Play Station 3

The title said it all, click on it to continue....

Review By Kael

It's not often that I get to break the security seal on the box of a new console…In fact; I've only done it three times in my life, first with the PLAYSTATION 2, second with the Xbox 360, and third with the PAYSTATION 3. Just a little note: this review is solely about the hardware and anything packed in with it. I will try not to talk about the game library or anything you must buy separate. This is about the hardware and its features. Each section shall receive marks out of ten, with the exception of EXTERIOR DESIGN, which receives marks out of twenty. There is a max possible score of 10/10. The section scores will be averaged together to get the full score.

PACKAGING: The PLAYSTATION 3 comes packaged in a fairly big box. The box is solid black and features a picture of the PLAYSTAION 3 with the Sony SIXAXIS Wireless controller standing on end next to it. On the back, there are several screenshots of games like Ratchet and Uncharted. The best part about the packaging is that it is easy to move due to a handle, and it is appealing to the eyes. Section score: 10/10.

EXTERIOR DESIGN: When I opened the box, I was met with that new console smell. At first, I was perplexed. Why were there egg cartons in there? The PS3 was held in place by the egg cartons, with a nice, thick sheet of lint-free, static resistant paper bound around it. Inside the box was the system itself, the power chord (no freaking power brick, thank god), the A/V Cables (composite, meaning no HD out of the box), the Sixaxis Wireless Sony Controller, and two Blu-ray movies. The two Blu-rays (Spider-Man 3 and Assorted PS3 Game Trailers) rested onto of the system itself. When I opened the box, I was met with that new console smell. At first, I was perplexed. Why were there egg cartons in there? The PS3 was held in place by the egg cartons, with a nice, thick sheet of lint-free, static resistant paper bound around it. Inside the box was the system itself, the power chord (no freaking power brick, thank god), the A/V Cables (composite, meaning no HD out of the box), the Sixaxis Wireless Sony Controller, and two Blu-ray movies. The two Blu-rays (Spider-Man 3 and Assorted PS3 Game Trailers) rested onto of the system itself.

I finally could take the system out of the box. I reached in there and wrapped my hands around the egg cartons and tugged. And man, was the system heavy. After pulling it out, I carefully pulled the egg cartons off of the paper shrouding the system, and then, carefully, oh so carefully, I unwrapped the system.

I saw my reflection for the first time that day. I saw myself staring back from the shiny, glossy PLAYSTATION 3. On the exact center of the console was the phrase: PLAYSTATION 3 in a nice, shiny, silver-chrome style, the font was the same as the title on the SPIDER-MAN 3 Blu-ray. On the front were two USB 2.0 ports, a Wi-Fi access light, and an HDD access light, both unlit at the time, obviously. Also on the front was the disk tray, surrounded with a matte silver finish, and two lights, the power light, and the disk light. When a disk is in the drive, the disk light turns blue. Two touch strips are directly on the bottom of the disk tray: Eject in the exact middle, and power, to the right. These touch strips activate once depressed with something with body heat.

On the back is of course the power input, the A'V slot, the main power switch, and two surprises: an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) port, and an Opticle Audio ports, which enables support of True DolbyHD, and PCM 7.0 Uncompressed audio…pretty cool. On the left side of the console is a sticker that tells you how to take out the internal Hard-Disk Drive (HDD). My console came equipped with a 40 GB HDD. The PS3 is not functional without an HDD, just as a computer is not functional without an HDD. The HDD can be replaced with any 2.5 inch, SATA Formatted laptop hard-drive.

There are three vents on the PS3 itself. One is hidden under a lip on the front, one on the right side of the console, and a fan-powered one on the back. The console itself is pretty large, and weighs in at 11 lbs. The console is also quite curvy, which is very rare in a console. Altogether, it is very easy on the eyes. Section Score: 10/10.

CONTROLLER: A console cannot operate without a controller, just like a car cannot be operated without a steering-wheel. Over the last decade and a half, Sony has kept the same control scheme, just modifying it. First was the Sony Digital Controller for the Playstation, then was the Dual Analog for the Playstation, then there was the Dualshock for the Playstation, then there was the Dualshock 2 for the Playstation 2 (this controller featured more powerful rumble capabilities and more sensitive analog pads than the original design did). Now, we have the brand new, Sony Sixaxis Wireless Controller. It is the same design of the last controller without rumble, but added motion sensing support. The analog sticks have been placed higher, giving them more sensitivity and more room to rotate. The controller uses a rechaergeable Lithium Ion battery built in. It charges by means of a Mini-B USB cable that ships with it. My only complaint is the L2 and R2 buttons point inward instead of outward, making finger slippage possible. Section score: 9/10.

BOOT-UP & MAIN MENU: I took my system, plugged it in, and set it vertically next to my tv. I flipped the power switch on the back, and then touched the power strip on the front, and the system powered on. It asked me to plug in the Sixaxis Controller using the USB Cable, and press the “PS HOME” button to register the device to the console. Upon doing so, I was asked to select a language, time zone, system name, and User name. Once through that, I was rebooted into the Main Menu…The XMB (Cross Media Bar). The icons, from left to right, read: Users, Settings, Photo, Music, Video, Game, Network, PLAYSTAION Network, Friends. The background is called simply: “Wave”. It is a solid color, with something that resembles ocean waves gently moving up and down. The background changes color according to the month, and changes brightness according to the time of the day. You can, of course, use your own wallpaper from the internet, a CD, or a thumb-drive instead of the standard XMB. Section Score: 10/10