PS3 a media centre nirvana (Sony Playstation 3 80 GB)

Member Name: davey_26

Product:	Sony Playstation 3 80 GB
Date:	20/10/09 (31 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: supports blu ray, terrific games, great use as part of a hi fi

Disadvantages: Nothing at this price

After watching Xbox make the first big splash with the new generation of consoles, it was imperative that Sony look to eclipse or at least match the efforts and release something which would stand up in an increasingly intense market.

Sony's answer of course was the PS3 which boasted an 80gb hard drive and a sleek elegant black console. It can either be sat down or lay sideways which is beneficial particularly if space is limited.

In terms of features, there are 2 usb ports which you can connect external devices such as mp3 players, hard drives or control pads. However the ps3 has stolen a march on the XBOX 360 because this offers blu ray playback.

When you switch the ps3 you are met with a host of options but it's apparent that this has stolen a march on the XBOX 360 by offering blu ray playback and will allow you to upscale to 1080p which is particularly beneficial to hd television.

Secondly there are a huge range of games available on the console. some of which are filler but some are outstanding including Drakes Unchartered and. Metal Gear Solid 4. These really exhibit the graphical capabilities of this excellent console and are brilliant titles in their own right.

The PS3 will allow you to wirelessly connect to the internet through simply entering a WEP key. This will provide convenience and allow you to browse the internet and more importantly allow you to play games online via the ps3 network.

There is also a playstation store which gives you the opportunity to download new demos free of charge as well as purchasing older games i.. ps2 games and before for a very small fee. In addition to this you can purchase expansion packs for games and extra features.

Recently ps3 have introduced BBC iplayer also which means that you now have full access to the contents of itunes free of charge and with it access to all of the BBC content for the last 7 days.

The graphical capabilities of the PS3 are phenomenal and arguably they have not reached their limits yet. The PS3 also gives excellent playback of blu rays giving a smooth, crisp picture with excellent contrast and betters or at the very least equals many of the better blu ray players on the market.

Ironically though I don't predominantly use the ps3 for this purpose, instead it is a superb media centre. I can connect an external hard drive to the ps3, apply random playback to the library of music I have on the ps3 and experience fantastic sound quality courtesy of the fact that an external dac can be connected to the ps3 therefore bypassing the onboard soundcard.

This a brilliant console and is definitely the best on the market.

Summary: PS3 is the best on the market