We know Sony is currently planning to stick with the 40 GB PlayStation 3 model until further notice - more models could arrive in the future, depending on "consumers and market trends" - but we didn’t expect the 80GB model to disappear so quickly. Evidently, Best Buy will cease carrying this model as of January 28, according to a leaked store scan from an anonymous employee. The employee wrote a notice and it read. "The 80 GB version of the PS3 is going closeout and won’t be replaced at this time, it will come off the planogram on Jan. 28. The 60GB version should already be gone from stores. Only the 40 GB version of PS3 will be sold in Best Buy stores at this time."

 

Remember, while the 40GB model is the cheapest at $399, it also only has two USB ports, no memory card readers, and no backwards compatibility for PS2 software. The notice even points out that with the disappearance of the 80GB model, there "currently isn’t a version that is PS2 compatible." The only other hardware news centers on a rumor - now officially debunked by Sony regarding a price cut, and the recent FCC filing for the Ceramic White PS3 to come to North America.

 

The latter is the 40GB model, though, so Best Buy should certainly carry it. I seriously don’t see the point in this. I always thought the 80 GB was a big hit. But I guess it isn’t selling in Best Buy after all. I never liked the 40 GB at all but I guess that’s all the new ps3 owners will get.