PlayStation 3 120GB System
by Sony
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of PlayStation 3 120GB System
Customer Review: Actual owner of 2 Slims, Previous owner of original PS3 60GB
Summary: 5 Stars
First off, I actually own two of the new PS3 slims. So unlike some of the 1 and 2 star reviewers on here, I can speak from experience. I also own an Xbox 360 and a Wii, but my review will mostly cover the difference between this model and my previous launch-model 60gb PS3.
I had the original, backwards compatible 60gb PS3 from launch and have loved it. It took center stage in my basement home theater setup. Blu-rays look amazing on a 119 inch screen. I had been, for quite some time, considering buying a second PS3 for my living room. Once the new Slim was announced, I decided to sell my PS3 and use the proceeds to finance the purchase of two new ones. I bought one from Amazon and another from a local brick and mortar.
I have three primary uses for the PS3: gaming, watching blu-ray movies, and watching videos stored on a NAS drive on my home network. I buy tracks for Rock Band, download demos for new games, and purchase the occasional LBP costume or pack, but otherwise, I'm not really an online gamer.
Anyway, the new Slim is just an excellent, excellent system. Comparing it to my previous PS3:
PROS:
It is significantly smaller. Pictures don't really do it justice.
Runs just as quiet if not more so. The only increase in noise seems to come from the disk drive. It's noisier than my old system when accepting or ejecting a disk.
Runs even cooler. I never had any heat issues with my old PS3 but this one barely puts out warm air even after a couple of hours of play sitting in a cabinet.
Better audio codec support. I'm running this on a 7.2 surround system so I like the best sound I can possibly get, and my receiver takes advantage of the Slims upgraded audio output.
Seems to load game data faster. I had just picked up Batman: Arkham Asylum earlier in the week. The game loades an initial 1.8 gigs (I believe) of data to your hard drive. After getting my first Slim, I had to load the same data to the new system, and only took about 2/3 the time. It's surprising since it's the same speed disk drive, but I timed it and it definitely took less time.
I actually like the matte finish better. No more finger prints or smudges, doesn't reflect light.
The physical buttons are great. You can just tap the power button to turn the system off, instead of having to hold down the touch button until it beeps.
CONS:
Only two usb ports. I know most PS3s only have two but mine had four and I like the Rock Band. Thankfully, I had a 4 port hub sitting around unused.
Still no IR receiver. This was actually a pretty big disappointment for me. I run my entire theater set up with a Harmony One. Projector, receiver, even my lights. I finally broke down and spent the exta $55+ on the Logitech Harmony Adapter, but I'd rather have the ability included in the price of the system.
Having to backup, reload, re-download everything. I had upgraded my previous system to a 160gb hard drive and was hoping I could just pull it and slap it into the new system. Sadly, this wasn't the case. I had to manually back up my saves game files (not all with allow you to copy. I kept all my progress for Batman, for instance, but lost all my progress in Rock Band 2. I'll also have to find or rent a copy of Rock Band 1 to reinstall all the songs from the game disk).
I lost backwards compatibility and other operating system support, but I didn't care about or use either of those anyway. Other than that, the sytem is just as great as always, and I'm loving the 3.0 software and animated backgrounds. Also, just a note: If you're moving from one PS3 to two like I did, your purchased games and add ons are good on multiple systems. My wife and I play Pixlejunk Monsters and we can now choose to hang out and play in the living room where you can actually keep track of the time or disappear for hours in the man-cave.
Customer Review: Awesome Blu-ray disc player (That happens to be a great gaming system, too)
Summary: 5 Stars
You'll have to pardon me if I gush, but this was a major upgrade from both my previous game system and previous DVD player. We finally made the leap to our first HDTV, a Samsung LN46B750 46-Inch 1080p 240 Hz LCD HDTV with Charcoal Grey Touch of Color, and after watching a few DVDs on our old player it became obvious that getting a real Blu-ray player was an absolute necessity.
I initially purchased a Samsung BD-P1600 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player because it was built to communicate directly with our TV. The Samsung Blu-ray player was a significant leap over our old DVD player, but only when playing BDs - on DVDs it left a lot to be desired.
My wife bought into the concept of getting the PS3 because of the high praise it gets as a BD player. All of the earlier concerns about noise from the fan, etc. seem to have been resolved. As a BD/DVD player, the thing is aweseome. I had to do some tweaking of the settings to get it to send an HDMI signal to the TV and a digital audio signal to the amp (next on the list of things to upgrade), and I get the feeling that I'm only using about 15% of the available functionality - but that functionality is, again, awesome.
Some key pros:
- The PS3 has visibly better upscaling on DVDs than the Samsung.
- Streaming Netflix over the PS3 is easy-as-pie. Unfortunate that it requires an extra BD from Netflix, and hopefully Sony will come up with a firmware update sooner than later. But for the time being it is pretty painless to simply put the BD in (it's also an easier way to get to that part of the menu for my wife).
- Setting the PS3 to communicate with my TV was easy. Not automatic, but easy.
- Games look incredible in full HD. Ridiculous. My wife walked in while I was playing Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time and asked me what movie I was watching. I've only logged about 6 hours of game time, so I don't have much experience with the PS3 to draw from. In that 6 hours I've managed to get characters stuck twice, eliminating my hopes for "perfect" gameplay, but I'm still blown away.
- Easy to connect to wireless network. It only took a few minutes to get the PS3 hooked up to our wireless network, even though we have our connection password protected.
Some key cons:
- Sony doesn't include detailed instructions on how to use the controller as a BD remote. As a lifelong gamer I was able to fake the funk through most of it, but I was frustrated by my lack of control over BD playback. I broke down and spent the $20 on the Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc Remote and it made a world of difference.
- When set to interface with the TV it is impossible to turn the PS3 on without forcing the TV to switch over to that input. And since it isn't a Samsung product, when I power the PS3 down the TV doesn't automatically switch back to the satellite input. Not Sony's fault, obviously, but it did that with the Samsung BD player.
- Slow load time of games. Getting a game started is a 2-minute endeavor, which isn't a long time when you're riding a bus but is an eternity when you don't get much time to game in the day.
- Internet browsing: you can browse the Internet via the PS3, but without a wireless keyboard it is challenging, and surfing the web on my TV just gives me bad flashbacks to WebTV of the late 90's.
Overall, we absolutely *love* the PS3. Now that we have the basics covered I'm starting to branch out and research all of the machine's capabilities. But the thing it does really well, that got it in the door of our house, is play Blu-ray discs and DVDs.
Customer Review: The PS3 from the viewpoint of a lifelong Xbox user
Summary: 5 Stars
OK I am re-doing my review because I didn't know what I was talking about. The PS3 blows the 360 out of the water. It is a complete package, not like the 360, which I had to buy piece after piece to get basic functionality.
Graphics: I am just basing this off demos, but the PS3 is way more powerful. I played the demos for Resident Evil 5, Uncharted, Killzone 2 and Infamous. No contest. Little details like my character in Uncharted wading though a pool of water and under a waterfall. he came out soaking wet and you could tell that his clothes were wet. The PS3 simply has more processing power, plus the added memory capability of Bluray gives the programmers much more functionality and creativity.
Hardware: with the PS3 it is basically a computer. You can play games, you can surf the web and actually visit most sites which was surprising, you can watch Bluray movies, you can post photos by plugging the camera directly into the PS3, you can listen to music. OH AND IT DOESN'T OVERHEAT/RROD LIKE THE XBOX 360! I was going to recommend the 360 to a friend who has the PS3 already but I can't recommend it anymore unless you get it really cheap. A 60% failure rate is terrible, if I had known about it I would have never purchased a 360. I am not sure of the rates of failure for the new systems but Microsoft has left me with a bad taste in my mouth, even though they are fixing it for free. This is my 3rd Xbox to die on me, my 2 original Xboxes also had problems.
I think Microsoft made a bad move not supporting Bluray out of the box. They didn't have to make games that supported it but at least have movies. also it is dead quiet even playing games. My 360 sounded like a jet even with games installed to the HD. and I like being able to upgrade my HD anytime I want. No shelling out $$$ for propriety hard drives or jumping through hoops to transfer data. Being able to charge my controller with a standard MiniUSB cable rather than swapping out batteries like on the 360.
Software: The XMB interface is really pretty to look at. It is pretty graphically rich, it has animated backgrounds. There are a great number of themes out there, and they are really easy to install. My favorite feature is how you can play with system settings without exiting your game. Also it is cool when you hover over your installed games the background changes and shows you a preview in the tiny window with audio. it looks pretty next generation to me. also being able to download stuff in the background while doing things like gaming is awesome (multitasking!).
Online: Well in my previous draft I said that XBL is better than the free PSN, I think the opposite in some regards. I think XBL has more demos available, but the PSN is free. Why do you need to pay money to play multi-player for a game you already paid for? Also, if you want to use netflix or any streaming service you HAVE to have XBL. Also PS3 players seem to be more mature, no playing music over the microphone, no cussing like a sailor, etc.
Caveats: My only caveat about the system is the controller, it isn't made for people with big hands. I know you can get a 3rd party controller but I just love the 360's controller. I am sure some will say you will get used to it but the main problem is the triggers. They are not long enough. My hands end up cramping while playing racing games (my primary genre).
To sum it up, the PS3 is a complete, well rounded package. You can go with the 360 with it's questionable hardware reliability, lack of built in, basic functionality like being able to surf the web and controller charging, or you can go with something that has all that for the same price. I mentioned exclusives previously, not so much a big deal. I will take Killzone over Halo anyday.
Customer Review: Someone with a Xbox 360, Wii, and now a PS3 Slim...
Summary: 5 Stars
I now own all 3 of the major seventh generation consoles, Xbox 360, Wii, and PS3. So comparing the systems makes some sense.
TIP: Pick up an HDMI cable with your PS3. There are some inexpensive ones on Amazon that qualify for free shipping with purchases [...]. The video quality sucks if you stick to the output that the PS3 comes with.
PROS AND CONS
PROS: WIFI capabilities built-in. Controller design we're familiar with from the PS2 and sufficiently similar to the 360 controller. Excellent game selection. Free online play. Bluray player. Good price.
CONS: Controller requires a USB connection for charging. Controller does not have removable batteries. Not PS2 backwards compatible. Arguably better exclusives found on the 360.
COMPARING TO THE WII
We picked up our Wii at launch (second in line, tent in front of Best Buy). Like a lot of gamers, our Wii has sat collecting dust after the newness wore off. The Wii has had too few attractive titles. Games that are present on all three systems tend to be the worst on the Wii. As an example, we grabbed Madden for the Wii around launch. Unfortunately much of the gameplay had been stripped out on the Wii version (career modes gone, etc). Junk games rule the Wii market meaning good games get lost in the mix.
I know, this is a lot about the Wii. I bring it up because the PS3 does not have these problems.
If you're my mom or wanting a console for parties, pick up a Wii - otherwise the PS3 wins out here.
COMPARING TO THE XBOX 360
I bought our Xbox 360 about two years ago. Hardware problems have hit already, [...].
The divide between the PS3 and 360 is really pretty small now. After all, at the time of this review the systems will both cost you the same amount of money.
On content, games that are multi-platform are sufficiently identical between the PS3 and 360. But when it comes to exlusive games, the 360 has a slight edge here.
If you're the movie watching type, the PS3 has a Bluray player while the 360 has Netflix. That makes it a tough choice. One thing to keep in mind is you currently cannot use Netflix on the 360 with just a silver account. That means you're going to have to pay a monthly fee for a gold account. More on Xbox Live next.
Online gaming is free on the PS3. On the 360 you're going to have to pony up anywhere between $3.50 to $5 a month to Microsoft for Xbox Live. Yuck. Consider this one of the hidden costs of Xbox 360 gaming. Note: You can still get updates, buy games, addons, themes, etc. with a free Silver account on the 360. You just can't play online or watch movies/tv shows on Netflix instantly.
Yet another 360 hidden cost is WIFI. If you're using WIFI at home, expect to throw another [...] for wireless. PS3 comes out of the box with wireless built-in (although I hear there might be some quality problems, but I haven't experienced any). We still have a cable running across the living room for the 360. The PS3 is mostly cable free. Yet another hidden cost for owning a 360.
Xbox 360 achievement points or the PS3 trophies? Personally I like the 360's point system over trophies. With gamer points, you get a certain amount of points with more difficult achievement arguably worth more points. The sound effect when you earn an achievement on the 360 is more obvious and less easy to ignore. There's a rewarding feeling when you get achievements. With trophies, I've actually received some and didn't notice until later. Of course, the 360 pops you out of the game's immersion easier than the PS3. To each his own, I suppose.
I would expect the PS3 to be around longer than the 360, so overall the PS3 should be a better buy.
Customer Review: Sony PS3 slim puts sony back in the game!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I originally wrote a review on the 60 gb PS3 right after it launched in November, 2006. Like the original 60 gb the new PS3 slim 120 gb is almost as good once you get past its few flaws. The new Playstation 3 has the same specifications as the previous model, but it's 32% smaller, 36% lighter and 33% more energy-efficient than the regular Playstation 3. It sports a slightly different look and the touch buttons are now replaced with real buttons. I have to say the SONY Playstation 3 is one amazing system. One of the most welcome features is the PS3 Slims ability to bit stream both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. As for the games we are finally starting to see the true potential of this amazing system. You get an amazing blu-ray player that is future proof thanks to the system being able to receive firmware updates via the web. If you have a 1080p HDTV you will be amazed at the picture quality which is up to six times more detailed than DVD. You also get theater quality sound and picture that DVD, cable, satellite HD, and even apple TV just can't touch because of their bandwidth limitations. If you have standard DVDs the PS3 upscales them to 1080p which brings all your DVDs to life. Don't expect blu-ray quality from watching DVDs, but do expect them to look much better and sharper because they are being upscaled to look better on your HDTV. I like the fact that the system has online connectivity and that it also has a built in browser should you just want to surf the internet. Most of all I like the fact that you get built in wi-fi. if you all ready have internet access you just have to set this up with your wi-fi router, or if your lucky enough you might be able to pick up free wi-fi if you don't have internet access. You can download your favorite music/videos to the ps3 hard drive and if available online it will display the artist names and songs. You can even connect a USB keyboard (along with almost any type of USB device) to make surfing the internet faster and more enjoyable. With the recently launched Playstation Store you can play demos, download classic PS1 and PS2 (and some new PS3 games) games, get wallpapers, and watch blu-ray and new movie trailers. With the new virtual world Home you can create a virtual character and explore the virtual world. If your friends have a PS3 you can meet them in home and Play virtual Pool, bowling, or invite them in to a PS3 game to play with you. You can rent movies (some in HD) from an always growing catalog and purchase many of them. The things that this new PS3 lacks from the original 60 gb model is SACD support, it only has 2 USB vs. the 4 on the original. The top left part of this PS3 doesn't open up like the old one because this one lacks the memory card slots. The good thing is that this PS3 is so much quieter and takes up less space than my original 60 gb because it uses a smaller chip which now makes it use less electricity. That was my biggest annoyance with the original PS3 was that it got a bit loud sometimes when watching movies or playing games which I felt a bit distracting. This new model is as quit as a mouse. With video chat, internet access, digital photo viewing, and digital audio and video the PS3 will likely be your home entertainment centerpiece. I have to say I am very happy with giving the Playstation 3 a chance and I highly recommend it for anyone who appreciates a great game system with some awesome entertainment features. With the new PS3 slim and a long overdue price cut SONY is back in the game, and with new games like Uncharted 2 and may other exclusives this is going to be the start of the new Playstation revolution. This system may be lacking some of the original PS3 60 gb features, but it is still one awesome entertainment powerhouse that I highly recommend!