Time to ratchet down my PS3 10% launch day availability prediction?

Based on the reaction in Japan to the game console’s release, there might be a new hot toy on everyone’s Christmas list here in the states. According to the article there were 100,000 units [Z: actually, only 80,000 units] available and all were sold out in record time.

Of course they sold out and have pissed off those who wanted to purchase at least 800,000 more. Some of the Slashdot comments are predictably cynical:

d3ik: “1. Manufacture a ridiculously low amount of units 2. Sell out of those units at a highly discounted rate 3. MAKE NO PROFIT!! 4. Declare victory.”
sam991: “And tomorrow there will be 50,000 units on Ebay.”

I’m not going to get suckered into any hype about how successful the PS3 is going to be based on launch day in Japan with a mere 80,000 units, nor what happens here in the US with 400,000 PS3 or less. Let’s revisit that discussion around tax time 2007 when, just like the Xbox 360, I think most regular people, myself included, will be able to walk into the store and buy one