The Playstation 3 is the third home video game console produced by the company, Sony Computer Entertainment.  Unlike prior consoles from the company, the PS3 is not just a video game console. The PS3 is the foundation for the new age complete home theater system. The key features of the console include the gaming system, Blu-ray compatibility, Wi-Fi, and surround sound. It is also possible to use the Playstation 3 to surf the web, download games, view and upload pictures and videos.

The Playstation 3 has an incredible gaming console. This is by far superior to anything else on the market. The wide range of games available make this a signature item for Sony. The Playstation 3 has a mass amount of memory and storage built in. The graphics card in the system allow it to be better than previous consoles. The speed of the console is also much faster than the last, which means no more long loading times.

The next important feature about this system is the Blu-ray. There is no longer a need to purchase different items to do individual functions. You do not have to rush out to the store to pay a fortune for the new Blu-Ray Disc players either. The Playstation 3 has Blu-ray built in to the system allowing better quality pictures and gaming. 

Another key benefit of the Playstation 3 is the Wi-Fi. This means no more fifty foot ethernet cable to get an Internet connection for the system. It also means you will not have to run to the other room to look something up online or check emails. Internet connection can be used anywhere that Wi-Fi is available, including those hotel rooms everyone has to do a stay in at some point.

The other essential advantages of the PS3 are surround sound, video and picture compatibility software and HD compatibility. With all of these features built into one system, the Playstation 3 is not only a premium gaming console but a full home theater entertainment hub. It makes it a worthwhile investment for someone who wants to save space and still have the highest quality.

The Playstation 3 is not without it’s faults, either. The newer models now lack full support for Playstation 2 games. Plus, Sony lowered the number of USB ports from 4 down to 2 (We suspect this was to cut down the costs). The PS3 also lacks an infrared port, so, only Bluetooth compatible remotes will work with the system.

Our recommendation is to buy the 80GB model, upgrade the drive to 320GB or larger for around $100. You can buy a cheap external drive case and use the 80GB disk as a backup drive. Get a USB port multiplexer if you want more than 2 USB ports. You can use a USB flash drive to get around the lack memory card interface.

The PS3 has been the flagship of Sony for some time. Despite a few weaknesses, it is definitely a worthwhile product that can bring quality, happiness and fun into any room. It will allow a person to enjoy all the features of a fully equipped home theater at an affordable cost. It will also keep the kids happy when they get home from school.

Features:

• 2.5′ Serial ATA (80GB) Hard Drive

• Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T) IEEE 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi

• Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR)

• Wireless Controller Bluetooth (up to 7)

• Screen size: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p

• HDMI out – (x1 / HDMI)

• Analog: AV MULTI OUT x 1

• Digital audio: DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL) x 1

• Blu-ray/DVD/CD DRIVE “read only” (Plays DVDs and CDs)

• USB 2.0 X 2

• Cell Broadband Engine™ CPU

• Memory – 256MB XDR Main RAM

• Memory – 256MB GDDR3 VRAM

• DUALSHOCK®3 wireless controller

• Free PlayStation®Network membership

• AC power cord

• AV cable

• USB cable

• 80GB PS3™ system is not backwards compatible with PlayStation®2 titles, but does maintain backwards compatibility for some original PlayStation® titles

Cons: No IR support

i agonized for, literally, 2 months as far as whether backwards compatibility (b/c) was really important enough to warrant the $100 price premium between the MGS bundle and the ‘vanilla’ ps3. then, when the new 80gb with the dualshock controller came out, i still was on the fence. i never owned a ps2, but the catalog of ‘kid-friendly’ games for ps2 FAR, FAR exceeds that of the ps3, and i have a 4yr old daughter who loves gaming with her old man, so the idea of b/c was compelling to me. in the end, i took the less expensive route, and used that price difference to justify a 2nd dualshock controller, the blu-ray remote, and a blu-ray movie.

granted, i am a VERY new owner of this system, but wow, i don’t think people realize just how amazing this thing is.

for what i paid, i got:

- arguably the best blu-ray and upconverting dvd player on the market
- a media extender that allows me to stream movies and music from PCs on my home network (in hi-def, dolby digital, hdmi-goodness)
- a REALLY good game system that shows signs of (finally) blossoming over the next year or so, AND offers/encourages user-upgradeable storage (that alone caused me to stop seriously considering the xbox 360 for myself and my family. i HATE proprietary hardware.)
- online access to game demos, SD and HD movies, and TV shows

i very quickly forgot about ever caring about b/c. the ps3, as is, rocks. it’s great that the ‘old’ ones had an extra bell and whistle (the additional usb ports and card reader were nice, but you can get the nyko extender CHEAP and achieve that for your ‘gimped’ ps3). it’s great that a lot of people got in early and get to enjoy b/c with ps2 titles, but honestly, i don’t think i will ever look back or care in the least.

in ONE piece of gear, i have the equivalent of 3 or 4 set-top boxes, at a fraction of the price. i will never, ever complain about not having b/c. maybe i’m the rare ’satisfied customer’ or something, but i’m thrilled with what i got, and i’m thrilled with what it does.

if you’re inclined to do so, it has built-in support to install an alternative operating system (various flavors of Linux). show me another console that can even begin to claim that. sure, you can hack one of the others maybe, but it’s an option, out-of-the-box with the ps3.

i’ve only owned nintendo consoles in the past, and i was an avid pc gamer, but i am so happy with the ps3, i may never look elsewhere again.”