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Erm, the PS3?

I've got no issue with a law requiring that consoles have parental controls so that parents can decide what rating level is appropriate for their kids and lock out the rest.

What the hell is a "console"? Right from Sony's website, the PlayStation 3 is a "computer entertainment system". Is a Commodore 64 a "console" or a computer? What about a Dell?

So it is now illegal to sell any computing device without parental controls? What if those parental controls can be easily circumvented? Does the device have to include anti-circumvention features such as hardware-based "Trusted computing"? How else would you keep someone from booting their PS3 into Linux and using that to play the latest version of "Naked Tux Racer"?

Sure, the legislation could attempt to define "console". But, I guarantee, if that definition isn't already stupid (such not handling Commodore 64), it will be stupid within a generation or two of computing hardware.

I don't see anyone whining about the V-chip

Just wait until the think-of-the-children types realize software-based televisions, running on computers, perhaps with an IPTV connection, can have their V-chip software disabled or removed. You just don't see it because it hasn't started yet.

You have been always able to play Blu-Ray movies on the PS3 (well at least the Australia/NZ, EU and UK ones do) up to 1080p if your HDTV supports this. What the 1.8 upgrade does is to allow video upscaling via HDMI of DVD movies to a HDTV that support 720p, 1080i or 1080p. In addition you can now display all PS1/2 games up to 1080p as well has the ability to smooth the picture, however you can use HDMI or component video to your HDTV to do this.

Smoothing a PS1 game on a PS2 has always been available but in many cases the soothing did not do much although to be fair a few games looked fantastic and some looked awful so you had to turn the feature off. I would assume this will be the case with the 1.8 PS3 upgrade except it would be applied to both PS2 and PS1 games. I have tried the new update on a PS1 game which I know needed smoothing and it did look quite nice (not fantastic but much more playable) but this is the only game I have had the time to try out the new feature on.

I have an Australian PS3 which means the machine uses software emulation. All my PS1 games (I have about 20) work, however not all my PS2 games work (most I have finished anyway) but all the ones I am currently playing do so I am quite happy.

There are more changes and some of them are quite good, however you can read the following URL for more info http://www.us.playstation.com/PS3/Network/Updates.

The 1.8 download is over 100MB so you would need a decent high speed line or you could contact a "friend" (ie. work ... etc) and get the download on a memory card (CF, SD or Memory Stick) or usb drive and then do the update which takes about 5 minutes.

It is amazing the number of times people get HDTV wrong it is really very simple. If you have a TV that has resolutions 1280x220 (720p or i) and 1920x1080 (1080p or i) then and only then do you have a HDTV. Other resolutions are 720x480 (NTSC) and 768x576 (PAL) which are standard definition (SDTV). There are other standards but lets not get too complicated. As for picking a HDTV it really depends on what you want to spend keeping in mind that under 40" you will get 720p (SDTV up to 1080i) and above 40" you can get 720p or 1080p which costs about 20% to 60% more.

For more details see the following http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-definition_telev ision as a good intro to HDTV.

Following the keynote presentation, the SCEA booth will be a central focus at GDC as the company introduces new development tools and technologies designed specifically for PS3 and the PLAYSTATION®Network, as well as PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system. The SCEA booth - Booth #410, West Hall - will offer visitors a sneak-peek at:

• Tuner for PS3 - Developed by SN Systems, a subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., the Tuner is a profiling tool that enables developers to quickly highlight bottlenecks and conflicts in source code, helping them improve code performance. The Tuner is a software application, so there is no special hardware required, which enables developers to create high performance games with less guesswork.
  
• Unreal® Engine 3 - Epic's next-generation game engine technology targets a diverse set of genres from fighting games to shooters to Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games
  High-Level Graphics Package - PSSG (a PS3 optimized cross-platform graphics engine and tool-chain) production-ready extensible scene-graph framework that is written to take advantage of PS3 strengths
  
• Pioneering profiling and analysis tools and physics technologies
  
• Developing with Linux on PS3
  
• Demonstration of downloadable titles from the PLAYSTATION Network, such as flOw, Blast Factor(TM) and Calling all Cars(TM)
  

QUESTION: Is PS3 support for Linux improved over that of the PS2?

Definately. Sony has designed the PS3 to run Linux. Your experience as an end-user will be optimal.

The best list of upcoming titles I know of is http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/ message?message.uid=27804779#U27804779

Unfortunately it doesn't list release dates, and I'm not sure how often it gets updated.

http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/ message?board.id=psx2&thread.id=656

Sony did many things wrong with the PS2, there's no way it will be #1... it'll probably be #2 or even #3. The reason the PSX is so cool and successful is that it appeals to EVERYONE, not just a select crowd of people. PlayStation2 will be stuck in the middle between Dreamcast and Dolphin... the only thing that it won't have between DC and Dolphin is the price... PS2 will be the most expensive of the three.

Sony doesn't announce what is coming in the Thursday update ahead of time, but speculation is that some or all of Calling All Cars, Super Rub-a-Dub, and the Home beta are coming out this week.

Sony is "considering" compensation? Give me a break.

I'll bet the pink on my ps3 the compensation won't be the kind you can spend.

Maybe if they fixed the MULTIPLE bugs with their waste.power.folding@home app... that would be compensation enough.

FUD FTW!

http://faq.eu.playstation.com/bc/bcGames.htm

That's hardly no backwards compatibility. There's enough to bash Sony without having to resort to FUD, dontcha think?

Using your logic, The XBOX360 has no Backwards compatibility either, right? Cuz it's just in software. Right fanboy?

Sony had already released a new model of the PS2 that came with the bundled ethernet adaptor that was CHEAPER than if you had bought an earlier PS2 and the adaptor separately. The monsters!

Still didn't mean that the older games wouldn't work on the newer hardware, or vice versa. It was still a PS2.

I think you missed the joke. Whoosh!

This thread (and news item, for that matter) is about the PS3, not about consoles in general. What I meant was that with the European and Australian version of the PS3 you just can't play all the PS2/PS1 games...

Holy Shit. I knew their compatibility would drop signifcantly, but they couldn't even get Final Fantasy to work well? Holy shit. MS got blasted for not offering good BC, but at least they prioritized HALO and a few other Big franchises (like GTA) but Sony didn't do that for FF? or how about GTA: SAN ANDREAS ? Stupid. Stupid. Stupid!

Holy Shit. I knew their compatibility would drop signifcantly, but they couldn't even get Final Fantasy to work well? Holy shit. MS got blasted for not offering good BC, but at least they prioritized HALO and a few other Big franchises (like GTA) but Sony didn't do that for FF? or how about GTA: SAN ANDREAS ? Stupid. Stupid. Stupid!

If updates are you're only concern then don't worry. I just tried doing an update from an OS X box, and it worked fine. I would imagine the same should hold true for a Linux box (or Solaris, or BSD, etc). Its just a matter of downloading a file, and putting it on a USB keydrive.

Windows is NOT a requirement.

... Where are the unique, fun, creative games on the new Playstation platforms,

and why don't companies take risks by creating low-budget, creative, and fun titles at a new system's launch?

a game system that is backwards compatible with almost all previous Sony titles (I know there are some issues, but for the most part you can play a very good majority of PS1 and PS2 titles on a PS3)

During playback of Blu-ray movies, at random times during the playback, the PS3's Navigation pops-up. As if you were to press the Triangle button. Just wondering if you were able to fix this in a firmware update? I am not alone, many users on the official Playstation forum have had this happen. http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/ message?board.id=ps3media&thread.id=27159/ Kotaku had this problem too. http://kotaku.com/gaming/kotaku-helpu/kotaku-helpu -why-is-this-ps3-menu-popping-up-242777.php/

What an ignorant comment.

Sony's history of backwards compatibility goes something like this:

The first PS2 models included a stripped down version of the PS1 hardware.
Later models switched to software emulation of PS1 titles and lost most of the legacy PS1 hardware. Sound familiar?
The first PS3 models included a stripped down version of the PS2 hardware.
Later models switched to a partial software emulation of PS2 titles and lost the EE side of the EE/GS combo.

The only difference between this time for Sony and BC is the GS is still by even today's standards a crazy powerful chip that probably isn't going to be easily emulated no matter how much work goes into a software emulator.

Down the road all PS3 will have just the GS in them in all regions. So, no, Microsoft and their backwards compatibility fiasco has nothing to do with Sony. For Microsoft a backwards compatible title pretty much means 'not crashing' regardless of slowdowns, graphics problems, audio or music problems, etc.

Just like for the PS3 in Japan and NA, Europe will soon have a website that gives detailed information on each and every title, about 2300 for Europe, on their current BC status:

http://faq.eu.playstation.com/bc/

The US already has their own version at:

http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/CompatibleSt atus

As anyone can see from the amazing scrutiny Sony goes over each game, when they say over 1000 PS2 titles work right now those titles actually work and and play exactly the same as they would on real EE/GS hardware. Over time there should be no reason that Cell can't properly emulate close to the current EE/GS equipped PS3's 98 percent of the PS2's library of games.

What an ignorant comment.

Sony's history of backwards compatibility goes something like this:

The first PS2 models included a stripped down version of the PS1 hardware.
Later models switched to software emulation of PS1 titles and lost most of the legacy PS1 hardware. Sound familiar?
The first PS3 models included a stripped down version of the PS2 hardware.
Later models switched to a partial software emulation of PS2 titles and lost the EE side of the EE/GS combo.

The only difference between this time for Sony and BC is the GS is still by even today's standards a crazy powerful chip that probably isn't going to be easily emulated no matter how much work goes into a software emulator.

Down the road all PS3 will have just the GS in them in all regions. So, no, Microsoft and their backwards compatibility fiasco has nothing to do with Sony. For Microsoft a backwards compatible title pretty much means 'not crashing' regardless of slowdowns, graphics problems, audio or music problems, etc.

Just like for the PS3 in Japan and NA, Europe will soon have a website that gives detailed information on each and every title, about 2300 for Europe, on their current BC status:

http://faq.eu.playstation.com/bc/

The US already has their own version at:

http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/CompatibleSt atus

As anyone can see from the amazing scrutiny Sony goes over each game, when they say over 1000 PS2 titles work right now those titles actually work and and play exactly the same as they would on real EE/GS hardware. Over time there should be no reason that Cell can't properly emulate close to the current EE/GS equipped PS3's 98 percent of the PS2's library of games.

Yeah I agree. The PS3 has great backwards play. I was severely impressed with how the PS3 creates a virtual memory card on the hard drive from the XMB. It's a great feature.

At the same time, I wonder if they are digging a bigger hole. Have they identified cost as the major reason no one is buying the PS3? Should they not wait for MGS, GT5, FFXIII before jumping to that judgement? I think it's a lack of titles and a software cost-reduction like this is just going to force them to emulate. Now before I say that's a bad thing, they could enhance an emulator and make a superset of the PS2 with save states, scanlines, network play on non-network games and all kinds of features that emulators can offer but the original hardware can't. But the trade-off is making sure that the software implementation is absolutely perfect. Otherwise it's going to be another Sony database of backwards compatibility bugs (this bug database has been quite good with the real ps2 chip in the ps3).

This whole backwards vs forwards thing reminds me of Windows.

I'll take a stab at answering for the AC...

I don't have a link to show exactly how many games with problems, but I know that in late January Sony released a firmware update that fixed a large portion of the non-peripheral related issues compat issues.

I can't get to it from work, so I can't double check...but this link should allow you to search for specific games. I don't think you can do much searching beyond the title, but it will allow you to check your current library.

The Colossus depicted may be original, but the sadly the game mechanic is not.

I ofcourse can't find the links atm, however:
PS3 DOES suppost 720p Tech Specs

What I think you are thinking of was the problem where it was downsampeling from 1080 to 480 instead of 720, and that was fixed in a firmware update.

See the thread: http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/ message?board.id=ps3&thread.id=808212&view=by_date _ascending&page=1 It has the full story.

What could be still an issue for Europe is the problems with graphics of some PS2 games (see http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/ message?board.id=ps3&thread.id=808212 for instance).

This could be more of a problem in the EU, as PAL versions of games generally don't have progressive scan support (which is a work-around).

I called Playstation support in the UK yesterday about this, and they claimed that this would be fixed in a firmware update before the EU launch. I'm not sue I believe them though.

Yes, I've already read about people installing MAME on the PS3. This is one feature I'm interested in as well. MAME doesn't even use hardware accelerated graphics, so the fact that the graphics hardware is locked down shouldn't affect it. I did read that currently, due to how the memory is set up, YDL can only access half of the PS3's RAM, but that problem is being worked on. Other than emulators I'd also like to try and use Linux to install MUGEN and make use of media streaming (from my PC).

How can a platform used in three video game consoles, including one without a lockout chip (allowing it to be used as a personal computer), be dead?

Or they see in the video game aisle that they can build their own own dual-format player. Taking the example of the United States, I can buy an Xbox 360 with HD-DVD accessory for $600, a PS3 premium for $600, and get two free game consoles (PS3 and 360) and a free Linux PC (PS3 Open Platform). There's your $1200 dual-format player.

(Before you go complaining about European PS3 launch delays, HappySqurriel wrote $, and $ != €.)

And I immediately thought LocoRoco. Man, I've been playing it all this time thinking it's the most unique game ever, now all these rolling blob games come out of the woodwork. It's whole freekin' genre!

Oh well, it's still mighty fun.

TW

The PS3 is backwards compatible with PS2 (though there are some games with problems, the PS3 essentially includes a PSTwo Slimline-on-a-chip). It's not longer backwards compatible with PS1 games (which were only backwards compatible on the PS2 thanks to a PSOne-on-a-chip). Instead you get to re-purchase your PS1 games this time around so you can play them on your PSP. Like the Xbox 360, your old PS2 peripherals won't work with your new PS3.

If the PS3's backwards compatibility is anything like the PS2's it will be quite good, but there's a good chance it won't eliminate the need for the PS2/PS1. There are quite a few games that aren't backwards compatible (even some PS2 games have issues on the slim PS2).

the Xbox360 can play most Xbox games

If by "most" you mean 27% of the top 300 games, then sure.

The PLAYSTATION 3 game console running Linux might be able to use an optical disc recorder connected to one of its USB 2.0 ports.

Any operating system vendor is welcome to make a boot loader module for PS3 Other OS Installer. But in general, only Free operating systems are going to be worth anybody's time.

The keyboard and mouse used with the PlayStation 2 game console (PS2) were a standard USB keyboard and a standard USB mouse. Yes, these devices also work with PS3 consoles.

Sony left off a dedicated printer port probably because it saw that Nintendo's Game Boy Printer was a flop. But you can still attach any USB or network printer that has a CUPS driver.

What about the PS3 makes it worth more than the XBox 360?

PlayStation 3: Sony provides Other OS Installer, its official way to install other operating systems. For instance, I've seen a video of starting Fedora on a PS3 on YouTube. If you have Fedora, you have all the games that come with Fedora, and if they support joysticks, they will work with SIXAXIS. Total price: $500 for PS3 console.

Xbox 360: Microsoft plans to provide XNA Creators Club, its way to run .NET on your Xbox 360 console. Microsoft plans to make it available by subscription only, costing $100 per year, and it will require Windows XP (thus shutting out people who still use an older computer from the Windows 2000 days or who jumped ship for Linux after Windows 2000). Total price even for people with a recent Windows PC: $400 for Xbox 360 console plus $500 over the life of the console.

>>Here's what happened exactly... Dear klipp0th, You recently listed the following auction-style listing: 250051615791 - Playstation 3 PS3 Premium w/ Fedora Linux Installed The listing was removed because it violated eBay policy. All fees related to this listing have been credited to your account. We also notified members who placed bids on the item that the listing has been canceled. The sale of unauthorized copies of copyrighted media (including software, video games, music, television programs, ebooks, and photographs) is illegal and not permitted on eBay. "Unauthorized" copies include back-up, pirated, and bootlegged copies. >>And my extremely angry response thus far... Here, I'm doing the work for you. Have your legal department look over these documents in reference to your allegations of illegal/immoral conduct on my part, and ruining a lot of hard work and advertising beyond Ebay itself. Sony's Official Stance: http://www.playstation.com/ps3-openplatform/faq.ht ml http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/cur rent/settings/osinstall.html Fedora's Official Stance: http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Distribution The only question left is how are you going to make this up to me? How will you compensate me for the huge media attention that my achievment in installing an open source OS on the PS3 got me, how will you replace the 30-something people that were viewing my page when last I checked, and how do you replace the people that had started to bid? You have no idea what I went through to get Linux to work on a PS3, what I went through to composite video of it in action for people to share, and the amount of time I put in building excitement amongst all of the major news sources & blogs about my accomplishment for you to just take it all away. It is the first time I have ever sold anything through ebay, and to do something completely legitimate and even promoted by Sony, just be accused of Piracy by you? As I said...read the links above, then tell me just how you are going to make it up to me. If I could get the entire internet buzzing about Linux on a Playstation 3, you know I'll be the first one to report when a company decides to illegally contradict and oppress the Open Source Community. Check Slashdot's membership totals if you need some numbers on that. And then check Digg, Engadget, Kotaku, Gizmodo, and any of a dozen other news sources, and you'll get the idea... Expecting to hear from you very soon. >>So, think I was pissed off enough? I may end up selling to a famous person in technology world, but we'll see how that goes. I may just keep it after all. But I definitely don't have to agree with Ebay's policies as regards open-source software.I mean, I may be a "noob", but at least I know how to read legal disclaimers and I have a cursory understanding of open-source, which is more than they know. It very well could have been one of the trolls that were hating on me that went to Ebay trying to get me in trouble... If I were trying to sell Linux, that would be one thing, but I was just trying to sell my PS3 and maybe making a little extra for my hard work of getting Linux to install correctly. And as a note, it is almost complete. Everything works now except sound comes out all garbled while the system says there is no soudcard, and there is an error message related to the PMU device, which seems to dissappear whenever I reboot. I have figured out the script that will create the PMU device, but now I need to figure out how to get that command to run upon bootup every time. This is the script: sudo ./MAKEDEV pmu Anyone know how to get that to run every time, so I'm not stuck with an error message upon bootup? And the pmu device is a power management device, and could very well have something to do with my messed up sound, so if I can get the command to run on bootup, then it may kill 2 birds with one stone...

So, whether you think I'm a noob or an idiot or whatever doesn't matter at this point. The fact is, Sony expressly designed the PS3 to run Linux - any version, and they say so on thier site http://www.playstation.com/ps3-openplatform/index. html . We all know that Fedora is open source, and you can sell computers with Fedora installed without a problem. But my auction was cancelled without any notification from Ebay over "Unauthorized Copies (Copyright)". To quote: Dear klipp0th, You recently listed the following auction-style listing: 250051615791 - Playstation 3 PS3 Premium w/ Fedora Linux Installed The listing was removed because it violated eBay policy. All fees related to this listing have been credited to your account. We also notified members who placed bids on the item that the listing has been canceled. What kind of crap is that!?! Since when is installing Linux on a system that supports Linux violating copyright? It wasn't a paid distro, it was a free one...

there was Slashdot article on Friday with links to how to do it.

http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/11/17/ 1327239

Download the otheros.self file from SCEfoo,

http://www.playstation.com/ps3-openplatform/

download FC5 PPC DVD,

download the addon's disk (theres some detailed instructions on it too)

ftp://ftp.uk.linux.org/pub/linux/Sony-PS3/

and install.

You can find more detailed instructions in various places on the net

In a about a week you'll be able to buy Yellow Dog 5.0 for the PS3, supposedly it has 1 click install.

http://www.terrasoftsolutions.com/products/ydl/

I really don't know why you're so skeptical, this is not the first game console from Sony that supports LInux, officially mind you, this isn't some sort of hack.

http://www.playstation.com/ps3-openplatform/index. html
Sony has already posted instructions for putting Linux on the PS3, expect once the inital gameboys die down you will be seeing a lot of people buying the PS3 purely as a computer platform. For the price point of $600 for what is arguable a very high performance computer, its not a bad deal.

You might be interested in this link.

The PS3's supposed to be able to run Linux. Haven't yet come across an article showing this though. As of yet, Sony's official support page is essentially blank and the PS3's "official" Yellow Dog Linux 5.0 distro hasn't been released. Imho this ability of running your own OS and software to harness the PS3's power would be the only reason to justify its price tag. Think of what people could do with it - in fact it would be a Slashdotter's dream (if only it wasn't Sony who manufactured it.. ;): a gaming console that runs Linux and yes, you could even build a Beowulf cluster with these. On top of that you could run Doom, Quake, vi, Wine, Firefox, [insert cliche geek software here], you name it!

Now, where this thing really gets interesting is when people start writing emulators for the PS3, specifically XBox (360) and Wii emulators - it does sport a Cell processor running @ 3.2GHz. In the event that a bunch of dedicated fanatics conjure up an emulator that would run Wii games on the PS3 (initially sans the nunchak support, I guess) Nintendo would more or less have to sue Sony, no? Would Sony have to retract their support for open operating systems?

Given of course that Sony sticks by their word and allows other OSes to run on their new little toy, that is.

(I originally posted this into the the PS3 poll, but seeing as the PS3 could potentially run Wii games with an adequate emulator it actually fits for this "feature comparison" article as well)

Im more impressed with the power supply the PS3 comes with, the site shown here doesn't display it, but here is the image...Powersupply

Truley remarkable as to how small it is, and can power up the PS3. You can see other images here

PLAYSTATION®3 allows any desired third-party system software to be installed on it besides its system software provided by Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Details will be posted on this site soon.

Interesting, no? Add that to the fact that there are 3rd party memory cards supported, and no wacky media formats in the PS3's OS (its all MP3/AAC/MPEG2/MPEG4), and makes one hope, distantly, that Sony may be changing their ways...

Here is the google translation:
November 11th, PLAYSTATION 3 was sold.

But sale quantity and the like becomes topic tend, has become the product whose, good point such as CELL and loading of BD drive is many even hardware.

Because 60GB version could be procured, you will try seeing content right away.

First, it is the schedule which sends the bulletin compilation, after that keeps introducing the individual product.

Package. Weight is heavy very Contents of package When the box is opened

Packing thing summary Substance rear Substance left side

Substance right side surface Memory card leader

The HDD slot can access the user As for HDD of 60GB Seagete make

  note

When disassembly/remodelling was done, guarantee of the manufacturer becomes unable to receive.
This reading the article, the damage which it occurs the behavior which it did with (disassembly and the like), the PC Watch editorial staff or the manufacturer, the shop which is purchased does not owe the criticism.
The description regarding internal constitution and the like is the thing in regard to the individual which the editorial staff uses, it is common with it does not limit concerning all products
PC Watch in the editorial staff, concerning this article to individual question it cannot answer the inquiry.

The warning seal which is similar to PS2. When this is peeled off, repair becomes unable to receive When the seal is peeled off, the letter "of VOID" floats and rises

Under the warning seal the special screw which is removed, most the cover outside is removed The screw whose large number is long is removed, finally the chassis opens The cable which has extended to the cover above with just 1, is connected to the card leader

When the upper cover of the case is removed. The left BD drive, the right the [hu] has gone down with power source Entrance of power source. It is not the AC adapter, 100V enters directly. Power source capacity you feel comparatively as for power source small The baseplate which is on front side of power source seems like related to wireless LAN from the seal and wiring etc

When BD drive and power source, the wireless LAN baseplate is removed, finally the seal of the motherboard is visible. As for central stay for fixing of heat sink When the case of bottom side is removed, the enormous cooling fan which is not visible so far is expressed Changing angle, the cooling fan which you saw. There is approximately 16cm with the pouring transfer

Around the cooling fan with the heat sink, the fin is visible When the cooling fan is removed Removing the heat sink, when it is turned over. The heat pipe is running

The motherboard surface (* the large picture opens in another window)
Motherboard back (* the large picture opens in another window)

Four big tips/chips are visible on the motherboard. The leftmost side EE+GS. It is thought one for operation of the software for PS2 Being next "is RSX" of the graphic tip/chip

When the heat spreader of RSX is peeled off, GDDR3 memory is expressed 4 tips/chips The graphic memory of Samsung make is designated as on module

Being on the right side the is SONY make controller "CXD2973GB" Under right side CELL. "CXD2964GB" and type turn are struck. RSX it is connected with very thick pattern

The home page of SCE
http://www.scei.co.jp/
PLAYSTATION 3 home page
http://www.jp.playstation.com/ps3/
-related article
"Play station 3" article link collection (GAME)
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/backno/ne ws/ps3link.htm
PLAYSTATION 3 link collection (AV)
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/link/ps3.ht m

(2006 November 11th)

[Reported by date@impress.co.jp]

For the number of quality games and the low cost, the PS2 is what I'd tell anybody looking for a new console to buy at the moment.

No, Sony has always had a one year warranty on their Playstations, and they most definitely honor them.

A year huh? Always been a year? From Sony's PS2 Support page:

LIMITED WARRANTY FOR THE PLAYSTATION GAME CONSOLE

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) warrants to the original purchaser that this product (hardware, game discs and accessories) shall be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of purchase (the "Warranty Period")

LIMITED WARRANTY FOR THE PLAYSTATION 2 COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) warrants to the original purchaser that this product (hardware, game discs and accessories) shall be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of purchase (the "Warranty Period").

Seeing as 90 days isn't that long, I reiterate that a product that generates a lot of heat is a concern of mine, since products that generate a lot of heat tend to die sooner rather than later (this is why people get so anal about fans on their PCs). Since Sony usually has 90 day warranties, I want to be confident my PS3 won't be ailing on day 91.

If I was that worried about a fire hazard, I wouldn't have a stove in my house. As it is, I'm not worried, and yes, I do have a stove in my house, as well as a fireplace, matches, lighters, and other things that cause fires more often than the occasional one-in-a-million fires from electronic gadgets.

None of these things cause fires if they are propery operated. Electrical fires happen even under normal operation. As a result, electrical fires account for more dollars in damages than any other kind of fire except arson, according to the National Fire Protection Agency. About 1 in 10 home fires is caused by an electrical source, also accoridng to NFPA. Far from one in a million.

Discounting everything else - it's one of the first (if not the first) products to use a Cell processor.

It's one of the first CONSUMER products to use a cell processor. Cell processors have been used in tiny gadgets and big iron for several years. It's proven to be, well, awesome.

You sure about that? The Cell Wikipedia page says:

Cell is a microprocessor architecture jointly developed by a Sony, Toshiba, and IBM alliance known as STI. The architectural design and first implementation were carried out at the STI Design Center over a four-year period beginning March 2001 on a budget reported by IBM as approaching $400 million.

Cell is a shorthand for Cell Broadband Engine Architecture, commonly abbreviated CBEA in full or Cell BE in part. Cell combines a general-purpose Power Architecture core of modest performance with streamlined coprocessing elements which greatly accelerate multimedia and vector processing applications, as well as many other forms of dedicated computation.

The major commercial application of Cell is in Sony's upcoming PlayStation 3 game console which is slated to launch in November 17, 2006 (in the US). Mercury Computer Systems has a dual Cell server, a dual Cell blade configuration, a rugged computer and a PCI Express accelerator board available in different stages of production.

It goes on to say that the only company currently using the Cell is Mercury Systems, who use it for an accelerator card and a blade system. IBM has a blade prototype, but no products. Wikipedia can of course be wrong, but it doesn't seem to be as widepread, or out as long, as you say. Can you link to some of these other devices you mention?

In the discussion on Newlaunches.com, the Newlaunches team itself gave a link to http://www.jp.playstation.com/support/qa-591.html. They claim it means "The PS3 will have a peak power consumption of 380 watts".

Sorry for claiming earlier that they did not back up their results (but I still think they could have put the link right in the article).

Dig down through the links to the source page: http://www.jp.playstation.com/support/qa-591.html Translate that with babelfish and you will see that the MAX consumption is 380 watts. With 8 cores all running at 100%, 380 watts seems very reasonable (48 watts/core peak). The average will be much lower.

Here's the link to the original source before it went through a 4-blog telephone game:

http://www.jp.playstation.com/support/qa-591.html

Send it here.

Let them know your thoughts.

consumers have been hearing mostly baseless FUD about a potential $600 purchase