Today though, let’s discuss the PS3 Slim. 33% smaller than the launch model, 36% lighter and consuming around 40% less power, the slimmed down version of the console released way back in 2009.
It wasn’t a great surprise when it was announced by Sony – various rumours and spy shots had spoiled the effect a little and the PS1 and PS2 both had similar face lifts – but the new model still impressed with its distinctive lines.
Sadly, various features were removed. Linux for one, PS2 playback for another, and the number of USB ports dropped to two compared with the four on the launch machines. Such reductions were seen in later models of the first version, of course, but the Slim marked a distinctly cut-down PS3 even though it came with a few benefits of its own.
HDMI TV control was one, a big fat hard drive another, and of course the new model ran quieter and is generally considered to be more reliable than the so-called ‘phat’. I personally think that the fancy slick touch controls and more ample mid section of the original PS3 – in that lovely piano black – were great ideas, but I do like the smaller form factor of the Slim too.
TSA’s fancy TEST PS3 is a Slim model, it’s lovely, but when my Phat PS3 died a few months back and I swapped it for a regular Slim I couldn’t have been happier – even though I’d lost all my save games and about 100GB of downloads!
Tuffcub
Next week: Gaming Beach bodies – who has piled on he pounds and blubbering across the sand? Only next week in Heathesixthaxis!
blast71
Any way i can upgrade my phat belly 4 a slim? Well i suppose i could try healthy living, on 2nd thoughts… :)
InternationalGamer
Sony should of launched the PS3 like this, who needs card readers on a gaming system. PS2 backward compatibility is not a big deal, I’m sure people will have their PS2 systems plugged… or laying around somewhere and if they kept the launch system at 60GB or 80GB then they could of sold it for $400 or at least $450, which is a good price for a launch console.
Gadbury
What is HDMI TV control? Does the PS3 send a signal to the TV to switch to HDMI when turned on?
blast71
I was wondering what that was as well
TSBonyman
I still don’t own a slim, when my 60gb died after two years and i had to wait two weeks for a refurb – well, i couldn’t wait so i bought a 160Gb Phat and it’s been running ever since (3 years now). Of course i also picked up the 60gb refurb which i used for PS2 games and OtherOs occasionally but it’s just stored in it’s box nowadays.
I don’t find the fan noise bothersome although i haven’t compared the two. What does bug me is that in some games the dialogue can be drowned out by the noise of the bluray drive – a horrible noise not un-like an inkjet printer and just as loud and pervasive. LA Noire is one game that was affected but i’ve noticed it with other games on several Phats. Does the slim have a quieter bluray drive? I’ll probably pick one up at some stage but atm it would be a waste with one already languishing unused.. :)
freezebug2
Fantastic machine, and the pro’s far outweigh con’s in comparison to the launch Phatboy Fat in my view.
It lost PS2 compatibilty….easy, buy a PS2 console cheap. Still plays PS1’s though.
Lost USB slots and card slots….Hubs available for all.
Lost the shiny shiny…..a matter of taste, but a slim is far easier to keep clean/new looking.
But with the much quieter…silent almost, and smaller, lighter design of the Slim, and all the hardware add ons available for adding USB slots etc. I would always choose a Slim over a Phat, it even feels like it won’t brick, whereas the Phat was a worry every time you powered up!!
Yup, I think the Slims release was a great moment!