Well the first review on the bbs is dated 12/08/99 by RobS, and I got mine (number 64) a week or two after that.

That was after what seemed like a lifetime waiting in the queue

The geek site says Christmas 1998 for the first prototype, and August 1999 for the first shipping players.

I'm getting all nostalgic now...
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Geoff
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Mk1 Blue - was 4GB, now 16GB
Mk2 Red - was 12GB, now 60GB