How would you change Sony's PlayStation 3 Slim?
By Darren Murph 
posted October 30th 2009 11:43PM
posted October 30th 2009 11:43PM
posted October 30th 2009 11:43PM
Sony PlayStation 3 Slim
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Lower power consumption (so it can stay always on) and more "home utility functions" like:
- alarm clock, wake to music or internet video channel
- e-mail client, take system from "standby" to "on" when message received from contacts on list
- similarly: twitter, IM, Skype
- VoIP integration, answering machine/voice mail/on-screen caller-ID notices
- security camera system, web cam server
Yeah, this is all more in home-PC territory - do it on an eeeBox running Linux tonight, but packaging this functionality so it's game-console-easy-to-use would be nice for those of us who are too busy to configure all this stuff for ourselves.
wtf? Dude, it's a GAME console not a security system. lol
Slap an Apple logo on Jason's face.
Other than that, the PS3 slim should have backwards compatibility.
The original PS3 allowed you to install Linux, but it was crippled by lack of proper drivers. The slim version doesn't even allow for crippled homebrew.
The only thing that would make the PS3 worth buying is if Sony were to open up access to the hardware so that homebrew developers can add all the important features that Sony is too stubborn to support. XBMC for a proper media center experience, Boxee for web video. I know Sony would never dream of opening up their platform like that, but that's what people really want. When you continuously cripple your hardware so that users can't use it to it's fullest, you end up as a distant third in a 3-way console battle, which is where they are right now.
Uh no, that's what homebrew nerds like YOU really want...it's not what "people" want. I just want a console to play games, movies, and media. I don't need to rip off all of my music, movies, and games. I'll gladly pay for something as long as it is a fair price and I would much rather have them lock the system down to keep out cheaters. Just today Microsoft banned a ton of users who were connecting to XBL with modded machines. Good for them.
btw, the numbers are:
per wikipedia
Wii 56.14 million
360 30.2 million
ps3 24.6 million
That's hardly a "distant third". It's more like 360 and PS3 are both well behind the Wii.
Wait, how is it that sony is going to end up in 3rd for not supporting homebrew, when the 360 and the wii don't either? Just play games on your PC, it's completely open to homebrew. The home consoles are a closed expience, that's just how they are. Yea, it would be nice if the ps3 had open linux like it should have, but the fact is most people don't really care, that's not what they bought it for.
Just because you are too short sighted to realize what the system COULD do doesn't mean everybody is. The hardware is capable of so much more than what Sony allows it to do. For exactly zero dollars, the PS3 could be the ultimate home entertainment hub, but instead it's stuck as a second-rate game machine with few compelling titles and an expensive blu-ray player.
Shortsighted? Maybe you need to realize that a huge percentage of PS3 buyers would never even use those features, and very few people would buy a PS3 just because it supports homebrew. On top of that, free homebrew games would then be competing with PS3 and PSN titles, and that's the last thing sony wants. Yea, it would be really nice to have homebrew support on the PS3, but keep dreaming. As it is the PS3 already streams movies from your computer, plays movies off flash drives and hard drives, plays blu-rays, and soon it will support netflix instant too. I don't know what it's really missing from being the "ultimate entertainment hub" aside from some codec support. I mean think about it, they did support linux at the start, and even if it was half-assed it was better than any other console has offerered, but no one really used it. It would be really nice to see some proper support like this, but it's not about to happen.
Yes, you're incredibly shortsighted. You can't seem to understand that there are usage models outside your own limited experience.
Look at all the people who are paying $300 for the Popcorn Hour C-200. It's buggy as hell, but people buy it because it's the only media player with blu-ray support and decent interface options. The PS3 is physically CAPABLE of everything the C-200 is, and a hell of a lot more. All those people would have gladly spent that $300 on a PS3 instead of a C-200 if the PS3 was allowed to live up to its potential. Instead, the PS3 is shunned as a media center because of its abysmal codec support and terrible interface.
Not allowing open development is IDIOTIC. There is no other word for it. It costs no money, yet adds considerable value. It actually takes MORE effort to keep a system locked down than it would to simply allow people to use the hardware they're buying to its fullest potential. There is no rational argument to be made against an open platform.
You keep a PS3 in the kitchen? ...Kidding!
Well for starters they should not have gone so cheap on everyone, costs to manufacture are down and sales are up. They should have crammed all the junk they could into the system, and on that note who the hell comes up with the slim designs. Personally I use my ps3 as a second computer, Ubuntu 8.10 installed, so a ram upgrade, or even a fast solid state hard drive would have been nice. I bought an older model so I could have the Backwards compatibility, and the four USB (comes in handy with Rock Band). In addition the memory card reader is also very useful. Give me the huge Model anyday, that things a 'Beast'.
Add an IR port. Duh.
Make it out of cake. Nom nom.
give it a unibody enclosure
Make it the same width, length, and depth as other home theater components so it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb.
The clear answer is to bring back all the features they removed from previous models (Linux, PS2 compatibility, memory card slots, four USB ports... all of it), but since they were trying to cut costs, that would have been counterproductive. I've heard rumors of purely software-based emulation of PS2 games, but I strongly doubt that this will ever come to pass, since there's no profit motive in it. Sony makes a lot more money by selling both the PS2 and PS3 than they would if they wrapped all that functionality into one package.
I recently cobbled together a Playstation 3 from spare parts gathered on eBay, so the experience is relatively new to me. I have to say, its inclusion of PSOne compatibility is really bizarre. Going from the majesty of Uncharted to the jagged polygons of original Playstation titles is just jarring. If I had thought this through more carefully, I would have bought an earlier model and tried to fix that instead, but alas, I'm a terrible impulse shopper and I never could kick the habit of buying the first thing I see.
If anyone read breakdown of Sony Entertainment quarterly results on VGCHARTS
http://news.vgchartz.com/news.php?id=5712 you will notice that it is a highly probable that Sony will stop to produce PS2 if it didn't already and they will probably announce addition of PS2 backwards compatibility through software update in 1st quarter of 2010.
When that happens this will absolutely be a big game changer for Sony, also I am not sure who said it in recent comments, but console war between XBOX 360 and Playstation 3 is not over, XBOX will not win, look at VGCHARTZ here
http://news.vgchartz.com/news.php?id=5731 currently Playstation 3 shippments are 5 MILLION ahead of XBOX 360 when you compare them head to head, and this holiday season with $299.99 price tag it will be banner holiday season for Sony.
Also they are a lot of Amazing games coming out on PS3 in addition to ones that came out already.
I think that over next 6 months we will see some of improvements we are asking for through Software Updates.
I'd like to see it even more energy efficient, especially when playing Blu Ray movies.
As it is, it's one of the biggest power hog Blu Ray movie players out there, despite its somewhat improved power consumption.
FAIL
Don't want to sound like Old Man Jenkins, crazily shaking his fist at passers-by, but how about a keyboard and mouse to you can actually aim in FPS, just like they do in PC land, instead of some lame half-ass namby pamby auto aim / lock / generally aim in the same zipcode we have now?
And, no, I didn't like the splitfish kludge solution.
This isn't really a problem with the PS3, it's a problem with developers. Sony allows them to use the mouse and keyboard (but they don't make it too easy) So far Unreal Tournament III is the only game to use it, and that's AWESOME that it does, but it's really annoying when games like Killzone 2 come out and don't support mouse and keyboard when they could have. With the PS3 supporting dedicated servers and mods while being $300, if they just added proper mouse and keyboard support for the games it would be a serious competitor for the gaming PC.
I quit playing Killzone 2 and RE5; if I cannot buy the PC version of a game, I just don't buy it. I really do not see Sony's problem - - more sales would result if they had keyboard and mouse integration. They could even make a PS3 version of Everquest - more sales and subscription income there...
...really don't understand their obsession with control. This might explain their continuing losses and generally lackluster stock performance.
They are getting NetFlix, which is surprising to me.
How about making a real remote play option. Let me play my games loaded on my ps3 from the psp? Oh, and how about letting me connect to my ps3 from outside my home network?
Make some apps for that!
But seriously, if you could rip blurays onto it, I'd love that.
Agreed with:
USB on back, I remember looking for a slot in the back for my Sony Bluetooth dock, really sad when I found out it only had two in the front.
Backwards compatibility. Nice but useless kind of, think next gen people! Stop clinging to the past.
A better UI, don't get me wrong I love XMB, but when you look at your giant, then your handheld, and it has the exact same UI, it's kinda wack
Ability to buy complete games online or load games to hardrive even if they only allow 5 or so games at a time. I really like the demos that you can download and play.
Ability to shut off front controls. My son always ejects or adds multiple disc in the drive. Thanks Sony!
Although will not happen, but as someone mentioned no BluRay for cheap box. Could drop 40% off MSRP.
a few little things:
Realta chip for DVD upscling
Top of the line burr brown DAC's
MKV support
DVD-A and SACD support
Tivo build-in
that's about it.
I traded my 40gb in for a Slim extremely early on, and thus far I am liking it. Here are my pro's and cons:
Pros:
1.) Smaller, lighter shell. Regardless if it being a bit deeper, I really enjoy the new size. It fits well into any of my messenger bags (however it doesn't fit so well in a standard backpack).
2.) The large jump in hard drive space is welcomed, but not a must. It makes life a bit easier when it comes to downloading 1080p videos on the drive, as well as several games off the PS store.
3.) Quieter, and cooler then before. While playing some games, my old PS3 would start to burn up and the fan start going on full. It was quite loud but tolerable (nothing like the 360's fan). With the new fan and chipset, I've noticed that the Slim runs almost silent while running the most demanding games.
4.) Runs smoothly, and is extremely reliable. Like the models before this major change, the slim is durable and can take a beating. Quality build from Sony.
Cons:
1.) Still no backwards PS2 compatibility! I have over 40 titles for the PS2, and it's a shame I have to keep my old system around to play them. I know, Sony is having issues with emulation, and the addition of the chip itself is costly, however this is no excuse for what is a standard in this generation of consoles.
2.) Bring back the extra USB ports and give us some card readers! I personally use up my two ports all the time. I implement a USB headset for gaming in favor of a bluetooth headset. This is always plugged in. This leaves me only one extra port that I have to use to plug in and out all extra peripherals such as Rock Band adapters, webcams, external hard drives, charging controlers, and more. As for the card reader, it really is stupid to have to use flash drives or pocket drives to transfer data between consoles or computers. This also makes no sense with all the updates for the photo tools on the PS3, I cannot simply pop out my camera's card and stick it in.
3.) What happened to my Linux? Yes, I was one of the few who did in fact implement the extra OS install on my PS3. It was not a vital feature, so I could sacrifice it. However, it was a pretty cool addition. Being that the PS3 has the power to be a personal computer, I'd say we as the customer should have the right to use it as such. It was a fun feature to play with, way to kill the party.
4.) Why cant my PS3 play the videos/music I want? Let me say right away, that I am a fan of what the PS3 can play. It loads up all my main videos in formats that most media devices don't use, but are very popular (I'm looking at you DivX!). It covers my video formats that I use, but when I've got a killer home audio system setup, I really want to implement FLAC files.
That's about all I can say as far as that goes. One thing that I won't write as a con, but is a personal annoyance is how easy it is to pop off the rubber feet on the bottom. Transporting my PS3 around to parties, college, and friends houses. I've already lost one of them. I just wish more devices would have extras in the package.
Wrap-up: The PS3 slim is a great improvement, but still has work to be done on it. It's not perfect, and it's not likely that any console will ever be. The changes in size and price for this edition makes the Slim even more competitive in the console war, something that is nice to see. Issues presented to the Slim are not only for the slim alone. Most of what we want to see has been gone since the second generation with lack of backwards compatibility, I just wish that they might have listened to the masses to be sure to add it in the system overhaul.
A faster BR drive would be nice, but for me, it's not a big issue.
Build play tv in so we don't have to have use a usb for it especially since there pushing eye-toy and that will use one at least put a usb in the back am i the only one that gets annoyed that they try to design systems well and the one you add peripherals it just looks like a pile of wires.
Bring back SACD support!
Kept backwards compatibility. That's the big thing keeping me from buying it now. So many PS3 games are sequels of PS2 games. It'd be nice to actually play those without buying an out-of-date system.....
First and fore most....PS2 Emulators, hello SONY? Second would have to be freaking netflix freaking support!! I mean cant we at the very least get Blockbuster? Basicaly everything that the 360 has added on the software side. also they should simplify the process for publishers as far as the process to making games. From what I hear that has always been a very big issue. Other than that Thank you Sony, Ohhh yeah, Oliva Munn is a Goddess!!! MMMMMMMMMM Miss Munn
Since the slim is ugly anyway, Sony could have just designed it like squarish a BD-player one could conveniently fit with other home theater components.
I love the design! I don't think it's ugly at all. I LOVE the matte finish...so much better than the previous fingerprint magnets.
Even BETTER....Add a 17' fold out screen on top of the unit, with a ion battery so that mother could be the FIRST modern PORTABLE SYSTEM!!!! That would crush Gayrosoft, and Nintendo! I mean they wouldn't even know what to do if Sony did that, little alone compete with it...Just a thought, more like a Glenn Beck $2K dream...lol
Also what about a Blu-Ray Burner??? HMMMMM yeah that sounds doable right?
One thing has stopped me from buying the PS-3: the lack of PS-2 backward compatibility (Taiko drum master!).
One thing has stopped me from buying the PS-2: uh, it's not a PS-3.
Last but not least....DVD Up converter to 1080p!!! That would be SWEET!!
How would I change the new slim PS3...well let me start by saying that I have the original backwards compatible 60gig version of the PS3. I think the biggest improvement they can make in general is to actually support the PS3. What is up with putting a 2x bluray drive in the device? Shot, they might as well of put a dvd drive in there instead and cut off 200 dollars at release. I mean the bluray drive in the device is no faster then the 8x drive in the xbox. Oh and before I move away from the hardware itself ummmmmmm, could we have more memory built in?
OK enough of that, I think the biggest thing the PS3 suffers from is Sony's network. I don't know how many times I have turned on my PS3 to be notified that either I have been disconnected from the PSN or that I can't even connect to it. And then on the off chance that I do connect to it and I do something like access the store some of the pages seriously take mins to load. And why on earth does the browser take a full min or two to load. I feel like I am stuck at 50% forever >:| Since I brought up the browswer...here's an idea, Sony why don't you throw some of your weight around and tell Adobe to develop a flash plug-in that works for the PPC. Or if not Adobe go borrow Apple's code.
The best thing Sony can do is invest in their network here in the US. These connectivity issues are killer. I have only ever played one game online (Kill Zone 2) and that experience is enough to make me love it and hate it. I love playing that game with others buuuuuuuuuuut I would say 70% of the time I can't connect.
So Sony instead of treating things linux support (I hate how I can't create a custome partition size...wtf is the logic of formating a 490gigs for linux and 10 for ps3 or 490 for the ps3 and 10 for linux), online gaming, and internet browsing as frivolous extras and start treating them like major components of the system since you tauted them as selling points of the system when it launched.
When you setup your connection, what kind of NAT did you have. Just asking since you might need to port forward PSN ports or DMZ your PS3 on your router. Also, make sure your modem isn't a modem/router combo. That could cause a double-NAT which isn't good at all.
I agree with Catfish--sounds like your network is having issues. I don't have any of the problems that you describe when connecting to PSN. My PS3 use to drop my connection to PSN several years ago, however I quickly found out that it was my router--I updated the router firmware and no longer had any issues with it.
Also, why would Sony change the BD drive or put more memory in it? Maybe for their next generation console, but why alienate others that are already owners? Also the faster drive in the 360 is a DVD drive--so Sony wanted a high-def drive in its machine. I'd take a slower drive over an out-dated/inferior technology any day.
The only reason Wii is outselling the PS3, is cause it has no problems with mod chips.
Personally, I'd pay a 1200 USD for the PS3, in order to get access to all ps3 games.
No mod chip, no selling consoles...
Second time posting the same thing?
Jason loves to be denied.
subtitle support while playing video files ,ahhhh... and also MKV files
SLEVIN the Slim has out sold the Wii for a while now, what rock do you live under? I mean this is Engadget!!! LOL SADNESS!!!!
The only thing I want is a card reader, I guess backwards compatibility with the PS2 would be nice but I sold nearly all my PS2 games to get my fat PS3 (which broke) so that doesn't really matter to me anymore.
Make it slimmer and bring back the memory card readers!
My only complaint is that the ps3 doesn't support NTSC. Just want to be able to watch all my "specially acquired" blurays without having to chop them into 2-3 parts everytime.
First I would allow for all psp games to playback on the system, there is no reason now that every PSP game will ship along the PSPGO downloadable version. there should also be a 3rd party UMD adapter to allow you to use your ps3 to play games. it would open up sales of software to those that already made the huge investment in the system to be able to tap into the other game catalog pool.