Sony PlayStation 3 40GB

Own two, would not trade it for the world. Top notch multimedia player.

Love the Ps3

People need to consider the PS3 as not just a games console (in which regard the Xbox360 is identical and cheaper) but a fully fledged media center.

I have owned a PS3 40gig for nine months and have expanded it with PlayTV and a 320gig HDD, all-in cost of around £400. (I should also say it is connected to a 50" 1080p HDTV, as when run on a SDTV there is a significant loss in value of the system due to the reduced resolution).

PlayTV (for around £60) converts the console into a PVR comparable to stand-alone systems in the £800 to £1000 price range. (See reviews by "The Gadget Show" of PVRs). It is a 2 ch freeview decoder, which upscales, and has a weeks EPG from which it is a doddle to "TIVO/Sky+" your weeks viewing. Coupled with the upgraded HDD I can record and store over 100 hrs of television, which can then be exported to the XMB (cross media bar - basically the OS) and then any other media storage device. One down side is that this is (to the best of my knowledge) a UK specific add-on.

One much commented upon feature of the PS3 is the BluRay player. Having a HDTV, this is a feature I make a lot of use of (through only hiring BluRay movies, not DVDs) and am thoroughly impressed with. The picture quality is superb, although not quite the step up from DVD that DVD was from VHS. It is the only BD player I have used so can not compare it to stand alone players on the market but friends say it is as good as any out there. It also plays and upscales DVDs and again, the picture quality is superb.

Also, thanks to the larger HDD I can store my 450+ music album collection on the system, accessible from the XMB. I have my PS3 connected to an A/V receiver which sorts and sends any sounds from the PS3 (be that mono, stereo, Dolby 5.1, DTS 6.1, TrueHD 7.1, etc) to the 7 speakers set up around the living room. This makes the PS3 my home HiFi. And of course it can play CDs, and rip them to MP3, AAC or ATRAC, all with a good range of user determined bit rates.

The PS3 is internet enabled and I have had no problems with connectivity, either with a LAN line or WiFi (my usual connection). The web browser is OK, but could be a bit faster but is certainly adequate.

PSN (Play Station Network) and the PS Store all have been fine, demos etc download pretty quickly with no problems and the games I play online (COD4, Resistance: Fall Of Man) are pretty lag-free. The online service is free and my Xbox owning friends say it is no better or worse than XBL.

As for the games, other than saying that there are already more games out, both multiplatform and PS3 exclusive than I've got time to play, I'll leave you to read the many other reviews which concentrate on that aspect of the system. Sony have recently introduced the Trophy system with is to all intents identical to Xbox's Achievements system. This, I believe, was in response to customer demand and should not be criticized as "a rip off". It certainly got me playing GTA IV again!

The PS3 has robust social networking features allowing users to chat both verbally and in written form with friends, and has just introduced a Second Life style playing area called Home, although these features are not for me.

Hardware wise, many say the 60gig model, with its PS2 backward compactability, SD slots and 4 rather than 2 USB slots is better specified, but it does use slightly older chip technology and has louder fans. That said, both are pretty quite.

One final point for the more altruistic of you. Sony is assisting Stanford University with their distributed computing project call Folding At Home, which allows PS3 users to help find a cure for many diseases such as Alzheimer's, CJD (mad cow) and Huntington's but running protein modelling software on the PS3 while you're ot using it. A very worth while cause which i set off running while at work.

To conclude, yeah I'm pretty pleased with the PS3. Whatever media based entertainment I'm enjoying (games, film, music, TV, web browsing) the PS3 will be powering it. If you have a use for all the additional features the PS3 has over the Xbox360 then the PS3 is an absolute bargain. If you only ever play games on a small SDTV then its probably not for you.

I love my ps3 compared to the shiotbox360. that thing I have had to return four times in about 14 months cuz of the RROD. my opinion, they rushed it out b4 getting kinks out of it. My PS3, which I have played EVERYDAY since release date, Nov.17th '06 for at least 2hr a day. sometimes 4-8hr on wkends. and this thing HAS NOT failed me yet. Granted, the price was high when it first came out, I paid $900 for everything: COD3, Resis: FoM, xtra contr, warranty and cables. I have it running on my 48in HDTV and played Bioshock demo other night and flipped AMAZING graphics. Sony gets an A+ for this product. Also, games are starting to come out now, have KZ2, Resis 2, COD5, Far Cry 2, Bioshock on reserve. I own COD4, Resis, MLB07, BiA:Hell's Highway, GTA and play all of them. mainly cod4. BIA is now getting me hooked. Anyway, this thing is SOOOO reliable its sick comparing it to the S-box360. I am not a fanboy of either, but the ps3 is reliable way to go. Their machine ROCKS. PS4 will have the same Cell Proc, only this time using all 8 cores instead of the 6 running on the ps3. I sure updated RAM and Graphics card too. We will see how it all folds out by 2012-2013 if not a little sooner.

Best BluRay value for the amount. I have the 60 gig and enjoy playing God Of War on my PS3. I rated the 40 gig as average because Sony should have never abandoned Backwards Compapatbility.

i've had mine for a least six months and I love it plays movies avi's and ps2 games.

Basically, the PS3 offers good quality for the price you pay. It comes standard equipped with everything you need (wifi, HDD, rechargeable controller) except for an HDMI cable.

This is basically the best blu-ray player on the market, always up to date meaning great compatibility. Playback of encodes is also the best for a console currently on the market.

Gaming-wise it was a slow start but it's starting to pick up steam now, even in the JRPG department with games like Cross Edge, Trusty Bell and the free online JRPG Angle Love Online.

The only thing I wasn't happy about is the lack of games in the first year but that situation has been adressed.

Basically your just buying a Blu-Ray player in my opinion. Games are just as good and there's more on the Xbox 360 for a lower price. Sony just doesn't have it this generation the system was priced to high and it hasn't caught on except of course in japan. I really want to like my ps3 and I do for Blu-Ray but for gaming there's just nothing that I don't already have on the Xbox with excellent online play, I want to see those cool 3rd party games like they used to have but not many people want to make games for a system when its hard to develop for and the sales aren't that good.

Only good for streaming movies to my HDTV, other than that I wouldn't want it as it doesn't have many games and the online sucks!

The PS3 is a great system, has nice graphics, a modest library of games and the price is dropping making it much affordable. Much more importantly comes with a Blue Ray and DVD player. Also the system comes with free online play and wireless networking capabilities. Many have been undermining the PS3, but come on XBOX 360 elite and premium used to cost 399 at beginning and people got nothing not even free online gaming...

I have the original 60Gb PS3 & the original 20Gb Xbox360. I never thought I'd play PS2 games for my PS3 but to be honest, the PS3 game library is nothing compared to the Xbox360 game library. My girlfriend and I enjoy playing the PS2 games that are available. They're still good games with great gameplay and decent graphics. The blu-ray aspect is great & wish that Microsoft would adopt blu-ray as well. If you're a fan of Sony, have PS2 games already, and like blu-ray movies then the PS3 is a great buy. But if you want the best buy available for high definition gaming then I'd go with Microsoft's Xbox360. It's true, you can't install Windows XP or Linux on an Xbox360 like you can for Sony's PS3. I, for one, already have a PC, but the Xbox 360 has many options going for it that Sony only dreams of. The thing now is that Sony is tired of dreaming and have recently begun adding those same Xbox360 features to the PS3 (downloadable movies, better online capabilities, rumble, in-game music capabilities, achievements, etc.) I'm sure that soon Sony will include voice chat during any game, movie, or whatever and possibly add some type of instant messenger, TiVo, and better choices of movie downloads, all-of-which the Xbox360 now has. Through Sony and Microsoft's competition, we as consumers get better products. It's too bad that HD DVD died and that Sony's Blu-ray won 'cause now Sony hasn't improved on anything regarding blu-ray. Had HD DVD still be around then we as consumers would definitely have bigger, better, and more options regarding high definition viewing and possibly gaming. As of yesterday, game producers have said that blu-ray really hasn't changed anything like Sony claimed it would in regards to having games on blu-ray. The quality of games still look the same whether on blu-ray or regular DVD9's. By time the games actually do improve, there will be a newer technology better than blu-ray.

As I tried to mention earlier, the Xbox360 is still the better buy even though Sony's PS3 has come down in price. The devices that they're offering now are just "watered" down versions of the original 60Gb and offer a lot less. I enjoy having backwards compatibility 'cause the PS3 game library is still lacking. All the games that are coming out now have been out for the Xbox360 so there's no reason to revisit them. Sony needs more exclusives without Microsoft taking them.

Brilliant product, I just recently purchased it and I loved it. Although I don't have a clue what the HDD is for, I still love it :P

Not bad, sad to say it cant play PS2 games, My ps 2 lense gave up so I bought the PS3

the graphics are amazing for the price. you get a blu-ray player for only £300 and a console with a hardrive and wifi. Certainly the best thing you could buy

to good to be true extreme graphics and excellent game choices loads of stuff to do and play online feature is already great but still cant wait till the 2.40 firmware comes out with in game xmb dont matter if can tplay ps2 if u want to play them and u have them thats just stupid then just go and play them on the old ps2

Next to Microsoft's X-Pox the Play Station has always been miles ahead.

The 40GB is not the best, because it cant play PS2 games, and it only has 2 USB ports. Its a nice console if you have a PS2 also though

I like it its ok

Brilliant! enough said....

I recently purchased the 40GB model. It doesn't have the backwards compatibility (which was a shock), but you don't by a PS3 to play PS2 games in my opionin. So far i'm very impressed with is versitality. I installed windows XP onto it and its bascially my desktop computer right now, with the exception that its attached to a 52 inch DLP :). So now I own a ridiculously over powered PC and a sweet decent console. Hey what more could you ask for? All I know is that the 360 can't do that, and they are windows :P

I dont like how it doesn't have backwards capability, as I have alot of PS2 and PS1 games. Also only having 2 usb ports is a problem, but can be easily overcome with a 4 port usb splitter/hub.

I love my 60g, I love Sony products, but I have to admit the 40g sucks when it comes to features. Even if the price is slightly lower than the 60g when I bought mine, the difference between the 2 isnt worth the price drop. I rather pay out right for a ps3 60g with all featuer than pay less and get a 40g with fewer features.. even though I have a PS2 still up and running right next to my PS3,its nice to play my PS2 games on my PS3 upscaled......

Currently the 2nd best version of the PS3 that has been released in my opinion.

The WIFI has been upgraded slightly, and it has switched to using a 45nm processor rather than the 60nm processors employed by the other PS3's.

There are only two drawbacks to this model (besides the obvious smaller HDD), which are: Only having 2 usb ports, and there is absolutely no backwards compatibility for PS2 games.

the best console since ps2, i payed 450.00 euros