Microsoft is not happy with the recent hardware sales data that shows the PS3 leaving the Xbox 360 in its dust. The weekly hardware charts from September 12th - 19th showed PS3 sales was double that of its main rival, with Sony selling 306,794 consoles, compared to Microsoft shipping 146,914 units. So what's Microsoft's response? Slash the price of the Xbox 360 Elite by offering a $50 mail in rebate till October 5th. You may take this lightly, but what they're really doing is, testing the waters to see if $249 would be the deal that'd sway back consumers in their console's direction.
Back in 2005 when the Xbox 360 was launched, Microsoft proclaimed that they had only one goal, and that goal was to beat Sony in this current generation. Sure they had a great head start (minus the RROD), in fact, they have a lead of about 6 to 7million consoles ahead of Sony. But the Software giant knows that when it comes to hardware, Sony is King, and unless they don't keep on extending the value of their Box, Sony has a real chance of overtaking.
The recent Price cut and redesigned PS3 does not make it any easier. Since it relaunched in September, the PS3 Slim has been dominating hardware sales charts across the globe, it's almost like the world has found a fresh new flare for the company they used to love, or it could be that the price is finally right, and after years of seating on the fence, they've made the leap of faith? If the latter is the case, there's no need to worry, because with the stellar lineup the PS3 has going into the holiday season, consumers will be rewarded, for taking that leap of faith.
09/23/09 Ernice Gilbert
