HDDs eventually chosen for pricing considerations

Although the PS3 Slim integrates typical HDDs, Sony's engineers and designers considered using network-only storage or even SSDs for the gaming console, according to a Nikkei interview with SCE's technology platform head and strategy planning VP Masayuki Chatani. The executive credits the high price of Flash storage and the limitations of network bandwidth as primary factors behind the decision to utilize conventional HDD storage.

"Network storage and local storage are in the same sort of relationship as a convenience store and the refrigerator in your home," Chatani said. "Even if you can drop by a convenience store and buy something when you need it, it's even more convenient if you already have it in the refrigerator at home."

Following in line with the evolution of the original PlayStation and PS2, Sony attempted to shrink the PS3's case size without sacrificing features. The company also pondered pulling the power supply out of the housing, which could have further reduced the system's volume. The designers eventually dismissed the idea, fearing an external power supply might hinder portability.

The SCE executive hinted at the possibility of expanding payment methods to include monthly fees or per-item charges, which could help the company maintain its growing PlayStation Network. "Servers and the like have running costs, and we would face difficulties if our business depended solely on the
sell-and-forget model," Chatani said.

By Electronista Staff