gadgets91: Sony Playstation 3

In the gaming world, being first to market has its advantages, but it also has some downsides. With its Xbox 360, Microsoft has staked itself a year lead over archrival Sony in the next-gen gaming wars and, just as importantly,In these 12 months, Microsoft has managed to sell several million consoles, work through some hardware glitches, upgrade the system's internal software, and bring out a full selection of accessories as well as a few signature games.But that year has also given Sony time to polish its more ambitious--and pricier--PlayStation 3. Like the 360, the PS3 is available in two versions. Both feature the brand new Cell processor, a built-in Blu-ray player, and HDMI video output. The baseline 20GB version retails

for $500, while the step-up deluxe model--reviewed here--boasts a 60GB hard drive, built-in Wi-Fi, a multiformat memory card reader, and silver trim for $100 more. Even though its original specs included even more features--dual HDMI output, for example--what's left is still a lot to throw into a new system, and the final product, expensive though it is, is quite impressive.The big question, of course, is whether the PS3 is $100 to $200 better than the Xbox 360. From a pure gaming perspective, the short answer is: no, not today.

The good: Swanky design with quiet operation; all games in high-definition; PSP-like user-friendly interface; plays high-def Blu-ray movies in addition to standard DVDs; built-in Wi-Fi; 60GB hard drive; Bluetooth support for wireless controllers and accessories is coming; backwards-compatible with PS2 and PS1 titles; built-in memory card readers; online play is free; HDMI output with 1080p support; no external power supply

The bad: Pricey; first wave of games is somewhat anemic; doesn't upscale DVDs to HD resolution; no force feedback (rumble) support in controller; a USB port on the back would've been nice; no infrared port means non-Bluetooth universal remotes aren't compatible; glossy black finish is a fingerprint magnet; HDMI cable not included.

The bottom line: Sony's PlayStation 3 may be the most expensive next-gen game console, and its launch titles are not all that impressive, but its swanky design and bevy of features, including a Blu-ray drive, make it hard to resist--even at $600.

Specifications:

General

Type Game console
Weight 11 lbs
Height 3.9 in
Width 12.8 in
Depth 10.8 in
Media Type BD-ROM, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM

Processor

Type IBM Cell 3.2 GHz
Instruction set RISC

Memory / Storage

RAM installed size 256 MB
HDD Capacity 60 GB

Video

Video Output NVidia RSX
Video RAM installed 256 MB
Max resolution (external) 1920 x 1080

Memory

RAM technology XDR DRAM

Input Device

Input device type Game pad

Connections

HDMI enhanced This product is equipped with the HDMI 1.3 feature which offers twice the bandwidth (10.2Gbps vs. 4.95Gbps) of current HDMI. This means it supports 10-bit, 12-bit, and 16-bit color depths while current HDMI supports only 8-bit color.