Sony PlayStation 3 Slim Console (160 GB Model)

I would highly recommend purchasing a PS3 as an all in one media device. Its primary function is as a games player and Sony has helped to give the PS3 an enviable software line up. The quality of games that appear on both PS3 and 360 is similar enough to not be a deciding factor in your purchase. On some games PS3 is marginally better and on others vice versa. Where the PS3 differentiates itself for me is its free online network. Rather than paying for an Xbox live subscription all but the most discerning of gamer will be perfectly happy with the Playstation Network. The cost of having to pay for years of expensive online is what made me choose PS3 over the 360. The 360 has caught up on a few areas that it lagged behind in, it is now wireless capable out of the box (i believe) and is much quieter than before, but with the Blu Ray player the PS3 has another ace up its sleeve. It does a decent job of upscaling standard DVD's as well. The internet browser is now usable for web surfing although it could still do with some improvement. Rumors of a deal with Google to get the Chrome browser could be a real coup for the PS3, and it remains a mystery why this hasn't already been implemented. For under 200 pounds now if you have been waiting to get a PS3 then now is the time. There is a seriously good back catalogue of games, most of which are available from Amazon for 15 pounds or less. My only gripe with my first PS3 was that it dies after 4 years so I have had to get a new one, Sony really should have a repair service in my opinion- but some times these things happen. Will try and play it for slightly shorter intervals this time as apparently lengthy play can cause heating which disrupts the processor- the new model does not seem to suffer this same fate though im assured. So yes, its a very good product and its now at a very good price. You really do get a lot more than just a game system. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine.

I have just bought a 160GB Slim after having an original 60GB for last 4 yrs - all was fine until March this year, when I proceeded to suffer from YLOD 4 times! On 3rd time fixing, the engineer suggested "just backup your old data and just buy a new slim one." I have always had Playstations since the first PS1 console, so I may be bias, but I will be straight about it. First impression on taking out of the box, smaller, slimmer - not so nice looking - bit cheap looking to be honest, not that aesthetics are everything, but whereas the original piano-black-polished PS3 looked like an attractive piece of hardware sitting under your telly and set-up - this looks bland and a bit cheapo to say the least - a bit dissappointing. Only other gripe I have for the console itself is the powersupply, compared to the original PS3 - power socket + plug which was robust and snug fitting, along with an on/off switch next to it....the new one is different, the connection seems a bit approximate, you push the plug in hard, and as it wobbles a little, you never know if its in properly or not - plus no on/off switch at back, so when plugged in it sits in permanent standby mode which may not be ideal for everyone...so when I don't use it I just unplug it....theres also the oft critiqued points - 2 USB ports, no backward compatability etc etc, whereas other idiots have chosen to complain (whilst already knowing in advance) I already knew and have just accepted to roll with it as neither discrepancies mean the end of the world! All in all though its still a PS3 and its is all in all an improvement, its sleeker, and definately quieter - often for first 1/2 or so of play it makes no sound at all(repair engineer told me it has a far bigger and better fan than original) the XMB is all present, correct and familiar and after a few minutes its all like it was before - strangely even the controller seems somehow superior to my current dualshock one - yes its newer(obviously) but it feels better balanced, and the trigger buttons underneath somehow feel improved. PSN (now back on) is as always, easy to navigate and use, and blu ray movies look as great as ever. I now also have the benefit of a bigger hard drive - 160GB from 60GB, which I will probably never max out (until PS4 arrives!) so this suits me just fine. Like I said I have tried to be honest about it, its differences are mostly to the detriment (aesthetics mainly) but its similarities remind you that the Playstation 3 is still a class act.

Very nice...

I can't understand why SONY behaves like this. Its products are very good, but to give lesser quality is not good. I'm talking about the only 2 USB ports instead of 4 previously, and the vanished backward compatibility with PS2 games. Whoever thinks that this is clever business among Sony's decision- makers, I strongly disagree and they should get the sack. Also you can not move your hard drive from your old machine (which had the yellow light of death all of a sudden after 4 years of good fun) and stick it in the new one with your saved games, videos, photos.. etc. and carry on with your life. No. You'll be asked to format the thing and of course lose all your data, all of it. Start from zero again. Each machine, on formatting a hard drive, it links it to be readable only by this particular machine, so if you have not backed up your data, you don't have way back. Of course you need the old machine to be working in the first place to be able to backup your data from it. Sony, show respect to your customers and appreciate them more and I don't care about your lame excuses about preventing piracy. This is my data and I should not pay you money, lot of money actually, for the previllage of upsetting everyone when the inevitable happens. If you don't own lots of PS3 games already, don't buy this and look at XBOX perhaps. The PS3 console otherwise is excellent to be fair and a lot quieter, but SONY sucks.

This is my 3rd Playstation now as all the previous 2 have succumbed to the yellow light of death. My previous unit was the old bulky one which was a replacement/reconditioned from Sony. It made a terrible noise when it got warm, I think the manufacturers put in extra fans to try and keep the unit cool but when playing late a night you couldn't hear the game over the noise of the fans. Eventually that bit the dust so I got his one. Its much more slim line and quieter. It's a pleasure to have a decent unit again. Good graphics machine and the added bonus of Blu ray. You can surf the internet, put music and photos on it and even watch catch up TV (only a few channels). Playstation Network (when it's online) is free (unlike Xbox) and easy to set up allowing you hours of endless gaming online. My only criticism with PS3 is that the earlier build quality was not good, cheap soldering made for a short life especially if you're playing online for several hours at a time. I just hope that these models have a longer shelf life than my previous ones. if your after a games console then i wouldn't hesitate in getting one of these. Don't be put off with my experience because i have friends who have the Xbox who have suffered similar fate. this review is about this unit, and this unit only. Both manufacturers are competing for the market but overall the PS3 has the upper hand with its multifunctional capabilities, in my opinion!!!

I looked at several consoles but the PS3 won out because it had BluRay and streaming TV access as well as good HD graphics - the main things I was after. I don't want a big collection of games so quality over quantity or price is more important for me, and the range of games for the PS3 seems to be quality oriented. The sound quality has pleasantly surprised me and playing Dirt2 through my surround system on a 40 inch TV is a great improvement compared to my PC games. Since the games use the DVD drive the size of the hard disk is not an issue - I'm only using about 40G so far. The TV and Film streaming (LoveFilm etc) is good, as is DVD replay both BluRay and SD. So far I haven't had any problems (apart from the infamous Sony hacking affair which happened about a month after I got the PS3!) and the update system has worked flawlessly. The only thing I could ask for is a decent (non combat) flight simulator, a mysterious gap in the PS3 catalogue!

I am very disappointed that this version is not backwards compatible at all. It only plays PS3 games, not PS2 like my older earlier PS3 does.

Not sure how to rate the game, as product did not come with a game...!!! Does what it says on the box. Its a PS3 and my boys had several hours of fun on it. Still works!