so basically the 80GB PS3 thats gonna released here on the 20th is just a remake of the original 40GB?

the original 80GB has extra 2 USB and memory card reader. and PS2 compatibility(not really important though). Why does the launch version cut down on these features? ;( IMHO, its quite important as well to have these features, especially the additional USB ports.

Reason for the extra USB slot is simple. If i were to buy a PS3, besides the games i will also install linux and make it into a personal HT thingy. For portability reasons, I would like to have a mobile external hard disk and get some HD content from some other places. Being a computer geek myself, i know for a fact that if you use a USB expander, your USB speed effectively gets slow if its shared with other USB devices. Streaming HD content from the ext.harddisk wouldn't be smooth anymore.

Bottom line: the more native USB port PS3 has, the merrier it would be.