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PlayStation 3 80 GB
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10 Responses to “PlayStation 3 80 GB”
Rating
This 80GB PS3 for $399 is a awesome value for the price.
The main downside to this newer 80GB PS3 is that it’s not backwards compatible with PS2 games, but for some that’s not a big issue because the majority of people that are interested in a PS3 purchase already have a PS2.
But with this 80GB PS3 you get Free Online Play, Built in Wifi, Bluetooth Dualshock 3 Wireless Controller, Web Browser, Blu-ray, and the most advanced gaming console avaliable.
For anyone that may be discouraged about spending $399 for a gaming console, I assure you that a PS3 purchase is a long term investment. Sony even said themselves that the Playstation 3 will have a 10 year lifecycle and the PS3 has a long road ahead and plenty to offer. Sony is still supporting the PS2 after 8+ years of being on the market and the Playstation 1 was on the market for nearly 10 years as well, so as you can see, Sony has a good track record of supporting it’s gaming consoles for the long run, and this PS3 will get the same treatment. The Blu-ray alone in the PS3 is worth the purchase price.
I have a 60GB PS3 and have enjoyed it ever since I first got it in December 2006 and I know that anyone who picks up this 80GB PS3 will enjoy it as well. I invite anyone that’s intersted in a PS3 purchase to just pick one up and “Play Beyond”.
Rating
The reason why all of the sudden everyone criticize this SKU for not having backward compability it’s simply because there’s nothing else left to criticize.
Only reason why it would be very important would be if you have an extended ps2 library and your ps2 broke, then it is worth it for you to spend the extra $100 on BC.
This is my second ps3, i had a launch 60gb ps3 and i sold it 3 weeks ago cause i needed the money, and no lie here, i played a total of 3 ps2 games in the almost 2 years that i had it… and i played them in the first 6 months that i had bought the ps3… that’s right back then there wasn’t that many ps3 games, so i played mgs2, god of war and lotr battle for middle earth.
As of now, i barely had time to even watch movies since i was always playing cod4, mgs4, and yes still play resistance, i have played uncharted about 4 times along with guitar hero and singstar in my parties, ratchet and clank, and warhawk..
The Truth is that, with the great line up that the ps3 has for the rest of the year and the years to come, i would find it extremely hard to play ps2 games at all.. i want to play new games, HD games, great multiplayer, experience new things, if someone truly is so concerned to play a lot of ps2 games, well then buy a ps2.
There is a lot of comparison between the 360 and ps3, and bottom line is that you have to inform yourself VERY WELL on what games you think you’ll enjoy more, imo there seems to be a wider variety for the ps3, that’s why i chose it. If i eventually buy a 360 will be to play the new games, not to play the xbox1 games.
I really think that this bundle including a dualshock3 is a great deal, but i will have to install a bigger hdd, i already ordered a 320gb hdd from newegg for $99, since i have a lot of movies to install.
Something else that more people should take advantage of is Linux on ps3, it’s free so there is no setback on that.. i had it installed in my ps3 and when i had family over and they wouldn’t let me on my own computer i just restart my ps3 in Ubuntu and with my bluetooth keyboard and mouse i would browse in my big screen tv.
There is a lot of value to this console, free online play it’s great as well, ps2 addition would be nice to some, but since i know i didn’t use it, or will use it, it doesn’t affect me at all and that is why this sku for that price is as good as it gets.
Rating
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 $499 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 $100. 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.)
Rating
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………
Rating
I was debating which game console to get, the Wii, Xbox 360 or the Playstation 3(PS3). As a male with family of two kids, overall the PS3 was the best value for the money. Since PS3 and Xbox 360 are aiming for the same market, I was comparing the PS3 more to the 360:
Pros:
-Most powerful system among 3 consoles.
-Blu Ray player included, also it can be upgraded via the internet. It is full functioning Blu Ray player, not watered down, the picture quality if awesome.
-Solid hardware, Xbox 360 hardware has many problems.
-Includes wireless Wi-Fi, but with Xbox 360 you have to buy it separately.
-Free online gaming, unlike Xbox’s which you have to pay each month.
-Internet web browser, which Xbox doesn’t have.
-Better menus for navigation than 360.
-Controllers have not only rumble, but also motion sensor like Wii.
-Hard drive is easily upgradable and inexpensive, unlike 360 which is expensive and very hard to upgrade if you want to put your own hard drive.
-Latest movies and TV shows can purchased online, 360′s Netflix has more titles but are old titles.
-Playstation Eye(motion sensing camera) accessory allows for motion games like Wii.
Cons:
-Need more latest titles of movies(but same or better than 360 or Apple TV)
-Not all movies can be rented in the first few weeks of release, but have to be purchased.
-Need more variety of games, actually true for all 3 systems.
Overall compared to Wii: Kids will want the Wii no matter what anyone says as long as their friends have it. The quality of Wii games are decreasing, game developers are not integrating the motion functionality well with the games. It feels like developers made the games and then added the motion feature as an afterthought. PS3′s included controller has motion sensors like the Wii, also Playstation Eye camera has motion sensoring also. There are PS3 accessories for Guitar Hero and Rock Band which allows physical games on the PS3 like the Wii. So you can do play physical games like the Wii on the PS3.
Overall compared to Xbox 360: Even though Xbox 360 is less expensive initially, if you add everything that PS3 has, the Xbox 360 is much more expensive. People forgot this. 360 has more games than PS3 because it was introduced a year earlier, but starting in 2008 PS3 is coming out with many high quality exclusive games now that introduction period is over(PS3 has Metal Gear Solid 4, Little Big Planet, Socom Confrontation, Resistance 2, Gran Turismo 4, etc). Unless you will play Halo or Gears of War, get the PS3, it is a much better value.
Rating
Reliability:
I own a video game store. One of the services that we provide is various repairs on most game consoles. In the last year, I have performed around 60 individual XBOX 360 repairs compared to 0 (zero) PS3 repairs. PS3 Wins Hands Down
Compatability:
The 60GB version of the PS3 is FULLY backwards compatible with PS2 and most PS 1 games. The new 80GB version has some limited backwards compatability. The 40GB version has no backwards compatability. All versions of the 360 (Arcade, Pro and Elite) have the same limited backwards compatability. At least PS3 has a version that is fully backwards compatable. PS3 WINS
Value:
The new 80GB version of the PS3 retails for $399.00. This includes an 80GB hard drive (obviously), built in Bluetooth, and built in WIFI. Oh and lets not forget that the DVD player in the PS3 will play all of your regular AND Blu-Ray DVDs. The lowest cost 360 is the Arcade version that retails for around $199. This version does not come with a hard drive which will cost you around $100 for 60GB, nor does it have built in WIFI. The WIFI adapter retails for around $100 also. So for $399 you essentially get 20GB less storage…oh and NO BLU RAY!!! PS3 WINS
Game Selection:
Let’s say that most games nowadays are released on both PS3 and 360, but there are some titles that are exclusive to each. Some of the hotest exclusive titles are:
PS3 – Metal Gear Solid, SOCOM, Little Big Planet, Resistance 2
360 – Fable II, Gears of War 2 and of course Halo 3
Overall, since the 360 has been around for a few more years, there are more titles available, but some of the most popular like BioShock have been ported over now to the PS3…most of the others will follow suit (except Halo which will probably always be a 360 only title). 360 WINS (but not for very much longer)
So of the 3 main decision points as to which console to purchase. PS3 scored 3 out of 4 to the 360′s score of 1 out of 4.
Let me also say that I make more money selling the 360 because of all of the periphery that you have to buy along with it (more margin in accessories) so I hope people continue to go in that direction. However, when viewed objectively, the PS3 is clearly the way to go.
Rating
I had sat on the sidelines of the next gen video games up until a couple of weeks ago. I had tried Wii almost as soon as it came out and was captivated by the motion sensors but the limited availability and sameness to the games as well as limited graphics was frustrating.
Xbox 360 the $50 a year subscription and more importantly it lost the Blu-ray/HD battle were big no points for me. I enjoy games, my wife does not. She does enjoy movies and the internet. When I pointed out that PS3 was a Blu-ray player (with excellent reviews) and could let us surf the internet, she was all for it.
I have an ‘old’ HDTV (3 years old). It has a maximum resolution of 1080i and a DVI input but no HDMI. I did some research before buying this so I bought an HDMI to DVI cable at the same time. I was worried about hooking it up and getting it to look right and also getting sound. I should not have been. It took literally a few minutes. Plugged the HDMI end into the PS3 and the DVI end into the HDTV. Received a picture (great picture) right away. It detected that 1080i was the highest resolution and I choose that.
Sound I simply choose the option to put sound out correctly and received gorgeous sound. I only use the speakers that came with the HDTV but it sounds fantastic on Blu-Ray. I can only imagine what people with surround sound systems will get.
The Blu-Ray discs are stunning. Even with ‘just’ 1080i. Truly beautiful. And it also up-converts very well. My favorite movies are the LOTR expanded editions. I have seen LOTR on TNT HD broadcasts. With the PS3 they look almost as good perhaps even better than the HD broadcasts. Also one of the coolest things and I have no idea if this for all Blu-Rays are just PS3 is that it remembers where you were on discs (Blu-ray and DVD discs)even if the disc was last played 8 discs ago. So say for instance you a third of the way through Fellowship. You then put a few game discs in, some other movie discs, then go back to Fellowship. It actually remembers where you left off that disc. Love it.
The internet browsing has been very cool. At first it was ok but it did not fill up the screen and the lettering was too small. But then I discovered zoom in and zoom out. And now it is really fun to browse. As an aside when I started browsing if someone was on our lap-top we would get a connection conflict and would not be able to surf on the lap-top. I called Linksys and they were able to change a bunch of settings on the router and it works just fine now, no problems on using both at the same time.
As for games I have Assassin’s Creed and Oblivion now. Both look amazing. I have also downloaded demos for Mirror’s Edge (stunning) and Motorstorm (fun and also amazing graphics). Even as a gamer truly I only really have time for a half dozen games every year or two or even three. A lot of these games last a long time. So in reality the 360s edge on variety is for all intents moot. I am planning to get Little Big Planet and maybe the new Spidey game when it comes down in price. That will more than hold me over to God of War and which ever other few games I will get in 2009. Having a handful of great games, to me, is more important than 50 titles coming out a year.
Bottomline is if you have an HDTV (particularly if you have a home theater set up) and no Blu-ray and enjoy gaming the PS3 is truly awesome. You get a great Blu-ray player, an 80gig hard drive, incredible gaming capabilities (just downloading the demos would be cool), internet browsing and video watching on your TV. You can also download the LIFE utility that has an incredibly cool visual globe where you can get live weather and news headlines around the world. And you can help cure diseases by linking to a Stanford project that looks at how proteins work and fold. If you allow it your processor can be added to the processing power being used for the Stanford project (when you are not gamin and such).
Sony has succeeded in making a truly great heart of your home media experience. This is so much more than Wii it isn’t even close. And with Blu-ray and free Sony playstation network, it really is a much better value than any of the 360 choices you have. Right now heading into the 2008 holiday season, PS3 stands alone as clearly the best system and the best value. Not only for gamers but for the entire family.
Rating
Just for reference, a word about the reviewer: I’m a 26 year old male making claims based on what I’ve thought and what I’ve heard said by my female and male peers.
What most amazes me about the PS3s reception is how often i see talk about its price (i.e. how expensive it is). So let me frame this review in light of this:
1- The competition: the PS3s main competitor is the Xbox360. Another competitor is the Wii. At the time of this review, the Xbox360′s cheapest bundle is 199$. This is a 360 with no games and no hard disk. The most expensive bundle is 399$ with a 120GB hard disk and two okay games (look up their reviews).
The Wii, when its not in short supply, costs 249$. It doesn’t have a hard disk, and comes with 1 sports game.
2- The PS3: Now assuming we are going to pay 200 or 250$ for the competition, and no more (though this is doubtful given peripheral needs and so on) let’s consider the ps3 as a competitor selling for 399. A considerable 150$ or 200$ more, right? But let’s consider what we get:
A- The 399$ model comes with an 80GB hard disk. The wii doesn’t have a hard disk, and the xbox360 would cost 100$ less with 60GB, and would be the same price with a 120Gb hard disk.
B- The PS3, as of Dec 5-2008 remains the top Blu-ray player available. Of course Blu-ray is the new replacement for DVDs. Some time ago it had a competitor, the HD-DVD which the 360 supported (via an add on), but since then HD-DVD production has ceased. So for all practical purposes, Blu-ray is the new dvd. Now given that the PS3 is not only a blu-ray player (where as of now, the cheapest -and I mean cheapest- player is approx. 200$), but the BEST blu-ray player (see: http://ps3.qj.net/Blu-ray-player-benchmark-tests-show-PS3-still-the-best/pg/49/aid/127072), and given that neither the Wii nor the 360 play anything but DVD’s (in fact the Wii doesn’t, at least not legally), we can see clearly that a PS3 is the equivalent of buying a console (say for 200-250$) and a blu-ray player (say for 200$). In total, that would cost 400-450$, which is equal/more than the ps3 costs. Bear in mind that we’ve just compared the PS3 to a cheap (and therefore bad) Blu-ray player with a harddisk-less console. The PS3 at 400$ is the best blu-ray player with 80GB.
C-Consider the hardware next. The Wii is clearly different here, since its drastically weaker. As far as the 360 and the PS3 are concerned, a slightly outdated technical comparison chart (http://www.ps3focus.com/archives/40) is available, but also consider the following link: http://ps3.qj.net/PS3-Cell-powered-Roadrunner-rated-king-in-Top-500-Supercomputers-list/pg/49/aid/126379. Now my point is not that the PS3s hardware is better than the 360s, though this a hardware fact. My point is that the PS3s hardware has had some real work put into it, even if programming is more difficult on it. The best games now haven’t gotten nearly close enough to the PS3s limit. If you think about first generation PS1 or PS2 games versus the final generations, you see a huge graphical gap. The PS3s gap will at least be as large, even though Sony’s official statement is that the PS3s lifetime will be at least a couple of years longer. Of course the 360 will have its own gap, but with lesser hardware, we should expect a smaller gap. That and the fact that 360 has aged more the PS3, and so less `gap’ is left. As it stands, at least as far as hardware is concerned, the PS3 is the better investment (and I stress the investment part).
D- The all important games. There’s no doubt that 360 has more games than the ps3. I’m not sure about the Wii. But here are some facts gathered from http://www.gamespot.com (please feel free to confirm!). At the time of writing this, the 360 has 107 games that have rated over 8.0, the Wii 33 games, and the PS3 74 games. But now consider this: the PS3 is 2 years old with 74 ‘good’ games. The 360 is 3 years old with 107 ‘good’ games. But if you look at the 360s games, you see that 51 of the ‘good’ games were released in 2008. This means that in the 360s first two years there were 56 ‘good’ games only. So the often cited claim, that the 360 has a bigger library is indeed a true claim, but not one that makes the 360 a better game console. In fact, if Sony releases only 35 ‘good’ games in 2009 (which is a really an unrealistic estimate), they would still top the 360s library. Of course it makes no sense to say this since simultaneously the 360 will be releasing its own titles. All I’m trying to point to is that the `bigger game library’ argument is a false one. In fact, most realistically, the 3 consoles have more good games than most of us can buy. The real question is, what are you looking for in your games?
E-What are you looking for in your games? If you’re buying a console for the exclusive use of your child (or maybe a family of non-gamers) then surely the Wii is a great and cheap investment, even if it lacks a lot. But if you’re a gamer from before this generation of consoles, then the Wii is obviously a stupid way to go. After spending a couple of hours flicking your arm, it becomes clear that the Wii is a toy designed to expand the video game market, and not a real gaming console for old gamers. Perhaps you go out and buy the plethora of Wii controllers to have a decent experience, but with the Wii’s graphics (and I know graphics don’t make a game, but they surely help!) I see no incentive to actually play anything (god forbid that you have an HDTV to further mar the experience of the Wii’s 480p). That and the fact that the majority of the Wii’s games were designed with kids in mind. If you truly think Zelda on the wii is a good game for an adult (look 17+ is fine), then nothing I say will convince you. Our personal feeling (my girlfriend, myself, and 2 good friends) after buying Zelda and irritating ourselves for about 10hrs, was that the reviewers really failed to stress that the game was JUST for children. Anyway, so much for the Wii. I nevertheless find it to at least be a tastefully designed system, an original piece if nothing more (and it is something more).
Now if you’re a gamer, your choices are really the 360 and the ps3. I won’t try to adjudicate between the two consoles games, though I am biased towards the PS3s games which I find more original and varied (e.g. LittleBigPlanet, Uncharted, Metal Gear 4, dare I say Singstar and Buzz -shudder-). I think that’s partly because I also don’t consider violence in a game to be an immediate plus, which someone in Microsoft must think considering the games on the 360. Anyway, there’s a more important reason not to decide, namely that the 360 and PS3 have a huge overlap in titles. Let’s leave it at that then.
F-Quality. This is the last argument I’ll make. First, let’s be clear about the Wii status, and please earlier Wii comments. The Wii is a pretty product with many quality titles by Nintendo, as usual. Unfortunately, the Wii is in its own world, it needed to come out a generation ago instead of the failed Gamecube. It’s really PS2 competition at best. For that reason, while it is a good quality product, its not really relevant as a competitor in this generation. So for now lets go out and look at the PS3s front end and the 360s, consider the exclusives on each, and in general keep in mind the innovation and tastefulness aspects. I think it’s clear that PS3s XMB is more tastefully designed than the 360s. I admit that there are some functionality issues, especially back in the PS3s early days. But I submit that Sony has showed continuing support through its updates on the functionality level. Now consider tastefulness and innovation: consider the PS3 XMB, Home, Life with Playstation/Folding@Home and LittleBigPlanet. Consider Microsoft’s claims at creating a ‘killer’ of each. An example: the 360s new avatars presented after the Wii and the PS3s avatars. Surely you see the resemblance between the 360 avatars and the Wii avatars? Surely you see the added graphical edge (over the Wii) that’s supposed to distinguish 360s avatars. And surely you must see, that this whole avatar is a distorted copy of the Miis. That it is completely inconsistent with how the 360 has presented its self thus far. Its now unclear whether 360 is a PS3 killer or a Wii killer. A killer it is that’s for sure, that Microsoft treats its customers this way, that it cares so little for originality.
Let me put it most straightforwardly: Microsoft has demonstrated in the past that money, not quality is its aim. If you want proof look at wonderful Windows Vista. Look at Windows XP. And look at the new Windows, whatever its called. Apple did a lot to improve their status from a few years back, but customers accepted to switch partially because Microsoft demonstrated a lack of caring and competence with its software. I want to suggest that Microsoft is now doing the same in the video game industry. Anyone who follows game news (and I obviously do!) knows that the game industry is one of the most rapidly expanding industries. This means large profits, and is an invitation for competition. Microsoft entered the market with that purpose in mind, and I think the following facts demonstrate that they’re not interested in their consumer, but only in their own capitalist enterprise:
>1- They abandoned the original Xbox as soon as it started looking difficult. The machine was marred by software and hardware crashes, and the consumer was requested to buy the 360
>2- The 360 also suffered software and hardware crashes, infamously the 360 is well known to be a flimsily put together piece of equipment (For a humorous duo of demonstrations see:http://www.ps3vault.com/how-to-kill-a-ps3-console-1975 followed by http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/289684.html – For a less humorous but more factual piece: http://venturebeat.com/2008/09/05/xbox-360-defects-an-inside-history-of-microsofts-video-game-console-woes/). But flimsiness is the cost of cheapness, though admittedly Microsoft did recall some of its utterly defective machines. This however doesn’t change the facts, that Microsoft would rather make money than give a quality product
>3- The 360 has undergone massive price-cuts to stay competitive. In time, Microsoft might just drop the 360 as fast it dropped the original. For now, it convinces the uneducated consumer through its low price.
>4- Microsoft’s aggressive competition: competition by paying more for exclusives, paying more to make the game worse (e.g. forcing the producer into making the 360 the lead console), is not `fair’ competition. Competition should be through producing higher quality stuff, not through higher money deals.
So this concludes my argument. I’ve surely gone on too long, and one might wonder what personal interest might I have in this. Well, not much, in fact this whole thing is an accident created by having strong coffee, being on a break from my PhD. program because of a strike, and my personal love of facts and gaming. I hate seeing people ripped off all the time by marketers, and I hate that consumers don’t take the time to learn the facts. Finally, I really dislike uneducated decisions, even though I understand that not everyone has the time for research. But that’s why I’ve written this, now you have at least one elaborate description of events. I’ve overstayed my welcome, cheers!
Rami
Rating
This is a review of the second PS3 that I have purchased for personal use. My first PS3 was a 60 GB launch system that included full backwards compatibility, media card slots, and 4 USB ports. It has worked like a champ since I bought it, but since my girlfriend had became so fond of it, I had to get another one for myself.
It is my intention to give the reader an accurate description of what the new 80 GB standard PlayStation 3 SKU is and what it isn’t.
It is, in my honest opinion, the best video gaming platform on the market AND the best HD home theater device on the market. No piece of consumer electronics can do everything that the PlayStation 3 can do. One might argue the same of the PS3′s main rival, the Xbox 360 (of which I own also), but then again…the 360 doesn’t play Blu-Ray.
Blu-Ray is an important caveat in this generation’s gaming war. If you have an HDTV, Blu-Ray really makes it shine. Sony has triumphed in the format war, at the cost of alienating its core gamer audience. The PS3 is an expensive piece of hardware, but you get what you pay for. It is a dependable, well built, attractively designed video game console. It looks GREAT with the rest of your high end audio and video equipment. Picture quality output on Blu-Ray movies is pristine on a high quality HDTV. Standard Definition DVD’s are upscaled to HD resolution with the use of the PS3′s HDMI port.
I am bummed out about the lack of backwards compatibility, the lack of media card slots, and only having 2 USB ports. It’s not a deal breaker, but I admit that I was spoiled by the features of my $599 launch console. The trim on the PS3 is no longer chrome; instead it is more of a matte silver finish. The PS3 is no longer “blinging”.
Is this “new and improved” 80 GB PS3 better than the original?
The answer is no, BUT…the new PS3 runs A LOT QUIETER than the original. Honestly, the original wasn’t loud either, but this one practically runs silently. The smaller version of the Cell Processor 65nm was used in this SKU. It also runs cooler. Sony didn’t just take out features, they took out the expendable features and replaced them with more efficient chips…
You’re also getting FREE online gaming on the PlayStation Network and the ability to download DivX movies right onto your hard drive! The web browser is now Flash enabled to allow for basic web browsing and easy e-mail access.
Finally, last but not least, you can use your PS3 to wirelessly stream your movies, music, and pictures from your PC or Mac. If you have a PSP, you can use Remote Play to connect your PSP to your PS3 from any wireless point in the world. Cool stuff…and it works.
What about the games? I can’t understand what people are talking about when they say the PS3 doesn’t have great games. It’s utter nonsense. Here is a short list of MUST PLAY PS3 games, most of which, are exclusive to the PlayStation franchise.
1. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
2. Little Big Planet
3. Resistance 2
4. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
5. Warhawk
6. Pixel Junk Monsters
7. Uncharted Drake’s Fortune
8. Grand Theft Auto 4
9. Valkyria Chronicles
10. Fallout 3
Simply put, at $200 cheaper than the original launch price the PS3 is an absolutely awesome piece of home theater equipment that deserves to be the showcase of any HD living room. The Sony PlayStation brand, built up with 12 years of console dominance, is still a major force in the gaming industry.
BUY ONE! IN THE LONG RUN, YOU ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT REGRET IT.
Rating
The PS3 is in the middle of its third year on the market. It had a rocky launch and has suffered from various forms of bad press since. It was expensive, the initial slate of games was uninspiring, and people just didn’t seem to want them.
I bought mine (a 60gb launch model) in mid-2007, for $the original launch price. About a month thereafter, Sony dropped the price by. D’oh! Then, Sony discontinued the 60 and 20gb models and put out a slate of various new ones – 80gb, 120gb, with PS2 compatibility, without, etc. etc. Eventually, the price went down to (see above) for the base model, and more for bigger hard drives and bundled games.
Here’s the thing – they’re all worth the price. I’m glad I got mine, even at the original price. Anyone who gets one today at the current price will be getting a great value for their money. If Sony drops the price again this year, the value will get even sweeter.
So what am I talking about? Well, here’s a portrait of the use my PS3 gets in an average week:
I play games – lately, I’ve been playing Fallout 3, Singstar, MLB’09: The Show, and a downloadable game called Wipeout HD. People who say the PS3 is lacking for games are smoking some wacky-tobackey. PS3 gets the same multiplatform games that the Xbox 360 has, and each system has its own exclusive titles. (3 of the above games listed are PS3 exlusives.) In addition, PS3 has an integrated game store called Playstation Network, which allows you to buy downloadable games, retro games from the PS1, look at free previews and game demos, and play online games – for free. To put it briefly, PS3 is a great game system.
I watch movies – every PS3 model, regardless of price point, plays Blu-Ray movies. In case you don’t know, Blu-Ray is the high definition disc format that succeeds DVD. Blu-Ray movies are sold on Amazon just like DVD movies, and they look better, sound better, and have more extras. PS3 plays DVd movies just fine, too – it is backward compatible. Netflix rents Blu-Ray movies through the mail, as well. The Playstation Network has a video download service also – you can purchase or rent movies and TV shows and download them onto your PS3 hard drive to watch any time.
I watch TV – something not everyone knows is that PS3 is a capable “media center.” Personally, I think watching TV or movies on a computer screen is lame. I’ve got a 50″ 1080p HDTV – I want to watch my content on it! Well, with a little research and elbow grease, you can use the PS3 to stream Netflix, Hulu, and more. I use a 3rd party program called PlayOn – it streams all of this content from my PC to the PS3, so that it can play on my good TV. Is it the best solution? No, Sony ought to offer its own first party solution for this. But as of right now, buying a cheap piece of software and using it to stream everything works great.
I listen to music – it is an easy matter to sync up your PS3 with your music library on a PC. PS3 has built into it a media player that plays music with a video screensaver. I can browse all the folders of my iTunes library and make playlists. If I’m feeling especially adventuresome, I can turn on my PS3 with my PSP handheld system and use it as a remote, without even turning on my TV.
That’s an average week in the life of my PS3. Essentially, the PS3 is the entertainment hub of my house, especially when it comes to video. For all of this capability, the price wasn’t bad at all. Amazon is currently offering deals with free controllers and the like, making the value even better.
I won’t spend a lot of time taking about the Xbox 360 or the Wii. But I will say this – to get the Xbox 360 up to the same capability as a PS3 out of the box, you have to spend money on a wireless internet antenna (PS3 has it built in), a yearly fee on Xbox Live (PS3 lets you play online games for free), and if you want to upgrade your hard drive, pay Microsoft’s outrageous proprietary prices (PS3 lets you use any laptop hard drive – I added 320gb to mine for very cheap). The 360 will not play high definition discs (it used to have an HD-DVD add-on drive, but Blu-Ray won the “format war” between them). The Wii, on the other hand, does not output high definition signals at all, so it really isn’t as comparable as the 360 to the PS3. The 360 is a fine system. It has good games. Microsoft sells 360 systems for less than the PS3 – but these systems have no hard drive, no wireless, they basically cost the same to get them to the same level of performance and versatility.
So the PS3 has a lot going for it. Here’s how I would summarize the PS3′s strengths.
Versatility: As described above, the PS3 will play about anything you can throw at it, and it will stream video and audio from your PC, too. It has a great games library and robust online abilities.
Customizable: it is an easy matter to upgrade your hard drive storage space, using off the shelf components at the bets prices you can find them at. Many third party programs (like PlayOn) exist that extend the PS3′s capabilities further.
High performance: the PS3 outputs 1080p video by HDMI cable. Its Blu-Ray performance is still among the best on the market, despite being 2.5 years old. Its games are every bit as good looking and good playing as the 360′s games, and are much better than the Wii’s, generally speaking.
The US is slowly but surely moving to high definition as the standard. Perfectly decent 1080p HDTV’s are now available for quite reasonable prices. There really isn’t a better time than now to jump on board and get the perfect companion for your HDTV, a PS3. I’ve not regretted my purchase, even at the original launch price, one time in the past 2 years.
If you like video games, PS3 is a great buy. If you like movies, PS3 can”t be beat. If you want to live in a more “digital home,” PS3 is a robust solution for streaming audio and video from your PC. About the only reasons I can see for not getting one are if you hate games, dislike movies, or don’t have an HDTV.
Some suggestions:
-Check out the PS3 Blu-Ray remote. It’s a fine remote that uses Bluetooth, and is cheap on Amazon.
-Check out PlayOn for media streaming. You can try it for 2 weeks for free to see if you like it. I recommend using a wired network for streaming, wireless seems to drop out a lot more.
-You need to buy an HDMI cable to get the best video from the PS3 to your TV. Don’t spend “Monster” prices though! A less expensive cable gets the signal to your TV just like a more expensive one. Digital cables are all or nothing.
-Subscribe to Netflix! Even if you don’t use the video streaming, this is a great way to try out lots of Blu-Ray movies. If you like nature, check out “Planet Earth.” If you like action, “The Dark Knight” is amazing in HD.
-Some great games are available extremely cheap on Amazon or on the PSN. If you like fantasy RPGs, try “Oblivion Game of the Year Edition.” If you enjoy car racing, try “Burnout Paradise.” Futuristic racing? Download “Wipeout HD.” If you want hardcore first person shooting action, give “Unreal Tournament 3″ a whirl. If you like classic style space shooters, download “Super Stardust HD.” Most of these games can be had for much less than their original price – and these are serious “next gen” games with great graphics, online multiplayer, etc. You could get all of the above for less than $100!
-Some of the better more expensive games include “Fallout 3″ (wait for the Game of the Year Edition with extra content coming out this year), “Resident Evil 5,” “Bioshock,” “Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune,” and “InFamous.” If you like singing AT ALL, get the PS3 edition of “Singstar” (bundled with microphones) and the PSEye USB camera (Trust me on this one!).
Enjoy!
*******************UPDATE********************
Remember, this review is from someone who LOVES the PS3 – my 60gb launch unit has died, suffering the “Yellow Light Of Death” error, after about 2.5 years of service.
I take great care of my electronics. I never ran my PS3 for days on end as some people seem to. I dust and vacuum frequently. My PS3 sits vertically, not in a tight cabinet, and gets plenty of air. Apparently, early 20 and 60gb units were poorly constructed, using substandard thermal compounds between the motherboard and the heatsinks. This bad compound degrades over time, and then the motherboard components overheat.
Even though this fault is a manufacturing issue and is no fault of the user, Sony will not replace a defective system such as this out of warranty without charging you a rather large additional fee, plus local tax.
So, Caveat Emptor. The PS3 is an amazing machine and is great fun to use – until it refuses to work ever again. Apparently, the only way I would get free service is if I had abused my console to the point that it broke within 1 year instead of 2.5. Sony does not stand behind their products and will not fix their own mistakes. “Thanks for your cash,” they might as well say, “but #$%& you for asking.”
Newer units may be more reliable. They may not. I have no way of knowing. But it might not be a bad idea to get an extended warranty. You may want to get the new Slim model if heating and fan noise are concerns. Lord know I wish I had one.