Redesigned PlayStation 2 Console Preview

Anonymous Gamer writes "GameSpot has a new hands-on preview of Sony's redesigned PlayStation 2 system. It's one-fourth the size of the old PS2 and only weighs two pounds. It looks like Sony's new system will be the iPod of game consoles this holiday season."

Comments

But alas

[antifoidulus]

it doesn't run Linux(no hd possible!)

Re:But alas

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, it does run Linux. A hard drive is not required to use the PS2 Linux Kit because the kernel (or any other executable you install) is loaded from the memory card. There are at least two projects on playstation2-linux.com that include tutorials on how to boot via NFS root.

A friend of mine has already used the Linux Kit to boot homebrew software stored on the memory card.

Is it portable?

[Anonymous Coward]

"It looks like Sony's new system will be the iPod of game consoles this holiday season."

Is it portable?

No?

Then how the fuck is it going to be the "ipod of game consoles?"

What a stupid comparison.

Re:Is it portable?

[cttforsale]

I think they are calling it "the cool looking must have tech toy despite the value proposition it offers"

car mod

[prankfurter]

The new PS2 would be ideal for modding a car. its small and it runs off of dc (the transformer is external..) :-)

What is the ipod comment for?

[(SM) Spacemonkey]

Are you saying its going to sell the most? Or its the smallest of the three consoles? Or the best design? Or the one everyone thinks cool?

The ipod comment seems a little redundant.

iPod of games consoles?

[SimianOverlord]

So the Playstation 2 will only be bought by faux-scruffy posers?

My thoughts..

[McKinney83]

If you don't already have a ps2, this is worth looking into.

The only reason I could see someone who already has a ps2 getting this new one would be if theirs was first generation and dying. The new size is sweet and I don't think the no hdd thing will be a huge issue, plus you can't go wrong with the built in IR (for the dvd remote).

The other difference is the top-loader. It's a great idea, and now people don't have to worry about their drives breaking (as often, at least) but for people who value vertical room more than horizontal (tv stands, etc.) it may be more of a hassle.

Re:My thoughts..

[Fred Or Alive]

There's a still a fan, but a less noisy one. The disc drive probably doesn't sound like an Acorn Archimedies's floppy drive either. :-)

Could be worse, you could own an Xbox, mine makes a really annoying noise from it's fan (I think), I feel like seeing if I can replace it. Apparently as time goes on, the Xboxes construction is getting cheaper and cheaper, and it's getting noisier becuase of it.

Re:My thoughts..

[KDR_11k]

Any word on the reliability compared to a standard model? And did Sony only mean HDD games with "some games might not run on this new version" or does that include more games?

Does size really matter?

[llevity]

The new PS2's biggest feature appears to be its size. Okay, it's smaller. So what? It's not portable. I'm not going to carry it around in my pocket with 15' of A/V cables and power cords trailing behind me in case I happen to end up somewhere with a TV to hook it up to. The only reasonable thing I've seen so far is that it'd be ideal to install in your car, if that's your thing.

By the same token, lots of people had a problem with the Xbox because of its size. Why?

We're not talking Univac sized room filling machines. Stick the sucker on a shelf, or next to your TV on the floor, and forget about it. Why does anyone care about size?

Personally, I'd love to see them all come in a standard size. If they were the same dimensions of a DVD player, or VCR, I could stack them all on top of each other. Considering aesthetic design seems to be so important to someone, that'll never happen though.

Re:Does size really matter?

[Drakonite]

"By the same token, lots of people had a problem with the Xbox because of its size. Why?

"Personally, I'd love to see them all come in a standard size. If they were the same dimensions of a DVD player, or VCR, I could stack them all on top of each other."

I think you answered your own question. The size of the xbox sucks because it takes up too much room and doesn't fit where most other things will.

Maybe I'm just more special than you are, but I see having components small enough so I can actually fit them in the relatively small space I can spare for them as a GoodThing(TM). An xbox is too wide for me to "Stick the sucker on a shelf" on my entertainment center, and I take too much care of my stuff to put it "next to your TV on the floor, and forget about it." where it's going to get kicked around and stepped on.

Not trying to be argumentitive, but you did ask ;)

I do agree the smaller PS2 isn't a big deal though... Sure, I wouldn't mind having one, but it's nothing special.

That's nice and all....

[rsilvergun]

but still no price cut? I guess they don't need to (still). Oh well, I'm glad to see the tray loader gone, one less motor to break and all. Then again that only applies if they built the thing as well as the first PS2.

Finally!

[pat_trick]

I waited for her to drop in price, and now that she's lost a few pounds and has a slimmer profile, I can see myself spending the money to buy her. ...no, I'm talking about the new PStwo you sicko.

BAH! Another New Multitap?

[Grym]

...Unfortunately, older (SCPH-10090) Multitap adapters are not compatible with the new PS2 because the memory-card and controller-port placements don't match the port layouts on the older system.

Anybody ever notice that Sony is a bunch of bastards when it comes to multitaps? The things are like $30 (God knows why) and are ALWAYS incompatible with previous versions.

-Grym

Re:Just buy a used ps2

[ZX-3]

HDLoader is not the PS2 hard drive, it is a boot disc for use with the hard drive. HDLoader is used to rip and play images of DVD-based games, which greatly reduces load times. It does not allow you to store game saves on the hard drive, either.

Where's the disassembly?

[Andy_R]

Functionally it's just the same machine again, the interest here is in how much they've been able to reduce the component count, so I'm disappointed not to see the guts of the new machine on show.

If the machine is effectively a single 'PS2 chip' plus support and interfaces, then it would be a very strong pointer to the PS3 having the same chip in it for backwards compatibility.