Don't worry FIREWALL, it is very confusing.:yep: It's not helped by the many different types of PS3 available.

I would suggest that, if you can, find a 60gb PS3 that supports backwards compatibility. Of course thats only an issue if you wish to keep playing PS1/PS2 games.

I favour the PS3 over the 360 purely because you get everything in the one package and that package is very easy to use. While the 360 limits you to specially designed MS hardware addons, the PS3 is plug and play on all devices, just like a PC, so you can use a USB HDD from your PC as additional storage, use your USB or wireless Keyboard/Mouse or hook your digicam directly to it. The PS3 recognises everything plugged into it. It makes life a lot easier.

One of my personal favorite features of the PS3 is the Remote Play/Remote Start feature. This means that wherever I am in the world, as long as I have WIFI access, I can switch on my PS3 via my PSP and use any/all content stored in the PS3, games, movies & music alike. Also, as my PS3 is hardwired to my PC, vie router, I can also stream any additional content from my PC over the same remote WIFI connection.:rock:When I'm done, I can remotely switch the PS3 off again.

As to the 'horsepower' of the PS3. It's true that no-one as even come close to tapping the processing power of the PS3. Currently the most demanding game available for the PS3 is Uncharted: Drakes Fortune and this game only used 30% of the available processing power. I think we'll soon see the devs really begin tapping the available power, with titles such as Haze, Killzone 2, Gran Turismo 5 & MGS4 (all exclusive to the PS3). From now to the end of 2008 is the time the titles on the PS3 will really make the console shine.

TIVO for the PS3: There is (available soon) a device called PlayTV which connects directly to your PS3 which will enable you to view & save free-to-air digital channels directly to your PS3 with no DRM limitations. I'll admit that this service might be a little limited within the US, however, here in the UK, we get around 50+ free digital channels, these and more will be available to us.:rock:

If the Wii interaction/motion is your thing. The PS3 also supports this type of interaction through the Sixaxis controller & PSEye. While these titles/content are still in their infancy, there are some awesome titles already available, such as High Velocity Bowling, I can tell you this is great fun, and Eye of Judgment, which is an innovative interactive digital card game.

All this aside, I'll concede that console preference is always down to the individual. Just happens that I'm a Playstation man.

My advise to anyone who want's more info is to check out - http://www.ps3forums.com/ - I'll give you fair warning, it's not Subsim. People over there are quite petulant at times & rude. Also, due to the console nature of the members, the English language seems to be left at the login.:rotfl: However, it is the most active PS3 forum around with many detailed reviews and hardware explanations. As well as a lot of bitching.:lol:

Either way, I'll answer any questions people may have.:up:

Sounds to me like...

If you decide to go with a PS3, buy the cheapest model (aka. smallest HD) and then swap out the HD later if necessary. Are there other features to be aware of between PS3 versions?

Have to admit, I like what I'm hearing about the PS3 plug-n-play compatibility.

Yes, there are other differences between the models, based on the UK models:

IIRC the US has/had 20gb, 40gb, 60gb, 80gb. However, I'm not sure about the features of each except the ones I list below. Also, in the US, is don't know which are currently on sale.

60gb model's features:

-60gb hard drive
- Backward compatibility with Ps2 & Ps1 (hardware or emulaton BC)
- 4 usb ports
- memory card slots (x5)
- 90nm cell chip
- Plays SACD's

Latest 40gb model's features:

-40gb hard drive
- Backward compatibilty with PS1 only (now discontinued on latest batch)
- 2 usb ports
- No memory card slots.
- 65nm cell chip - helps to run cooler and quieter (RUMOR UNCONFIRMED)

There is also a 20gb model (US only I think) which has no HDMI output or WIFI.

Personally, for the intended full fuctionality of the PS3, the 60GB is the only model to go with. Try the stores, ebay/amazon etc, these are still stocked regardless of the latest Sony statments. Just double check with the vendor of the features list.

FYI, the PS3's file storage system uses FAT32 on external drives, so you are limited to a (approx) 4gb max file size. However, with streaming and virtual/real media servers, it's not a problem.;)

EDIT - If your intent is to upgrade the HDD, my 250gb 2.5in SATA 5400 HDD cost me £62.99. Bargin. However, you will be able to get cheaper now.

EDIT EDIT - How could I forget....The PS3 Online Service (aka PSN) is 100% free, so no annual charges.

EDIT EDIT EDIT - Disclaimer time - For christ's sake do not decide to buy a PS3 (or any console for that matter) due to what I have put in this post, I standby what I say but the choice is yours. Get yourself out to the stores and play test one, just make sure your testing a PS3 exclusive game and not a crappy port, failing that try friends/family if they already own one. My brother & sister all owned a 360 until they tried my PS3. ;)

Lololol, Danlisa, you'd make a good PR person for Sony. :rotfl:

Yeah, shut up and buy one.:D

MGS4 is released on June 12th with bundled online play (MGSO).:rock::rock:

I'm looking forward to seeing what PS3 games are going to be like in a few years time. For example, look at say... Red Faction on the PS2, then look at BLACK, see how much the gfx have improved? Uncharted's graphics are awesome, so what the hell are they gonna be like in 4 years??? You can probably tell I don't like 360s. MS don't seem to care that they are so unreliable. You'd have thought that after being released for over a year, they'd have been fixed.

:hmm: Why wait 4 years. It's here now - http://www.autoblog.com/photos/gran-...ogue-2/686853/

BTW, that's a fixed 60fps driving simulator called Gran Turismo 5 - Prologue (aka somewhere between a demo & full game) Hitting your PSN Store soon.:p:rotfl:

Well good news on that front. I got a call today from the hardware store I was in last summer (the warehouse job) and they asked if I'd want to go there this spring and work till late fall. Gonna go sign the contract on Thursday. So, mid-summer, I should have plenty of money to buy me a PS3. :up:

Have to say... My opinion has been swayed more in the favor of a PS3.

For some reason though, the styling of the thing reminds me of Spiderman 3.

In which case, everytime I look at it, I get this image in my head of Tobey Maguire whining and crying. Perhaps this is the real reason why the PS3 sales are lagging?

If there's ever a 4th movie; might as well just start Peter Parker off crying in a skirt.

Good for you mate.:up:

In time for MGS Online pwnage. Ooo, and GT5 online, and........(I'll need to push MrChris to get MGS & GT5 also).

Sony! Where's my sales percentage.:lol:

The PS3 look beautiful in the flesh. It also feels sturdy & very well made. BTW if the Black styling bugs you, pick another colour: I still think the black is best.

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/4579/ps3ov5.jpg

Definetly black. :yep:

Well whadya know? ...apparently it was by design.

Ken Kutaragi insisted on Spider-Man font for PS3

Sony shoulda considered whether or not the third movie was going to nauseate people before adopting it's styling to their console.

LOL, surely you have that backwards. Seems to me that as Sony own the rights to the Font, Spiderman took the font from the PS3.:lol:

Still, have to agree that Spidey sucks!

Who cares. The font fits the black PS3 like a fist to the eye. :yep:

I got my 40gig PS3 for free.... I wouldn't pay for a consol. Not my real interest.. PC all the way:up: But if there is a deal for free XBox360 I won't complain;)

I think I like the silver one the best... if I squint :x I can't see the lettering.

lol, I just like the fact that they're shiny. It's the kind of shinyness that makes you want to touch it. ;)

I don't understand all the hate to the 360. I've had mine for the past 2 years now, and it's never overheated. The only problem I've had was my fault; I dropped it once carrying it through the hose and it had to be repaired. Anyway, it's a great system. I'm not going out to spend $500 only to play final fantasy and Metal Gear. It's pointless. Every game that was supposed to 'rock' the ps3 turned out sucking, according to the reviews. All of the games that got good reviews on ps3 are cross-platform games and are getting better reviews on X360.

However, in the previous generation consoles. I was a PS2 lackey all the way, battling the evil that was the Xbox 1. However that was the days of SOCOM, FX10, MGS 2/3....those were good days. Back when consoles only cost you $250 rather than double that....