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PS3 New and Old, Fat and Slim Compared

By - Source: Tom's Guide US

Old and busted vs. new hotness?

Regardless whether you have a launch PlayStation 3 will full PS2 backwards compatibility, or an 80 GB with software PS2 emulation, or an even newer machine with no PS2 hardware at all, it all looked mostly the same from the outside. Regardless of which one you have, people will now be able to tell that you have "one of the older ones."

The new PS3 Slim unveiled today is little different in function to the present 80 GB and 160 GB on store shelves, but in form it's 33 percent smaller, 36 percent lighter, packs a 120 GB HDD and consumes 34 percent less power. Sadly, no PS2 backwards compatibility.

All in all, it sounds like a nice refresh, right? Only if you're not ever planning on installing your own OS – likely a build of Linux – on your PS3. Sony revealed that the new PS3 slim does NOT support the installation of third party OSes, which means the PlayStation 3 from here on out will be a pure gaming and entertainment machine and not so much a super computer in a box that Sony was originally selling it as.

If you're worried about none of that and you're just eager to play some games and watch some Blu-ray movies, then the differences are mostly cosmetic. Check out these pictures for the comparison:

Oh, and Sony thinks that the new PS3 Slim is a bit too slim to stand on its own, so it'll be selling an optional vertical stand for $24. What do you guys make of the old vs. new, fat vs. slim?

Click here for more pictures of the new PS3 Slim.

There are 75 Comments.
Top Comments
  • 36
    teknic111 , August 19, 2009 5:24 AM
    Call me crazy, but I like the old design better.
  • 26
    Ramar , August 19, 2009 5:27 AM
    Am I the only person that thinks the PS3 slim looks like a cheap knock-off?

    It will be cheaper to produce, and unfortunately it looks like it on the outside too. Bleh.
  • 23
    rigaudio , August 19, 2009 5:24 AM
    Quote:
    Sony revealed that the new PS3 slim does NOT support the installation of third party OSes


    Like that'll stop anyone.
Other Comments
  • 36
    teknic111 , August 19, 2009 5:24 AM
    Call me crazy, but I like the old design better.
  • 23
    rigaudio , August 19, 2009 5:24 AM
    Quote:
    Sony revealed that the new PS3 slim does NOT support the installation of third party OSes


    Like that'll stop anyone.
  • 18
    leafblower29 , August 19, 2009 5:24 AM
    teknic111Call me crazy, but I like the old design better.


    Yeah it looks nicer.
  • 19
    1971Rhino , August 19, 2009 5:25 AM
    I don't own a PS3, but I think the older model looks better. It has more character.
  • 26
    Ramar , August 19, 2009 5:27 AM
    Am I the only person that thinks the PS3 slim looks like a cheap knock-off?

    It will be cheaper to produce, and unfortunately it looks like it on the outside too. Bleh.
  • 1
    kyeana , August 19, 2009 5:29 AM
    This news is just being run to the ground and back
  • 6
    starhoof , August 19, 2009 5:30 AM
    New PS3 reminds me of PS2 quite a lot...
    I like "old" design better, I can just see old design better for a living room, rather than kid's bedroom
  • -3
    dheadley , August 19, 2009 5:44 AM
    I think it looks much nicer than the original version. Give me the matte black plastic any day over the extremely cheap looking silver trim on the original faceplate. Plus it looks like its sized more to fit into a stack of AV components (top of the stack though) than the original. Personally if a company wants to sell me a HD console to place in my living room, hooked up to my HDTV and my 7.1 system and making itself the media hub / entertainment center of my home then I would actually prefer it to just look like a standard component instead of trying to look all fancifully styled like the PS3, 360 or Wii do currently.
  • 10
    Greg_77 , August 19, 2009 5:54 AM
    So it doesn't support the installation of third party OS'es, hey? I will wager in less than ten days someone will have ported some distro of linux. When did "support" ever stop anyone?
  • 0
    megamanx00 , August 19, 2009 5:56 AM
    Well it's not like Sony ever really supported the Linux ports anyway and pretty much denied them being able to use the PS3s GPU. Still, the PS3 just appeals to me less and less.
  • 6
    nun , August 19, 2009 5:59 AM
    tsk tsk ugly but cheaper so worth it
  • 6
    Maxor127 , August 19, 2009 6:08 AM
    I still think they should add back in PS2 support. It's pretty retarded not to. I'm sure they're hoping they can sell both PS3 and PS2 units, but for someone like me, it just makes me want to by neither since I already had two PS2s die on me and I'm not going to buy a third for their ridiculously high price, and I don't care that much about PS3 games or Blu-Ray movies. My brother bought one about 6 months ago and I haven't had any interest in playing it yet. Still, if I had to choose between 360 and PS3, I'd go with PS3. 360 would need to eliminate Xbox Live fees to get me interested.
  • 2
    spectrewind , August 19, 2009 6:17 AM
    Quote:
    installing your own OS


    Sounds to me like Sony removed the hypervisor (OS Virtualization) support.
  • 15
    saliwok , August 19, 2009 6:37 AM
    The new looks pretty damn ugly, for sure.

    Every time they drop another feature, I'm happier that I spent the coin for a launch edition. Even though I don't use Linux, I am using my PS2 B.C., my 4 USB ports, and the card readers.

    I just hope my system lasts. Might have to stop Folding@Home to make sure it does.
  • 4
    tayb , August 19, 2009 6:41 AM
    Looks better. PS3 was huge and was a fingerprint and dust magnet. I'm so sick of everything being glossy black. Looks like a thinkpad and I happen to like the look of thinkpads.
  • -2
    pender21 , August 19, 2009 6:53 AM
    So does the slim cost $300 or is that the old fat 80GB PS3?
  • 3
    ac21365 , August 19, 2009 6:57 AM
    RamarAm I the only person that thinks the PS3 slim looks like a cheap knock-off?It will be cheaper to produce, and unfortunately it looks like it on the outside too. Bleh.


    This. Kind of reminds me of the old Atari models.
  • -4
    homerhellboy223 , August 19, 2009 7:08 AM
    I prefer the older model. It's like balls, the bigger the longer duration of pleasure. I feel this little piece of cardboard will break faster.
  • -4
    anonymous@guest , August 19, 2009 7:11 AM
    ps3 old just completely owns that seeing as i got my ps3 a week ago and nearll all the stores were sold out im happy i got in.
    and who gives a shit if it have more memory, just by a terabyte for $200 dolars and ull be fine :) 
  • -1
    anonymous@guest , August 19, 2009 7:19 AM
    Well not having PS2 compatibility - I will stick with my PS2. Don't want the clutter of two consoles thanks.
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