We wanted a Blu-Ray DVD player and decided to go with the PS3 since it would play both the Blu-Rays and games. Great choice! Installation was very easy. My only gripe is that, to get the full hi-def picture, you need an HDMI cable. They only provided a component cable which gives standard definition. So I made a run to Radio Shack, got the cable, and the system was up and running very quickly. The PS3 is easy to use: just slide the DVD into the slot and you're watching a movie in HD. Or slide a game into the slot and you're slaying dragons. Some of the games available have unbelievable graphics. At the moment, there aren't as many games as there are for, say, the Xbox or PS2, but that will change. We really like the PS3 and give it two thumbs up.

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First, I will commit blasphemy by opening with this statement:

I, like a growing number of people, did not by the PS3 as a gaming system - games are what you do with a PS3 if you can't find anything better to do with it (or your time). As a serious PC gamer and simulation pilot, I don't stoop to wasting my money on kiddie game consoles.

(Before you demonstrate your ability to whip up a flaming response replete with laughable ignorance, read the rest of this review and THEN write your flaming response replete with laughable ignorance).

First of all, yes, I am a gamer. But I bought the PS3 specifically as a do-it-all "hub" for my attempted "perfectly engineered" home theater. It's the only piece of hardware on the market that can do what it does (even moreso if any gaming is involved). I personally think it excels at this FAR better than as a "game" system. Sony might not be aware of this, but the cart is now before the horse - the PS3 is now far more of an entertainment system than a game system, and a lot of us out here are aware of it. Sony R&D, please pay attention to this next sentence: I would have bought the PS3 if gaming functionality were completely removed. I'll elaborate mroe in a moment.

As for setup of the PS3, setup was "high school drop-out" easy - it comes with a quick setup guide that is sufficiently dumbed down for the lowest common denominator. I had it set up last night in about 30 minutes, which included a whole new operating system update (download/reboot), wireless config and Windows Media Server streaming. I'm still trying to figure out why this unit didn't come with the latest updates installed on it - after all, it's a brand new "slim" PS3. I'll throw Sony a bone and assume that the update is even newer than the PS3 itself.

Fit and finish are excellent, though the overall texture is a bit too rough and jagged, which cheapens the look a bit. Had this been a little more smooth and refined, it would look even better than it already does. Thankfully, it's still refined enough to where it doesn't scream "kiddie toy" like the Xbox and Wii. It's a nice, serious-looking black piece of hardware that will be taken seriously when added to your home theater system (as the central component). Additionally, the visible lights and indicators are small and use the same standard colors as any other piece of HT hardware. No big glowing green circles or "teenager" branding, though the big giant "PS3" letters deeply and jaggedly stamped on the top are yet another minor "cheapener". At least the lettering is black and hides fairly well.

Before setting up the PS3, I enabled the wireless media streaming capabilities on my Win7 box downstairs. Right after wireless setup on the PS3 for my professional home network (domains, proxy servers, etc), the PS3 grabbed my Win7 Media Server perfectly - it had already added it to the appropriate media server menus before I even went looking for it. I immediately punched into the menus and started watching TV shows, movies and family picrtures from my Win7 box downstairs - with no "loading" wait time whatsoever. Well done, Sony. Incredibly well done....

...But then again, Sony, you really screwed up as well. After creating my Playstation Network logon account, it now will not log on to the PlayStation Network at all and gets the same error code every time - even though every other wireless/internet function continues to work great. So I looked up the PlayStation Network logon error code and found out that half the planet is experiencing the same problem. Sony's got a real problem here. So as far as any online gaming I may ever decide to stoop to, I'm screwed along with millions of others who are waiting for Sony to fix the PlayStation Network logon problem. I can't believe the major selling point of this product is what's wrong with it - free online gaming that doesn't work. Google "PlayStation Network logon error codes" to see what you're in for. What's enfuriating about this is that the rest of the PS3's online functions, such as updates, web browser, etc. all continue to function correctly. It's only the PS3's PlayStation Network online gaming functionality that's all buggy as hell.

Oh well, at least now my downstairs Win7 workstation, which is always on, is now also a Windows Media Server box that is extended to my PS3 and acts as my own personal "zero wait" NetFlix server - only with GOOD movies (and music) instead of NextFlix's "15,000 titles but only 300 worth watching". I bought it as basically an HT entertainment hub that brings my Windows Media Center, NetFlix, Blu-Ray, Music, family pictures, family movies, etc all together through one single black box onto my 52" Samsung LCD.

There's a lot of people out there who bought a PS3 for reasons that have nothing to do with gaming.

Pay attention: I've aged rapidly by wasting enough of my life with PC gaming, I don't need an inferior gaming platform (any flavor of console) to make it worse. Think about this carefully. My main point is how much life I've burned on gaming and the virtually zero return I've got out of it.

"WHAT?!? Not using a PS3 for gaming?!?"

Ok, I better explain myself. Soapbox time. You console gamers aren't gonna like this:

Since I'm a total gaming snob (PC gaming is vastly superior to console gaming), I will probably never get any games for this PS3. I know there are many of you out there that are incredulous to this statement, so I'll ram this down your throats as brutally as I can:

I absolutely hate those cheap little kiddie toy controllers that lack half the buttons needed to play any serious game. And half of your fingers are taken out of play just to hold the controller in the first place, a problem computer keyboard users aren't crippled with. Aiming and moving with a mouse is vastly superior to the clunky, fumbling movements of thumb controllers on a wimpy gamepad. And I stress the following with all the ass I can throw into it: as a PS3 gamer, I'd get slaughtered online if I played against anyone with a PC, which is why the makers of PC and console games don't let those two crowds meet together online - it would spell doom for future console (and game) sales. Especially when you put the console and PC versions of the same game side-by-side and see how they look, play, sound and feel. No contest, PC wins hands down. When I game, I do it right - no kiddie toys or consoles that have me reinvesting in a whole new crop of games whenever a new console is released. Whatta joke. How much money have you thrown away on what eventually become obsolete games because of obsolete consoles? PC gamers don't suffer this problem - I can still play every PC game I've ever owned (including my old DOS games) on the latest PCs and operating systems. Zero obsolescence, excellent backward compatibility, endlessly upgradeable, money well spent. Oh, and within the first 3 months of a new game console being released (pick a company), PC technology has already passed it by - if it wasn't already technologically outdated by the time it made it to the Toys-R-Us shelves in the first place. And after buying a console, you get to drool for the next 3-5 years while the PC gaming world advances in technology and enjoys games your console will never be able to play without the game being seriously dumbed down and stripped of complexity and features. Ok, I believe I've skewered this issue enough - I'll climb down off the soapbox now.

Getting back on track, the only thing I immediately didn't like about the PS3 is that horrible "I want to be a cell phone" interface. For basic functions, such as playing games or movies, you have to drill down in the "look quick before it disappears" menu system to get to it. This has to be one of the worst interfaces I've ever seen. WAY too much in the "overly-animated" department. But then again, the target market for the PS3 are the easily dazzled, twitter-addicted, under-30 crowd with way too much time on their hands, so I suppose it makes sense. But as a computer systems engineer, I'm typically used to well-organized things that make sense, not interfaces that have been dumbed down to the lowest common denominator and then jazzed back up with a bunch of overly-animated ghost menus. "Less is more" should have been used here (to be taken seriously, anyway). Oh well, the interface isn't a total loss - it does actually work just fine, and can still be learned and navigated quickly and easily. Even though I hope downloadable interface alternatives exist, Joe Sixpack will probably rate the stock interface as "awesome".

In general, the PS3 is a great piece of hardware as the most well-rounded, do-it-all home entertainment hub on the market - and by a longshot. 1080p resolution and Blu-Ray alone move it to the top of the pile (hear that Xbox?), it provides online streaming from virtually every possible source in all major popular codecs, built-in Blu-Ray, and even a physical cosmetic appearance that make it look like a serious piece of home entertainment hardware (or at least the ability to blend in perfectly with the rest of your serious home entertainment hardware).

Oh, and I hear it does games pretty good I guess, the specs alone means it does them better than any other console. But again, this is a feature I personally regard as superfluous to my needs. If you think my review is incomplete because I'm not including a game review, then here it is - no matter how good a console gaming system this may be, and no matter how much better this system is than the wimpy Xbox or Wii: any modern PC with a half-assed graphics card will always be able to kick its ass in gaming by way of processor power, RAM, storage, controllability, actual simulations instead of arcade-style games, OS choices, gameplay, online capabilities, streaming capabilities, practicality, longevity, return on investment, and not being cripled by inadequate "kiddie-toy" hand controllers. Period. In short, if you already have a modern PC and you bought a PS3 for gaming, then you have foolishly wasted your money on the PS3. It astounds me that they even attempt to release PC games for consoles, they are nearly unplayable. There's my gaming review of the PS3.

Oh, and a final comment on all this hype about Blu-Ray - Yeah, the PS3 does BR and it's cool. VERY cool, as far as game consoles go (even though there's really only 2 other competitors). But just watch, Blu-Ray is gonna be dead in less than 5 years (VHS lasted 20, DVD really only lasted just over 10). Soon, everything will be downloaded, stored and streamed - moves, software and games. Everything. Discs are just so old and inconvenient at this point. It's getting to the point that if I can't watch it by bringing it up on a menu, and if I have to insert some type of physical media, then it's "quaint" and old fashioned. However, I do hope that DVD lasts a lot longer, because there's one whole ton of cars out there with built-in DVD entertainment systems - like the one I just recently bought. Grrr...

Ok, so the big burning question for the serious HT buffs out there is : Why did I get a PS3 to act as the hub of my home entertainment system instead of doing it right and going with a full Windows 7 Media Server for my HT? The answer is easy - with a Win7 workstation that's already always on downstairs anyways, the PS3 can link into it for content, which increases the value of both my PC and the PS3. Additionally, the PS3 is smaller, fits better, starts up faster, uses less power than yet another PC, and if I get really super bored, I can let the kids bribe me into letting them play games on it if their grades are good enough and if the weather is keeping them from living a normal life by playing outside in the sunlight with the dwindling number of children who have similar-minded parents.

Is there something I really hate aboput the PS3? Yes - Sony cranked it our with Wireless-G instead of Wireless-N, which has been out for years now. What were they thinking? This means being limited to pulling down crappy low bandwidth movies wirelessly instead of HD movies from my media server. This virtually forces me to run CAT6 cable if I want to watch my HD movie files, which doesn't make me happy at all. Oh well, at least I have that to fall back on.

Bottom line: It's quite obvious that the PS3 is the superior all-around home entertainment bundle, and as priced, is actually less than 1/3 of what you'd pay if you bought individual components and services to equal the PS3. But it's not perfect, it has some major bugs and design flaws that should have been thought out better and need to be solved.

And for you gamers - yes, everyone says it plays games much gooder than the HexBox or WeeWee.

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I recently purchased the Sony Playstation 3 Slim 250 GB Console. First, Amazon is THE best and it arrived safely and much faster than I had expected. Immediately I went to work on attaining the MUST HAVES for Playstation 3 on my budget:

1 HDMI Cable (buy it off Amazon, it's only $3 + $2 shipping!)

1 Extra Sony PS3 Siaxis Controller (Buy this off Amazon as well, you can get a free game with the controller!)

1 or more Bluray movies (bought Let the Right One In and Interview with the Vampire)

1 or more games (I bought Soul Calibur IV and Afro Samurai (BOTH EXCELLENT w/ High Replay Value!)

Now, for the Playstation 3 Ratings:

Entertainment Value: 5/5. Hands-down, the Sony Playstation 3 is the best bang-for-the-buck in any category! Bluray movies are absolutely stunning visually and audio-wise. The only downfall to Bluray is the high cost per disc in retail stores (I buy my movies preowned OR offline to sidestep this annoyance). The games and features are so entertaining and the Playstation 3 has more than its' fair share of excellent titles! If you are like me, there is a smorgasboard of lower-priced titles (which are excellent) to be had. I am soon buying a router to take full advantage of the FREE online play Sony offers!

Price Value: 5/5. With the cost of a Bluray player averaging $200 (some are cheaper, some are more, I know this), the Ps3 is a clearly good purchase. Not only can you watch Bluray movies, but you can upload movies, music, and more directly to the PS3 via a USB jumpdrive! Excellent value for the money.

Other notes: The Sony PS3 is a good purchase if you want to watch Bluray and DVD Movies, listen to music with excellent sound quality, play some of the best games out there and get into free online gameplay (unlike 360). My only gripe is that it is not backwards compatible with Playstation 2 games. This is pretty minor to me, however, because the PS3 games are so much deeper and better graphically that I don't really have the "urge" to jump back to Ps2 games.

Buy a Sony PS3 (either 120 or 250, but I recommend the 250 GB). You will NOT be disappointed!!!

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I received it on the day I requested. Everything was in great shape. Have no problems with it. Overall, the PS3 was a great buy.

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The PS3 is very reliable and the best system i had by far. It is far better than the 360. Graphics are amazing once again DO NOT BUY 360!!!!

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Very happy with the product and the versatility. I paid for expedited shipping and it still went UPS Ground and received it in 5 days. Since availability was down at all the retail in my area I paid $100.00 more for it. Over all product is great and cost was high.

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This is simply the best console available right now. 1080p Resolution, runs all my blu ray movies at fast speeds with no lag. Has tons of hard drive space for my movies and photos as well as downloaded content from the playstation store. Free online along with some of the best gaming titles of the year. 2010 is going to be the year for PS3 with games like MAG, Gran Turismo 5, and God of War III going exclusive, there's no reason not to own one!

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this system is fantastic fast tons of storage space for music game saves, pics whatever great all around system .

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So far everything is good. Purchased the PS3 for my son, 11/08/2009, has not one negative response from my son.

Also, delivery was great, received within two days.

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I am not your typical gamer - I am a working professional that rarely gets time to play (btween work, famly and chores, there's precious little time left). That said, in my 20s, I was an avid gamer - was a rock-star DOOM champ, played Civilization, Age of Empires, Dune, etc.

I recently wanted to get back into gaming, mostly because I felt like I missed that fun - and after much research, got the PS3. The only other serious contender was XBox - but I am a sucker for 1080 and Blu-Ray, so that sealed the deal.

Here is my reaction - the PS3 console ROCKS!!! It'll blow your mind away. I am a HUGE fan of FPS (First Person Shooter) games - I got Jurassic Park, and Call of Duty - MW2. It is amazing - it's quite something else. The graphics, audio and game-play are outstanding. Playing these games on the PS3 is like being in a hi-Def movie and having the movie adapt around you.

For #350, this is an amazing and incredible piece of technology - you get a computer and console, a blue-ray player, a streaming Netflix movie set-top box, and a 250 GB hard drive, all in one tiny box. Stunning!

I highly recommend it - even if you're not a gamer. You'll be hooked!

On the minor negative side, what would have made this unit totally perfect would have been a regular IR /RF remote control capability that could then be programmed into my universal remote. Right now all they offer is a wireless Dual Shock 3 controller that uses bluetooth.

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Hi there,

Let me give you some background:

I purchased a PS3 60 GB model at launch back in November 2006. I have loved everything about it ever since. I even upgraded the hard drive to a 250 GB hard drive about a year and a half ago.

Why did I choose to purchase this new, slim, 250 GB model?

Honestly, it's a great deal for what you get. It's cooler (temperature wise), more energy efficient, and it takes up MUCH less space than my previous model. (Not to mention the much nicer, matte black finish as opposed to the older piano black finish which is a scratch/fingerprint magnet.)

Thinking about the new 120 GB vs. this 250 GB model? Maybe this will help:

Originally, I had planned to buy the 120 GB model and upgrade to a 250 GB or 320 GB hard drive myself. However, at the $349.99 price point, there's no need to perform the upgrade myself. For a quality Western Digital or Seagate 250 GB hard drive, you'll be spending anywhere from $50 to $70 plus shipping and/or tax, and for a 320 GB hard drive you'll be spending upwards of $75. Honestly, there really isn't any reason for that with this model. Why go through the hassle when Sony offers a great package at the perfect price point?

I for one am happy with my purchase which I received today from Amazon and am happily inagurating it with the GI Joe: Rise of Cobra blu-ray. For almost anyone that I can think of, the 250 GB hard drive will be more than enough space. However, should the need arise in a year or two (or three), a 500 GB hard drive will be dirt cheap and easy enough to install.

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i bought this ps3 because my original 60 gig ps3 broke. so far i am loving this ps3 and no probloms yet. but i just have to get used to the fact that i can't play my ps2 or ps1 games on the ps3 anymore.

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I bought a ps3 60 gb on ebay 1 1/2 yrs ago and even though it's a little loud and overheats sometimes, it's still chugging along. I bought it on ebay because they were discontinued, but, it was the only backwards compatible model.

11 months ago I bought a 2nd ps3 so that my husband and I could play online together. This one was bought at Best Buy and was a 160 gb Uncharted bundle. We spent over $1,200 on the system, hdmi cable, remote control for dvd watching, 2nd controller and some games. ONE MONTH later the system started freezing/crashing. Eventually when it was happening several times a day, I called Sony and I had to send in my brand new ps3 and they sent me a previously broken and "refurbished" one. It worked for months but is now making noises. I called Sony and they said it sounds like the fan motor is going out. I will now be sending it in for another "refurbished" previously broken unit exchanged.

In the past week I've had FOUR friends' ps3's break. We're calling it the YROD, yellow ring of death. Some freeze up/crash, another two won't read game disc anymore. One friend is about to exchange her defective ps3 for the SIXTH time. So, with my 4 friends plus mine, that's FIVE ps3's being exchanged in one week. I cannot imagine how many are breaking all over the world! I bet the reason the 250's sold out is because of customers' warranties expiring and they bought new ones. My friends and I have been discussing this onslaught of defective ps3's and it seemed to happen right after the forced update that Sony did to our ps3's. Sounds like a conspiracy theory...surely Sony doesn't download something into our machines that is not compatible, hence we wind up buying new ones and Sony makes a lot more money. Think about it folks. There's just way too many ps3's breaking lately.

SINCE I POSTED THIS, ANOTHER FRIEND'S PS3 HAS BIT THE DUST. YROD. THAT MAKES SIX DEFECTIVE PS3'S IN MY CIRCLE OF PSN FRIENDS. IMAGINE HOW MANY OTHER SYSTEMS ARE BREAKING DOWN.

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Best thing I bought over the holidays. Game quality was excellent and all the other options are awesome.

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Shipped in box with extra padding.

ready to ply when arrived.

Wife mad I wont share!

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