If Sony drops it’s price then MS will have no choice but to also cut the price of the x360.

i agree that the picture being painted by the MS folks is undoubtedly one that shows they favor a price drop sooner rather than later. in addition, they’re still licking the wounds from the news leaks associated with the release of the elite model–which effectively [whether causally related or not] seemed to dry up all 360 sales until the announcement was officially made and the product released. people saw the new unit and the new price… and more or less dismissed it–and people began buying 360s again [whichever model they wanted, regardless of the elite's existence].

i can’t picture MS making that mistake again. to drop hints of a real price drop would be tantamount to calling up the production facilities and telling them to press the big red ‘stop’ button–because sales will slow to a trickle if john q. public thinks he’s going to be overpaying for a soon-to-be-price-reduced 360.

timetables aside, if the ultimate goal is to see the core unit at or near the $100-mark by 360′s end-of-life, then you have to get started sometime [CHOP-CHOP!]. when referring to the ‘sweet spot’ for consumers, i can’t decide what the biggest element will be… the ‘when’ or the ‘how much’.

so far as time is concerned, you nailed it. you either need to hit the halo3 crowd or wait until next year’s spring lull. trying to hit the middle would just upset new adopters [although somebody always has to be the sucker who bought it the day before the price drop, right?]… but waiting too long just gives the competition the precious time they need to get their ducks in a row.

so far as the amount is concerned, anything short of $50 is a slap in the face. let us not forget that certain games [varied by region] have been packed in with the system from time to time since launch–so that was $50 right there. a drop of $100 would keep you at those retail-friendly $X99.99 numbers that wal-mart shoppers seem to die for… and lets people know that you’re serious about wanting their business as opposed to protecting your bottom line. if you didn’t want a PSP core pack at $199… then did that recent $30 drop to $169 force you off your sofa and into the nearest retailer? i tend to doubt it.

i really hope MS decides to strike while the iron is hot… and i hope they really make it *mean* something… otherwise, what’s the point?