$299 is extremely ballsy, I can tell you that much. Perhaps the shock value would be worth the loss in profits for them. $299 seems as unlikely as a spring US launch. No, I think summer for Japan and fall for US with a $399 price point.
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perhaps my friends meant that pre-orders would start in Spring? I dunno, I'm going to the mall today to go shopping and one of my friends is working.. I'm going to clarify one thing or another.