Want a PlayStation 3? Want a kosher UK Sony PlayStation 3? Want one on the 23rd March, the official date of release in the UK? Of course you do, because like me you are a technology obsessed early adopting geek who just has to be in on such cutting edge technology from the get go. Ever since I first saw one in action, in the flesh, in the US I have known I would be buying one.
Sure, I could have gone Japanese, I could have gone American, I could have ordered via eBay. But I didn’t because I want a proper UK sourced device that is guaranteed not to cause me region locking problems further down the road, and those import PS3s simply cannot do that.
So, how much will a cell and RSX processor powered, Blu Ray playing, Gigabit Ethernet equipped, 60Gb hard drive installed, HDTV output supporting, PSP as a remote media playing and control device supporting PS3 cost me then? Well, if I wanted to buy one of the few units allocated to the UK by Sony for pre-order (and rumour has it that the European allocation will be in the region of 1 million, with the UK getting around 300,000 units) I could be expected to pay not the RRP of £425, but £675. No, I am not talking about buying off some eBay scalper here, but HMV online of all people.