The Inq speculates that the estimated price tag is so high because the R600 will be priced similarly, but still... A THOUSAND DOLLARS?!?!?!?!? I mean, seriously.

"Whilst we're pretty sure that chaps on conference calls aren't supposed to talk about this stuff, the 8800 is 'confirmed' as a single-chip card, rather than the dual-chip hybrid SLI-a-like rumoured 8950 GX2."