Sony PS3 Slim preview

04 SEP 2009

PREVIEW
It's hard to argue with a gaming machine that doubles as a Blu-ray player for just 250 quid, so we won't. Well, maybe just a little bit. Sony's PS3 Slim has been on the horizon for a while, but now that it has finally arrived can its svelte proportions tempt us into casting off its clunky sibling?

Slimline tonic
We weren't expecting any major changes to the spec, which was lucky because we didn't get any. All of the usual suspects that made the PS3 so popular are present and correct, including Wi-Fi, built-in browser, hard drive and that all-important support for Blu-ray and upscaling DVDs. True, Linux fans may be a bit miffed at it being dropped, but it's fair to say they're in the minority.

What did great us on opening the box was a far more sophisticated slab of matte black that has been slimmed down in all the right places. Next to the PS3 it looks understated and better qualified to reside under your HD TV. Unfortunately, it also feels less sturdy, too.  

Review continues after the break...

 

As well as cutting back in the size department, Sony has also reduced the PS3 Slim's power consumption making it more energy efficient and quieter in operation.

A 120GB hard drive is plenty big enough to store a decent selection of movies, while the built-in browser means you can access a wealth of content online, too.

No PS2 backward compatibility
So, are there any downsides? Well, we still have a few minor quibbles – but most are hangovers from the PS3. There's still no card reader or backward compatibility with PS2 games, while the online gaming options aren't as sophisticated as Xbox Live.

That said, this is a compelling package from Sony that is bound to tempt waverers with its multimedia capabilities and slimline looks – not to mention reduced price. It's certainly enough to worry the folks at Nintendo and Microsoft, at any rate.