PlayStation 3 hands-on preview (with video!)

We got a brief shred of playtime back at E3 this year, but Sony was kind enough to invite us down to SCEA HQ in beautiful Foster City for a little one on one with some PlayStation3s and execs. We shot some video (yes, us) and have a some notes on the hardware after the break, so check it out!

P.S. -Our flash video isn't the highest quality / res. If you want the best looking video of the PS3, check out the VGA h.264 file below.

Download video
MOV (h.264) - VGA, QVGA
AVI (DivX) - VGA, QVGA

Music: Christopher Willits - Colors Shifting (Ghostly International)

If nothing else, it's certainly something to behold.

Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to video the slot loading drive in the PS3, but there isn't much to write about it. Anyone who's ever had a slot loading laptop knows the deal. It was a bit loud, but did the trick.

The port config, as we all well know by now.

That's a lot of logos.

The thing about the PS3, it's definitely optimized for heat. Without looking too much like the Mac cheesegrater, this thing is really set up for unconstricted airflow -- a far cry from its original, smoother design. During our play time, the unit remained relatively cool -- as cool, if not cooler than the Xbox 360.

The eject and power buttons aren't tactile, but they are touch sensitive.

Here we've got the CF, SD / miniSD, and Memory Stick slots, as well as the four USB ports, hard drive indicator, and wireless indicator.

We're not 100% sure, but we think this is where the hard drive's at. We understand it may be removable, more on that shortly.

[Michael @ Nov 1st 2006 7:26PM]

The controllers use lithium ion, not AAs.

[CharlieX @ Nov 1st 2006 3:14PM]

I can't think of anything that:

1) needs electrical current
2) and is that SHINY!

you could signal planes with it if you get lost in the woods... with your PS3... lost... in... the... woods....

[Logrithmic @ Nov 1st 2006 3:15PM]

NICE! Can't wait.

[jalapeno @ Nov 1st 2006 3:16PM]

Very cool! Hope it plays as good as it looks.

[Dave @ Nov 1st 2006 3:17PM]

Perfect.

[Jason @ Nov 1st 2006 3:18PM]

WHERE SHOTS OF SOME GAME PLAY?????

[Ryan Block @ Nov 1st 2006 3:34PM]

I've got more video coming soon, but unfortunately none of it is gameplay. I want to show the stuff you can't see on the web, and shooting gameplay won't prove very useful when you're checking it out through a VGA video.

[degree @ Nov 1st 2006 3:19PM]

That is truely one shiny piece of goodness.. I can't wait to unpack my PS3 on the 17th.

[Javier @ Nov 1st 2006 3:30PM]

NICE! Good job guys.

[Wilson Li @ Nov 1st 2006 3:35PM]

I'm gonna camp outside BestBuy two days b4 the launch to get my hands on this baby! Engadget staff, you guys are so lucky! I envy you guys a lot!!!!!!!!!!!

[chezzo @ Nov 1st 2006 3:37PM]

Is it just me or is it really... big?

[Michael @ Nov 1st 2006 6:46PM]

both.

[Will @ Nov 1st 2006 3:40PM]

Ryan,
Any video of the slot loading in action?

[Mitch R. @ Nov 1st 2006 3:41PM]

What's the size compared to the 360?

[Silver R. Wolfe @ Nov 1st 2006 3:48PM]

It's a couple pounds heavier than the Xbox 360 and quite larger, but that's mostly due to it having an internal power supply unlike the 360s.

[Mitch R. @ Nov 1st 2006 3:44PM]

Any video's of the OS?

[Herby @ Nov 1st 2006 3:46PM]

This is a torrent file of the h.264 VGA video to help with bandwidth.
http://www.sharebigfile.com/getfile.php?id=73A317E8&access_key=YWNmYzQ1ODJlYTgzODgxOGYyMDhlNWQ2NTg1ZWNjMmViMTIwMzcyMjEzMzA4OGY3NWM2NzM4YTYzOTQ1OGNkMDMw&captcha=323135

[Mitch R. @ Nov 1st 2006 4:01PM]

I'll be seeding in 1 hour 20 minutes. :)

[JinKazama @ Nov 1st 2006 3:46PM]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm PS3....can't wait... number 2 on my local ebgames preorder list, already got the day off of work, and the wife is leaving town for the weekend.

[Lectoid @ Nov 1st 2006 3:47PM]

If the PS3 is backwards compatible, where do the PS1 and PS2 memory cards go?

[Silver R. Wolfe @ Nov 1st 2006 3:49PM]

There is an adapter you can buy for $15 from Sony that allow you to import your PS1/PS2 data from your memory cards and download it directly to your hard drive. The hard drive will also act as your memory cards when playing a PS1/PS2 game on the PS3.

[Evan @ Nov 1st 2006 4:00PM]

You would think, with all those memory card slots under the flap, they'd put a PS2 memory card slot there.

[mathew @ Nov 1st 2006 3:56PM]

As someone who had an original PS2, my main question about the PS3 is whether it will have a noisy fan too.

[Josh @ Nov 2nd 2006 12:57PM]

The later versions of the PS2s had silent fans - I broke mine before the warranty ran out and replaced it and all the fan noise just stopped! :O

[jge @ Nov 1st 2006 3:56PM]

I would like to know how something that uses as much power as it does (300+ watts) with an internal power supply (no brick) is that quiet, and doesn't generate enough heat to fry it.

[tk2k @ Nov 1st 2006 10:13PM]

very easily, and it is importaint to remember a few things
first: efficancy of the PSU, my guess is around 80%, so if it gets 380, it only can actuall use 80% of that
second: it has 8 cores to run. even if each core takes 20 watts of power, that is 160 right there!
third: graphics card. these things take at least 60 watts alone
fourth: hard drive. nuf said
fith: bluetooth. yes, it takes a lot of power to run. you might not think it, but it has to maintain up to 7 connections at the same time (3 more then xbox 360) and charge them too.
lastly: that is at peak useage, which will almost never occure unless you are playing with 7 people on wifi with a 7.1 audio system (optical processing) acessing the hard drive often and transfering pictures from your media slots at the same time.

remember, with power supplies, its good to over estimate then under, or it might explode like all those emachines a few years ago

[pod @ Nov 1st 2006 6:43PM]

@tk2k: jge wasn't asking where the power was used, but rather how the heat from that power was dissapated. You generate heat due to ineffieciencies in converting AC to DC, you generate heat whenever whenever you use power in any of the components. I think it's a rather interesting question as to how loud it's going to be. If it's pretty quiet, I think everyone will be rather impressed.

[zenprime @ Nov 1st 2006 3:57PM]

ac's changed dang. Gonna have to snake a new wire, but the AV plug is the same. And since I don't have an HDMI HDTV yet, I'll just stick with my component for now.

[tk2k @ Nov 1st 2006 3:58PM]

Okay, a few questions

first: HOW LOUD IS IT? i have heard the 360 can be loud, and if one wants to use this to play blu ray movies on, it needs to be kinda quiet

second: CAN IT STAND ON IT SIDE? it looks like it could messs with the thermals?


anyone find it weird the PS3 logo is on teh side? you have to face the machine outwards for anyone to see it, meaning.... yup, you guessed it, to get to any of the buttons you have to go to the side of the console...

[Silver R. Wolfe @ Nov 1st 2006 4:02PM]

To all the people asking how loud it is, it's been confirmed to be a very quiet machine. I believe it will actually be the quietest overall, but I'm not honestly sure about that.

And to tk2k, yes it can stand on its side like the original PS2.

[Ryan Block @ Nov 1st 2006 4:15PM]

It's a bit quieter, I'd estimate, than the X360, though I don't have a frame of comparison to the Wii. I assume the Wii will be the quiestest of all because of its more pedestrian specs.

[Silver R. Wolfe @ Nov 1st 2006 4:05PM]

Yeah, you'd think so but an extra $15 isn't too big of a cost. At least it's an easier solution than trying to move over you Xbox saves to your Xbox 360.

[david kulen @ Nov 1st 2006 4:00PM]

if i recall correctly, you can replace the hdd.

[Michael @ Nov 1st 2006 6:53PM]

Yes, you can upgrade the HDD with any 2.5" SATA harddrive.

[Carl @ Nov 1st 2006 4:04PM]

WOW what a great video.....I love the shinyness! But like the guy said its gunna be covered in fingerprints :P

This video makes it look a lot more sleek than i thought it was from other pictures i have seen! Im impressed, but i was ages ago....lol

[phi @ Nov 1st 2006 4:07PM]

Thanks Ryan! Didn't get to hook it to a TV and run some tests?

[Kurt @ Nov 1st 2006 4:10PM]

the 360 is loud but it is the cheap ass DVD drive that makes it loud. I would assume if Msft were to put in a decent DVD drive it would be a lot quieter. When I take the disk out I can't hear the Xbox from my couch...with the disk in the neighbors call the police and complain about loud noises.

[choey @ Nov 1st 2006 4:13PM]

Thank god this is a game console and not something I have to leave out for others to see. I can't wait to get me one but I have to find a place to hide this old HIFI stereo or beta max player looking peice of cheap plastic first. Nice cheap plastic flip up cover that really makes it sleek. Thankfully though the games will still rock.

[Wonderer @ Nov 1st 2006 4:29PM]

LOL at Spiderman font. Ruins the already mediocre design.

[en @ Nov 1st 2006 4:29PM]

very pretty, but It's the TV I'll be staring at for hours, so the games better be good. Otherwise the 360 is still projected to be better.

[Chris Compton @ Nov 1st 2006 4:37PM]

Hey, Ryan what software revision is on the one you are playing with is it final spec? Can you show us the slot loading and what not to get a reference on if it looks smooth or clunky? I was first at my EB to get it reserved I can't wait.

[AG @ Nov 1st 2006 4:49PM]

I have heard from other sites that the PS3 only gets warm at best and is very quiet.

The PS3 is going to rock, I can't wait!

[stan lee @ Nov 1st 2006 4:50PM]

Now vatch very carefully as I putz zee me-mory cards in zee box, now I close zee lid, I'h spin zee box on eat's side, and ... va-la. I open zee box and zee me-mory cards 'ave des-appeared.

Zee's bow-x it es ma-g-cal, no?

[dtrenz @ Nov 1st 2006 5:00PM]

so glad you stopped just short of filming anything remotely interesting.

who cares about inserting a SD card. how about the OS/dashboard... anything new?

btw, who would win in a fingerprint race? an iPod or a PS3?

[Ryan Block @ Nov 1st 2006 6:14PM]

If you'd have actually read the comments, you'd know video of the interface is next.

[codymc @ Nov 1st 2006 5:08PM]

i have to agree with dtrenz -- other than showing us a nice 360 view of the box there wasn't much to that video.

[jstgotmyps3 @ Mar 30th 2008 5:06AM]

so ungreatfull

[madc @ Nov 1st 2006 5:09PM]

is that gray tab above the hdd panel the release button?

[The S @ Nov 1st 2006 5:11PM]

Even sony know that people won't want the flap open when a memory stick is inserted. I was pretty annoyed that the flap on the Wii will have to be open when and SD card is in.

[CJ @ Nov 1st 2006 5:14PM]

Does any one else think it looks kinda cheap? Like an 80s video console?
Mebbe it's me.