This review is one i wrote for www.Thinkdigit.com/forum

Thought i should add it here and update also…

So here we go …

I Got 40 GB version .. so i will stick with this version alone .. but will also point out the pros/cons of other version too..if any

ok Can we get started… ??

Here is the full spec of the monster !!

CPU

Cell Processor
PowerPC-base Core @3.2GHz
1 VMX vector unit per core
512KB L2 cache
7 x SPE @3.2GHz
7 x 128b 128 SIMD GPRs
7 x 256KB SRAM for SPE
* 1 of 8 SPEs reserved for redundancy
total floating point performance: 218 GFLOPS

GPU

RSX @550MHz
1.8 TFLOPS floating point performance
Full HD (up to 1080p) x 2 channels
Multi-way programmable parallel floating point shader pipelines

Sound

Dolby 5.1ch, DTS, LPCM, etc. (Cell- base processing)
Memory
256MB XDR Main RAM @3.2GHz 256MB GDDR3 VRAM @700MHz

System Bandwidth

Main RAM 25.6GB/s
VRAM 22.4GB/s
RSX 20GB/s (write) + 15GB/s (read)
SB< 2.5GB/s (write) + 2.5GB/s (read)

System Floating Point Performance

2 TFLOPS

Storage

Detachable 2.5″ HDD slot x 1

I/O
USB Front x 2 (USB2.0)

Communication
Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T) x 3 (input x 1 + output x 2)
Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 b/g
Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR)

Controller

Bluetooth (up to 7)
USB 2.0 (wired)
Wi-Fi (PSP)
Network (over IP)

AV Output

Screen size: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
HDMI: HDMI out x 2
Analog: AV MULTI OUT x 1
Digital audio: DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL) x 1

Disc Media

CD: PlayStation CD-ROM, PlayStation 2 CD-ROM, CD-DA, CD-DA (ROM), CD-R, CD-RW, SACD, SACD Hybrid (CD layer), SACD HD, DualDisc, DualDisc (audio side), DualDisc (DVD side)
DVD: PlayStation 2 DVD-ROM, PlayStation 3 DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW
Blu-ray Disc: PlayStation 3 BD-ROM, BD-Video, BD-ROM, BD-R, BD-RE

the main difference in the different version are in

HD : as the version suggest….
USB PORT : 40 GB version comes with front 2 usb port
60 GB version comes with 4 , 2 in Front and 2 in Rear
80 GB ditto of 60 GB
PS2 compatibility : 40 GB doesn’t support ps2 games while other version supports them thru emulation ( emotion engine)
FLASH CARD READER : 60 and 80 supports … 40 doesn’t..
SACD : not many will be knowing this .. anyway 40 gb doesn’t support…

Here is why 40 GB is fine for many…Indians : ( this is my personal view)

1.) USB port doesn’t matter as u can add USB hub and connect your peripherals in them..
2.) Hard Disk doesn’t matter since its totally legal to swap your 40 gb with 120 GB or more …( laptop hard disk with 5400 rpm ) and more over i still haven’t used much of the hard disk..
3.)Flash Card Reader : well as i said .. connect a card reader through usb .. ( the local one which cost around 500-700 ) and well u have a card reader..
4.)SACD : what is it ??? so doesn’t matter to most
5.)Money : Ya you save around

5k = 2 PS3 games
but if u want the best of the ps3 and want the ultimate.. then my advice is just wait for few more months as there has been plans to release a newer version of PS3 with better hardware and probably with GTR 5 prologue

so enough said….about hardware.. what about software??
well the latest firmware is 2.10 has the following features..

[quote]Voice Changer

The Voice Changer feature has been added to voice / video chat.

Other new or revised features in version 2.10:
Music
You can now select [Type 3] as an option under [Settings] > [Music Settings] > [Bitmapping].
A new pattern has been added for the visual player.
Video
DivX and VC-1 (WMV) have been added to the types of files that can be played.
Blu-ray Disc Profile 1.1 is now supported.
[BD Data Utility] has been added. [/quote]ok if u have the previous version.. just update it .. coz with DIVX playback.. u have a wide range of video format playback.. which is very nice..and u will be able to play almost all DOWNLOADED videos..

the Actual software is called the XMB (Xross Media Bar)

this is how it looks with icons placed vertical and horizontal and navigation through them is fun and easy..
and this i some what i found on the net.. regarding XMB..

[quote]XMB color schemes

The XMB’s default background color changes depending on the current month of the year, and it changes brightness depending on the time of day. A major color change occurs on the 15th and 25th of each month, the color gradually changes between those dates, but the major change is during the three days before those dates in each month. However, a later firmware revision (1.90; released July 23, 2007) allows users change the background of the XMB to display any photograph saved on the console’s hard drive.[/quote]

this is really nice .. but there are also themes , very cool looking themes to fit…

DESIGN :

Well it cant get any better…
the black silky, shiny outer surface with curved outer part.. puts this console on shelves as a showpiece.. a costly jewel…
and the silver lining is absolutely awesome…

SIXASIS:

The best Joystick ever…
with well placed buttons and absolutely weight less and it does perfectly fits in your hand.. and great for playing for hours..
but as for me .. my hands get sweaty… and the SIXASIS tends to loose friction or grip.. but a soft cloth clean will put the controller back under my grip…
for starters like me .. the wireless feature took me my surprise.. because it made gaming more easy and comfortable.. now i can sit / lie down/ and play the game… without worrying about the wires..that’s a great plus for hardcore gamers… Sony claims that you can add up to 7 ( ya , did u get the no correct .. its S-E-V-E-N) SIXASIS .. through Bluetooth and claims to have a range of 20 meter… but in normal case.. it will provide a good coverage for a single room..without any obstruction with walls .. between ps3 and sixasis…

PS3 controller has got a rechargeable battery and the battery life once charged comes for nearly 4-5 hours of play.. i.e. by using SIXASIS through Bluetooth…
i think this number is great since u don’t have to be connected to ps3 all time.. and the wire provided is also stable and thick..and at this point i just want to tell a small incident which happened to me//
i had my ps3 in vertical position and very edge of my table.. and when i started playing ( with sixasis connected to ps3 thru wire) i subconsciously pulled the sixasis away from ps3 and to my surprise the sixasis came separate or say the wire with usb connection slided out smooth, which would have probably been a disaster with the wire pulling own my whole ps3 to the ground..NICE ENGINEERING THERE… SONY !!! HATS OFF !!!

ok lets come to the accelerometer feature…( which i had it in k850 too )
this version of accelerometer is far more better than what i have in k850…
the sensitivity is top notch, and accurate, precise.. simply awesome…

but one downside is there is no option ( or i didn’t find ) to control how much the accelometer should ne sensitive or something like that… little downside .. but not that much a BIG problem..

ok lets rightly start with the Media Centre function

Media Function :

Well at present PS3 is capable of playing major formats..
the following are the formats supported
The following types of videos can be played:

::: Video Format :::

– MPEG-4 SP (AAC LC)
– H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Main Profile (AAC LC)
MP4 file format
– H.264/MPEG-4 AVC High Profile (AAC LC)
MPEG-1 (MPEG Audio Layer 2)
MPEG-2 PS (MPEG2 Audio Layer 2, AAC LC, AC3(Dolby Digital), LPCM)
MPEG-2 TS (MPEG2 Audio Layer 2)
AVI
– Motion JPEG (Linear PCM)
– Motion JPEG (?-Law)
AVCHD (.m2ts / .mts)
DivX
WMV
– VC-1(WMA Standard V2)

::: Music Format :::

ATRAC
MP3
MP4(MPEG-4 AAC)
WAVE (.wav)
WMA

::: Picture Format :::

JPEG
TIFF
BMP
GIF
PNG

Here is a small tip:
If u insert the thumb drive and your Ps3 doesn’t show any files..don’t panic.. just press the triangle and select ” SHOW ALL ” .. to show all the files regardless of folder name..
this has been a common fact that SE phones read respective files in respective folder ( except k850) such as jpeg in “PICTURE” folder and MP3 in “MUSIC” folder .. etc.. and that’s how PS3 works too … so this tip will help u when your files are out of order with the required folder name..

So well said about the formats.. here why PS3 is incredible to replace us HOME THEATRE :

1.) it supports up to 1080p ( simply awesome) , that’s really awesome considering present day costly DVD players.. and also needless to say BLURAY PLAYERS

2.)extensive control over the media files… ( copy to internal ps3 hard disk if u want.. delete them, move them .. change video screen size , audio options, etc etc..)

3.) optical output .. and also HDMI output and support for 5.1

4.)and support for BLURAY ( the future format …)

5.) and also support to profile 2.0 ( bluray) which makes VERY VERY FUTURE PROOF…

6.)Superior quality and output of A/V makes this one the BEST REPLACEMENT of all those players ( DVD/Bluray) out there ..
remember: today’s BD player are still not 2.0 profile supportive.. meaning .. it cant be even upgraded through a update like in ps3.. since profile 2.0 requires a local HD of 20 GB and network compatible.. which leaves many players in dark..

so as far as video playback is concerned.. let me tell u i have never experienced like this simply coz .. it was a tremendous move from DVD player to something high definition like ps3… for me .. PS3 playback is top notch..
u simply cant expect anything better…
it gives u option like
1.)screen size : normal , actual size , zoom
2.)audio volume control + boost
3.)some other option like : dynamic control, reduction of noise level , pixel level reduction … etc.. (forgot other names…)
4.)selection of audio channels
5.)display of details like bit rate, channels, time lapsed , format , subtitle option etc..
6.)time search is also there with chapter search too..
its just a few features away from PC version of movie viewing…
on the whole .. it simply is superb..!!! enough to replace all the players out there…

Gaming :

Needless to say we all know what a cell proccy is capable of ..
and given a MONSTER proccy .. the games are simply fluid smooth… no glitch whats so ever…

but there is a small disappointment.. ie the memory… as i have mentioned before.. it supports 256MB GDDR3 , which many consider to be not enough .. but many developers say that since 1080p is he max video out and max video input supported by most LCD out there … they feel this wont be a problem.. and say that it would be more than enough… !!! ( this is actually from Crysis Developers )

with the best the controller .. and best hardware .. all u get is BEST GAMING CONSOLE… !!! end of topic…

p.s i have got burnout paradise (720p support) .. and so far i haven’t had any issue and graphics are simply spectacular ( when i was playing games in PC with 800×600 or to max of 1024×768 ) and also since there isn’t many games with me … i cant explain more about the performance.. but as for now .. its cheese smooth or oil smooth .. or baby smooth .. whatever smooth u want

Updates / Firmware :

Sony has been regularly updating the PS3 Firmware and they are quite Good at it.When I bought PS3 it was just a nibble gaming console with little options and features.. now it plays nearly all Video format and relatively STABLE

so this far … i think i have covered most stuff.. if not please do comment here..

hope u like this small review…

any questions please do ask me..