In a research memo sent to investors, Wedbush senior analyst Michael Pachter set up the following scene for a delayed PS3 launch. It starts with the current-generation Xbox being priced down to $99 post-Xbox 360 launch, but no lower. Concurrent with that situation--an Xbox 360 at an unspecified price and the Xbox at $99--Sony would drop the price of the PlayStation 2 to $99.

The read speed of Blu-ray is something that drive manufacturer's specify, and it will vary from vendor to vendor. The only thing specified by the BD spec is what the "1X" speed is, which is 36Mbps in the case of Blu-ray Disc. We know that some of the first generation BD drives will be "2X" for Blu-ray Disc Data Reading which is 72Mbps.

As 2X drives will be available at the launch of the format, roughly November or so, this bodes well for the PlayStation 3 hitting at least that speed, cutting its assumed load times in half. With 2X drives being available so early, this also gives hope that the PS3 could employ a 4X Blu-ray drive, drastically cutting load times even more.