Sony Playstation 3 PS3 Console With 60GB HDD

The PS3, it has a reputation of being too expensive, and not worth the money. but this is all a missconception because what your getting is worth the price tag and is actually cheaper than the rivals price.

Blu Ray - this is the format that PS3 has chosen, and is built into the system so straight out of the box you have a Blu Ray player. PS3's rivals the XBOX 360 alow you to play HDDVD movies but that will cost you an extra £109 - £120 depending on where you buy it and when you purchased it.

Wireless - The network is a promanent feature of the PS3 and as most people know carting a wire all the way to your router can be a pain. no worrys with the PS3 who have the wireless network adapter built into the system. there rivals will charge you an extra £54.99 - £60 for the adapter.

those 2 seperate upgrades bump the price tag of the 360 above the PS3 including back at launch. *FACT* it would cost you about £18 - £30 more for the X-Box 360 Arcade model witha wireless adapter and HDDVD drive than a PS3 premium on Play.com. and bare in mind the Arcade X-box dose not have a hard drive attatched. thats another £50 - 60. the 360 Elite works out at nearly £465 if you buy it now with the extras that ps3 have as standard.

The playstation network is of course free of charge while the rivals have a subscription charge for pretty much the same service. on the PSN you can download Games, Demos, Trailers, Arcade Classics such as Mortal Kombat 2, classic PS1 titles such as wipeout. and not forgetting playing your games online including you PSN compatible ps2 games. you can voice chat and send instant messages to your friends and of course browse the internet.

Media server functions and updates. this allows you to stream music, Videos, and Photos from your PC to your PS3 without wasting your PS3 harddrive space. handy. not only that but with your PSP you can turn your PS3 on from anywhere in the world with a wireless network point and stream the videos music and photos from your ps3 to your psp. the updates allow these features to be added because at launch allot of those features did not exist.

GAMES! not only are we getting some of the best gaming exclusives ever to be made, but Playstation have a back catalouge that is playable on the PS3. Apparently this feature is not perfect but every game i have put into my ps3 from the ps2 and ps1 collection have worked perfectly.
People say the PS3 game collection is small. i say this is normal for a new console, X-Box 360 had no worthy titles untill there second year and PS3 is still a baby with only 8 months to its name. and the titles lined up are looking amazing. Metal Gear 4, Tekken 6, Final Fantasy XIII, Metal Gear ONLINE!, Time Crisis 4, New Wipeouts, motorstorm 2, and of course HOME. these are just a hand ful of exclusives coming out for the PS3. but untill then we have fantastic titles such as WARHAWK to tie us over. and dont forget the many titles that are avalible on the ps3 such as Guitar Hero 3 etc etc.

All in all the PS3 wipes the floor of the compotition, with exclusive games to make your mouth druel.

rumor has it that if you dont have an HDTV you cant enjoy the ps3 in all its glory, this is not true and the graphics are a clear jump forward from the ps2 days. the fact is that yes it is a HD console. but just like the 360 looks great on a normal TV.

over all.
Price 5/5 cheaper than the rivals with same features.
Network 5/5 free and works the same if not better than rivals
Games 4/5 only 1 mark lost because most the great games are not out yet but that was the same in the first year for any console.
Updates 5/5 constantly improving the system with new features.

overall 5/5 because the games are coming.

I have had an xbox 360 since it was first released in fact i have had 4 due to faults. And last month i got the elite because i have to have HDMI its awesome, now i love the elite but let me tell you the difference between the PS3 and the xbox 360 is night and day, the ps3 is simply miles and miles ahead of the xbox. When i first turned the machine on i was expecting a wind tunnel noise like the xbox and the elite is no better at all, but it was quiet as a mouse its shocking how quiet it is. And the on screen menus are perfect and blu-ray is so awesome the whole thing is so fantastic i am in awe of this machine now the price has dropped its the perfect machine. And i am not a sony or ps3 fan boy.

I am basing this review on the machine itself as we all know there has been a seriously slow supply of decent games.

You do get the impression with this console that your money is justifed. I bought mine at launch and as soon as I got it out the box I was happy! The machine has an exclusive look about it with the glossy black finish and looks a hell of a lot better than the 360 (which I have too) as well as being a lot quieter too. Unlike the 360 there is rarely any audible fan noise.

I like the fact that the controllers have their rechargable battery built in, unlike the 360's, even if the charge cable is so short you end up sat right in front of the TV if it gets low during gaming! The built in wireless internet is great too and as long as you have a decent signal it compares well with cabled connections.

The next gen DVD format war still rages and Blu Ray does have a good shot at winning so the built in player may become a great feature but then again it may not! That said developers have already made favourable comments regarding the use of BR discs for games with the increased storage over DVD.

I also like the fact that it is very easy to change the hard drive. Unlike the 360 which uses overpriced 1st party drives, the PS3 uses standard laptop hard drives which are cheaper and easy to get hold of. There are also plenty of quides on the net to talk you through the process of installing.

There are a few niggles but hopefully these will be remedied soon - the controllers that are currently available do not have vibration, but the new dual shock enabled six-axis controllers will be out next year - and the online store is poor. As mentioned the choice of games is still pretty poor with very few top exclusive titles currently on the shelves, but with Uncharted, Metal Gear Solid, FF, Gran Turismo to name a few, there are signs that this is improving. Then there are the cross platform titles such as GTA IV & COD4 which I'm sure will be amazing on both systems.

Owning both the PS3 and the 360 I do think that Microsoft's console is by far the most complete gaming machine but it is also not with out it's flaws (expensive accessories, no built in wireless internet, noisy fan) the awesome line up of games compensates for this. The PS3 is a great piece of technology, but is lacking the library of titles at the moment.

Oh and don't listen to any review that says the 360 is the more powerful machine, it is simply not true. The 360 (like the original Xbox before it) is proving to be a damn sight easier to program for than the PS3. The PS3's superior power is being wasted as developers struggle to harness it. Uncharted will be the first game that goes anywhere near stretching the legs of the PS3. Remember the launch games for the PS2 and compare them to the recent releases on that platform - developers get better with time!

I must start by saying that I have all 3 next-gen consoles and like all for different reasons, but I am not a Sony or Microsoft "fanboy".

The PS3 is a superb machine and the new lower price makes it a must have for anyone with a HD tv. The Blu Ray player is easily the best value on the market and films look and sound amazing. As a games console though the 360 has the edge currently just due to the large number of exclusive games that are available. This is not a criticism of the PS3 though, it is the same with all consoles in there first year (I remember thinking the same about my 360 18 months ago and the Wii is only staring to get its decent exclusives!).

The games that are out are a bit of a mixed bag so I would recommend anyone to look at the reviews. The online is ok but Xbox live is better for now. I do think this may well change when home is released next year. Play tv (the ability to record tv on your hard-drive) comes to PS3 semi soon too which is a great idea for people like me who do not have Sky plus.

The feel of the console is fantastic, it feels expensive. For example the 360 is very loud when running (and I now have the Elite model) wheras the PS3 is quieter than my DVD player! It is also very reliable, I have never had a game/movie crash and none of my friends have had issues with theres. Wheras I have had 3 360s as they break and 90% of my friends have had repairs(I even have 1 friend who keeps a 2nd 360 for when 1 is being mended!)

Overall it is currently not as good as the 360 as just a games console but as an all round home entertainment system it is amazing value. I am so happy with mine and the girlfriend loves the movies on it too!! The games will also come in time, I think at the moment the 360 has the edge but in a year I doubt it.

If 2007 the Wii is the must have and 2006 the 360, then 2008 will be the PS3's year!

What I find amazing with this console is that out of the box it does so much for the price.

-Blu Ray Player
These alone are relatively expensive still and the PS3 does this and plays dvds, audio and most importantly games!

-Free Online Gaming
Which is a big plus, Sony launch HOME later this year which is kind of a similar online meeting place bit like facebook. (xbox360 live costs an annual subscription)!

Sony also release regular updates to the firmware with several big improvements in the pipeline.

-True HD Gaming upto 1080p
Supports games all the way upto the stunning 1080p resolution. Really looks crisp at this resolution on a nice TV.

**Only downside is that it doesnt come with an HDMI cable in the box.**

-Wireless
Built in wireless to ensure you dont need a long network cable or be camped next to the modem!

-Interchangable HDD
Although I personally feel it doesnt need changing 40gb and 60gb are more than enough. Sony even have a guide in the PS3 Manual, and changing this doesnt void your PS3 warranty either.

This console really is good value for money. Now is the time to buy one with big titles starting to land on the PS3. The Future looks good for the PS3!