People assume that just because the PS3 is so powerful that it should just have PS2 backwards compatibility, but it's not so simple. The Emotion Engine (CPU) and Graphics Synthesizer (GS) is needed to have full backwards compatibility because they didn't go through software emulation for EVERY single game. It's excruciatingly complex and time consuming, and Sony would much rather worry about this generation rather than the last. Do I want backwards compatibility on the PS3? Yes. Do I want Sony to waste their time on it rather than working on the current PS3? NO.

daftrok

@Mark Wilson: Nope, the "K" is the first Dual Shock bundle.

wiggatron

@trickstyle2: Good catch, especially as that was the first DualShock3 bundle I believe. Controllers are the main missing hardware component that I can spot.

Mark Wilson

@EndlessMike: That, and they all accept your own third-party hard drives. Personally I'd never consider the size of the drive when buying one.

Kaiser-Machead's WALL-E fetish

It occurs to me that the 20GB models may eventually become someone desirable since they are fully backwards compatible and are the only ones without the chrome trim, making them unique in that respect. Plus not many were ever sold.

EndlessMike

@jhcovert: Yeah I noticed that too. It has the appropriately colored green box, but still reads as no.

I personally have the 80GB Motorstorm SKU. For me, it's the best of the bunch. All my PS2 games work just fine with the emulated BC, so I've got nothing to complain about there. Plus it's a 2008 model, which means it's a 65nm unit.

wiggatron

@Lev_Astov: I guess that Sony figures that backwards compatibility may undermine the potential profitability of the console, since the hardware itself is made and sold at a loss with games making the difference. Imagine all those people who COULD just use the PS3 as a BD player and just use the plethora of old PS2 games that cost only 20 bucks instead of buying the new stuff for 60. Not that I agree with what Sony's done, and I really friggin wish that they kept BC, but just sayin' is all.

Kaiser-Machead's WALL-E fetish

Also, the MGS4 80GB bundle is missing and has backwards PS2 compatibility

trickstyle2

@jhcovert: I'm guessing it's a mistype, since it's green.

Kaiser-Machead's WALL-E fetish

Also a minor lacking detail: some launch consoles, including mine, came with Talladega Nights.

fquick

That's retarded that the current models aren't backwards compatible. These things are so powerful they could emulate the PS2 in software! And they don't? Ridiculous. It sounds to me like Sony is being evil.

Lev_Astov

There's a slight error on the chart: the 80GB CECHE01 does have a CF card reader.

jhcovert

What a crock. Just make the mofo backwards compatible with PS2 games across the board already. F**k you $ony.

Samifumi

I might break down and buy one purely to use it as a BlueRay (sp?) player. Got a computer to do all my gaming.

AllThingsWireless

AGREED! The 60GB model rocks!

jblaismacfan

Where's the MGS4 bundle? It's the best of the current bunch as it came with new DualShock, is backwards-compatible and has card readers. Plus, it comes with MGS4. And with Live.com's eBay promo, you could easily have picked it up for under retail ($330 for me).

Rusdude

@fquick: I would not call that a "feature."

@daftrok: but Sony has done it and there's no reason they shouldn't do it for all the PS3s. They have clearly made the decision not to provide backward compatibility based on their own desire to boost attach rates for PS3 games, rather than letting the market decide that the games for the PS3 are better than buying old PS2 games. That's barely defensible as a business decision, and certainly not a consumer friendly.

weatherman

@daftrok: If they used hardware instead of software emulation like in the early versions, it isn't time consuming at all. Include chips, set it, and forget it.

Thank you Ron Popeil.

kwicherbichin

@wiggatron: You're lucky, almost none of my PS2 games work with it. I'd have at least thought they'd have gotten the big games right like the THPS series and Gran Tourismo, nope. Still kicking myself for waiting three weeks and not getting the 60GB with the hardware BC.

Spoondizzle

@nfs:

You're complaining about cables? For real? What console comes with an HDMI cable? None, that I know of. Most of us have enjoyed our purchase. I hope Sony doesn't see your past telling them you won't buy it.

mykalt45

I must ask, did someone at Sony get high? From the comparison, the PS3 looks retarded.

You buy the 160GB model, and it doesnt come with Ethernet and PS2 compatibility, but it DOES come with PSOne(which the 20GB does)? And the 600 dollar model comes with only composite video cable? No HDMI?

Glad I'm not buying it.

nfs

What about 802.11n compatibility? Until they do this I won't be purchasing a new one. It still is the best BluRay player for the money but if they want the Sony Store to be successful they need a faster network.

Effero

You guys are also overlooking the fact that PS2 slims are still selling like hotcakes. That's a cash cow right there for Sony. At $129 a pop for a mature, fully developed console it's nothing but gravy for them.

jibbly

The E01 is the extent of what is possible in terms of software PS2 compatibility emulation. It uses software emulation for the Emotion Engine but not the Graphics Synthesizer, which is simply too complex and bandwidth-heavy for even the PS3 to emulate in software.

Full PS2 software emulation for the PS3 will never happen.

MaxRC

@EBone: true dat. i've got one of those with a nice little 7200RPM 250GB drive in it. too bad i don't like many of the games for PS3. good thing it's the best DVD player i've ever owned.

whiplashchick

Still glad I scored the original 60 GB version when I did.

EBone

@nfs:

They all have ethernet *ports and HDMI *A/V out. The chart is mentioning the *cables. Also all models except CECHB* ( aka 20GB ) have built-in Wifi. All models of course have Blu-Ray drives, which it seems some people don't even know that still. Hope that makes you less confused. :)

Mongoosekun

Wikipedia has maintained a chart of the SKUs for a while. Duplication of effort :P

[en.wikipedia.org]

lordargent

@Kaiser-Machead: I think the issue isnt Sony wanting people to buy PS3 games instead of a plethora of PS2 games for the system, but it can be one of them.

The main issue is them wanting to buy a PS2 AND a PS3 for their PS2 and PS3 games. Selling TWO systems instead of one... come on now. $$$

PS, there are a lot of people that are pissed that their PS3s dont have BC. There are many people that THINK that since its a PS3 it can do PS2/PS1 games just like the PS2 does PS1 games as well, and then they find out they cant play their games... (in worse cases that they bought with the PS3)

MadColombian

the 60 is still the best one released. day one purchase here and loving it.

lilaliendog

So, to summarize: going on two years later, the original 60GB is still the best version money can buy. Got it.

Sqube

@mykalt45: Elite 360 comes with HDMI.

h0mi

@nfs: I'm glad your not buying it as well. I can imagine how fun it would be to hear you on the PSN, if you're complaining about cables you can get for far cheaper than if they had been included at a store everyone on giz is aware of.

@h0mi: SWEET! For it's included HD-DVD no doubt?

SeattleTed

@wiggatron:

in your dreams it is, all BC 80gbs have the 90, from the 40gb onwards have a 65nm

otis123

@Effero:
You are joking right?

Why does it need 802.11n?

WHY?!

Most internet services across the US (Cable and DSL) don't even come withing range of saturating an 802.11b wireless connection. The only reason for 802.11n is to stream full HD content files to the PS3 over your wireless network, which it doesn't support anyway.

I mean, I don't even own a PS3 anymore, the stupid thing just sat there, being unused, but I see at least one person in almost every thread that mentions something about WIFI saying this or that NEEDS N. No. It doesn't.

@mykalt45:
As another already mentioned, just backing it up, the 360 Elite comes with a pretty generous length HDMI cable (6' or so).

Does that make up for it not coming bundled with a WIFI solution? No... Doesn't stop me from loving mine though. Glad Sony is finally kicking in a hard drive to compete with it, too bad they are dropping everything else that made it a possible purchase. Blu-Ray is useless as a format. I bought about 7 movies, and aside form seeing the smoke from a candle in Casino Royale, I didn't notice any big differences.

Its a great format for stuff like Planet Earth, but I have not yet talked to a person who owns Blu-Ray (or HD-DVD) that has said that after several viewings, that it was any big advantage over DVD.

Don't buy a PS3 for Blu-Ray, thats pretty much what I did. Got a sweet deal on a 60GB one, and that was a waste of time.

VulnoX

@SeattleTed: Doesn't have an HD-DVD and it's for the console itself in the same fashion as PS3.

eallan

LOL for a sec there, I thought the 160GB version came with uncharted amounts of pain! Whoops!

It's a pretty useful chart for customers, but really exemplifies the indecisiveness of Sony and their manufacturing.

IMO, successive generations of a console should improve upon the last, not remove features people like (ie. the USB slots, card reader and backward compatibility).

Margatron

@fquick: I got 5 free blue rays with mine for buying a blueray player! WHEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeee

hagrun

My 80gig came with an ethernet cable...

vmackattack

They're not making the new ones backward compatible because they don't want to kill their PS2 console business. They've since changed their minds about discontinuing the PS2 since sales are still strong. They will milk it for all its worth. At first Sony thought that all the PS2 buyers will start buying PS3s once its released, but when that didn't happen they decided to keep the products separate.

Noobs-R-Us

@Noobs-R-Us:
Absolutely stupid. True. But stupid.

DarkHavoc99

"At first Sony thought that all the PS2 buyers will start buying PS3s once its released, but when that didn't happen they decided to keep the products separate."

That sure says a lot doesn't it?

BostonPimpDaddy2

@otis123: Did you not look at the list up top?

@Spoondizzle: Funny, they both (3 & 4) work for me? And apparently, they should...

[www.ps3comp.com]

wiggatron

I still think the 20GB looks the best, without the chrome trim.

fpn1010

Who cares about ethernet cables, they only cost a few bucks!

BostonPimpDaddy2

Damn I gotta be careful on what type on want since I'm gonna use it for PS2 game as well.

CrashOverride777

PS3's dont have ethernet cable's o.O thats crazy i didnt know that not all of them came with ethernet so you basically need a router regardless. I'm thinking about getting the 160GB guess im going to need that router afterall.

SneakerFiend

@jhcovert: Also my CECHE01 came with an ethernet cable.

huarifaifa

Finally us early adopters arn't getting screwed, other than the environment with my more power hungry system but its worth it to have every feature.

gamecrazychris

I picked up my 60GB around this time last year, mainly because of the news they were discontinuing it. Had little interest in any of the games at the time, but knew it would be the model to own for any PS2 BC in the future.

The funny thing was the local Best Buy had about 100 of them in a 'mini mountain' stack in the back. They couldn't give them away. Just 2 months later you couldn't find a 60GB anywhere. And they are still selling for a premium on ebay.

TKWarrior

@BostonPimpDaddy2: Well it says a lot about the PS2 being a popular family console being used for kids games.... they all went and bought a Wii.... Where do you think all those extra Wii sales came from?

hired_geek

does the mgs4 bundle have 65nm or 90nm? That's the one i want regardless...

almostdvs

They have Updated the image at Joystiq.

Also, here is a quote I found:

"It is worth pointing out that the 20 and 60 gig ps3 systems were equipped with both the emotion engine chip and the graghics chip from the ps2. The 80 gig system was equipped with the graghics chip from the ps2 and a emotion engine emulation software to acheive approximately 93% ps2 bc, where-as the 20 and 60 have approximately 98% ps2 bc."

Hand_O_Death

A group of us all got 60gb launch systems.. All of them are plagued w/ compatibility issues w/ new ps3 games.. the new GTA woudln't play on any of the 4 launch systems. other little problems here and there.

the 2.41 and 2.42 update killed all 4 launch systems we had. All the games are designed for the current hardware, those launch systems are starting to be an Achilles' heel.

bflorin

@VulnoX:

on your second comment about blu-ray being useless....im not gonna even start by saying you must not have a tv that handles the capability of blu-ray...because i know you will just throw back some stats of a tv u prob. dont even own just to prove your point...but i will say you must be blind if you cant tell the difference between blu-ray and dvd... that is the only possible conclusion. otherwise its user error (aka. watching blu-ray over component cables and on a 1980 model zenith console tv!) because just about anybody on here with a capable set-up will tell you it pains them to watch regular dvds on a reg. dvd player. it almost pains me to watch them upconverted...which the ps3 does also...dvds are history.

beufort67

@mykalt45: agreed....and besides...most people who will be concerned about an hdmi cable will not use the one supplied in the box. heres a hint...go to monoprice.com and get one for cheap that works excellent!!

beufort67

I just found a couple of 60 GB versions of the PS3 at a local store, maybe I should snatch them up if they are still considered the best version available.

moeman

Actually, there is a mistake on the bundled software. I have an original launch PS3 60Gb and it came with taladega nights on blu-ray. I'm happy I got it too because as this chart shows it's the Cadillac of PS3s.

slawre5

The ps3 page on wikipedia has had most of this info on a chart for a long time now.

SamGold

@jhcovert: Agreed that the 80GB model packed w/Motor Storm is great, though mine is the 2007 model it work with ALL of the PS games I have bought over the last ten years, and the audio is awesome.

VideoVampire