PlayStation 3 120GB System
by Sony
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Our Price: $464.00 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Video Games See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of PlayStation 3 120GB System
Customer Review: Possibly a must-own device to have in your home!
Summary: 5 Stars
Having upgraded to the latest PlayStation 3 Slim, I'm really enjoying this latest version of the console. Quiet, less heat and for the most part, aside from gaming, it's becoming the Blu-ray player I prefer to use (and I have several).
As mentioned in other reviews, it does use a more advanced HDMI 1.3 chipset vs. the fat version and there is no on and off switch at the back, it's all on the front and of course, the main caveat is its inability to play PS2 games but it does play PS1 games. And it's a lot cheaper than the previous models before it.
You get one controller and the version I bought didn't have a bundled game but you can easily purchase games online or any store.
While others focused on hardware specs, I'll focus more on the gaming and Blu-ray:
Setup is fairly easy, HDMI to my receiver (and my receiver has an HDMI to the TV). Setting the console up still takes about an hour or so for downloads and updating for the first initial startup but from there, it's fairly easy to use. If there is one thing about the PS3 that has always freaked me out is the front loading device. Because I own products (ie. my iMac and Wii) that requires front loading and no tray, my drives are not working after a few years. I'm hoping this is not the case with the PS3 but so far, so good.
Videogaming on the PS3 has been great but I do notice that if you are a person who purchases used games, the games with slight scratches on the PS3 games (Blu-ray games) are not easily read through the PS3 slim. And because some games require installation to the hard drive first, some games with slight scratches will not work. Also, scratches that are on the center of the disc, many of us have experienced the crack via the PS3 case by trying to pull the game out. That slight crack in the center may not look bad enough to damage your disc but interesting enough, the PS3 doesn't play it. So, it's important to note that if you purchased used games (especially stores closing), take a good look at those discs because the slim PS3 is very sensitive to that.
As for Blu-ray, the cool thing is for those who use a profile 1.0/1.1 player, now you can take advantage of the PS3's capabilities for BD-Live, in this case, Sony Blu-rays can be registered and your name entered on Sony's weekly contests (for their expensive TV's and other merchandise). But PQ and AQ works great. I have been using the PS3 more and more for my Blu-ray viewing because its more convenient, faster loading and I like the display interface as well. Setup for audio is fairly easy as well.
If you plan to watch a lot of Blu-ray, I highly recommend purchasing a remote. I purchased the cheapest remote via third party which works great but there are more expensive remotes out there for the PS3. The latest update does give 3D capability but everything is not yet complete for 3D capability as of the latest Sept. 2010 update.
Overall, the PS3 is a wonderful console and Blu-ray player. Again, it doesn't play PS2 games but for those of you (especially those who like myself enjoy Atlus, NIS, XSEED, Aksys), who play a lot of Japanese gaming, definitely hold onto that PS2. But the PS3 slim is fantastic and definitely worth owning!
Customer Review: Great media center and, of course, game console!
Summary: 5 Stars
I am in the group of buyers that was in the market for a blu-ray player and decided on this based on bang for the buck. My criteria were:
1) blu ray player
2) built in wi-fi
3) netflix capable
The closest competitor of comparable quality was the LG 390, which was $260 at the time of this review. For only forty bux more, I got a media center, game console and one less remote (I have a Sony Bravia TV). Everyone has their opinion about the game selection from the fanboys to casual gamers. Consider me the latter. I like that since the ps3 has been out a while, you can find some good titles for $20 to $30. I was really into Battlefield 1942 a while back on PC so I decided to get Battlefield Bad Company for only $20! If I get hooked, I may have to shell out $50 - $60 for BC 2 coming out soon.
I know most have to get a separate remote to operate the ps3, but given the Bravia Sync capabilities, I was able to operate it with my Bravia remote. I have the 46z4100 and it worked like a charm! You just have to enable HDMI control in the ps3 settings and it will work great! You can even navigate most of the menu with it except for maybe internet and some options where you need "x" and "o" buttons. I am still exploring other buttons on the remote to see what relates to all the Dualshock controller buttons, but it appears to be limited to the center navigation for ps3 control and the the blu-ray works with the DVD button controls.
Another great function is the media center functions. I connected to my router easily and after a little tinkering, I was able to allow the ps3 to see all my media on my PC. It wasn't crystal clear how to set it up since most tutorials are for WM11 and WM12 was included with Windows 7. For WM11 I think you can actually select the ps3 to allow access, but in WM12, next to the Organize button, I selected Stream > Automatically Allow Devices to Play My Media... and then it worked. When loading folders in the ps3, it may take some time to get the folders to show up if you have a large collection. I thought it wasn't working since there is no progress bar or anything but they eventually showed up. This is probably dependent on the speed of your network as well.
Speaking of networks, that is probably my only negative... The ps3 has 802.11 b/g built in, while the LG 390 had "n". To get full advantage of Netflix, I wish it had "n". One other minor drawback is you have to put in the Netflix disc to get streaming to work. I read that it uses BD live to stream the content. Apparently Microsoft has a deal with Netflix to be exclusive on offering the software built in on XBOX and the agreement expires in late 2010. I'm glad Sony found a work around but hope they update the firmware after the agreement expires.
Overall, I think its a great deal and if you can get in on a nice bundle, then it will sweeten the pot even more! I was a day late on getting a BF deal since I was still deciding what to do and missed out, but even at full price I have no regrets!
Customer Review: Much better console than XBox - objectively compare and see why
Summary: 5 Stars
I had an original XBox and two XBox 360's. All three have died. After the third failure I read up on the PlayStation 3 and decided to give it a try. The only exclusive game I really wanted for the 360 was the Halo series, and Reach wasn't due for a long time at that point.
I was immediately impressed. Here's why:
Faster processor - many games played with faster frame rates. Improved graphics. Connected to my Bravia the graphics are simply stunning. Replaceable hard drive. Included blu-ray player (even though I didn't care about it). FREE online play. A quality console that didn't get super hot like the 360. There are other things that I feel are better as well, but I'll only focus on the main points.
Most games on the 360 are available on PS3. Unless you can only afford one console and absolutely have to play an exclusive game on the 360, the PS3 is a better deal.
The fact that the PSN online gaming is free is a huge win for Sony. No monthly/yearly subscription fees whatsoever. If you're on a budget, consider what money you'll save in the long run. Even if you're not on a budget, it's great to not have to fork over a credit card on order to play online.
There is also a common complaint that there aren't many people with headsets because the PS3 doesn't ship with one. That may have been true when the PS3 was first released, but not anymore. I've met many players online who have headsets. Not only that, but the 360's headset is junk. It's extremely uncomfortable for long periods of play. I think Sony made the right move to not include a headset, as it allows gamers to choose one that is comfortable for them.
I also see many review sites that bash Sony. I don't know why this is...fanboyism maybe? Are they being paid or showered with 'gifts' to make the XBox look better? I can't understand it.
The thing that made me write this review is this: After owning my PS3 for a year I decided to purchase a new XBox 360 to play Halo Reach. I immediately noticed the difference. Sort of like when you buy an old computer game for nostalgia, play it, and are shocked how poor the quality of the game is compared to never games. this is how I felt when I fired up the new 360. The system is dated and it shows.
Even when I went to write this review, I looked at the 360 reviews on Amazon, clicked the one-star reviews, and it was filled with 'red dot' complaints. The new console still has a high failure rate. There is even a video to prove it. Sony quality shines through. I have a good feeling that years from now, I can still play old games for 'nostalgia' on my PS3, long after PS4 , 5 and 6 are released.
If you are faced with having to buy a 360 because of an exclusive title, then I suppose it's worth it. It will likely die at some point (unlike my old PS one and two which still work). But if you're looking for a sturdy, inexpensive and better-performing console with FREE online play, the PS3 is the way to go.
Customer Review: Definately better than my PS2!!
Summary: 5 Stars
The PS3 can do so much more than a PS2. For one thing, it plays Blu-ray dvds and streams internet wirelessly. It also plays awesome games in great quality. I have mine hooked up to a normal tv, the same one I had my PS2 hooked up to. I used the basic cables that came with it and I could easily tell a difference in the graphics. It would look twice as good if I hooked it up to an HD tv with an HDMI cord. The wireless controller works well. There is a usb cable that plugs in the front. When your controller gets low, a message appears and all you do is plug it in and it charges while you play. But the charging cable isn't very long and if you're camped out farther away from your system, you'll have to set up camp a little closer for the time being while it's charging.
I have never owned the older version of PS3, so I can't say the pros and cons of this one vs. that one. But they say this one is quieter, more energy efficient, and smaller than the original. I never notice the noise of the fan when I am playing. Having it use less energy while still putting out the same great graphics is great too. This one is not PS2 compatible. Which is something I kind of wanted but considering this is the newest and cheapest model, I still went with this one. Only the very first model of PS3 is completely PS2 compatible. So then I was like, well I'll just buy that one, it should be pretty cheap since its an old model. But I was wrong. That one sold for more than this one. Not just a few bucks either. You'd be lucky to get one for somewhere in the high 300s. So then I was like no way I'm paying $75-100 more for an older model that can't do as much.
One of my favorite things about the slim is Netflix instant streaming. If you don't have an account with them, your missing out. The cheapest you can get an account would be around $15 a month maybe. Now they have this box you can buy for $100 that allows you to instant stream movies for free. As many as you want, when you want. But if you get a PS3 Slim, you just go on the Netflix website and they'll send you a free disc. All you do is put it in your System, and it works the same as the instant box. The PS3 is like a do it all box.
Over all, I'm pleased with the system. It occasionally freezes, but it can be prevented with a little thing called cleaning your discs and allowing your PS3 breathing time. The latter is only an issue if you play more than about 6 hours at a time. Any less and it doesn't matter. But I've found that after I been kickin' some butt in a game for 6-10 hours, my PS3 freezes more often, which is only about a couple times a day, but it's still annoying. If you play for a long time, here's what you do. Play your PS3 till you eat lunch or dinner. Then when you go to eat (unless you eat while you're playing) turn off your system. Then when you come back it'll be nice and rested and be ready to accompany you on your next quest.
Play on gamers!!
Customer Review: PS3 120GB: An All-Around Media Device
Summary: 5 Stars
The Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3) 120GB is a useful media hub for those who watch movies, view pictures, listen to music, and play games. It allows you to do all these, making it versatile. For watching movies, you have several options: Blu-ray video discs, downloaded videos, and streaming video via Netflix.
If you have a media source, you can stream music to the PS3 and pipe it through your A/V theater system. I am able to do this, for example, with a Sony Ericsson W705 Walkman Phone as the source of music. Netflix movie streaming requires a disc from Netflix but is free when requested. All you need to do is to register the PS3 on the Netflix page at [...].
Blu-ray playback is excellent. We use the PS3 as a Blu-ray video disc player as well and so far all the discs we've viewed (including the latest releases) play without any hitches. It also helps to have Wi-Fi built into the PS3 so you can view BD-Live content and, on some discs, stream the latest trailers before viewing the main feature. We use the Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc Remote Control since using the game controller is rather inconvenient. Note that this remote is a Bluetooth device and not an IR remote. If you want a universal remote control that also supports Bluetooth in the PS3, this product might be useful (although we haven't tried it): PS3 Blu-Link Universal Remote Control
We also loaded music, pictures, and video into the PS3 via a USB thumb drive and they worked well. We were able to play 720p MP4 video files. The pictures looked stunning on our TV (though it's only a 720p HDTV).
The system comes with a USB cable for charging the single PS3 Dualshock 3 Wireless Controller that also comes with it. A composite video cable is included but not an HDMI cable. You can purchase a good and reasonably priced HDMI Cable 6ft 1080P FOR PS3 TO DVD LCD HDTV here on Amazon.com.
Overall, the system is quiet. We don't hear the fan turn on. The system gets warm after some time but it seems to be normal for this model (CECH-2101A) -- for example, when you eject a disc that's been playing on the PS3, it feels warm. So far, there have been no problems though.
We replaced an old 40GB PS3 (the non-slim one) with this one and are happier with it. The old PS3's fan was really loud.