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PlayStation 3 Slim 120GB (Old Model)

    • Based on 2,028 reviews
Condition: Used - Very Good
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Availability: Only 1 left in stock, order soon!
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Arrives Saturday, May 11
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Features

  • HDMI + Bravia Sync functionality that provides both 1080p output resolution.
  • A new 33% slimmer, 36% lighter PlayStation 3 entertainment system that is also more energy efficient.
  • Includes a Dualshock 3 wireless controller and a built-in 120GB HDD for storing games, music, videos, and photos.
  • Built-in Wi-Fi for connectivity anywhere and multiple media format compatibility.
  • Free membership and access to all the events, as well as game, movie, TV and other media content available on the PlayStation Network (PSN).
  • Instant in-synch connectivity between your PS3 and other Sony HDMI enabled products without the use of multiple remote controls.

Description

PlayStation 3 120GB System The fourth generation of hardware released for the PlayStation 3 entertainment platform, the PlayStation 3 120GB system is the next stage in the evolution of Sony's console gaming powerhouse. Loaded with a mix of multimedia features and functions available on earlier PlayStation 3 models, as well as a series of new advancements and refinements, the PlayStation 3 120GB system is destined to push the envelope in the realm of Next-Generation entertainment. .caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif; font-size: 10px; font- weight: bold; font-style: italic; } ul.indent { list-style: inside disc; text- indent: -15px; } table.callout { font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; line- height: 1. 3em; } td.vgoverview { height: 125px; background: 9DC4D8 url( page/callout-bg.png) repeat-x; border-left: 1px solid 999999; border-right: 1px solid 999999; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 250px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; } What's Under the Hood As with previous models, the PlayStation 3 120GB system features an IBM "Cell" processor and a co-developed NVIDIA graphics processor that together allow the system to perform two trillion calculations per second. Yet the 120GB system manages to improve on this with its 45nm version of the processor, which although running at the same 60+nm speed as previous PS3 versions, uses less energy. This makes the unit's smaller size and quieter fan possible. Along with the traditional AV and composite connections, the 120GB system also boasts an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) port, which delivers uncompressed, unconverted digital picture and sound to compatible high-definition TVs and projectors. (The system is capable of 128-bit pixel precision and 1080p resolution for a full HD experience) This console also provides for an extreme sound experience by supporting Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, as well as Linear PCM 7.1. Finally, it features cross connectivity with your PC network and PlayStation Portable (PSP) and its pre-installed, 120GB hard disc drive allows you to save games as well as download content from The Internet. Unlike The some other models of The PlayStation 3, The 120GB system does not offer backwards compatibility. The same functionality now in a smaller, more quiet and energy efficient package View larger. Space saving when placed upright... View larger. As well as when horizontal View larger. A textured, no fingerprint finish View larger. Blu-ray, PlayStation Network Downloads and Beyond PlayStation 3 utilizes The Blu-ray disc media format, which gives you The best high-definition viewing experience on your television, by way of The format's ability to hold six times as much data as traditional DVDs. This tremendous capacity, combined with The awesome power of The system's processor and graphics card, promises an endless stream of mind- blowing games, and other multimedia content. This doesn't mean though that The PS3 is limited to Blu-ray discs. It also supports CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+R formats. In addition, PlayStation 3 system software includes BD Live support that allows you to play discs that support Blu-ray Disc Profile 2.0 (BD-LIVE), meaning you can also connect to The Internet while playing discs that support this format to obtain additional features. And of course PS3 owners also receive free access to The PlayStation Network (PSN), where through The PlayStation Store and PlayStation Home, they can download games, game demos, movies, and other content, as well as chat with friends, play mini-games, compete in tournaments and explore dedicated game spaces. Sensational Controller The Dualshock 3 wireless controller included with The PlayStation 3 120GB system provides The most intuitive game play experience, with pressure sensors in each action button and The inclusion of The highly sensitive Sixaxis motion sensing technology. Each hit, crash and explosion is more realistic when The user feels The rumble right in The palm of their hand. It can even detect natural movements for real-time and high precision interactive play, acting as a natural extension of The user’s body. Dualshock 3 utilizes Bluetooth technology for wireless game play and The controller’s detachable USB cable to seamlessly and automatically charge The controller when connected to The PlayStation 3. By integrating all of these features into The popular PlayStation controller design, The Dualshock 3 further enhances The advanced gameplay experience only available on The PlayStation 3 system. Synch with Your Other Sony HDMI Devices The PlayStation 3 120GB system features HDMI + Bravia Synch functionality. Bravia Synch allows connectivity between Sony HDMI products, without having to utilize multiple remote controls. This means that with The push of one button users can control compliant Sony devices connected to your PS3 via HDMI cable. What's in The Box: New slimmer and lighter PS3 system with a 120 GB HDD, Internet-ready built-in Wi-Fi, 2 USB ports and HDMI + Bravia Synch output for 1080p resolution and connectivity between other Sony HDMI products.Dualshock 3 wireless controller.AC power cord, AV cable and USB cable.Free PlayStation Network membership.System Specifications: CPU Cell Broadband Engine (Cell/B.E.) GPU RSX Sound LPCM 7.1ch, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTs, DTS-HD, AAC Memory 256MB XDR Main RAM, 256MB GDDR3 VRAM HDD 2.5" Serial ATA 120GB Networking Ethernet X1 (10BASE-T,100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T) IEEE 802.11 b/g Included Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR) Included Controller Dualshock 3 wireless controller included AV Output Resolution 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i (for PAL 576p, 576i) HDMI OUT + Bravia Synch 1 AV MULTI OUT 1 DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL) 1 BD/DVD/CD Drive (Read Only) Maximum Read Speed BD 2x (BD-ROM) DVD 8x (DVD-ROM) CD 24x (CD-ROM) USB Ports 2 Backwards Compatibility No Dimensions 13.385"(w) x 13.385"(h) x 6.299"(d) Weight Approx. 7.05 lb.

Release date: August 25, 2009


Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 2.56 x 11.4 inches; 10.4 Pounds


Type of item: Video Game


Language: English


Rated: Everyone


Item model number:


Is Discontinued By Manufacturer: Yes


Item Weight: 10.38 pounds


Manufacturer: Sony


Batteries: 1 Lithium Metal batteries required.


Date First Available: July 15, 2009


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • The PS3 Reloaded [a newer model is now available]
UPDATE (November, 2010): Before you decide to buy this model, note that the PlayStation 3 160 GB and for fifty dollars more you can get the PlayStation 3 320 GB . You may also want to consider the PlayStation 3 320GB System with PlayStation Move Bundle ________________________________________ 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 + $100/200 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 $90 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 $10 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 ($70) and rechargeable batteries ($10). 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. $80 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 $30-50 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. Update on PS3 vs Xbox 360 (July 2010) ------------------------------------- Quite a bit has happened since I posted this review and almost all of it was good news from a user's point of view. Microsoft got 'the message' and there is a new, slimmer, quieter Xbox with a larger but still proprietary disc and with built-in Wi-Fi, plus a proprietary Kinect port. Sony, on the other hand, has launched a premium 'pay' service on the PSN featuring Hulu 'plus' and maybe other goodies to be added in the future but the 'free' PSN service is still superior to its 'free' Xbox rival, in my view. So, revisiting the comparisons above, the PS3 still holds the advantage when it comes to Blu-ray and motion-sensitive controllers. The PS3 120GB's drive while smaller is still easily upgradeable while the Xbox is not (my 120GB Slim got its 500GB upgrade within days of purchase at almost no cost given that I was able to reuse the 120GB drive for other purposes). 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 $1 to $20. ________________________________________________ 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. ________________________________________________ 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 $90 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. ________________________________________________ Note 3: HDD UPGRADE If you are on the upgrade path, less than $90 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 $160GB 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. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2009 by Cthulhu
    • This Here PS3 Slim Rocks At This Price Point!
1st off I'd like to thank all the reviewer's on this forum for your reviews. On the whole they were highly informative. No way anyone could read this forum and not come away with more than enough information to make a highly informed buying decision. A. Dent "Aragon" I've gotta give you a gold star in particular for your review. Well done! You covered the key feature and spec differences nicely and I'd like to build on your review, if I may, from a philosophical mindset POV. Some background. I'm a software developer of some years. I grew up with MS. I've been developing with their products since DOS 2.0 :D. I'm an MS boy through and through. pfft, Of course my cell runs Windows Mobile. Ya, Win Mobile has given me fits a time or two, ;), but I doubt I'll ever own a phone that doesn't run Win Mobile. I know exactly who MS is. Back in the day they kinda sucked on more than a couple levels but even then, they were still the best software company in the business. Not only has that not changed in my mind but there's no doubt to me that they are currently better at what they do than they've ever been. Sure, there's any number of SW developers out there working for other companies who are every bit as good as any MS developer out there and oft times better but eh... At this point, there's no other software company in the world even remotely close to where MS is at in terms of maturity and quality. When I look at what Win 7 is coupled with Visual Studio and the .net 3.5 development platform, eh, those 2 things have always been the heart and soul of who MS is and those 2 things are currently rocking it harder than they ever have, no doubts. I've always been a hard core gamer in the PC FPS world. So naturally I've known the xBox and played games on the xBox since it's inception. I'm just saying, I've never owned an xBox. I've known at least 6 peeps with xBoxes. Of those 6, 4 of their boxes failed. Two of them went the RROD route, another had some internal disk failure, and the other had some funky internal connection problem. None of those boxes lasted a year. All of the owners I know went through varying degrees of rig-a-ma-roll trying to get their boxes fixed and/or replaced. The HW issues and the reasons behind the xboxes unreliability are pretty well documented. Because MS decided to farm out manufacturing early on for the xbox they never really had any true quality control over the product they were tossing out to consumers. They never had a handle. They still don't have all that much of a handle now. Given what I know about MS from the SW world and the fact that they are brand new to the HW biz ...eh, to this day I'm not feeling compelled to pick up an xbox. And no, it's not hardly about money. To be fair, I am an FPS kinda guy. There's still never been a console + controller + game created that affords me the precision and control in the FPS genre that WASD on a keyboard and a mouse does. I'm still waiting for one? As I speak I think everyone who owns an xbox today or buys an xbox tomorrow is STILL an early adopter. As it happens I do have more than a passing familiarity with that dynamic. I've dealt and deal with MS product continually every single day. Like I'm saying, I know who MS is. I know how much research and dev went into the xbox. Speaking strictly within the framework of the FPS gaming genre, I think the xbox is currently the best console platform out there. As well it should be. And it starts with the box and the controller. While the xbox was not designed specifically for Halo, the thinking behind the box, gpu, and the controller were absolutely designed to optimize any and every FPS gaming experience created for the xbox platform. Again, who can argue with that strategy? In the video game industry, what's the best selling genre? I truly believe MS has the right idea about the console platform in terms of the idea of the overall gaming experience. Also, no doubt to me that various XBL$ issues aside, the XBL platform is superior to the PSN platform as I post. From MS's inception they've always been many things but fundamentally stupid and obstinate has never really been their hallmark. At least not for long. MS is a whole lot like the Borg. If you've got half a clue about anything they will consume your uniqueness and add it to their own. The above said I think the xbox 360 controller currently implements a design that exploits the FPS genre best. To also be fair to the PS platform, from the very beginning the PS controller in all it's incarnations was never designed to exploit any specific gaming genre. The PS controller has always been designed to cast a much broader net across gaming genre's. So the question remains, given the fact that I am and will always be an MS boy, why is it I've never ever owned an xbox? Why was my very 1st console purchase evar this slimboy PS3? Heheh, it's really a no brainier for me. This PS3 is absolutely THE best media center on the market today. Nothing else comes close to the PS3 at this price point given what it can do. I've already got a PC for serious gaming. That said I'm about to explore the latest exclusive PS3 gaming titles to eval where the state of the art is really at. Seriously, the xbox comes closest for about an initial 50-150+ but even then the xbox can't output any media in any format at 1080p. See, for me? That right there is a deal breaker. MS can KMA right now. The xbox is not there yet. I think MS might still be butt hurt to this day behind choosing the wrong side in the HD war. Whatever? Until they ship with Blu-Ray, built in WiFi at a competitive price, AND they can deliver a reliable and quality product they're dead to me in this market segment. :) UPDATE: I'm still completely in love with this console and what it brings to the table. I think it's definitely the best console on the market at it's current price point. Once again... Pros: 1) Fricken Blu-Ray! Anyone with a quality 1080p TV understands exactly what I'm talking about. There are Blu-Ray players out there at this price point that only do that. And none of them are exactly superior. 2) Fricken integrated WiFi! Pardon me but I can't understand how anyone with a wireless router could not have a deep and abiding appreciation for that extremely salient point. Full on streaming capabilities out of the box. Hello? 3) Awesome gaming platform! I think it's every bit as good and viable as the xBox platform. Both platforms have their strengths and weaknesses. Both platforms have their signature series that are arguably best of breed. I think the Halo series is prolly the best FPS series created for a console. PS3 has the Metal Gear Solid and God Of War series which are arguably both best of breed within their genres. This brings me around to cross platform games. Specifically, cross platform games that target the HW strength's of a given platform. Take a game like Ninja Gaiden II for the xBox and sigma 2 for the this slim boy. In the end, I think sigma 2 version provides a better overall gaming experience for the following reasons. a) Again, it's a fricken 1080p game! b) Because it was released on the xb platform 1st, Tecmo had the op to learn from their mistakes. At certain times they pushed to many polygons in the xb version and you could experience moderate to severe frame rate drops at highly inopportune times. I think the fighting platform on the slim boy has a more fluid feel. I know part of that is because generally speaking you face fewer enemies in sigma 2 but I think that's as it should be. What's the point in throwing more enemies at a gamer than the HW can effectively handle? Here's my point. Given the fact that the xBox is not shipping with Blu-Ray and WiFi, it comes down to the gaming platform and it's reliability, right? I'm just saying I don't see how anyone could compare the two platforms and declare the xBox the winner. What would that be based on? I mean Halo is a pretty cool game and tons of fun but so what? For me? A game like Halo could never tip the scales when it comes to buying a console. From my perspective a bitchen gaming title or 2 is not enough. There's plenty different bitchen arse games for the PS3. I think that in terms of most bang for your buck this PS3 slim boy rules right now. Don't get me wrong. I'm an MS fan boi through and through. Ex: I've got what was a top of the line cell 2 years ago that runs win mobile 6 that I would relly like to upgrade right now. The user interface is pretty clunky by today's standards but I'm not gonna upgrade right now for 2 reasons. 1) The cell hw still supports the HSDPA 7.2 protocol. To the best of my knowledge there are still no phones available in the US that support the latest 14.0 protocol. 2) I know the next gen cells are coming out around early September. They'll be sporting the new win 7 mobile OS (think zune) with capacitive resistance touchscreens (think iPhone) and they'll be supporting HSDPA 14.0 protocol in upgradeable firmware. So I wait. I wait because I am an MS fanboi and on a certain indirect level they kinda own me. When I think about it, it's possible I might not be making the money I do if not for their arses. I wait because based on what I understand about what's in the pipeline, I expect the win 7 cells to rock the house. I wait because 9 of 10 times I will always choose and trust in MS. I got zero problems being an early adopter in the cell arena because MS is doing what they do best and they do not have a heavy hand in the hw. In the end the iPhone OS is not a preemptive multitasking OS and it won't be in the near future. Nor is the droid OS. And no phones running those operating systems currently support HSDPA 7.2 let alone the latest 14.0 standard. I realize I've digressed a bit but I did it for a reason. I'm highly disappointed with MS within the console arena right now. The PS3 slim boy 120 at it's current price point, I think, is a completely superior product to the xBox. Hands down. Any way you wanna look at it you get far more for your money with the PS3. Until MS starts shipping consoles with Blu-Ray and WiFi around the same price point I personally don't even see them as real competition to the PS3. If they do ever get there I will snatch an xBox up right pronto like. And it's the Blu-Ray standard that might hold the xBox back indefinitely. Like I'm saying, they're definitely still smarting behind choosing the wrong side in the HD media battle. Whilst MS is fairly accustomed to licensing tech from various vendors, I'm pretty sure licensing Blu-Ray from Sony under these circumstances is not exactly how they're thinking. Not saying it'll never happen. Just saying MS doesn't usually look to bust out the knee pads under these circumstances. So where does that leave the xBox? The way I see it MS has 3 options. 1) Bust with the pads for Sony. 2) Remain incompatible with Blu-Ray. Not seeing this option as a sales booster, per se. 3) Find and align themselves with a company who's got an idea about a media format that eclipses Blu-Ray by a reasonable measure. Pretty hard to see 3 happening within the next 5 years. 2 is like meh? 2 is tantamount to anathema for the xBox. 1 is what they should do in the near term. If MS can ship a box that supports Blu-Ray with integrated WiFi around the same price point as the PS3, regardless of the quality of the product they're shipping, there's no doubt that would boost their sales immeasurably. Cons: XBL blows doors on the PSN. Pretty much no comparison. Tons of integration on XBL that the PSN can't be bothered with. The PS3 browser is weak to be sure. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2010 by steely

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