Video: Joystiq unboxes the PS3 Slim
by Randy Nelson 
{ Aug 19th 2009 at 1:30PM } 
We've also got props ... well, actually just game cases and other consoles to hold up to the Slim for size comparison. But hey, we do it with style. So, give it a viewing, let us know what you think and be sure to check out our gallery of comparison screens below if you haven't already. Oh, and if we can answer any of your questions about the system, holler at some (game) players. We're here for you.
Gallery: PS3 Slim Unboxing
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Cj @ Aug 19th 2009 1:32PM
Why did they get rid of the membrane buttons? :/
Captain Planet (now accepting new Planeteer recruits and official sponsor of the Cody is a Douche contest) @ Aug 19th 2009 1:40PM
The same reason why they got rid of the Spiderman font...it sucked.
Vidikron @ Aug 19th 2009 1:48PM
@Captain Planet
Hell no, those buttons are great.
Storm Eagle [Resident Capcom Megafan] @ Aug 19th 2009 1:53PM
Sorry Cap, I have to disagree with you on the buttons. I think one of the coolest features of the (now) original PS3 is the membrane buttons. It really added to the "next-gen" look and feel of the system.
I can't understand why they decided to use the Spidey font though.
Misframed @ Aug 19th 2009 1:58PM
Yeah, the spidey font was kinda cheezy but why change it half-way thru the console cycle... They are even changing the game boxes now... it just seems a bit of a mess on Sony's part...
Vidikron @ Aug 19th 2009 1:58PM
I don't know why anyone even cares about the font. Looked fine to me.
el serpiente @ Aug 19th 2009 1:58PM
I'm sure they were looking to cut as much unnecessary cost as possible. I don't know anything about manufacturing costs, but I imagine tactile buttons are cheaper.
Captain Planet (now accepting new Planeteer recruits and official sponsor of the Cody is a Douche contest) @ Aug 19th 2009 1:58PM
But do you think they would have looked good with the new matte finish? I think it only worked well with the sexy/glossy casing.
Vidikron @ Aug 19th 2009 2:00PM
The system still looks glossy where the button are located.
Storm Eagle [Resident Capcom Megafan] @ Aug 19th 2009 2:01PM
Cap if you're referring to the buttons, I think they would've looked fine. That whole area below the disc drive seems to retain the glossy look from the Fat.
Captain Planet (now accepting new Planeteer recruits and official sponsor of the Cody is a Douche contest) @ Aug 19th 2009 2:07PM
Ahh, I see it now. It probably would look better with the membrane buttons then. Perhaps el serpiente is right though, it's probably just cheaper to produce the slim without them.
7egend @ Aug 19th 2009 3:00PM
The Touch Buttons on the old PS3 had a slight failure rate, they replaced them with physical buttons to get rid of the failure rate, regardless of how cool they are or not, you are getting a better product now.
ill trooper @ Aug 19th 2009 3:19PM
They weren't really "membrane" buttons at all, but rather a capacitive technology. There is no physical pressure needed to activate them, unlike pressing in on a membrane or a 'resistive' physical button like these new "Slim" PS3 buttons.
daniel @ Aug 20th 2009 5:58PM
I gotta say the original PS3 looks MUCH sexier than the new 'slim'. I just love the way the original PS3 looks. and It matches all the other fancy elecronics in my living room. I think the new one looks more toy-like. Does anyone else feel this way or is it just me?
You FAILED @ Aug 19th 2009 1:34PM
Ummm.. I think it's time to move onto other news. How many postings of the new slim do we need to see. Yeah, I get what it looks like. NEXT!!
WINterfang @ Aug 19th 2009 2:07PM
Jealous much? let the Sony fanboys enjoy this shit, they have being waiting for that damn thing to be announced for 8 months (aprox)
You FAILED @ Aug 19th 2009 2:28PM
WINterfang
HA! Suppose I should have expected Sony Defense Force. What, cause I don't like seeing 20 posts in a row of unboxings that means I'm jealous?! Slow news day I guess. I'll remember to savory and rub in your faces the moment when the Natal relaunches the 360 and you can't get away from the articles. We'll see if you have the rational to sift through pages of articles of the same thing. :)
Anonymouse @ Aug 19th 2009 2:33PM
Your name says it all
WINterfang @ Aug 19th 2009 2:45PM
Did you just say I'm part of the Sony Defense Force?....*HEAD EXPLODES*
WINterfang @ Aug 19th 2009 2:47PM
Did you just say I'm part of the Sony Defense Force?....*HEAD EXPLODES*
funkyellowmonkey(ps3 id) @ Aug 19th 2009 1:36PM
There's no ethernet port either! Bah, i prefer wired connection for online gaming as its more stable. Looks like they'd be aload of DNF's on UFC then!... lol
Captain Planet (now accepting new Planeteer recruits and official sponsor of the Cody is a Douche contest) @ Aug 19th 2009 1:41PM
Are you fucking blind?
Eastman @ Aug 19th 2009 1:44PM
There is an Ethernet port, it's on the back.....
BlazeKing @ Aug 19th 2009 1:49PM
Ranking you down for stupidity.
Haze @ Aug 19th 2009 1:42PM
the system runs cooler or hotter?i now the 45 nm and other things, but boy that thing does not have much holes to breath :S
Kryhavok @ Aug 19th 2009 1:42PM
Seriously? Doesn't even ship with some decent AV cableage...
Jinsenken @ Aug 19th 2009 1:58PM
It has the standard AV cables, just like the Phat PS3 does, just like the 360 Elite will have.
An HDMI cable is $5 on amazon. Not that hard to acquire.
Kryhavok @ Aug 19th 2009 2:16PM
For $5, not that hard to include in the box either. How does 360 not having HDMI cables standard justify the same for PS3? Couldn't Sony use the leg up?
txpbfreak @ Aug 19th 2009 2:17PM
Actually, the Xbox comes with component HD cables. PS3 is still stock with composite cables from the 50s lol (soooo Next-Gen!). I dont see why HDMI is not included, it cost less than $2 to make.
Nathanical @ Aug 19th 2009 2:48PM
tbh i think its sensible, not everybody has HDTV's. I didnt get a HDMI capable tv till last jan, and ive had a ps3 since launch. If mine was shipped with a HDMI rather than the basic cables, i wouldnt have been able to use it out of the box. Sure it sucks to have to have to buy ur cable seperately, but then they are cheap. At least this way sony can pretty much guarantee that everybody can use the PS3 straight out of the box, HDTV or not.
Hue Jass @ Aug 19th 2009 3:05PM
Why does everyone keep saying the Xbox doesn't come with component cables? Is there some kind of news that I missed, cause I've been using my included component cables from day 1....
adolson @ Aug 19th 2009 3:09PM
@txpbfreak
http://kotaku.com/5339432/elite-360-no-longer-ships-with-hd-cables
Pat @ Aug 19th 2009 4:16PM
Component cables come in the package because:
a) not everyone has an HDTV yet.
b) while maybe cheap to produce an HDMI cable would have added cost to the package. The unit would have have to sell for over $300 (say $310- $320) and people would be bitching about why the system wasn't $299.
You wanted a cheaper system. Live with what you got. You are still getting the best return for your buck from any system. And if you are someone who knows how much an HDMI cable costs to make then you certainly don't have a problem getting one on your own.
txpbfreak @ Aug 20th 2009 12:56PM
I just dont see why they cant include both HD and SD cables, like the Xbox did and does (for how much longer is to be determined). Saying that packaging another cable in the box will cost $10 is impractical, as I said I can buy a new HDMI cable for $2 with a package from a brick and mortar retailer.
I really dont care if Sony doesnt include HD cables, just like I dont care if Xbox takes them away. Anyone who is smart enough will go out and buy a $2 HDMI cable, and anyone who buys a $40 cable isnt smart enough to know they got screwed. Its just that it would be an added benefit to the customers to have all the cables you need out of the box (when the cost in doing so is practically nothing).
DJ Dunk @ Aug 19th 2009 1:44PM
So, the HDD - 1.8" or 2.5"??
SpiderMike @ Aug 19th 2009 1:49PM
2.5” SATA
U can get all the specs from the official press release, here:-
http://www.scee.presscentre.com/content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=4842&NewsAreaID=2
DJ Dunk @ Aug 19th 2009 2:01PM
Thanks!
CyberKnight @ Aug 19th 2009 2:56PM
Wait, what?
----------------------------
Ø Removal of “Install Other OS” feature
The new PS3 system will focus on delivering games and other entertainment content, and users will not be able to install other Operating Systems to the new PS3 system.
-----------------------------
No more installing Linux on the PS3?
valgas @ Aug 19th 2009 1:44PM
Ugliest. Console. Ever.
Kryhavok @ Aug 19th 2009 1:47PM
Agreed, it's not even much "slimmer", and still just about the size of a 360. I was expecting something along the lines of the PS2 miniaturization.
Heavytoka @ Aug 19th 2009 1:59PM
Wawawa go cry somewhere else
ThatPCgameryouhate @ Aug 19th 2009 2:26PM
If they were to cry somewhere else, wouldn't you downvote them even more for being off topic?
uncle jesse @ Aug 19th 2009 1:45PM
Ya know what? I was all jazzed about the new 'slim' redesign happening, but I actually prefer the old fatty-boom-batty there. I might just buy the older one with the price drop. The hard drive size doesn't really matter too much to me.
Dishwasher @ Aug 19th 2009 1:59PM
same here. thats why im looking at getting a 20gig off ebay just for the backwards comparability. hate to buy used but back compat is a deal breaker for me. i really thought sony would realize there are a lot of people that feel the same way and just make it a standard feature again.
Pat @ Aug 19th 2009 5:01PM
@Dishwasher
Sony knows that. After all the original models had hardware BC from the get go. But the majority spoke and the main concern was price. People didn't like the console at $599 and $499 when it had BC, or even at $399.
If you are going to get a 20gig just for the BC I suggest you get a larger hard drive as well. You will fill the 20 gig in no time. Otherwise get any PS3 and with the money you saved in the price drop just get a $99 PS2 to play the old games.
And I agree with you both- the original PS3 design was better. Then again, I never wanted the price drop to begin with.
Shad3Wolf @ Aug 19th 2009 1:47PM
So no power brick? Sweet!
Andy @ Aug 19th 2009 3:01PM
original didn't have a power brick
ill trooper @ Aug 19th 2009 3:26PM
...But there was a concern that the new size would force Sony to move the PSU outside of the unit, like the 360 or the PS2 slim.
So the exciting revelation is that they were able to keep it inside, while reducing the size...
SpiderMike @ Aug 19th 2009 1:48PM
I remember Captain Planet being a lot more friendly in the cartoon...
Anyway, I'm not a fan of the re-branding (oh noes....he likes Spider-Man...that's why!!..) No..that's NOT why.
Half the system accessories, games and bundles have the old branding. People are familiar with that and it stands for something. The new images look cheap and, forgive me Sony - I'll say my hail mary's tonight, so does the new PS3. Same insides, cheaper outsides in my opinion.
The grainy matte finish, the caveman buttons "NOW WHEN ME PUSH, ME FEEL" and just the general look of it oozes cheap. Having said that it does have a nice price point. $299 is a steal for what you're getting, but I think half the allure of buying an original PS3 is the fact it looks and feels nxt gen, whereas the Slim looks like some recycled crap from Billy's Basement of Bullshit.
I'm a self confessed fanboy so at some point I'll end up owning one, no doubt, but I'm more than happy with the phat. MUCH more now that I've seen the design of the newer model.
Misframed @ Aug 19th 2009 2:00PM
I got my last used car at Billy's...