PS3 Slim: Everything you need to know
The PS3 Slim is now a reality. The compact console will be available on September 1 for $299. Our review sample just arrived, and our hands-on evaluation will follow soon. We don't expect any real performance departures from the current console--the changes are more cosmetic than anything else. In the meantime, we've got Brian Tong's hands-on video on the PS3 Slim (above), along with a quick mini-FAQ on the new PS3 (below). If you have a question that's not addressed here, put it in the comments, and we'll do our best to find an answer.
When can I get the new PS3 Slim?
It'll be widely available as of September 1 for $299.
What are the major physical differences between the new PS3 Slim and the previous versions of the PS3?
Sony has pretty much crammed the same hardware into a smaller form factor. The new chassis is thinner vertically and horizontally, but it is deeper than the previous PS3--it's almost a square. The front power and eject buttons are now actual, depressable keys (not touch-sensitive), and there's also no standby power switch on the console's rear panel.
Are there any notable feature differences?
The new model has a 120GB hard drive, up from the 80GB model on the previous entry-level model. Geeks will lament that Sony has removed the ability to install a second operating system, but that won't be missed by the vast majority of mainstream users.
Does it play PS2 games?
No dice. Like the recent PS3 models, the PS3 Slim does not offer backward compatibility with PS2 game discs. However, it can play older PS1 titles (on disc or via download from the PlayStation Store.)
Are there flash card readers?Again, no. Ports for Compact Flash, Memory Stick, and SD cards existed on the earliest PS3 models, but they were dropped on more recent iterations. If you want to access digital media files, you'll need to put them on a USB drive, burn them to a disc, or access them over the network.
Any change to media support?
No differences that we can discern. The PS3 Slim still plays all manner of Blu-ray movies, DVDs, and CDs, and it doubles as an excellent media streamer from other PCs or DLNA-capable media servers.
What's in the box?
Just the basics: the console, a single Dual Shock 3 controller, USB cable (for charging the controller), AC power cord, and composite AV cable. There are no bundled games in this version of the PS3.
Did Sony finally add an IR port, so I can use my universal remote control?
In a word: nope. That's our biggest gripe with the new model. Owners of Logitech Harmony remotes, however, can still use the $60 adapter that will translate IR commands to Bluetooth.
Is the hard drive still user-upgradeable?
Yes--you can still do a DIY upgrade with a standard 2.5-inch laptop hard drive. We'll update our How-To video to give you a step-by-step guide for the PS3 Slim soon.
Can I stand the PS3 Slim vertically?
Out of the box, the answer is no. Ironically, it's so skinny, it'll tip over too easily. However, Sony is pledging to sell a stand separately--in other words, you'll be paying $24 for a hunk of plastic.
Is it really cheap-looking?
Opinions in the office are divided on this one. Some folks are really chafing at the textured matte finish, saying it makes the unit look cheap and plasticky--like a toy. Others (like me) prefer that to the shiny piano black finish of earlier PS3s, which was a magnet for fingerprints. Editor Jeff Bakalar, meanwhile, likens the square-ish design of the Slim to that of a record player.
Is it true that a 250GB PS3 Slim is coming soon?
Apparently so. Sony's made no official comment, but a more capacious PS3 Slim will certainly hit store shelves at some point--likely at the $399 price point.
Should I wait for the Slim, or buy one of the existing "PS3 Fat" consoles, now that they've also been cut to $299?
Unless you're particularly averse to the new design, it's definitely worth waiting a couple of weeks.
Got any other questions? Ready to make the jump to the PS3? Or is the Slim a letdown? Let us know in the comments below.
Additional coverage:
>> Sony officially announces $299 PS3 Slim
>> PlayStation 3 firmware 3.00 details
>> Photo: PS3 "Fat" vs. PS3 Slim
>> 12 ways to make the PS3 perfect (May 13, 2008)
John P. Falcone covers home theater and network entertainment products. He's been writing for CNET since 2002. 
Because pricing influences the comparison, along with the fact that it runs even more quietly than the previous model, which was already more quiet than the 360.
Like in the last "prizefight" they were comparing their graphics and they gave the PS3 the same score as the 360 and said "multiplatforms look the same so yeah" I was just like *** when I saw that, Alan Wake, Splinter Cell, Mass Effect 2 (this one was actually causing 360's to RROD LMFAO talk about maxing out!) and Forza 3 look terrible in comparison to Uncharted 2, Killzone 2, GOWIII, Heavy Rain, GT5, and the Last Guardian. You have to look at the exclusives for graphics on the PS3 because the devs don't want to sacrifice one platforms sales!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KslPVlEZLE&hd=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ_A2Tpz2UM&hd=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quP48Gb0MEM&hd=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wntxliJZvB8&hd=1 (some is gameplay but all of this is rendered realtime)
Tell me thats possible on the 360!
They are aiming at the On demand content. You can already DL hd movied and watch netflix.
So Now that HD-DVD is gone I think thy are simply going to stick to Downloadable content. At some point they will need to find better mediums of physical media as games become more complex and space demanding but I think that will be in 2-3 years. I think Microsoft will simply have their own format to xbox games, why? Well, Sony is the main seat in the blue-Ray board and I'm not saying they won't sell licenses to Microsoft, they probably will be expensive and add to the 360 price, and that wouldn't be a good thing. Sony put the leg deeper with all those investments but could it be they saw all this comming? Nothing has happened yet but the future looks bright for Sony, for once
I had never seen the Xbox Live site before and thought it was kinda neat. I'm the master of patience, so if I hear Microsoft wants to put a Blu-ray player in the Xbox I might consider getting it, with their whole NATAL thing of course. But I do not know much about the PS3's media package, so I guess I should look into that too. But then again, most of my media is stored in hardrives that I connect to my WD media player and they are mostly all at 720p. I am assuming that media libraries like Xbox Live allow you to download videos/movies at 720p, so wouldn't Blu-ray quickly become obsolete with the expanding download market?
how may USB ports?
my old 60G (now 500G 7200rpm) first gen. machine has 4 usb, all media ports,and
plays all ps2 game...
really not sure if it's a "upgrade" or downgrade" to get the new machine since there is no info on
if the CPU is faster or if the blue ray disc drive is spinning faster or the same.
I know the CPU is different and since it's using less power, it generate less heat and hence
the small heat sink that makes the new machine smaller and lighter...
(much the the weight of the old machine was that huge heat sink.)
It would be nice if cnet can post some CPU info and BR drive info in compare.
Since that is the heart of the machine and the rest are cosmetic and fluff.
It's the same Cell processor, just smaller, so it will run at the same speed.
You could mention that the USB port on PS3's can support external flash card readers. I plug one in whenever my friend wants to view images from his camera's MicroSD card.
So I guess I'm not sure why they stripped it out from the last three release versions of the ps3.
because as we all know the 360 plays PS2 games.
On PSN they are offering a PS2 emulator that says it will allow playing of PS2 games that require hard disk content installation. I don't own any PS2 games and Sony doesn't give any more information that this, so I don't know if this actually works (or is just extremely limited to a few titles.) Sony can be not very forthcoming with documentation - a big peeve of mine.
from the playstation website
"It?s confirmed! The PlayStation 3 is now available for $299. Yes, NOW! Today, Kaz Hirai also announced a new, slimmer form factor 120 GB PS3 (available September 1st). "
http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/CompatibleStatus
"Are any of you really that attached to your PS2 games? Are you still frequently playing them? If yes--any reason you don't just keep the PS2 hooked up, or buy the Slim PS2 for $99? "
I am, and I do. I have games I haven't even started, let alone finished on the PS2. The reason I wouldn't just keep the PS2 is because there are four shelves on my TV stand, and they are all taken. So I'd have to take out the PS2 if I wanted to have a PS3.
In short: It's nice to have the ability to play a few titles without having to buy another console. I have dozens of games for my PS2, and only about 3 or 4 PS1 games which I play on my PS2. You have no idea how useful BC is.
Also PS1 games on PS2 can have faster disc reading, etc. PS2 games on PS3 (depending on implementation) can be upscaled, read the disc faster, or w/e. Sony could make the PS3 a very desirable purchase, even for people who already own a PS2.
For me, it's about 1) space and 2) efficiency 3) the memorable titles. Once upon a time, my entertainment setup contained an NES, SNES, Genesis, N64, and PSOne. Tangle of wires in the back, AV Receiver connections filled, crammed rack, not esthetically pleasing, and no place left for upgrades. Why so many consoles? Because each had a special title that I found myself always returning to after a few years, even in the face of next-gen bells and whistles, be it the original Metroid or Super Contra, Secret of Mana, Chrono Trigger, Shining Force, Lost Vikings, GoldenEye, etc. When the PS2 was first mentioned in magazines, I fretted whether I'd have to retire one of my legacy consoles to make space for the new addition. Then came the announcement of the PS2's backwards compatibility. Suddenly it became clear that it was my PSOne that was going to retire. Now I could play my whole library of PSOne games on the PS2. And, for every Final Fantasy 10, I'd find myself returning again to FF7, Metal Gear Solid: Sons of Liberty to the original Metal Gear Solid, Twisted Metal, Tekken, Resident Evil, etc.
When I purchased my Wii, with accessibility to the Virtual Console's back-catalogue, all my legacy consoles followed the PSOne to eBay, save for one (Goldeneye where are you?). When the PS3 was first announced with backwards compatibility, it was presumed that the PS2 would be retired and my now clean, esthetically pleasing, minimalist high-end media setup wouldn't be hampered by yet another box. However, for a variety of reasons, I was slow to pick up my PS3. Then, with each year, the PS3 changed its SKU crippling features one iteration after another. Before I knew it, my backwards compatibility had disappeared, and my money remained in my pocket. My new hope lied with the PS3 Slim's potential firmware upgrade to reintroduce backwards compatibility. And yet, here we are.
I called up my buddy yesterday and mentioned I might finally cough up the change for a PS3, though the idea of having both a PS2 and PS3 side by side next to my HDTV still isn't entirely appealing. He has the Metal Gear 80 gig (lucky dawg), and I was hoping to get a recommendation on a great PS3 game to pick up, if I did pull the trigger. To my surprise, he'd wasn?t playing GTAIV, inFamous, or Prototype but had just purchased FF7 and Marvel vs. Capcom 2 on the PSN and was happily basking in nostalgia. How poetic.
I keep hearing this question and desire from people, but can't see the need. Is there something I'm missing?
Per; sticks1839, "May I ask why this is necessary to you? Having the PS3 decode the audio and send PCM is identical to bitstreaming except for the additional lights on your AV receiver." Not entirely true...
There is a difference between PCM in comparison to Dolby Digital True HD and DTS HD-MASTER. Yes it is similar to bitstream, but the end result is not the same, the timbre is different and overall balance and separation in the original soundtracks is different. To me PCM just doesn't deliver the same as DTS-MA and DD-True HD. I did some A-B comparisons with a friends PS3 and my $200 Panasonic BD35K. There is an immediately noticeable difference in the audio...
I would NEVER purchase a PS3 because of this as well as the BS with their remotes and the unavailability of PS2 backward compatibility... I have a PS1, a PS2, and then if I had a PS3 that only bit streams PCM, and then have to get a PS3 slim to maybe have "proper"(DTS-MA and DD-True HD) bit stream decoding, well I guess I would need a check-up from the neck-up. Who the hell needs or wants 4 playstations?? Sony is an aggressive and greedy company. Maybe all the features will be in proper order on one of their future players, maybe it will be the PS15 or the PS21?? I still stick by my sentiments, sony, you suck!
Uhm PS3 is far from failing buddy. Less trolling more facts please.
What hve they upgraded on the 360?! Why, I hear they got their failure rate down below 50% now. How's that for an upgrade? ;-)
- by tipoo_ August 19, 2009 12:17 PM PDT
- To me, it just looks like they went nuts with cost-cutting measures. The old one looked better.
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