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PLAYSTATION(R)3 Launches on November 17, 2006 in North America

Equipped With Blu-ray and Pre-Installed HDD United States: US $499 (20GB HDD) and US $599 (60GB HDD) Canada: CAN $549 (20GB HDD) and CAN $659 (60GB HDD)

LOS ANGELES, May 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) announced today that it would launch PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3) in "Clear Black" in North America on November 17, 2006, as part of a worldwide simultaneous launch.

PS3 is the most advanced computer system that serves as a platform to enjoy next generation computer entertainment content in the home, realized through the combination of Cell and RSX(TM) processors, in addition to the playability of a vast catalog of PlayStation® and PlayStation®2 software titles.

Having Giga-bit Ethernet and a pre-installed hard disk drive (HDD) as standard in PS3, users will be able to download a variety of content as well as access on-line games and services over the network.

Equipped with basic input/output ports, PS3 supports a broad range of displays from conventional NTSC/PAL standard TVs to the latest full HD (1080i/1080p) flat panel displays, offering the joy of the most advanced computer entertainment content to homes around the world. For use in living rooms, maximum heat and noise reduction has been achieved with a noise level equivalent to that of the current slim-line PlayStation 2.

With the overwhelming computational power of the Cell processor, PS3 is capable of playing back content from Blu-ray (BD) disc at a bit rate of multiplex 48Mbps with ease, the maximum bit rate defined in BD standards.

The new controller for PS3 has been created by refining and improving the world's most popular PlayStation controller which has shipped more than several hundred million units worldwide. The controller for PS3 employs a high-precision, highly sensitive six-axis sensing system that is capable of processing all parameters within the controller itself, thereby eliminating the need for any additional settings on the display system. By applying this technology, it will become possible to freely control the PS3 system over the network.

While further enhancing the joy of entertainment on PlayStation 2 and PSP(TM) (PlayStation®Portable), SCEA will vigorously promote PS3 as the next generation computer entertainment platform.

About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one(TM) game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP(TM) (PlayStation®Portable) system and the upcoming, much-anticipated PLAYSTATION®3 system.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one game console, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and the PSP system for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif. Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. More information can be found online at http://www.us.playstation.com.

NOTE: PlayStation and PLAYSTATION are registered trademarks and RSX and PSP are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

PLAYSTATION®3

Code: Select all

Product name                    PLAYSTATION®3
    CPU                             Cell Processor
    GPU                             RSX(TM)
    Sound                           Dolby 5.1ch, DTS, LPCM, etc.
                                     (Cell-based processing)
    Memory                          256MB XDR Main RAM, 256MB GDDR3 VRAM
    HDD             2.5" Serial ATA    O(20GB)                         O(60GB)
    I/O             USB 2.0                            O(x4)
                    MemoryStick /         -                               O
                     SD/CompactFlash
    Communication   Ethernet            O(x1/10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T)
                    IEEE 802.11 b/g       -                               O
                    Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR)                  O
    Wireless controller                                  O
     (Bluetooth)
    AV Output       Screen size            480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
                    HDMI OUT              -                 O(x1/HDMI NextGen)
                    AV MULTI OUT                       O(x1)
                    DIGITAL OUT                        O(x1)
                     (OPTICAL)
    BD/DVD/CD       Maximum         BD 2x (BD-ROM)
    Drive           Read Speed
     (Read Only)
                                    DVD 8x (DVD-ROM)
                                    CD 24x (CD-ROM)
                                    SACD 2x
    Dimensions                      Approximately 325mm (W) x 98mm (H) x 274mm
                                     (D)
    Weight                          Approximately 5 kg

* Storage media ("Memory Stick", SD memory card, and CompactFlash) are
sold separately.
* "Dolby" is a trademark of Dolby Laboratories.
* "DTS" is a trademark of Digital Theater Systems, Inc.
* "CompactFlash" is a trademark of SanDisk Corporation.
* "HDMI" is a trademark of HDMI Licensing LLC.
* "Blu-ray Disc" is a trademark.
* "Bluetooth" is a trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
* "Memory Stick" is a trademark of Sony Corporation.
* "PLAYSTATION" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment
Inc.
* All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

DailyTech also has some good info on the PS3.

http://www.dailytech.com/Article.aspx?newsid=2204

Blu-ray, PSP linkup, Bluetooth and free online service.. why would anyone want an Xbox 360?

Some people think the price is too high, but I actually expected the price to be higher. I'll deffinately be picking one of these up around April next year (it'll be a birthday present to myself!).

That actually sounds quite reasonable considering the BD drive.


...not that I'll be buying one.

a premium of $100 for another 40GB of HD space? bah!

dodecahedron wrote:a premium of $100 for another 40GB of HD space? bah!

The cheaper one also lacks an HDMI output. This might cause problems if the movie industry enforces HDCP.

OK now that's a significant difference.

Ian wrote:

dodecahedron wrote:a premium of $100 for another 40GB of HD space? bah!

The cheaper one also lacks an HDMI output. This might cause problems if the movie industry enforces HDCP.

Not necessarily. Even the nerfed version of PS3 (with presumably only a component connection) will be able to play all Blu-Ray titles, whether the movie has the enforce HDCP token in it or not. If HDCP is enabled in the movie AND the user lacks HDMI, the movie gets "down-rezed" to like 940-460 or some odd 16:9 resolution... which is technically higher rez than DVD but still enough to anger video-philes.

Yeah, most people are buying Blu-ray for the 1080p resolution. I'd rather get what I payed for than some half assed solution.

No way!

For the limited amount of overall gaming that I do, I'll get a Wii if anything, it's going to be cheap and have a great controller with what looks like great games.

I would however buy an Xbox 360 if a Shenmue 3 came out for it. I love Shenmue!

Here's an article on the differences between the two:

http://www.gamesradar.com/gb/ps3/game/n ... &sectionId

According to them, the 20GB version doesn't work with the wireless controllers and is missing HDMI, WiFi, a memory card slot and chrome lettering.

It looks like the low end PS3 will support wireless controllers and will allow you to upgrade the HDD:

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/14/clear ... confusion/

I will be in for 2 as soon as I see someone pre-selling! One for me, and one to get mine for free when I sell it on Ebay.