Sony Announces PlayStation 3 Slim - Updated Comments

As an upgrade from my existing PS3.......No. If I was buying from scratch, then yes!

No brainer. Will definitely be getting it.

£249 in the UK. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002L16JXS?tag=slimps3-21&camp=2902&creative=19466&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B002L16JXS&adid=0YQFMQ4VWMVM8Y1FXPFG&

This price drop took way too long and in the meantime I got an XBox360. Can't see why I need a PS3 as well now.

First the PSP Go and now this. Has Sony fired all of its hardware design staff?

"So, who's buying one?"

I'm really, really tempted now. My Bday is on Friday and I'll probably get the usual cash filled birthday card.

I was thinking of an Xbox 360, looks like my choice is even harder now.

It looks like they have removed the stylish touch sensitive buttons on the console

I like the design of both the PSPgo and PS3 Slim. But as a PSP-2000 owner I'll probably not upgrade. I have bought too many cheap UMDs over the year. Besides I already have a 16GB Duo, which is more than enough for games as I don't use the PSP for films and music. But the PS3 slim I'll definitely be getting despite already having a PS3, with the drop in power consumption and size being the main reason for upgrading.

Well it might be "32 per cent smaller, 36 per cent lighter and munches 34 per cent less power" but i agree with Hugo, it does look naff. They did lose the plot in comparison to the current model, should have just made a smaller version of that...

I will gladly concede though, the appeal of a smaller model that draws less power and produces less heat whilst being cheaper should have a greater appeal and should sell more. So, not really an upgrade option, but should tempt more people into buying a ps3. Now thats good for Sony, and its existing customers...

I think it looks quite nice ... however I can't see myself getting it over the original PS3 I've got sat next to my TV.

The slim PS2 was a waif compared to the original. Based strictly on these pictures, this size difference doesn't seem as drastic. Less power & heat is good though and a lower price point too. I believe Microsoft is also cost-cutting by removing the HDMI lead with the Elite and raising the Arcade price. What we really need is an 360 slim.

Ohh, and it has Bravia Sync, it needs a vertical stand (sold separately of course) to stand upright and you cannot install "another OS" anymore.

According to Sony the ability to install another operating system has been removed, so no more Linux. I hope the little flappy thing on the right hides a removeable standard laptop HDD as well. Not sure how people can complain about the looks - the 360 isn't exactly a supermodel (cheap and plasticky in fact, imho). £249 for a Slim PS3 or £229 for a 360 Elite - no contest.

Hold the phone £250 is $414 .. NO SALE! Though €300 is £256 so that's something I guess.

I have to agree on the looks, it's very very very bland. It looks like a case for a cordless drill you would buy from Argos for a tenner. Not sure if that is better or worse than a George Foreman grill.

It looks like it should make grilled cheese sandwiches.

Well the RRP is £249.99 - so should see that price come down. Also, will be released on 1st September according to Sony, and will come with the much anticipated 3.0 firmware.

http://uk.playstation.com/games-media/news/articles/detail/item229653/Entertainment-on-PS3-has-a-new-look/

Note 1: Your -picture sets are mixed up (URLs don't match thumbs)

Note 2: This is a smart choice by Sony, even if the design is somewhat... undesirable. Now more Japanese consumers can fit them in their 2x3 metre rooms.

Note 3: I already own a PS3 so I wont be getting one, but anything that increases the user base is good by me as that means there will be more motivation from developers to catch the new market of PS3 owners.

If only, Tim.....if only. For now, we can only dream.

Though perhaps we'll get lucky and Sony will fix that in a firmware update. No more going hungry during Gran Turismo endurance races for me!

awful design

Ugh. Looks like a mock-up for a Sega Megadrive Blu-ray addon.

Looks like an ugly Georges Foreman Grill...and so cheap looking...what happen to the brand appeal? sacrificed for the sake of product cost? Glad I have an old PS3, would not want this new one.

I think I'd rather get the reduced price fat model. Unfortunately the slim just screams "I got the cheap option" unlike the slim PS2. Rather have a george forman grill than a "case for a cordless drill".

Truly awful looking (it looks so underwhelming) - was hoping this would be nicer. Only nice thing about it is it's quieter.

Just what I've been waiting for. Still won't be getting one till it's under £200 though.

My main concern is the blu ray playback. Hopefully its as good as the original models. If it is then I might actually buy a PS3.

when its hidden under the TV I dont really care what it looks like, and whereas its not as good looking as the big one its not that ugly, and I cant say I would be looking at it much anyway. £250 is the perfect price point in my opinion.

quite like this but not worth upgrading from the standard one for me unless it gives off noticeably less heat! Would have liked to have seen PlayTV built in or at least a USB port on the back of the console! Some cool DELL style colours wouldn't go amiss either! Seems they have gone less media centre more games console! Losers. Ill get a cheap 360 and have both rather than spend on changing.

I will be getting one for sure, and just in time for FFXIII and then... Gran Turismo 5!!!

I think I have a hat to eat somewhere after this announcement.

The "spy-shots" leaked before this was announced looked more like a PZ3 released by a company called Suny... This weird little thing looks no different. Will be happily sticking with my power-consuming, finger-print magnet, behemoth of a gaming machine!

Yeuch. I've already got a PS3 but wouldn't touch this for reasons three:

1) It's ugly. That didn't used to matter too much with a games console but as the PS3 is more often than not used as a Blu-Ray deck they tend to end up in the middle of AV equipment stacks and this is going to stick out like a sore thumb. Not to mention the loss of that cool futuristic look. Oddly enough I think my biggest issue is the loss of the touch 'buttons' for power and eject, that really looks odd and takes away one of the biggest 'wow that's cool' bits of the original.

2) Never EVER buy first revision of any consumer electronics item without a least a couple of weeks of overwhelmingly positive reports from others. Especially with a new design like this you never know what can slip through QA.

3) I, um, I don't trust Sony to get it 100% right. I seem to remember the PS2 slim had a few problems playing some games owing to chipset alterations. They've been awfully quiet on the guts of this thing. They've already taken out Linux compatibility (hardly a big issue, granted) but I'd want to see if anything else has changed and if it's had any unexpected consequences.

Oh, and I'd also look to see if there were any good clearance deals on the original model.

Anyone know if:

1) you can still plug an external hard drive in or replace the HD with a bigger one of your choice?
2) it works with PlayTV? Does that use up the USB connection, meaning you couldn't have a external HD plugged in at the same time?
3) Do you reckon it will be possible to root the device and get around the "no other OS" issue?

I wanted for a while to buy another PS3 for the living room,
But unfortunately the missus vetoed it.

Hopefully she will just think this is a new version ;-)

@Bluepork,

1. Yes you can plug an external hard drive in or replace the HD with a bigger one.

2. Yes it works with PlayTV.

3. Yes.

@jopey

Pricing is based on relative value, not a straight currency exchange.

Salaries in the US are different to in the UK, and so is the cost of living. To an American, $299 is the equivalent of a Brit spending £250, not £190 (then add sales tax for the state they are in). Yes, if you went to the States you could get one for cheaper than you would in the UK, but you're taking your comparatively higher salary and values over there and using a direct currency exchange.

The PS3 will always be the premium console so whatever the price is Xbox and Wii will always be able to undercut. I can see Xbox price being slashed heavily, so the pricing pressure is on the Wii. Sony is not interested in a race to the bottom so
I don't see how anyone can complain about value of a PS3 at this new price point. Everyone complaining for the last 2 years about the high price should pay up or shut up.

@BOFH_UK I have to take exception to your second point. ALWAYS by first revision PlayStation consoles, cost cutting happens in subsequent revisions check PS1, PS2 and PS3 changes.

The price cut is good news.

Otherwise, I'm fairly underwhelmed. It's not that much smaller or lighter. And I can only agree with everyone else: It looks rubbish. From some angles it's not too bad, but from above, especially with that PS3 logo, it's simply hideous. I wonder if some of the cost-cutting was achieved by leaving the design to a particularly unimaginative accountant... and then only paying them for 5 minutes work.

PlayTV should have been built-in.

@javier What's the point of built-in PlayTV when it only works in PAL regions? Freeview standard is probably going to change when HD channels launch. Video On Demand service is the better choice me thinks.

I actually really like the design of this thing. I think what everyone's really complaining about are the naff looking plastics. If they'd just used the same gloss black as the original, it could have looked so much cooler...
And would a couple of rear USB ports have broken the bank?

looking at some of the online unboxings I think it looks a lot better than it does in the photos. after waiting for the price drop (which was always seemed to be a week away) I think I probably will buy one now.

and to those who were wondering the HDD is replaceable using a compartment on the bottom
and to who said it, I bought a PS2 slim on the first day it came out, have used it a lot and never had a problem with it.

Chris, you're right about the matt finish looking worse than the gloss; but also the buttons look cheap (compared to the controls on the original), but most of all I cannot emphasise enough how atrocious that logo looks.

I agree that an extra USB port or two would have been great and would make it an actual improvement over the current generation. Personally, I've swapped out my 40Gb PS3's hard drive for a 300Gb so the Slim has nothing to offer me. Then again, it's not aimed at me but at newcomers, and if it means greater success for the PS3 (and subsequently more exclusives etc) then I'm happy. Still, 'could do better' though...

I know that design matters, and beautiful gadgets appeal more, but if that's the biggest criticism, then things really aren't too bad!

Ahlan, please can you expand? How do you know that that it is possible to install a different OS by rooting it? Have you done it, or is this guesswork?

Also, does anyone know if the PS3 works with a standard USB hub? An unsightly solution to the problem perhaps, but I'm just interested in the options at this stage.

Yes, it will work with a usb hub. I would suggest getting a powered one though. I have a powered HP(made by Belkin) usb hub, works a treat. If you didnt get a powered one, could try and draw too much power from the ps3 (depending on what you connect) and what you connect could underperform.