on the market. Now, at a regular price of $399 (80GB) or $499 (120GB), it's actually one of the more expensive Blu-ray players on the market, and it is rarely discounted. Of course, it's primarily an advanced gaming system and still appeals to high-end gamers, but its Blu-ray playback capabilities accounted for a large portion of its initial sales figures.
Meanwhile stand-alone component-based Blu-ray players from Panasonic, Samsung, LG - even Sony itself - have caught up to the PS3 in Blu-ray functionality and networking features, and are almost as quick at loading discs as the PS3, and these can be had for prices well below $399 (many under $299). The advantages these players have over the PS3 are that they run quieter and consume less power, while integrating better with advanced universal remote controls such as those by Logitech (Harmony), and URC. Most consumer devices operate via Infrared (IR) codes while the PS3 responds to Bluetooth wireless. Some new BD players even offer multi-channel analog outputs for integration with older home theater receivers (something lacking on the PS3) and well as access to Netflix movies on demand.
Could tomorrow's PS3 Gold Box deal be good enough to inject some much-needed volume into PS3 sales figures? We'll find out in a few hours, but one thing is clear - it's going to be a very Blu Christmas.
