Introducing the Sony PlayStation 3

On November 17th, Sony introduced what may be the hottest consumer electronics product of the year -- the latest version of their videogame system, the PlayStation 3.

What exactly does the PS3 offer that other game systems don't? And is it worth the cost? Read on to find out.

The PS3: What It Is and How It Works

The PlayStation 3 is a completely different beast than its predecessor, the market-leading PlayStation 2. It's more powerful, more fully featured, and (not surprisingly) more expensive. It's also going to be hard to find for Christmas; Sony is only shipping 400,000 units for the North American launch. (Expect to pay big bucks from resellers on eBay!)

The PS3 uses a new Sony Cell 3.2GHz CPU and separate powerful graphics processing unit (GPU) to deliver stunning state-of-the-art graphics. It's notable in that it features a built-in Blu-ray drive, which is capable of playing both high-definition Blu-ray discs and conventional DVDs. The console itself isn't small; it measures 12.8" x 10.8" x 3.9". The case is black with rounded edges, and it weighs a hefty 11 lbs. It comes with a full array of sophisticated inputs and outputs, features built-in Ethernet networking, and can display a 1080p high-resolution picture accompanied by Dolby Digital 5.1-channel surround sound.

Sony is marketing two different versions of the PS3. The basic version, with a 20GB hard drive, sells for $499. The premium version, with a 60GB hard drive, built-in WiFi, integrated flash memory card reader, and silver trim, sells for $599. These prices are considerably more expensive than Microsoft's $399 Xbox 360, and more than double the price of the other new game system out this fall, the $250 Nintendo Wii.

Both versions of the PS3 offer more than just simple game play. You can use the PS3 to play games, yes, but it also lets you play music, watch movies, view digital photos, and surf the Internet. If you want a single machine that does it all, the PS3 is worth checking out.

Controllers and Interface

The PS3 uses wireless controllers that connect to the console via Bluetooth. The box comes with one controller standard; you can connect up to seven controllers at any given time. The controller is similar to the PS2 Dual Shock gamepad (but without the Dual Shock feature), so gamers should be familiar with the operation. To recharge the controller, simply connect it one of the USB ports on the PS3 console.

The interface on the PS3 is similar to the cross media bar interface on the PS2. You navigate horizontally through eight top-level categories: Users, Settings, Photo, Music, Video, Game, Network, and Friends. Select a top-level category and a vertical list of sub-options appears. Just navigate through the list until you find the option you want.

Inputs and Outputs

The front panel of the PS3 features four USB ports, used for connecting and charging controllers and other accessories. The high-end version of the PS3 also has a built-in memory card reader that accepts Compact Flash, SD, and MMC cards, as well as the Sony Memory Stick. On the back of the unit is an Ethernet networking port, HDMI video output, and optical digital audio output. There's also a proprietary PlayStation A/V output for analog audio and video; you use this output to connect composite audio/video, S-Video, and component video cables.

Game Play and Graphics

One of the most striking features of the PS3 is its graphics engine. Onscreen graphics are extremely detailed and lifelike, and animation and transitions are quite smooth. The graphics of this unit are superior to anything else on the market today, including the Xbox 360. As to games, there are 21 PS3 games available at launch, with many more to be released in the coming months. In addition, the PS3 is fully backwards compatible with all legacy PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games. (This backwards compatibility may not be 100%; there are early reports of some PS2 games not working properly on the initial PS3 consoles.) The PS3 will upscale these older games for high-definition output, so they'll look better than they did before.

Movies, Music, and Photos

The PlayStation 3 is more than just a simple game console. It's also capable of playing music CDs and downloaded digital music, displaying digital photographs, and viewing movies on DVD and Blu-Ray disc. You also have the option of multi-tasking, to some degree; you can, for example, play music while you're playing videogames.

The big feature of the PS3 is the Blu-ray disc drive. Blu-ray is one of two next-generation DVD formats (the competing format is HD DVD), and at $500, the PS3 is half the price of current Blu-ray-only disc players. The picture on Blu-ray is true high definition, up to 1080p resolution; using the PS3's HDMI output, you'll see the full resolution on your HDTV display. The unit will also play standard DVD discs, so you can use it to watch all your existing movies, as well.

PS3 Online

Connect your PS3 to your home network, either via Ethernet or (on the high-end model) WiFi, and you have full Internet access. The PS3 has a built-in web browser for surfing the web and also offers online gaming via the upcoming PlayStation Network. While not yet live, PSN promises to be similar to Microsoft's Xbox Live service, with online gaming, community, chat, and messaging. Sony also promises an online PlayStation Store, where you can download games and videos.

Is the PS3 Worth the Price?

The PlayStation 3 is certainly a very robust game and media machine, but is it worth $200 to $300 more than the competing videogame systems?

From a pure gaming perspective, the answer may be "no" -- at least for now. The PS3 games available at launch, while they look terrific, offer little new in terms of game play. A comparison between PS3 and Xbox 360 games shows little real difference between the two, either in look or feel. Remember, however, that the Xbox 360 has been on the market for a year now, so it has more games that take full advantage of what it has to offer. The same will probably hold true for the PS3; next year's games should be superior to the first round of titles.

In terms of raw processing power, the PS3 looks to be twice as powerful as the Xbox 360, and a whopping 15X as powerful as the Nintendo Wii. This difference is most evident in the systems' graphics; both the PS3 and the Xbox 360 offer far superior graphics to Nintendo's new system. That said, spiffy graphics don't necessarily make for better game play -- experts are raving about how the Wii plays, despite its relatively limited graphics engine.

Perhaps the biggest advantage that the PS3 has is the integrated Blu-ray disc player. That said, the Blu-ray player is only important if you want a Blu-ray player. Do you use your game console to play movies, or do you have a separate DVD player in your living room? Sony is hoping that the popularity of the PS3 will drive sales of its fledgling Blu-ray format, but that may be a moot point if gamers use the PS3 solely to play games.

And, while the PS3 is a relatively low-cost Blu-ray player, it's a very high-priced game console. Do most gamers have the $600 necessary for the high-end version of the new console -- or are they more likely to save their money and spend just $400 for the graphically similar Xbox 360, or $250 for the innovative game play of the Nintendo Wii? Sony is betting the company on the success of the PS3, but that success isn't guaranteed. It may have been a smarter decision to forego the Blu-ray drive and release the PS3 at a price similar to that of the Microsoft console.

That said, the PS3 is a true next-generation game system. It's a state-of-the-art machine that won't become obsolete for many years, and it also functions as a fully-featured home entertainment center. If that's what you want, a game system that also plays movies and music, the PS3's $600 doesn't sound that bad. But if all you want is a system to play games, then all the extra features just add unnecessary cost. Let your pocketbook be the guide!

Michael Miller is a writer and commentator on technology and digital lifestyle topics.