Truly a brilliant console. I have the 60GB original release version, which to answer DarkElf25 question was the only PS3 that was backwards compatible & plays PS2 games), but have never done that & cant see why you would want to once you start playing some of the fantastic PS3 games out at the moment.
Had my PS3 since launch & have had all the PlayStation'sin the past, it has never let me down (yet) & is used almost every day whether for gaming, online or watching DVDs & Blu-rays.
Without doubt this is the best console ever made & what is even better is more & more people are buying them, including those Xbox360 fan boys who used to slate the PS3.

Since i have all the 3 consoles the ps3, xbox 360,wii thank you santa!! This is a great console fab games eg. Mgs4,uncharted and rfom

I am looking already a long time for the psx 3, and two days before it should arrive i did find out that the psx 3 does not play psx 2 games... :(,...
"Please Note! This model is not backward compatible with PS2 games."
So need to cancel the order then...
is there a psx 3 that plays them???

Just treated myself to a new Ps3 as Santa Claus bought me socks and pants for christmas! . I'm new to games consoles as have been playing games on a pc for years but am sick of having to upgrade graphics cards to accommodate new games. Having played games on Xbox 360 and ps3 i think they are both fantastic but chose ps3 because of reviews on reliability( rings of death etc) and more so because of Price!!! . I like online gaming and a xbox 360 premium 60gb with wireless adapter and x box live worked out only £20 cheaper than the ps3 , So over 2 years the ps3 worked out cheaper ! plus all the extras the ps3 has to offer like Blue ray dvd media center etc it's a no brainer. The only problem i have at the moment is that i'm not used to the controller as been using a mouse for so long but i am sure i will get use to it. the only down side i can find is the size , it's alot bigger than i thought but overall very very very pleased.

I dont even know why you would even consider selling your ps3, its the best console, its definitely needs a few more blockbuster exclusives that are on the halo scale but on a pure hardware comparison this kills the 360, this is coming from a former xbox fanboy

This is the best console and most high tech playstation and the most wonderful console a must have!!!!!!!!!!!

First off the ps3 is amazing and i have had mine since the day of release . 1080P bluray movies , some of the best games i have played ever , full internet connection . No online subscriptions needed . Wireless connection built in and it connects to a microsoft wireless keyboard and mouse without effort ( xbox360 wont recognise it at all ) . But the controller gets uncomfortable after a while , i have had a minor problem with the hard drive due to a bad update ( the updates are also annoying as the seem to happen every other week and take ages)
I give the machine an over all of 4 stars only because of the controller which in my eyes is a major part of the machine . Otherwise this is the machine i use when the xbox 360 is off for repair again

Must buy i got it for xmas and i havent come of it since i got it a must buy. I know its dear but its worth it! Fifa 09 is a must buy for any footie fan aswell!

I now have all three consoles, my most recent one being the PS3 which I bought the monday after Christmas 2008. However, if i'd known then what I know now I would never have gone near an Xbox.

The PS3 (in my opinion) simply beats the Xbox in almost every area, the only area in which it doesn't beat it is the online reliability. We all know a PS3 has a Blu-Ray player (which is brilliant quality), DVD upscaling, wireless internet connection and many other superb features. But the reason to why I think it makes a better games console is because its so much more reliable (doesn't crash, makes barely any noise, and doesn't vibrate the floor like my Xbox - check out my review for it). I can also play it without it suddenly turning itself off.

The games on the console are also superb e.g Metal Gear Solid 4 being the consoles finest representation of it graphical capabilities and I can tell you after playing games like Gears 2 which is probably the 360s game with the best graphics (might be wrong), Metal Gear Solid certainly wins there. There other great games some of which are incredible (Little Big Planet) and the 2009 games line-up for the PS3 is why I think the PS3 is the console for the future (Killzone 2, Team ICO games, Final Fantasy and more).

Finally, the online. I think the online itself is actually better than Xbox live. The PS3 has a browser which works really and supports Flash well which means you can visit many websites (Youtube etc.). You can save images and set them as your desktop background. When I play games online like Little Big Planet there's no lag at all but then it varies witht he games. On my Xbox I could barely have any decent games on the Orange Box although Gears 2 worked well. Now the Playstation store does not have as much content as the Xbox Marketplace but simple things like themes are free where as on the Xbox marketplace you have to pay for most of them which is ridiculous. The only thing is that it is probably a little less reliable than Xbox Live (not that XBL is perfect itself) but you have to remember it is free and you don't pay £35 a year.

Overall I think the PS3 is much better and a relief. My Xbox only gave me fustration rather than entertainment, which is what my PS3 delivers. The dashboard looks nicer (a lot slicker) and there are other things that cone into account such as video format support which is also better than Xboxs.

I hope this review helps in decidng which one to buy. Remember to take into account what your going to use the consoles for. (if you want a console to simply play shoot em ups online then I would reccomend the Xbox over the PS3).

I have just bought a PS3 80gb console it has replaced my aging XBOX360.

I had an XBOX360 for three years. I've had some great times with this console but I've also had some frustrating times. It couldn't play some of my games, it would just crash. (GRAW 2, tiger woods, GTA4 etc.) It was time for a change. At £279.99 the PS3 is now affordable.

Plusses. Virtually sound free. You can hardly hear the console operate. The console is very reliable and doesn't over heat.
Online is completely free. I can search the internet on my 37" screen! Blue Ray. It also plays my WMP files. Games do not scratch and break. (my XBOX360 destroyed some games, the laser became ineffective.) Wireless connection, pads are blue tooth compatible.

Cons. I personally prefer the XBOX controller. Heavier and more robust.

Online gaming is not as good asXBOX live but it's free. (plus and minus)

Some of the games on the XBOX36 boast slightly better graphics. (titles that have converted to the Playstation)

All in all I am extremely happy with this console. Well worth the extra cash.