Sony Cuts PS3 Cell Spending

Moving chip production out of house

Posted by Staff
Sony Cuts PS3 Cell Spending
Sony, which is planning to downsize the Cell processor at the heart of the PlayStation 3 from 90 and 65-nanometer to 45nm by 2009, has announced that it’s going to downsize spending, and even move production of the chip out of house.

Sony executive deputy president Yutaka Nakagawa, told journalists today that, “When we first offered the PS2, there were no semiconductor companies that were able to make chips for the machine, so we did it ourselves. But now, there are companies that specialize in chip production.”

This news comes as the company ends a three-year restructuring program aimed at cutting unprofitable divisions in order to increase the overall profit of the company. So far, 10,500 Sony staffers have 'left' the company and nine out of 11 factories have been shut down. With 500 more people due to 'seek new challenges' (or whatever their redundancies will be called) and two more factories to close by this March, today's announcement bears all the indications that fabrication of the Cell will indeed go out of house.

In short, if we’re going to see a PS3.1, then the chances are that it’s going to have a smaller form-factor, but that its heart will have been constructed by IBM! And we certainly will not be seeing it until 2009.

† Source:Reuters
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Comments

Ditto 13 Feb 2007 23:30
1/5
Sorry, but in my opinion this article reads really badly.

Sony, which is planning to downsize the Cell processor at the heart of the PlayStation 3 from 90 and 65-nanometer to 45nm by 2009, has announced that it’s going to downsize spending, and even move production of the chip out of house.


"Who are planning"? This whole sentence/paragraph reads awkwardly to me.

So far, 10,500 Sony staffers have 'left' the company and nine out of 11 factories have been shut down.


Incosistant use of numerals and words for numbers.

nine out of 11 factories have been shut down... and two more factories to close by this March... all the indications that fabrication of the Cell will indeed go out of house


It would have to if they have no factories left!

In short, if we’re going to see a PS3.1, then the chances are that it’s going to have a smaller form-factor, but that it’s heart will have been constructed by IBM! And we certainly will not be seeing it until 2009.


This just sounds crap. Why the exclamation mark?
config 14 Feb 2007 08:44
2/5
Adam M wrote:
Sorry, but in my opinion this article reads really badly.

Sony, which is planning to downsize the Cell processor at the heart of the PlayStation 3 from 90 and 65-nanometer to 45nm by 2009, has announced that it’s going to downsize spending, and even move production of the chip out of house.


"Who are planning"? This whole sentence/paragraph reads awkwardly to me.

Who is planning? Sony is.

So far, 10,500 Sony staffers have 'left' the company and nine out of 11 factories have been shut down.


Incosistant use of numerals and words for numbers.

SPOnG's writing styleguide (as with many publications) states that figures below 10 are written as the word, and figures above nine are digits.

nine out of 11 factories have been shut down... and two more factories to close by this March... all the indications that fabrication of the Cell will indeed go out of house


It would have to if they have no factories left!


Natch.
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jwstacey 14 Feb 2007 09:50
3/5
- So far, 10,500 Sony staffers have 'left' the company and nine out of 11 factories have been shut down.

- Incosistant use of numerals and words for numbers.

It's actually correct use of english to spell out numbers below 10 and to use numerals for numbers above nine.
TimSpong 14 Feb 2007 10:37
4/5
Adam M wrote:
Sorry, but in my opinion this article reads really badly.


First off, thanks for taking the time to comments.

I'm confused as to why you're sorry for posting them though. Is that you don't want to hurt anybody's feelings? Or is it that you're sorry for your opinion?

I can't be sure, the sentence is too ambiguous...

...tricky thing, language.

Your earlier points have been covered in config's post, which doesn't need adding to.

nine out of 11 factories have been shut down... SNIP


Adam M wrote:
It would have to if they have no factories left!


None of the factories targeted as part of the plan would remain, that's the plan.

In short, if SNIP...


Adam M wrote:
This just sounds crap. Why the exclamation mark?


The exclamation point is there for emphasis. Technically, I suppose, the 'exclam' (or 'screamer') should only be used within quotation marks as part of an exclamation - but that's like having a really excellent car and only using it for the school run.

Finally, the 'This just sounds crap' comment - that's not analysis; it's certainly not useful criticism. All it can possibly achieve is a "No, it doesn't / Yes, it does" exchange - which is a waste of time and energy.


tyrion 14 Feb 2007 15:00
5/5
Adam M wrote:
"Who are planning"? This whole sentence/paragraph reads awkwardly to me.

Tim and config have covered your other points, but this one I think is worthy of note. In my opinion, Sony is an inanimate entity and does not deserve the "who". You wouldn't say "The chair who is next to the table".
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