Sony is quoted as having consulted with many console retailers in making the decision to offer only the 60GB edition.

This may be a sensible business move given the data that Sony has collected.  Fact is that the 60GB model has been the most popular option for those picking up the gadget in North America and Japan.

Launch date is not official at this time, but is looking increasingly like being March 23rd.

The European, and to a lesser extent Australian, launch of the PS3 will be an important litmus test for the direction of Sony gaming.  A revitalised PS3 world profile will be required to riposte against recent negative PlayStation stories.

Hardware sales in Japan for example, indicate a slowing of demand for the PS3 with 25,531 units sold in the week ending January 14. 

All next-gen hardware suffered however.  Nintendo reported its second worst week of sales since the Wii launch, close to 94,000 sold.  Whilst the pain has continued for Microsoft with a mere 9000 Xbox 360's going into Japanese households during the same period. {moscomment}