PS3 Venn diagram helps you choose the right model

It had to come to this eventually, with all the features Sony's been adding and dropping to the various PS3 SKUs -- Wired's Chris Kohler has whipped up a Venn diagram to help the addled consumer pick out the right one. Although Kohler says it started out as a joke, it's actually pretty interesting -- and the 20GB model seems like the big winner with all the important features, full backwards compatibility, and a street price of $380. Now, when is someone going to make the Wii version?

[Via BoingBoing Gadgets]

[Apoco-Lips @ Oct 25th 2007 5:57AM]

How many USB ports does a PS3 user need?

To use wireless keyboards and mice with one do you need to insert a dongle?

[Kamalot @ Oct 25th 2007 9:54AM]

Guitar Hero 3's guitar controllers require a USB dongle. With the 40 gig version, you can only have 2 guitars. Also, since the 40 gig version does not have a card reader, you'll need a USB slot when you want to view photos or copy movies to/from the PS3.

The worst thing though is the loss of backwards compatibility. That's them abandoning the product line that has been so successful for the past 10 years. :(

[Bernhard @ Oct 25th 2007 6:05AM]

I'll make the Wii Version (Hint: It will have one circle for each different region version and uh.... thats it i guess)

[nih @ Oct 25th 2007 6:25AM]

Isn't the Wii regionless? Or is that the DS?

[Bernhard @ Oct 25th 2007 9:01AM]

The Wii is region locked, sadly enough. It is optional for developers to put region locks on their games though.

[Scooter @ Oct 25th 2007 6:08AM]

the chart may be interesting, but what a sorry state Sony is in that this had to be developed. Good marketing means clear choices that match user needs, not endless confusion.

[Deluxe @ Oct 25th 2007 6:50AM]

Because the difference between 360's is so clearly and helpfully explained.

More than one model = OMG DIFFERNT FEATURES.

Thanks for playing.

[DickHardknocks @ Oct 25th 2007 7:57AM]

An obvious PS3 Hater comment here... how much is Microsoft paying you?

Why hate on PS3? I own a 360, a PS3 and a Wii and with the exception of Warhawk at its release, my PS3 is a great system that has features I wish 360 had. For example, I had to buy the Wifi adapter for $80 and the 360 only has 2 USB ports because the wifi takes one up permanently.

360 Needs a damn Venn diagram too.

Ask a christmas shopper MOM (or Dad) what the difference between the XBOX CORE, XBOX PREMIUM, XBOX ELITE and XBOX ARCADE is ????

Those choices don't sound clear to me.

[Scooter @ Oct 25th 2007 5:10PM]

@Dickhardknocks, I agree the 360 is also confused and confusing. So why go knocking me for addressing the topic of this post, which was Sony?
I prefer to make up my own mind on issues, not follow a brand slavishly.
So I am brave enough (in the face of all the dimwitted flamers on this forum) to say that from a marketing perspective Wii got it right: one model (though region coding blows, big time). That marketing is reflected not only in the single model, but also the feature set (albeit limited) and the simplicity of its exterior design and visual interface.
From that perspective, anybody looking at a PS3 can see Sony's confusion. IMHO it is an ugly box (though it can do great things).

[James @ Oct 25th 2007 5:11PM]

The comparison is misguided at best -- the 360 has exactly two attributes to mix and match: it has an HDMI port or it doesn't; and it has a hard drive size of 20GB, 120GB, or 0GB. That's it. End of list.

The PS3 may or may not have wireless, it may or may not be backward compatible, the hard drives come in 20, 40, 60, and 80GB, it may or may not have a card reader, it may have 2 or 4 USB ports... looks like at least 5 variables, which is why people resort to things like this Venn diagram to figure it all out.


I'm no Xbot, but I can tell you the differences between the various 360s without even trying: The core has no hard drive; the premium has a 20GB drive; the Elite has a 120GB drive; the arcade is just another name for the core in a bundle with some free games and a memory card or something. Any console made before the Elite was released does not support HDMI; any recent console does.

Now try to explain all the flavors of PS3 in a paragraph as short as that.

[Scooter @ Oct 25th 2007 5:17PM]

I doubt dickhardknocks could be so precise.

[robert @ Oct 25th 2007 7:14PM]

Easier to buy a Wii. No differences there.

[Garst @ Oct 26th 2007 2:33PM]

@James

Actually, it a choice of whether you want component/composite or not. All the systems now have HDMI.

[Bootes @ Nov 22nd 2007 3:30PM]

There have only been at most 2 models of the PS3 on sale at a time. So the overall different models doesn't really count.

[Grahame @ Oct 25th 2007 6:40AM]

This chart does not mention SACD playback!Update please.

[Taylor @ Oct 25th 2007 7:09AM]

I mean, seriously, who listens to SACDs?

[bjrcboy @ Oct 25th 2007 10:50AM]

Um audiophiles? yeah thats it. People who enjoy great sounding music and dont mind spending nearly 10k on a stereo(thats actuall y cheap by audiophiles terms..) like me!

[Grahame @ Oct 25th 2007 11:18AM]

I dont spend that much but enjoy my SACD's on a pionner 656 (from memory) dvd player and Sony Av Amp ES550 I think from a few years ago.

Really good when volume cranked up.!

What annoys me is players called universal when they don't paly sacd or hdcd. I have a few each NAD Cd/hdcd player for the hdcd's , think I prefer sacd overall.

[nih @ Oct 25th 2007 6:24AM]

Why do you use "SKU" instead of "package"? Engadget isn't a warehouse staff oriented site and it irritates me to have to look up non-gadget jargon constantly.

[Annie @ Oct 25th 2007 6:43AM]

No, but it is a technology oriented website - so they shouldn't have to dumb down commonly used technical phrases because someone might not understand it.

[nih @ Oct 25th 2007 6:54AM]

Really? Clear communication is now called 'dumbing things down'? I suspect accurate and clear use of language would show more skill.

[Boynamedsue @ Oct 25th 2007 12:15PM]

"I suspect accurate and clear use of language.."

oh.. you mean using applicable terms... like SKU? Which is both clear and accurate.

[Scooter @ Oct 25th 2007 5:12PM]

SKU is a smart-ass term, used by bloggers to look cool. Just ignore them.

[Janv1er @ Oct 25th 2007 6:57AM]

Wouldn't a simple list be easier and much more simple ?

[Andir3.0 @ Oct 25th 2007 7:08AM]

Yeah, but in this day and age, bright colors are needed to keep people's attention more than 2 seconds.

[fischju @ Oct 25th 2007 6:50AM]

Where is the Wii60 circle?

[Arno @ Oct 25th 2007 7:12AM]

The empty center part should probably say "No Games."

[zipzap @ Oct 25th 2007 12:28PM]

"The empty center part should probably say "No Games.""

This is about PS3, not Wii which still has no games at all.

http://www.metacritic.com/games/ps3/scores/

[DickHardknocks @ Oct 25th 2007 8:01AM]

The PS3 haters gave you a highly ranked but I LOW RANKED you cause your comment shows how stupid you are.

The empty circle should say "1080P HIGH DEFINITION BLU RAY PLAYER" which neither the Wii or the 360 have.

Or...maybe it should say "no life having, living in they mama basement, PS3 hating, nerdy ass comment here:"

[Boynamedsue @ Oct 25th 2007 12:17PM]

"maybe it should say "no life having, living in they mama basement, PS3 hating, nerdy ass comment here:"

and rabidly coming to the defense of a plastic box with blinking lights absolves you of this "they mama basement" accusation?

Lets fight on the internet!

[James @ Oct 25th 2007 5:34PM]

You're not the only one disappointed about the Wii's poor showing, but it's been ages since Nintendo got the biggest *volume* of releases. As long as we get at least one new Mario, Zelda, or Metroid every couple of months, we're getting our money's worth.

As for the PS3 -- you forgot to link to http://www.metacritic.com/games/xbox360/scores/

PS3 has 30 games rated at 80 or better. 360 has 73. Far more importantly, of those 30, only like 5 or 6 are exclusive to the PS3. The 360 has more like 20 (estimated off the top of my head; didn't have time to verify all of them). Granted, it's had longer to build up its library, but that excuse doesn't give PS3 owners any more good games to play *right now*, or people like me sitting on the fence about getting a PS3 any more incentive to dive in and make a purchase.

Don't get me wrong: I love me some Ratchet and Clank, but I'm not going to spend $440 on it. Take out the sports titles, and you've got your 30 games down to more like 10, of which maybe two or three sound like my kind of game. I'm probably not the only one whose mental calculus works like this.

[Concura @ Oct 26th 2007 11:06AM]

if we had an Xbox Venn Diagram, the center part would be RROD. and it won't be empty, either.

..and I have games on my ps3, and i like them

[Ant @ Oct 25th 2007 7:16AM]

I was never any good at these diagrams. Why don't they just release PS3 as one unit that does everything including playing the old PS2 games with maybe downloadable HD textures and improvements direct from the game developers. I know it's all about money and profit but the main thing is do they have chrome fronts, lol.

I always remember watching Sony announce the PS3 years back and they had a run down of all the things it had got and could do. It looks the same as it did back then (really nice) but isn’t there a lot of stuff missing. I remember someone saying it was a hundred, or was it a thousand, times more powerful than the PS2, is this still true?

[ryantrevisol @ Oct 25th 2007 7:34AM]

I like how the 20GB Model has 4 USB Ports and FULL backwards compatibility. That's the one for me. . . . and it's discontinued.

[nezromatron @ Oct 25th 2007 11:30AM]

Look on craigslist or eBay.. That's the version I have and I think it's the best deal as well.

[Harrison66 @ Oct 25th 2007 3:53PM]

Its Like I said in a previous post, the 20 gig Ps3 IS the one to buy.

[Rynth @ Oct 25th 2007 7:39AM]

A Wii version? Why?

I'm pretty sure Nintendo keeps it simple enough.

One package, does-what-it-says-on-the-tin.

[DickHardknocks @ Oct 25th 2007 8:04AM]

Wii keeps it so simple they don't include an Ethernet port, a High Definition DVD player or HDMI to support its crappy graphics which don't stand up to the HD era in any way - looking marginally worse than Gamecube.

[Rynth @ Oct 25th 2007 8:35AM]

It may not be the most powerful, or any of that crap. But it works, and its fun.

Theres no feature you get in one and not the other, etc.

You're just jealous cus' your XBOX 360's fucked up, =D

[Ian Rendall @ Oct 26th 2007 5:34AM]

@DickHardknocks
At least the Wii is decently priced.
When the Wii is sitting in warehouses cos nobody wants one, and the PS3 is flying off the shelves, that's when you can claim the "1080P HIGH DEFINITION BLU RAY PLAYER" is more than just a white elephant.

[James @ Oct 25th 2007 5:40PM]

I look at the Wii being sort of like a budget-brand PC in a market full of Alienware-style beastly machines. If I don't want to run Supreme Commander against 16 AI players on the hardest setting, on the biggest map, with all the shinys turned on, I don't need the most expensive hardware. Sometimes, you just want to play some damn Peggle (aptly described by the bloke at Zero Punctuation as "the gaming equivalent of premium crack cocaine"). The Wii allows you to do just that, with the added advantage of game designers that literally descend from Mount Olympus periodically to give the gift of a masterpiece to humankind.

Or, you know, you could just marvel at the unbelievably life-like reflection of your utterly forgettable protagonist in a pool of alien blood in yet another identical FPS. Your call.

[Dave @ Oct 25th 2007 7:59AM]

so sony traded 2 USB ports and backwards compatiblity for a wifi card, 20gigs of space and a $20 markup. I don't think anyone makes a HD that small any more. waste.

[PS3Owner @ Oct 25th 2007 8:39AM]

What is with the attacks on the Wii, no one ever claimed it had a High Definition DVD player or even the remote need for HDMI. To me it sounds like you need to realize that sometimes game play is more important than pretty pictures and fancy connections. The Big N got it right, just admit it.

[Dah Cheet @ Oct 25th 2007 8:42AM]

Anyone notice that this diagram is completely ass-backwards?

The features should be the circles and where they overlap is where the PS3 model/sku/package should be listed. It makes it much more intuitive.

[601210 @ Oct 25th 2007 8:46AM]

Versions with full backwards compatibility were all discontinued... lol

[Matt @ Oct 25th 2007 8:53AM]

I love Venn diagrams.

[chiefsoap @ Oct 25th 2007 10:23AM]

@Diehardknocks
You really like to be a hypocrite dont you? You slam anyone who has a negitive comment to say about the PS3
You dont have to be a rocket scientist to know that people buy a PS3 for certain reasons: A. BluRay B. Games (or lack there of) or C. Both
A. Is an obvious reason
B. Is just a fanboy hoping PS3 will have the same sucess as the PS2, which it wont - just look @ its 3rd party dev support, this really makes me sad because my PS2 was my BFF for years
C. Wishful thinking? Amirite?
Slamming the Wii based on "Graphics" is stupid, just look at its sales; obviously no one really cares about how good the games look. tbh, i havent played mine since Jan. because there hasnt been any games to keep me busy. Slamming the 360 is well. . i cant even fathom good arguements for this, its a good system with a good handful of gamings already out and good line up coming out. . .so far.
Im a huge RPG fan which is why i liked PS so much but the 3 just hasnt given me what ive wanted since it came out and its release list has VERY few good games coming that would interest me (OooOoOo FF, there hasnt been a good FF since 8) There are two types of gamers around: Fan boys and the old school, im the old school; i dont support one side or the other blindly, i support the side who gives me what i want - games.

[Silver R. Wolfe @ Oct 25th 2007 11:25AM]

Reply button motherfucker, do you use it!?

[Mutant @ Dec 5th 2007 3:31PM]

What if you're colour blind? Then it's just gray circles...

OK not really but lots of people have some colour blindness, please think of them.

[alexhrose71 @ Oct 25th 2007 10:48AM]

Absolutely. And don't forget the blind gamers out there too, there should be a chart in braille.

:P

Seriously though, 1. The chart is assbackwards as the circles should be features not models (as someone else posted) and 2. Maybe we should do another based on game genre = your console choice.