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Review by Bradford Schmidt:

A lot of people have written about the pros and cons of the PS3 vs. XBOX 360 vs. Wii. I’m not bothering with that, and assume you can find that information at elsewhere. I’m also assuming you can read all about why the PS3 would or would not fit your needs.

Instead, I’d like this review to explain what exactly this configuration is (there’s a lot of confusion about that,) and why I think it hits the sweet spot. Basically, there are currently 2 versions of the PS3 on the market now. Ignoring the size of the drive for a second (because you can always swap the drive anyway, and it has no real bearing on the rest of the specs) think of them as Version A (currently available – or not as the case may be – in the PlayStation 3 80 GB Metal Gear Solid 4 Pack) and Version B (this one.)

The first thing that you need to understand is that there are three relevant differences between these two versions besides the included bundle and the price (the MGS one is 9 from amazon, more from third parties.)

Difference #1: Version A (MGS pack) is backward compatible with PS2 games while this one is NOT (they are both backward compatible with PS1 games however.)

Difference #2: Version A has 4 USB ports as well as memory card slots, while this version has only 2 USB ports and NO memory card slots.

Difference #3: AND THIS FOR ME IS BIG: Version A has the older and larger 90nm Cell processor, while this one has the smaller (and some say more reliable) 65nm Cell processor. Power consumption on this unit is lower as well, dropping from 200 Watts to 135 watts. The end result is a machine that runs cooler and, according to all reports as well as my personal experience, much quieter. An extremely relevant factor if you watch movies with it.

For those that have been looking for a while, this is basically the 40GB machine that was offered recently, with a larger hard drive and an upgraded controller – they replaced the basic sixaxis controller with the Dualshock 3 controller (which means it has rumble.)

Now Version A is packaged with Metal Gear Solid. It has an 80GB drive like this one, and the same controller. The big differences are listed above. Until this configuration was released, the larger hard drive and Dualshock controller were 2 of the 4 reasons many people felt the MGS pack was worth the additional 0. Those two factors are now eliminated. The remaining differences are the backward compatibility with PS2 games and the MGS game itself, which can of course be bought separately.

So to sum it up, if you NEED PS2 compatibility, you might want to grab the MGS pack if you can get one – that or keep your old PS2. For new buyers though, and for all of the people that are going to just play PS3 games, as well as avid movie watchers, this particular configuration is fantastic. You get the big drive, the good controller, PLUS the cooler running chip, a quieter machine and a system that uses about 33% less power.

And ok – just to satisfy the basic requirements of a review, I’ll list some other nice stuff: It includes a Blu-ray DVD player (one of those runs almost as much as, or more than, this entire box), the online play is FREE, wireless connectivity is built in (you don’t have to buy an additional piece as with some others), reliability has been quite good (much better than some others), there are some great PS3-only titles, and you can stream media to it from your PC. There’s more, but there are plenty of people outlining it.

As always, do your research and see what’s best for you. Maybe the 360-only titles are must haves for you, or maybe your family fits a Wii. We have a Wii and I love it. But I also love my PS3, and in my opinion this configuration is the one to get (this month anyway.)

Review by John Schinter:

The Playstation 3 is an incredible Blue Ray Player, that has features NOT available in any other Blue Ray Player. I am not a game player – and simply bought this unit as a Blue Ray and DVD player. However – on comparison, there are so many benefits compared to other Blue Ray players.

Here are the surprise benefits you get from this INCREDIBLE technology vs. a regular Blue Ray Player:

1. Picture Quality – SUPERB (Easily compares to most expensive Blue Ray Players)

2. REGULAR DVD’s PLAY IN A HIGHER RESOLUTION – Incredible difference to a regular DVD player.

3. Wireless INTERNET Connection – Surf web on your TV. (NO WIRES REQUIRED)

4. Automatic BLUE RAY format Updates (FREE and AUTOMATIC) – Upgrades as technology changes.

5. HARD Drive (80 GB) – Store movies, music, etc.

6. Beautiful Black Console – Doesn’t look like a game player on shelf.

7. EASY to set-up (Ready in a few minutes)

8. LOWER PRICED – All these unique features, at a lower price than the other Blue Ray players

I have no idea why anyone would ever consider a standard BLUE RAY or DVD player once you have had a chance to try out the features of the PS3. Having the internet on our TV allows us full access to news, weather, radio, music video’s, etc.

I was told that low price BLUE RAY players cannot play many movies and DVD’s because the BLUE RAY format is constantly changing – and the Playstation 3 is the ONLY BLUE RAY unit to have automatic updates that will correct for new Blue Ray formats in the future.

NO COMPARISON – Hands down BEST BLUE RAY Player with the most features on the market!

HIGEST POSSIBLE RATING………

Review by GarionOrb:

This system is incredible. By now you either love it or hate it, so I won’t go into details. But here’s a word of warning on the 80 GB model. The backwards compatibility is very much reduced from the 60 GB model. This is because the 80 GB lacks the hardware that previous models use to play PS1 and PS2 games (Emotion Engine). Now, games from old systems run on emulation software. While this works with some titles, others don’t work right at all. Sony promises to release patches with future system updates, but they’ve also said their priority will be with developing PS3 games and not spending time and energy on PS1 and 2.

So if backwards compatibility is a big selling point for you, get the 60 GB model instead (while they’re still around…remember they’ve been discontinued). Also noteworthy is that hard drives on the 60 GB model are fully upgradable with any HDD drive on the market.

Let me restate this, however. The PlayStation 3 really IS the greatest console of this generation. It’s power and capabilities are just downright colossal.

Review by A. C. Ege/Acedoh:

For all of you considering the PS3 this is one of the best choices you can make when it comes to home entertainment. Gaming and multimedia are taken to the next level.

First getting my hands on the PS3 made me realize that this is the largest Playstation conosle by volume and weight they have ever come out with. I quickly realized how sturdy and well made this product is. The plastic that is used is solid and heavy duty. I also realized how easy dust and fingerprints attract to the shiny finish which is both plastic and fake chrome. Connecting the PS3 was the easy part. Unlike the Wii and 360 Sony has left the power station inside the console. Which means you only need one heavy duty plug to connect. From the back of the console you have many choices for video and audio outputs. The standard AV outlet is there which allows you to play with the cables it comes with or to buy component cables for high definition viewing. You also have a optical digital output for full digital sound. New to any video game console is HDMI output. This allows you to have the PS3 in full high definiton video and audio. HDMI is capable of a full digital signal allowing 1080p true high definition picture. It is also capable of unleashing 7.1 high definition sound. So audiophiles should be happy about what this console offers. On the front end you get three memory card slots which are hidden behing a plastic door…so as to not diminish the appearance of the PS3. Also they included four USB outlets. This allows you to connect various devices like a photo camera, internet camera, mouse, or even a printer. The Sony PS3 has a feature that allows it to be on standby at all times. Which is similar to the other consoles. I will talk more about this feature on the PS3 further in the review.

I would like to cover all the interface options the PS3 accompanies seperately so consumers can become aware of all the advantages this console carries. For those of you familiar with the Playstation Portable this interface is almost exactly the same.

You are able to create seperate logins for anyone who uses the PS3. This allows for each person to go online with their information. Although it doesn’t really have many more advantages than that right now it is rather insignificant.

Next is the system settings. This allows the user to adapt the PS3 to their television and sound system. You can adjust the high defention settings to fit the maximum resolution of your t.v. You also have setting for your blue tooth devices and internet connections. The PS3 comes with built in wi-fi which seems to have a strong connection that gives you almost seamless online use.

The PS3 also has a photo viewer. You can download photos by two different means. One is by using your camera and connecting it via USB. I haven’t checked to see how viable this option is. Next you can download the pictures with a memory card. This operation is rather simple and downloads are quick. Generally you get your standard slide shows although they have a fun feature. It allows you to view your pictures on a blank canvas as they fall onto the blank canvas. Slide shows are best when you set them to your music.

Next is the music player. You can dowload songs by two different means. One being memory card and the other cd. Songs download much quicker via memory card than cd. Although Sony has talked about having downloads via the internet which I think would go over very well. You can listen to music while viewing a feature that uses colors and textures. It is your standard music viewer…nothing special there.

I want to talk about one of the most notorious features of the PS3. The Bluray player. Most of you now know what a Bluray player is and does. I have viewed numerous movies on it. I have also viewed these movies on two different hdtv’s. One a 1080p and a 1080i. I really did not notice much of a picture difference. After viewing a few movies on the XBox 360 hddvd player and the PS3 Bluray player I really did not notice much of a difference. One thing I have noticed about hd movies is that the ones more than a couple years older have a slightly grainy appearance since they were remastered for high definition. Newly made movies appear crystal clear with vivid colors and tremoundous definition. The PS3 does allow you to view regular DVD’s which can make the transition that much easier. The regular DVD movies are upscaled on your HDTV allowing an excellent picture. For many of the new movies it is almost difficult to notice a difference in a DVD picture and Blu-ray picture.

Now would be the gameplay part of the interface. This keeps track of the game disc you may have in the player or also games or demos that you have downloaded. This interface is rather simple and easy to negotiate. For any PS2 owner it also carries your virtual memory card with all your game data. As far as the games go I have played numerous games plus several demos. The games that are non exclusive like Madden Football are deficent on the PS3 compared to XBox 360 counterparts. The game speed is smooth and polished. The visuals on exclusive PS3 games like Heavenly Sword and Ratchet and Clank is quite impressive. The PS3 seems to create a living vivid environment with the ability to create many textures and surfaces. Game demos like Motorstorm and Gran Turismo HD show what the PS3 is capable of. Amazing graphics and sound quality will become apparent in many of the games this holiday season and beyond. I have also enjoyed the few full games that are downloadable. The games have enhanced hd graphics and are affordable at only .99-.99. What I have enjoyed is online gaming. With the PS3 you don’t have to pay any added fees. The gameplay was seamless and quick and allows you to use a blue tooth headset when playing. I also believe you can use your PS2 headset via USB. The online gaming is virtually the same as the 360.

Lastly I will cover the online features of the PS3. On the interface online is a big part. From the browser to having friends and checking your mail. Of course the largest feature is the Playstation store. Which is obviously not very unique. The 360 has a market which could be considered the pedigree for consoles. The Wii is limited to just classic video games. The Playstation store is decent right now with very numerous items to download. You have games, demos, and movie trailers. The store will continue to grow and has a nice feature that allows you to dowload PSone games for the Playstation Portable (PSP). After dowloading it to your PS3 then you transfer it via USB to your PSP. Also a very intriguing feature that I think is really amazing is called remote play. When your PSP is integrated into your PS3 you have the ability to view and listen to stuff on your PS3 anywhere in the world with your PSP. All you need is a wifi connection. I have tried this feature out and it’s really enjoyable. I was able to view movie trailers and listen to my music on my PSP. The feature is nice although it is supposed to work when the PS3 is on standby. It did not work for me then. Only when the PS3 was on and set for remote play.

There are also two features that are becoming more apparent for owners. Folding at Home is a beneficial program that works with Stanford University. The program runs when your PS3 is idle. What it does is run computations that help scientists work for many cures to diseases. A beneficial plus to the PS3. I can vouch for having my PS3 on nonstop 24 hours a day 7 days a week for many months without any problems. Secondly I want to talk about HOME. No not your real home but the PS3 program that will be available early 2008. This program will be a virtual online social interface allowing you to meet numerous other PS3 players. I have been allowed to participate on the Beta version and I must say this has extreme potential.

2008 will be an exciting year for PS3 owners. The experience is already excellent with over a dozen very good games. The PS3 will have over a half dozen superb games releasing next year. Games like Gran Turismo 5, Killzone 2, Little Big Planet, Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy are just the beginning. If any of these games suit you it would be an excellent reason to own a PS3.

In closing I will say without a doubt the PS3 has been quite an experience. I feel the 0 is well worth it for the features you get. Wifi, Bluray, memory card readers, HDMI, and of course the game playing.

I believe many of you are on the fence and trying to justify a large scale purchase like this. The games are here and the experience is superb. If you want a wonderful living room centerpiece that will provide numerous hours of use the PS3 is the way to go.

Review by Manuel Guzman:

First of all, this is my second PS3 console. I already own the original Sony 60GB PS3 version and for a long time, I have wanted a second one to have in my bedroom as a Blu-ray player and to play certain games I can’t play with my newborn around the house (i.e. Metal Gear Solid 4).

I love this console so much. As a media center, it does almost everything. It is the only gaming console to be fully Divx certified. And obviously, it plays back Blu-ray movies. In fact, it is probably still the best Blu-ray player you can purchase today. The gaming library has improved quite a bit since the original launch of the console.

I’ve been looking forward to Metal Gear Solid 4 for quite a long time. It was well worth the wait. I didn’t think I would be a fan of the Dual Shock 3 controller as I usually could care less for rumble but it actually works well with Metal Gear Solid 4 and it weighs more than the original Sixaxis controller. For me, it is the perfect weight, better than the Sixaxis which I always though was too lite.

I would have hoped they would have fixed a couple of annoyances by now. First of all, the USB cable is too short. You won’t be able to really play a game while charging your controller unless you don’t mind standing right in front of the tv. They should really make the USB cable longer. Why in 2008 is Sony still shipping the PS3 with composite cables? They could have at least shipped it with component video cables. It could be my imagination but it seems as if my 80GB PS3 is slightler less noisier than the 60GB I own. I don’t know if this means the 80GB uses the smaller cooler cell processor but it would be great if it did.

The 80GB hard drive can really fill up fast but fortunately, Sony was kind enough to allow a user to easily swap the hard drive out for any notebook sized SATA hard drive. I upgraded my Macbook Pro hard drive to a 320GB hard drive and transferred the old Macbook Pro hard drive to my 60GB Sony PS3. I may upgrade the hard drive on this 80GB PS3 soon as well.

Some people do not like the fact that the PS3 uses Bluetooth for it’s remote contol. For me, this is better since it allows me to hide the PS3 out of sight where it doesn’t clutter up space and also makes the console sound less audible while watching movies or playing games.

In summary, you can’t go wrong with the Sony PS3, especially when you order from Amazon. I also own a Nintendo Wii (sold my Xbox 360 because of the RRoD). I think it really compliments the Nintendo Wii a lot and fills in where the Nintendo Wii lacks. Aside from the gripes I made earlier, I also would have preferred if Sony would have upgraded the wireless controller to N instead of G. This would allow me to stream HD content wirelessly. But it’s not that big of deal because a lot of times, I just copy content to my PS3 hard drive. Oh yes, I have a large collection of PS2 games and so far, they seem to be working although I have not had a chance to try all of them.

Review by G. Lindquist:

As the title suggests, I own a 360. I have read and studied graphic comparisons, reviews and more between the two systems as long as they have been out. Until this game came out (MGS4) I was not planning on getting a Ps3 anytime soon. As someone that uses every feature my 360 has, this is my views and my impression on the Ps3 system as well as the game itself.

::=:: THE PS3 SYSTEM::=::

First I want to start with the ps3. I always heard good things about the system itself but that was never enough to make me go out and get one. The game selection for the 360 always attracted me, but now, especially with the release of Metal Gear Solid 4, it’s a great time to pick one up. I use my laptop’s Windows Media Center with my 360 to stream a huge amount of videos I have to my TV, which I honestly never expected the ps3 to be able to do, but it does. This was an awesome surprise. Not only does it detect my laptop, but also it sees the 5 other computers on my network that are sharing content and I can access them all! Not only that, I can access them from my ps3 remotely with my PSP through any WIFI connection. It’s a weird feeling to be able to stream videos from your Laptop that is wirelessly connected to your Ps3 at home, while you are miles away on a handheld. The HDMI connection displaying everything at 1080P is breathtaking and blue ray movies truly do look stunning. The game menu is actually rather simple as well, but in a good way. It lays out everything in front of you but though it does that, it doesn’t clutter you with content. You don’t feel overwhelmed at all with the menus.

The games on the system look stunning. I have read countless reviews for games that go cross platform and I will admit; games like Call of Duty 4, Rainbow Six Vegas 2 and other cross platform titles do have better texture quality on the 360 but games that are literally designed for the Ps3 are amazing. I currently have Heavenly Sword and MGS4 (duh) and I have not seen graphics and draw distances like these on the 360. The power of this system seems limitless right now, and the games made specifically for it show it. The system also has Bluetooth built in, which lets me take my Bluetooth headset and merely hook it up to my system to use in games like Metal Gear Solid 4’s online multiplayer. The backwards compatibility on the system works without a hitch, though I have had some lag with Metal Gear Solid 3. Apparently these new Ps3 systems merely emulate the Ps2 instead of how it worked with the old systems which actually had the real Ps2 emotion chip built in. This is why MGS3 lags on this system when it wouldn’t lag on the original Ps3 systems.

Overall for the system this is an amazing deal. You get the 80 gig system which use to be 0 for 0 less but it also comes with a new release (and likely the best game the system has seen yet), and a duel shock 3 controller. That’s nuts! I wouldn’t suggest just buying the system by itself, but this deal is worth it. Now that I have the system I am finding more titles I wouldn’t mind owning, so if you’re a 360 fan, this system IS actually for you.

::=:: Metal Gear Solid 4 – Son’s of the Patriots::=::

To date, as a person that is actually heavily into game development, I have not seen nor played a game that looks better, is more polished, and more innovative as this one. This game shouldn’t even be referred to as a game, as it should merely be addressed to the public as an “Experience.” Anyone that grew up with Snake and his adventures will get an experience out of this game that cannot be missed and expressed in words.

:~::GRAPHICS::~:

What can I say about the graphics that hasn’t already been said? The two words that come to mind are: ABSOLUTLY GORGEOUS. Every “cinema” isn’t even a video it’s merely in game play being shown through cameras set at different angles. The Environments, player models, weapons, lighting is all top notch!

SCORE: 10/10

:~::STORY::~:

Every inch of this story is great and it ties up every loose end the series has. The story is told so that every cinema is well worth watching and no matter what you think you know, there are always new events that change EVERYTHING even until the last credit rolls (and afterward so watch on past the credits). Each character is built up well and has a lot of back-story to them. Since the story is so serious, there are a ton of Easter eggs to look forward to that not only make you laugh but make you enjoy the experience even more.

SCORE: 10/10

:~::GAMEPLAY::~:

As I sit here and write this, I am actually smirking because as someone who has beat the game and then has to describe the gameplay…well, there’s no way to really do it without sounding like a gitty school girl. The polish and fine-tuning was immense. The stealth, camo, guns, customization, levels/environments, voice acting, story; everything involved in gameplay deserves more than a 10. You never get bored, and though the levels are a bit linier, you can beat through this game dozens of times and still have some extra to shoot for while having unique experiences each time.

SCORE: 10/10

:~::SOUND::~:

The voice acting was done by some serious talent and it shows. David Hayter (Solid Snake) does a beautiful job. This was definitely a step up from the first Metal Gear Solid. You have Phil La Marr (Vamp) who does the voice of Hermes in Futurama. The list goes on. Anyhow, the music, sound FX and voices are just outstanding and really help the game flow.

SCORE: 10/10

OVERALL: 10/10

If you are looking to buy a ps3, this is an amazing deal. If you are looking to buy Metal Gear Solid 4, it’s an amazing game. If you don’t have either of these items, get this bundle right now!

Review by A. Dent:

RATING

I will begin with the rating part so that those who are already familiar with the PS3 line may save a little time.

On balance, I found the PS3 Slim or the ‘PS3 120GB’ to be a worthy addition to the current PS3 line. It comes with several major improvements over its predecessors and the ‘trade offs’ are few and, to most us, insignificant.

This how the new model compares to its predecessors:

PS3 SLIM vs. PS3 80/160GB

+ 0/200 less

+ Smaller

+ More energy efficient

+ More quiet operation

+ Cooler

+ Smaller Cell processor manufactured using a 45-nanometer manufacturing process

+ New, more advanced HDMI 1.3 chipset

+ Easier HDD upgrade

- No Linux support

- No on-off switch in the back

- Push rather than touch ‘On’ and ‘Eject’ buttons

- Not as pretty

= Unchanged game-playing experience

= Same great Blu-ray player

= Same PSP integration

= Same WiFi, Bluetooth built-in

= Same Dualshock 3 rumble, motion sensitive controller

= Same I/O options

The PS3 Slim is a superior product when compared with the PS3 80/160GB models. This relatively inexpensive, feature packed, versatile gaming machine, multimedia hub and outstanding Blu-ray player, earns back the 5th star that I granted the Classic models and I didn’t feel that the PS3 80/160GB models deserved.

Granted, when compared to the PS3 Classic, the PS3 Slim lacks PS2 compatibility, has 2 fewer USB ports and and it lacks media card slots but these shortcomings are offset by the significantly lower price, energy efficiency, larger storage and an updated CPU and HDMI. And, keeping hope alive by feeding it rumors, who knows? Sony just might add PS2 software emulation once it stops manufacturing the PS2 sometime, next year.

MY TEST DRIVE IMPRESSIONS

The good news is that you can do just about everything you did with the PS3 80/160GB models and in the exact same way. During my test ride, I was able to play all the games I brought with me without a problem, the Bluetooth remote controller was recognized immediately and so was the Playstation Eye. Both a USB-dongle full-size wireless keyboard, a USB-connected wired keyboard and Sony’s own Bluetooth mini-keyboard worked as expected. I was able to upload pictures, videos and music from a USB thumb drive and a USB-connected SATA 2.5″ hard disk and play them in the same way I do it on my own PS3. The person who allowed me the test drive suggested that I do not sign into the PSN but I have no doubt that the Slim behaves exactly like its predecessors on the PSN, running HOME or while browsing the Net.

The Slim has the exact same ports in the back, the same buttons in front – albeit ‘push’ buttons instead of the ‘touch’ buttons, the same 2 USB ports, comes with the same Dualshock 3 controller, USB cable and Composite AV cable accessories.

The older PS3s weren’t particularly noisy but the Slim seems to be more quiet and, after several hours of play, it didn’t get as warm as my Classic. The ONLY 2 USB ports bother me a little because I brought along the Eye, a USB-wired HDD, a USB keyboard and a dongle-based wireless keyboard. That meant that I had to do a lot of plugging and unplugging when testing. In real life, it’s not so convenient to charge a controller and access more than one USB-connected peripheral. There are third party generic USB hubs (ugly) or PS3-specific port extenders and media hubs that could be used to increase the number of USB ports and bring back the media card slots.

My overall impression of the Slim is “nothing new” at least on surface. The “cooler, quieter, smaller, more energy efficient” you don’t notice while playing a game or watching a movie. The really great news about the Slim is that so many more will be able to afford it and, with a larger user base, more developers will feel more strongly motivated to publish more, better games that all of us will enjoy.

THE SLIM (PS3) vs. THE ‘XBOX 360 ELITE FALL 2009′

This is not meant to be a ‘fan’ statement. I don’t own a Wii but I do own an Xbox 360 so I will be able to discuss PS3 Slim vs. Xbox 360 Elite and, hopefully, it may help a little those undecided between the two or those thinking about getting a PS3 as a second gaming console. Please be aware that, even though I own both consoles and I try to be as objective as possible, I do tend to favor the PS3.

Parity

——

- Storage: 120 GB on both systems

- CD, DVD playback: both

- Bluetooth/IR: Bluetooth included with PS3, Infrared remote for Xbox

- Community: PSN/Home memberships are free, Xbox Live includes free Silver membership and one-month Gold subscription, paid thereafter

Advantage PS3 Slim

——————

- Blu-ray: PS3 only. Blu-ray disks aren’t used for HD movie playback but to deliver games as well. Since they store several times more data than a DVD disk, PS3 games can be ‘bigger’ and be still delivered on one disk, eliminating the need for swapping during gameplay.

- WiFi: included with PS3, available as an add-on for Xbox.

- HDMI 1.3a on PS3 (more vivid colors, better sound) vs. HDMI 1.2 on Xbox

- Controller: wireless on both systems, rumble on both, PS3’s only is motion sensitive, rechargeable batteries built into PS3’s, Xbox rechargeable battery packs available for purchase.

- Integration with a handheld device: PS3 integrates with the PSP, the Xbox offers Zune integration. I would call it ‘advantage PS3′ because the Zune integration is limited to file transfers.

- Internal power supply: yes for the Slim, a large external ‘brick’ for the Xbox.

- Ability to upgrade the Hard Disk: the PS3 could use any cheap 2.5″ SATA on the market (a 500GB can be had for at the time of this writing and the existing PS3 disk can be recycled to upgrade a laptop or as external storage) without voiding the warranty. I am not aware Xbox HDD upgrades beyond 120GB but, judging by the 120GB upgrade HDD for the smaller models, they are likely to be proprietary, more expensive solutions.

- Slim comes with USB, Ethernet and Composite cables, Xbox has only Composite in the box.

Advantage Xbox 360 Elite Fall 2009

———————————-

- Headset: not included with PS3 but any Bluetooth device will work, wired headset included with Xbox Elite.

- Ethernet: PS3 supports Gigabit Ethernet, Xbox is limited to 100BASET-T.

- USB ports: Xbox comes with 3, Slim has only 2.

It seems that a PS3 Slim can be brought to parity with the Xbox 360 Elite by purchasing a Bluetooth headset (possibly for less than and that would make the PS3 a superior choice since the Xbox headset is wired to the controller. For the amount, the PS3 will match and surpass Xbox feature for feature if we don’t factor in exclusive Xbox games or unique Xbox Live features.

To bring the Xbox 360 Elite to parity with the PS3 one would need: a WiFi adapter () and rechargeable batteries (). I will not add the various cables to the list because, depending on setup, they may or may not be needed and PS3’s Gigabit Ethernet is not likely to make a difference in anyone’s gaming or movie streaming at this time. would bring the Xbox closer to the PS3 but the Xbox won’t support Blu-ray, does not have a motion sensitive controller, can’t function without an external power supply and, Zune withstanding, it does not integrate with a hand-held gaming device. In addition, continuing the Xbox Live Gold beyond the initial month would be another -50 per year for the life of the Elite.

I chose not to factor in the quality of available software because it’s impossible to be even remotely objective when it comes to judge Sony’s exclusives vs. Xbox exclusives. My guess is that, in the end, those who must have Halo will buy a Microsoft Xbox regardless of cost or other features and those who fall in love with Little Big Planet or Uncharted have no choice but a Sony PS3. The general consensus is that, at this time, the PS3 has the superior hardware (see above) while the Xbox has an advantage in exclusive titles and some exclusive content. In addition, many multiplatform games are developed on the Xbox first and then ported to the PS3. That can make the Xbox versions appear to be superior and, more importantly, the PS3 versions do not always take full advantage of PS3s superior hardware. This seems to be less the case as developers are becoming more familiar with the PS3 platform – the software gap, if there is one at this time, it is closing fast.

ESSENTIAL ADD-ONS AND ACCESSORIES

For those who decided that the PS3 Slim is what they wanted, the list below may help them budget for the extra purchases they may want to consider. There are surprisingly few extra a PS3 REALLY needs and I listed them in order from what I view as the more to the less important or needed. Those at the top are, in my view, more ‘essential’ than the ones at the bottom, but with the exception of the HDMI cable which is a must have for an HD TV set, you could easily do without the rest or get them later if you really feel that you want them.

- HDMI CABLE – It’s a must for anyone who already has an HD TV. It’s not included in the box and I am not going to provide a link because there are dozens of vendors at Amazon, competing and that’s a good thing because one can be had for only a few dollars. Just make sure it’s HDMI 1.3. A ‘High-Speed’ rating is not necessarily a plus if the cable you need is only 3 ft. or 6 ft. long. All HDMI 1.3 cables should be High-Speed rated and only High-Speed cables support 1080p resolutions. At these lengths, paying a premium for ‘quality’ can’t be justified because the odds for the digital signal to be misinterpreted are close to non-existent.

- REMOTE CONTROL – Unless your HD TV supports CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) which allows for the user to command and control multiple CEC-enabled boxes with one remote control and for CEC capable devices to command and control each other, Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc Remote could make the operation of the PS3 a lot easier when you are not playing a game. It’s optimized for movie viewing but XMB navigation, running slide shows and shopping at the PSN store are easier with the remote control because it does not need two hands to be operated. In fact, it can be operated with one thumb.

- WIRELESS HEADSET – This is the one important component that the Elite bundle includes (theirs is wired) and the PS3 does not. Any Bluetooth headset would do which is why I am not going to insert a link to Sony’s product or to anyone else’s.

- SECOND DUALSHOCK 3 CONTROLLER – Even if you play solo only, a second controller may be charging while the other is in use.

- USB PORT EXTENDER – Again, there are many competing offers. I would prefer one where the ports are powered. Some singing games may come with their own extenders.

- PS3 EYE CAMERA – This is not exactly a ‘must have’ but it’s definitely a ‘very nice to have’ as the Eye is not only a camera but also a stereo microphone – depending on your needs, it may eliminate the need for a headset. I obtained mine cheaply, with a used copy of Eye of Judgment. If you decide to go that route, be VERY careful and ensure that the camera is indeed included before your order.

- MEDIA CARD READERS – They would plug into a USB port and will allow your PS3 to read/write to Media/Multimedia/Secure Digital, Memory Stick (PRO), Compact Flash, or XD Picture cards. They can be had for anything from to .

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Note 1: MY OWN BIAS

We own a ‘Classic’ 60GB PS3, currently upgraded to 320GB, DualShock 3 and complemented with various peripherals: PS3 Eye, Logitech Driving Force GT Racing Wheel, Bluetooth keyboard attachment, headset… etc. We also own an Xbox 360 Elite, 3 PSP 3000’s (got 3 kids) and a second-hand DS. We used to have a PS2 but we sold it shortly after purchasing the PS3. I’ve helped several of my neighbors purchase, install and upgrade their own PS3’s. I am posting this review because I had the opportunity to test drive a PS3 Slim for several hours a couple of nights before the official launch – someone I know works at a store that sells gaming consoles.

Speaking for myself only, I tend to favor the PS3 for several reasons and here they are:

- WiFi – This is a major convenience for me. I hate ‘wires’ and the PS3 has the WiFi built in and it’s VERY easy to set up.

- Blu-ray – I was an early adopter and I haven’t bought ‘new’ DVDs in more than a year. Having the PS3 doubling up as a Blu-ray player is another major convenience for me.

- HDD Storage upgrade – I don’t believe that 120GB is sufficient these days and our console has exceeded the 120GB threshold already after lots of downloaded games and movies and transferring thousands of photos and songs to it. A PS3 can be easily and inexpensively upgraded to 500GB today and this is a big plus.

- Little Big Planet – It’s a Sony exclusive and my kids just love this game. They would probably run away and resettle with a family that has LBP if I got rid of the PS3.

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Note 2: THE SLIM’S SPECS AND FEATURES

- 45nm, 7-core Cell processor CPU

- RSX – Based on NV47 Chip (Nvidia GeForce 7800 Architecture) for graphics

- Updated HDMI chipset (bitstreams hi-res DTS-HD, TrueHD)

- 256MB XDR Main RAM and 256MB GDDR3 VRAM memory

- 120GB Hard disk – 2.5″ SATA – can be replaced with any 2.5″ SATA and a compatible 500GB HDD can be had for about at the time I write this review

- Blu-ray 2.0 player (possibly still the best) that also plays DVDs and CDs

- Ethernet 10/100/1000Base-T wired networking

- WiFi 802.11 b/g (from 10 Mbps up to 54 Mbps) – wireless networking I couldn’t live without

- Bluetooth 2.0 for game controller, headsets, keyboards and so on

- Video resolution up to 1080p

- Audio supported: LPCM 7.1, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD, AAC

- Other outputs: HDMI, Optical, Composite AV

- Other I/O: 2 High-speed USB 2.0 ports

- Power: dual 120/240V

- Power consumption: 250W

- Weight: about 7 lbs.

- Dimensions: about 12″ x 2.5″ x 12″ (my measurements)

- Included controller: DUALSHOCK 3

- Included cables: USB and Composite AV, power chord

Additional features:

- Displays JPEG stills.

- Multi-featured, surprisingly good slide show functionality.

- Plays MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4/h.264 videos.

- Bitstreams DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD to receiver

- Upconverts DVDs to 1080p over HDMI

- XMB in-game access.

- In-game and off-game text and voice chat (headset, keyboard or Eye are needed).

- Video chat with up to six people (PlayStation Eye is required)

- Can discover media servers on the home network and stream content from any DLNA-compliant device.

- Web browser (still has some usability and compatibility issues) but plays YouTube well.

- Google Web search.

- Remote play on a PSP connected to any wireless access point – play music, videos, show pics, turn on the PS3 remotely if on stand-by

- Upload PSP games purchased from the PSN Store to the PSP.

- Online software updates improve PS3 functionality and keep the Blu-ray player features current.

- Online third party updates.

- Online gameplay.

- Download and play PS3 games and demos from the PSN store.

- Download and play PSOne games.

- Download and play movies and shows from the PSN store.

- Supports HDMI Consumer Electronic Control (HDMI-CEC) – control the Slim through the remote of any CEC-enabled TV such as a Bravia.

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Note 3: HDD UPGRADE

If you are on the upgrade path, less than would buy you a 500GB drive. The one that I tested would be the 500GB Scorpio Blue Mobile Sata 5400RPM 8MB 2.5IN which replaced my laptop’s 60GB drive and a friend’s 80GB PS3 HDD. The nice thing about upgrading your disk is that you are also going to be left with a perfectly good 80GB or 0GB or 120GB drive which you can place into a cheap enclosure, and the StarTech AT2510U2 InfoSafe 2.5-Inch USB/SATA Hard Drive Enclosure worked for me. After I upgraded my own console to 320Gb, I used the free leftover drive as a backup device for family photos.

Review by Alric Knebel:

Let me start out by saying that I’m currently 56 years old and everything I know about video game consoles can fit on a fingernail clipping. A couple of years ago, my companion bought me a PS2, because she had recalled my mentioning in passing (after seeing advertisements for some pretty interesting sci-fi-themed games) that I was curious about what’s going on in that medium. The game technology seemed to have progressed light years since I last paid attention, sometime in the late 80s, early 90s, which went something like this: you start out with some objective, and then the game play steadily quickens until you eventually lose against the computer. It was very dull. After she bought me the PS2, the only game I bought was Grand Tourismo 4 (she had given me with the console itself Superman Returns, but I didn’t like it), with which I relaxed by racing the realistically rendered cars around some impressively detailed tracks, but never getting into the more sophisticated levels of the game. Then about four months ago, my son lent me Resident Evil 4. Of course, you gamers know this was a benchmark in game development, and can understand why I became completely immersed in it. It was truly a creepy experience. You weren’t just WATCHING a horror movie; you were IN it. Here I was, at my age, suddenly finding myself lost for literally hours a day — one weekend, twenty hours straight; my body ached — then thinking about the game when I wasn’t playing it, looking forward to the moment I could resume the story. After I beat it, I went through it three more times. Then I bought God of War II, quite by accident (I selected it for the price, a mere ), unaware that this, too, was a hit game, and another benchmark. The graphics were so good, so stunning, so grand and sweeping, I played it six times. Again, hours seemed like minutes; I’d simply lose time. I was now addicted, and taking into account how good a PS2 was, I figured that the PS3 — with its Blu-ray technology — had to be out-of-this-world incredible. Four weeks ago, I bought this PS3 slim, and it has given me enjoyment that made it worth every penny, and then some.

I can’t speak to the technical specifications of the PS3, or how it compares to other consoles. I’m writing instead to other middle-aged customers who might have stumbled on this page, perhaps shopping for some young relative — son or daughter; niece or nephew; or grandchild — to suggest that you should consider buying one of these babies for yourself. This is one powerful piece of entertainment technology. Not only does it exceed my expectations as a game console, it’s also a BD player, and using the WiFi connection, it permits access to the PlayStation Store, for free demos and exclusive content; plus BD live material, and downloading movies and TV episodes; and you can import your CDs to the PS3’s hard drive, to create playlists or just randomize the tracks for playback. It’s become a virtual media center for me.

And the game play? Oh, man. The PS3 advances even further the features that make gaming so addictive. To those of you who snuff that it’s a juvenile waste of time, I suggest you ask yourself, is it any different from watching sitcoms or reality TV? A video game requires you to REACT, to THINK, to ANALYZE. That is NOT overstating the stimulative benefits. While they are in fact merely games, game-play itself is a complete immersion in an experience, while requiring good hand-eye coordination and some mental agility. All the games I’ve played so far included puzzles as part of the story, and it’s a very satisfying feeling when you finally solve a particularly challenging one.

If the middle-aged shopper I’m imagining I’m writing to is inclined to wonder if all that tapping on those buttons in specific patterns is difficult to learn, this is my honest answer: At first, yes, it is. But eventually your fingers learn what button is where, and it becomes second nature, like typing. To those even older, it’s recommended by doctors that as you age, you need new stimuli to keep your acuity. You won’t find a more fun way to do so than this. Ignore your previous misconception that video games are for teenagers. An article in USA TODAY from 2004 stated that “. . . the average age of game players was 29 and the average age of buyers was 36, with men making up 59% of the playing audience.” So you can add about five years to those figures, making the average age of video game BUYERS about 40. I have spent untold hours on my PS3, and connected to my 47″ HDTV, it’s the ultimate entertainment. The graphics are sharp and clear, movement of characters is realistic, making it even easier to get totally engaged in the environments. I just finished Batman: Arkham Asylum, a great game with easily mastered moves, some tough puzzles, and a very dark, decayed ambiance.

True gamers who are reading this are probably chuckling right now, because this is all pretty much a no-duh to them. Well, let me offer a hardy THANK YOU for supporting the industry with enough of your dollars to permit it to advance as an entertainment medium in such awesome bounds. This is the next step toward the future of the ultimate video game experience. Oh, what will the technology deliver? A virtual reality, perhaps?

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Review by W. Stearns:

The PS3 is an awsome gaming unit!

I am dissapointed with the power pack bundle. The cooling fan works well but takes up one of the usb ports. The multi control charger does not work, I have to charge each controller with a usb cable one at a time. The video remote sucks! Not only does it take up the other usb port but the control’s lay out is not well designed and does not do what you tell it to do on a consistant basis. I purchased the real PS3 video remote and it works perfect. I would have been better off spending the cash on another controller.

Review by J. C. Taylor:

The PS3 is fine, though most of the newer models do not have backward compatibility to play PS2 games like the first models. I was very disappointed by that. Sony sux for taking that away. My HDMI cable stopped playing audio after the 2nd day. Getting the cable replaced from Psyclone Gaming was like pulling teeth. It has been a month and I still haven’t gotten it resolved with them. Psyclone customer service is totally unimpressive.