xBox 360 or PlayStation 3

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@ Thread.

It all depends on where you are to what your PS3 can do.

Europe / Australia - Sony have stopped shipping the 60GB model PS3 which included memory card readers 4 USB ports and PS2 backward compatibility. I was lucky to buy a 60GB model I love it. As for CPU, data bandwidth, the Cell is supposedly more capable but harder to program and the data though port in PS3 is greater. Look for Sony Specs for info.


Aus - 60 GB specs
- 4x USB2
- PS2 Compatibility (Software)
- Memory card readers
- 60GB hdd.

You can at the moment only buy a 40GB model PS3 in Australia. They are no longer making the 60GB for Aus and have no plans to change according to store information.

Aus 40 GB specs
- 2x USB2
- 40GB hdd.

In the USA I do believe that there was a 80GB model
The difference was that the 80 GB model had extra hardware (Emotion chip) engine from the PS2 making it 100% compatible with the PS2 and the extra space of an 80 GB hdd.

The 60 GB model does all PS2 compatibility in software and can't play ALL PS2 games, however updates to the emulator have been promised depending on demand of the game in question.

I also have been informed that Sony will no longer be making the 80GB model even for hte USA which instead the 60Gb will be the only availble one. This was all done to reduce costs.

I am not sure about region protection on BluRay or games so I don't know if it is a good idea to buy any PS3 not in your country.

Ta.

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Other way around dude.

80GB had the Emotion Engine and extra HW, the real guts of the PS2, the 60GB does not.
Sorry, that's for Australia and we couldn't buy it. We only ever got the choice of the 60GB or 40GB models.

 The 60 GB is software emulation only. I know, I own one. The 80GB model only came out in the US and Japan from memory. It is no longer in production. It was too expensive to add in the PS2 hardware and hense the 60GB model was made. Then again they cut down, took memory card readers and less USB ports to again cut down cost.

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@Donar
Correct.

but it's only for the 60GB model here in Australia.

The 40 GB model does not include either the hardware or software emulator or the memory card readers and only 2 USB ports.

There is no tal of changing that at this time. I would personally make sure you at least get a PS# that has the memory card readers, it was a silly move. I know I used to take my saved games to mates places to play all the time. No chance of that on a Australian 40GB model.

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@foleyjo

Fair enough, I never said they were memory cards, I said Card readers. Card reader, flash readers, all semantics. I think people knew what I was getting at. There was support for the Sony Memory stick too. Anyway, it's not important. I liked not having to tie up the USB ports to have them available, and removing the other 2 USB ports, eek. I already use that for a keyboard/mouse, printer and I want to get  a camera too. 2 ports is not enough, yes I could get a hub, but it's convienece.

As for saving games, I did this no problem. There is a reader for PS2 game memory cards but it's not relevent for the PS3 any more as the latest models won't play ps2 games. I still play Sons of Liberty on my ps3. I am glad I don't have to have a seperate PS2 console for this and with such a huge library of PS2 games and lack of in PS3, I thought this to be a mistake. Perhaps Sony believes everyone has a PS2. I  sold mine. Anyhow, I like the PS3. I bought one after getting no love from AMIGA and the BluRay is fantastic.