Everyone has heard of the PlayStation 3, but how do you know if it’s really worth buying one? After all, the “console wars” between the Nintendo Wii, the PlayStation 3, and the XBOX 360 have been raging for years now – what makes the PS3 stand out? Here are a few tips about the PS3′s features to help you decide, plus a little information about how to fix your PS3 when it breaks.
The PS3 comes with Internet connectivity through WiFi, allowing you to download games, videos, music, and more to your console for your entertainment. This functionality also lets your browse the Internet as you do with your computer. This feature comes at no extra cost, unlike the XBOX 360. You can buy a bundle edition of the PS3 that comes with a 320GB hard drive, which is a huge amount of storage space, a wireless controller, a camera, the Move motion controller, and a copy of Sports Champion. For the regular editions, the size of the storage determines the price of the console; the console with the smaller, 40GB storage unit is the cheapest, but there are also 120GB and 160GB versions. All versions of the PS3 have a Blu-ray player, letting you watch movies in fantastic high definition (and no other console can boast that).
The PS3, like the XBOX 360, occasionally has an error that the parent company (Sony and Microsoft respectively) doesn’t really explain. If you’re looking into the PS3, you’ve probably heard of the “yellow light of death.” If you get this on your PS3, follow these tips: (1) turn your console off, wait 20 minutes, and turn it back on (it might have overheated); (2) check for loose cables; (3) take off and replace your hard drive. If these things don’t work, you have two choices: you can send it back to Sony (which means a 4-6 week wait and a minimum of $150 if your console is out of warranty) or you can purchase a guide to repair it yourself for between $40 and $100, and you don’t have to wait. That’s your choice.
Use this information to help you decide whether or not you want a PS3. It has some great features, and it can be relatively easy and inexpensive to fix if it breaks, provided you’re willing to do it yourself.
