14 DAY TRIAL // It appears that Sony's so rumored and expected PlayStation 3 gaming console is already manufactured in Asustek's facilities, according to several local reports cited by Reghardware.
It also seems that the production has already started, even if the facility is said to deliver a small number of consoles according to the agreement signed between Sony and the latter.
"Asustek wouldn't comment on the claims, apparently, but the manufacturer was said to have been contracted to build 4m PS3s, with more than 1m shipping out to Sony by the end of October. The console will launch in Japan on 11 November before shipping almost everywhere else on 17 November," further writes the web site.
Moreover, the resurrected Foxconn, Asustek's challenger, is said to come next in line to deliver PS3s.
Only last month a rumor emerged regarding Foxconn, saying that the company may become in the near future one of the leaders in computer components manufacturing, as Foxconn is considered to be a large company and as it intends to extend its portfolio, including the company's own graphics cards.
Several motherboard makers, cited by CENS web-site, said that they believe Foxconn has enough authority to restructure the market of graphics cards. As a matter of fact, Foxconn has already shipped several graphics cards to numerous computer manufacturers and, therefore, the mainboard producers' statements may just be true.
On the other hand, the PS3 seem to create several problems for numerous Blu-ray Alliance Optical disc drive (ODD) manufacturers , because of the mass production in which Sony has concentrated all its technology know-how. (PlayStation 3 is due for launch in November.)
And also because besides Nichia, Sony is the sole provider of laser diode, all manufacturers which previously announced the prototypes for upcoming Blu-ray compliant products are now suffering from a long term component crisis that doesn't seem to have an end. Moreover, Sony is the main supplier of laser diodes for Royal Philips Electronics, BenQ and Lite-on IT.
But also Sony recently announced that it has again delayed its player (BDP-S1) for October 25, one month before the PS 3 launch.