I like the PS3 myself, but really, it’s all about the games. Check out sites like gamerankings and metacritic. Sort each system’s games by score and peruse the lists for stuff you want to play. Whichever one has the most, go for it.
I would love to get one with the PS2 chip. Was it new? What was mark up? More than a 40GB?
Figure this is as good as any of a place to ask: Anyone wanna exchange PS3 IDs? If so, drop me a private message.
SlackerCS here if you want to add me Catalin. I don’t play online much, but I have some good scores in Rock Band and Super Stardust HD to go after. 
No dog in this fight, other than I don’t particularly rate Microsoft as a company. I have had a Sony system (PS1 through PS3) since 1996 in my house. Sony made a huge cock-up of a launch for the PS3, but I waited a long time and found a 60GB model on craigslist. A mate of mine is making the same decision as the OP, and ultimately decided on a Xbox360 - mainly because of the price and the fact he has an XBox already. All things being equal, he said that he would have chosen the PS3, though. For him the Netflix thing swung him, plus a really good sale at Circuit City this week. (Though I have heard the Netflix downloads aren’t that great - can anyone confirm?)
I’m not a fanboy or a major gamer so I tend to keep my systems for a while (I have all of my other PSes, including the modded PS1). I bought my PS2 in 2000 and just upgraded in 2008. For eight years of faithful service, I paid a fair price and was satisfied with my PS2. So in my mind, even if a system is $100 or $200 more, if it lasts you 4-8 years, it’s a wash. (Though I do remember swearing I would not go through the BS it took to get a recent-launch PS2 for the PS3. I didn’t, but it wasn’t easy either.) I have a lot of confidence in Sony as a hardware company, and case in point, both of my old PSes run fine. My PS3 had an issue and I had to send it in for warranty repair. Sony sent me a factory warranty refurbished 60GB PS3 and it works great. (I think they would have sent me a new one, but I specifically asked for my 60 or another 60).
One major thing was the backwards compatibility. Even though I haven’t cracked open any games for the PS2 yet, but I have a lot of games like control-z and I didn’t like the idea of tossing them or keeping two systems connected.
One minor thing was the controller. I’ve been using a DualShock for years and I like that I don’t have to train myself to use another type of controller.
The Blu-Ray thing is nice but I haven’t actually used it yet.
I should also mention that set-up was a breeze… everything just worked. Wireless, upgrades, etc. have been easy and Mac-like.
I hope they’re expanding it, but yeah at the moment it’s pretty mediocre. Apparently the stuff you can stream over the 360 is the same that’s available for streaming on the PC. I have over 100 movies in my Netflix queue and only a couple are streamable (and those aren’t anything I’m dying to see, just “eh why not” kind of queue-adds).
She does, but if they find out, you get kicked off Live.
(yeah, I know, different platform, just go with it.)
I came in to post what Slacker said: go to http://www.metacritic.com/games/ and look at the top 20 lists for both, and see what appeals to you more.
I was a big Morrowind fan; I bought my 360 solely to play Oblivion. Once the shine wore off that, there became an increasing number of great games to play. Though I have a home theatre and would love the Blu Ray capability, I’m still happy with my choice.
But a big factor for me is that everyone with whom I want to play (mostly extended family) also has a 360, not a PS3. This may or may not be a factor for you, but if online play with people you actually know might be important, consider what your circle plays on.
I got my 60GB back in February for $349 plus $20 shipping. It was brand new.
The 60GB PS3 is really the best one they made, it has the PS2 hardware compatibility, good size hard drive, and all the various flash media slots.
This was a huge shock to me as well. I just got a PS3 (I chose the PS3 over other consoles because I won it for free) and couldn’t believe that we can’t play PS2 games on it. I mean, I still have the PS2, so we can use that, but it’s an extra machine cluttering things up in the living room. What a piss poor marketing decision. :mad: :mad: If I had to buy a console new, I doubt I’d buy the PS3 strictly because of that.
I’m appearantly the only person in the world with a launch 20 GB PS3. The only thing it doesn’t have is wireless, but I prefer to use a physical cable for online gaming. It might just be in my head but I think it is faster. I have been thinking about upgrading the hard drive, and that would make it even better (IMO) than the launch 60 GB. My neighbor has (I think) an 80 GB PS3 and he only has 2 USB ports, where mine came with 4.
Like Hippy Hollow, I’m incredibly used to the Sony controller too. I also still have my old PS1, and my old chunky (not the newer thin model) PS2. Last time I checked the PS1 still worked, and I use the PS2 as a DVD player in my bedroom. Oblivion is available on the PS3 as well. In case anyone wants to add me as a friend, I’m MaddMaxx51 on PSN.
Going by the quotes from E3. It won’t matter anymore. They are phasing out the 40Gig model in the fall and are lowering the 80 gig model’s price by 100 dollars. I guess Sony heard people’s complaints.
Yeah but it is software emulation which isn’t all that great. Best move for them would be to put the PS2 hardware back in the PS3.
You’d think so, but the 80 GB model that’s coming in the fall is just a 40 GB with a bigger hard drive.
No BC for you!
You can also use a wireless bridge for much cheaper, and it’ll bring wireless to more devices than the xbox.
That’s ridiculous. What are they thinking? Man.
pat
I just wanted to let you guys know that this thread, as well as the news that the XBox has the new Final Fantasy + the price drop in the XBox, caused me to go out and buy an XBox last night. I’ve always had a Playstation but the cost and some of their marketing decisions makes me feel like they don’t want me as a customer anyway, and there are really good games out on the XBox.
The Wii has almost nothing to interest me (except the gimmick and Raving Rabbits) so I never really considered that.
Thank you all.
I know it’s announced for the PS3, but I’ve got to add that BioShock (download the DEMO!) is AWESOME. Spooky, Atmospheric, An environment that makes you want to just go explore. It’s made my time with the 360 very enjoyable (despite the initial unit that died with 12 hours on the clock) It’s the only game I’ve not just completed, but played through fully, twice, just to see both endings.
You’re welcome. Don’t forget to send the SDMB Gamertag a friend request.