Sony Drops Memory Stick Prices

Posted By: Ed Monday, January 28, 2002 10:43:23 AM

Sony has dropped prices on their entire line of regular Memory Sticks. The most dramatic cut came at the top, where their 128 MB one dropped from $150 to $90, a 40% cut. The 64 MB Memory Stick was cut almost as much percentage-wise, going from $80 down to $50. Smaller Memory Sticks have also had price drops, too. These prices have already taken effect on Sony's webstore.

MagicGate Memory Stick prices have not been cut.

These cuts bring prices for Sony's memory cards down well below those of Panasonic's for SD cards. For example, a 64 MB SD card from Panasonic is $80. However, the two companies have been in a price war over flash memory prices since last summer and a price cut from one has, in the past, been quickly followed by a price cut from the other.

SizeFormer PriceNew Price
128 MB$150$90
64 MB$80$50
32 MB$50$35
16 MB$35$25
8 MB$30$25

These are, of course, simply the manufacturer's suggested prices. These products can almost always be found cheaper elsewhere but retailers peg their prices on the suggested price so a drop in it should lead to drops in all retail prices.

Thanks to Ofer Avnery for the tip. -Ed

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16Mb = 8Mb???

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/28/2002 10:56:05 AM #
It is curious, that the 16 MB one costs as much as the 8 Mb... they will never sell the 8Mb ones!!! They should keep them to give as presents to loyal customers and stop production!

RE: 16Mb = 8Mb???
mikecane @ 1/28/2002 11:30:41 AM #
I think the lower capacity ones mainly sell to AIBO owners. (Or maybe not -- I saw a packaged MS that was strictly for AIBO owners!)

RE: 16Mb = 8Mb???
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/28/2002 11:38:28 AM #
I think those come with programmed code for AIBO behaviors, not empty...
Anyways, if sony keeps giving me free memorysticks containing an upgrade for a product I do not have they will run short of'em quickly...

256 & 512mb Memory Sticks

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/28/2002 10:59:15 AM #
I'm guessing that the price cuts might mean the release of higher capacity 256 & 512mb memory sticks. I currently have a 128 mb stick, but it is already full with mp3 and video files. A 256 mb stick would sure be nice so that the Clie can be used as a real useful mp3 player.

RE: 256 & 512mb Memory Sticks
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/28/2002 11:52:25 AM #
I just got a Sony Digital Camera and the sales man said he would have a 256MS sometime in Feb. for around 200 bucks.

RE: 256 & 512mb Memory Sticks
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/28/2002 11:52:44 AM #
I agree with you that 256/512Mb is more useful while I currently I have to split the VCD into few files and store them into two 128Mb Memory Stick. But I'm not sure if Clie support the addressing up to 256/512Mb that means it needs 28/29 bit for data bus.

RE: 256 & 512mb Memory Sticks
sub_tex @ 1/28/2002 12:38:05 PM #
What movie software are you using to get decent video?

I've tried PLENTY of encoders and they all basically suck.

gMovie has 15 fps cap (what???) and firevierwer is rather huge....

RE: 256 & 512mb Memory Sticks
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/29/2002 9:00:04 PM #
You are right that Sony Clie 710 doesn't support memory stick larger than 128MB capacity (stated in manual).....the larger capacity MS doesn't benefit us

RE: 256 & 512mb Memory Sticks
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2002 2:41:26 PM #
The SONY memory stick plan:

http://63.224.30.26/memstick/future.html

For my money...

jpfeiffer @ 1/28/2002 11:16:25 AM #
I'd get the Lexar memory sticks. You can currently pick up the 128MB stick from amazon for $55 ($70 list with a $15 mail-in rebate, actually).

The quality is the same (Lexar is a well respected producer of flash memory), but the price is much better.

RE: For my money...
markpmc @ 1/28/2002 11:32:18 AM #
Getting better and better.

The 250 MB is down to $0.70 per MB (SRP).

Sony's gonna rule the world.

RE: For my money...
bookrats @ 1/28/2002 12:49:32 PM #
I'm assuming the lower price of the Lexar Memory stick is one of the prime reasons Sony is dropping the price of their MSs.

----

Jeff Meyer

RE: For my money...
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/28/2002 3:56:28 PM #
Sony obviously knows that Lexar would market cheaply because they dont have as good brandname, so they wont drop price because of that. However, they are preparing for intro of 256Mb chip, which simply wont sell
for twice the price of current 128Mb, so they drop prices and intro 256Mb at somewhat higher price than 128Mb.

RE: For my money...
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/28/2002 7:53:46 PM #
I do not think this has anything to do with Lexar MS as they have been around for a while (Sandisk just started selling recently). I would say the higher capacity MS is on the horizon.

ok

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/28/2002 12:06:43 PM #
It's ok I like it but I'waiting the memory stick magic gate.

RE: ok
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/28/2002 12:33:44 PM #
Could someone explain to me what is the difference
about this Magic Gate MS?

Thanks in advance.


The difference between the white and the blue.
rsuplido @ 1/28/2002 2:11:45 PM #
Here's a brief explanation:
http://www.cliesource.com/cgi-bin/forum.cgi?number=4&thread=000001

Reggie
http://www.cliesource.com

the market has switched to that price for over a month!

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/28/2002 12:24:40 PM #
I broght a 128mb blue MS for $590 HKD ($75 USD) on dec. And ebay's acution price is already the same as the new price long time ago

RTA!
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/28/2002 12:33:55 PM #
RTA = Read The Article

"These are, of course, simply the manufacturer's suggested prices. These products can almost always be found cheaper elsewhere but retailers peg their prices on the suggested price so a drop in it should lead to drops in all retail prices. "

RE: the market has switched to that price for over a month!
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/28/2002 3:02:23 PM #
Exactly. So, if the market has switched to that price for over a month, in the next few months, expect your "market price" to be even lower than what it is now. That's the point and that's what the fuss is all about.

grammar cop

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/28/2002 2:22:11 PM #
"taken *e*ffect"

not affect

RE: grammar cop
Ed @ 1/28/2002 2:24:22 PM #
I knew that. I was just testing you. ;-)

---
News Editor

800.com MS cheap

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/28/2002 2:26:46 PM #
Check out http://www.800.com -- a friend just got me a
16MB MStick for $13.95 -- and free shipping!

RE: 800.com MS cheap
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/29/2002 8:46:04 AM #
I looked on 800.com, but did not see this price. Is it a coupon or something. the price I saw was 24.99

Availability of 128MB sticks to Europe for low price?

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/29/2002 5:06:42 PM #
Hello,

as the prices are comparably high in Europe (much higher than the currency exchange rate, we also don't get any add-on HW when buying a Sony here, no MS, no case, no nothing), I am looking into a web shop which offers overseas shipment.

Because all web shops who offer 128MB sticks for a price around USD 70-90 (and there's a lot outta there) which I came across, don't sell outside US and Canada. I am looking into shipment to Germany, to be precise. Credit card payment possible.

Can somebody help me here pls with a good store / URL?

Thanks a lot in advance!

///Jo.

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