PlayStation 3 - More Than Just a Gaming Console!

My old Xbox has become almost obsolete at this point and I had a decision to make: buy the Xbox 360 or the PlayStation 3 (PS3). I gave up on PC games a long time ago, with the never-ending cycle of chasing the hardware in order to play the latest, bleeding-edge games. The only PC games I play now are Doom and Quake when visiting my in-laws. How retro is that? I'll tell you - he's still on dial-up!

I knew the research could be mind-numbing, due to the comparison of features on each gaming console. In the past, I looked forward to this much like a root-canal - without anesthesia. But in this instance, it was a no-brainer. The PS3 has something the 360 doesn't: The capability to play High-Definition Blu-Ray DVDs. This feature alone became the critical deciding factor, as the Blu-ray format won the format war against HDVDs. When I saw that Netflix was adopting Blu-ray for the gazillions of movies it sends out to subscribers, that clinched it for me. The high failure rate (the so-called Red Ring of Death) of the Xbox 360 also concerned me.

My original plan included buying a large screen, HDTV and a DVD player along with the new game console. Rather than buy both a gaming console and a Blu-ray DVD player, I bought the PS3 with the 80 GB hard drive. It combines the best of both worlds. And it saved me approximately $300 by doing so. I've since hooked it up to my Samsung 46" LCD HDTV and a new Onkyo receiver. The PS3 games and Blu-ray DVD movies are so realistic that they truly give you the immersion effect - you are there!

The PS3's features include:

} internet connectivity for browsing and also online gaming

} WIFI built in and internet ready

} plays both DVDs and CDs

} capability to store games, music, videos and photos on the 80 GB Hard Disk Drive (there's also a 160GB version, too)

} HDMI output for the maximum resolution of 1080p

} two USB ports

} free membership in the Playstation Network (Microsoft charges their members for this)

} a Dual-Shock wireless controller (no fifty foot cord needed, thank you); plus, a USB cable to charge the controller when the power level is low. I bought another controller so I could charge one while using the other.

All of this is powered by one of the fastest microprocessors available to the public: the Cell Broadband Engine advanced microprocessor. I'm playing World at War right now and I'm stunned by the photo-realistic detail and graphics that this chip provides.

Sony has done it right by producing the PS3. If you are in the market for an awesome gaming console, an HD Blu-ray player, or both, be sure to check this baby out.