PS3 prices revealed

Sony has announced the PS3 pricing and launch date - it will be available in Japan on the 11th November for $499 (about £330 - as previously forecast here). This price is for the basic model with a 20GB hard drive, while the 60GB version will be priced at $599.

It is anticipated that the PS3 will be available in Europe and the US less than a week later, on the 17th November to take advantage of the Christmas peak shopping period.

Sony have learnt from Microsoft, and are aiming to have 2 million units available at launch, with an additional 2 million units ready for the end of the year. When Microsoft launched the Xbox 360, there weren't enough units to satisfy demand, and is only just getting good stock levels in stores now.

The big news is that the 'cheap' PS3 doesn't have HDMI output. This is a massive blow to anyone wanting to use the console for gaming and video. The Blu-Ray DVD's will require HDMI to qualify the copy-protection, so anyone wanting to use the PS3 for films as well as playing, will have to buy the premium $599 version.

Keep tuned to Tech Babble, and we'll let you know more as soon as it is announced.