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Blockbuster discounts old 40GB PS3--still a ripoff

Blockbuster is lowering the price of the 40GB PS3 and their exclusive 'Spider-Man' and 'Transformers: The Video Game' bundle.

Jeff Bakalar Editor at Large
Jeff is CNET Editor at Large and a host for CNET video. He's regularly featured on CBS and CBSN. He founded the site's longest-running podcast, The 404 Show, which ran for 10 years. He's currently featured on Giant Bomb's Giant Beastcast podcast and has an unhealthy obsession with ice hockey and pinball.
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Jeff Bakalar
Kotaku

A leaked internal memo shows that Blockbuster will be lowering the price of the entry-level 40GB model PlayStation 3 this weekend. Kotaku was able to get a screenshot of the memo, which clearly shows a new price of $360. Also, the store-exclusive Spider-Man 3 Blu-ray/Transformers video game and HDMI cable bundle will drop to $460.

This may seem like a decent bargain, but remember that $40 more will double your hard drive capacity to 80GB. (Confusingly, the "old" 80GB model, which had four USB ports and flash media slots, has mostly disappeared from store shelves. The new "Core" 80GB model--two USB ports, DualShock 3 controller, and no flash media slots--has replaced the 40, which is why the old one is being discounted.)

In addition, we can't really advise anyone to opt for the HDMI bundle either, as we all know how cheap you can find one of those cables online.

A Sony-initiated price drop does seem likely in time for the holidays, especially after Microsoft recently lowered the prices of the entire Xbox 360 product line.

Note: this post was updated to clarify the difference between the old and new 80GB PS3 models.