Ars reviews the PlayStation 3 
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Member since:2006-10-22
Well, 10 years ago you didn't have internet download or a complicated setup, because consoles were not doing too much, you would just put cartridge or CD in it and play a game 
Today consoles are trying o became the center of home entertainment, and firmware (or console OSes) are starting to get much more complicated. And with a chance to easily get firmware patches, I really don't find it that bad. Sony (or MS) can adopt firmware to what people actually want.
I wouldn't go that far to say that PS3 has sub-optimal experience to XBox 360. It is probably weaker in some areas (downloading stuff) and better in some other areas (uhm, I don't know, built in web browser? 20GB disc by default, 60Gb in high end model, support for guest OSes, support for HD movies, built in power supply....). Btw, MS actually didn't get it right either, their first consoles actually also didn't have background downloading. Which was fixed via firmware patch 
Relax, you probably didn't have a chance to buy PS3 yet, by the time you will, the price should drop, and minor annoyances will be gone and forgotten. And if you were lucky enough to get one on launch day, enjoy, it is a really nice piece of hardware and you are in the 0,005 % of world populace that has a privilege of owning it.
Member since:2005-10-13
Yea, the 360 wasn't perfect when it came out either, there just wasn't anything to compare it to back then except the previous generation so all the reviews tended to be pretty positive and overlooked some of the problems. The sad truth is that almost nothing that is easily updated these days (by the internet) comes out in a polished form. That has affected PC's for years and now that the consoles are online it is affecting them as well. Obviously most companies have decided that when possible it makes business sense to release early and patch later.
Edited 2006-11-23 00:31
Member since:2005-07-25
>Btw, MS actually didn't get it right either, their first consoles actually also didn't have background downloading. Which was fixed via firmware patch
That's true, but Sony should have learned from others and implemented background download in the first place. No point in repeating the same mistakes.
Member since:
2005-11-10
I'm not doubting that the PS3 will be a success, it will. I'm basing opinion on the right now - and not the 'possible' future. Sony is doing a 'PC' on us, pushing out a half finished product and patching it later. 10 years ago, no console would launch in an flakey state, period. The truth of the matter, is that right here and right now the PS3 has a sub-optimal experience compared to the highly honed XBox360.
Are we so brain washed by marketing and hype that we spend $600-$10'000 on a console, and accept that the firmware is only '1.0'? 1.0 should mean final, done, feature complete. Is this the console equivilent of web2.0's 'Beta' or what?
Sony are right, the PS3 is a PC alright, the users will accept just about any bullcrap shoved their way.
Edited 2006-11-22 23:40