A question for fellow padders:

My boys are asking for a PS3. My brother has an 80GB model, which plays PS1 and PS2 games. I understand that the 40GB only plays PS3 games.

My brother says to maybe go to e-bay and get an 80GB model, since they are discontinued in the stores. The problem is I've heard that Sony is coming out with a 160GB model this summer (?) Does anyone know if this is true? Will it play PS1 and PS2 games like the 80GB? Will it be worth waiting for or should I just get the 80GB?

I figure the 160GB has to be more than just 4x the storage space of the 40GB right? Why pull the 80Gb unless the 160Gb would be all that and more? Anyone know what Sony is up to?

Not 100% sure about the 160GB but Sony will be "re-releasing" the 80GB model w/ a different bundled game and a Dualshock 3 controller (vibrate capability, unlike the Dualshock 2 that was included in all previous U.S.-spec PS3 packages) shortly. Unless the 160GB offers other significant features not found in the re-released 80GB model (I highly doubt it) and/or will retail for not much more than the 80GB, I'd recommend getting an 80GB (some stores still have them in stock) since it is easy and probably cost-effective to swap out the 80GB drive for a much larger one.

The backwards compatability was eliminated to curb costs on the system as Sony discovered most of the PS3 buyers already owned and still used the PS2. I would imagine that the need to keep costs down also led to the introduction of the 40GB model. The larger drive was in anticipation of games requiring large installs to run smoothly, which didn't happen. (I don't know any PS3 owners who have come close to using 40GB.)

I haven't seen any announcements on a 160GB PS3 and a quick search turns up nothing beyond rumor and fairly baseless speculation.

A quick search on eBay shows the 80GB PS3 going for about $100 more than the 40GB one. My advice: Buy a new 40GB PS3 and if you really want backwards compatability, spend the other $100 on a PS2.

My advice: Buy a new 40GB PS3 and if you really want backwards compatability, spend the other $100 on a PS2.

I would agree. I would be surprised that any new PS3 would have PS2 compatibility. Even the PS3/80 was not as compatible as the PS3/60 as a cost saving measure on SONY's part.

That being said, when blu-ray was offering 3 free movies with the purchase of the player, the cost of the PS3/80 was so close to the regular price of the PS3/40 that I went with the PS3/80 and if you start to download games and trailers or copy over music or divx files, then you could start to fill that drive.

If you are just a gamer, then the PS3/40 should be more than enough storage.

Thanks guys! I did get the 40GB and we are enjoying it very much. I was told that we could even play VMK on it through the web brouser.

I tried but it says I need shockplayer, and i can't get the PS3 to download it. What am I doing wrong??

The backwards compatability was eliminated to curb costs on the system as Sony discovered most of the PS3 buyers already owned and still used the PS2. I would imagine that the need to keep costs down also led to the introduction of the 40GB model. The larger drive was in anticipation of games requiring large installs to run smoothly, which didn't happen. (I don't know any PS3 owners who have come close to using 40GB.)

I haven't seen any announcements on a 160GB PS3 and a quick search turns up nothing beyond rumor and fairly baseless speculation.

A quick search on eBay shows the 80GB PS3 going for about $100 more than the 40GB one. My advice: Buy a new 40GB PS3 and if you really want backwards compatability, spend the other $100 on a PS2.
It should be noted that, w/ updated firmware, 60GB and 80GB models will upscale PS1, PS2, and movie DVDs to up to 1080p resolution (if connected to a 1080p-capable display via HDMI)...while no PS2 is capable of upscaling anything past 480p. Whether one cares for any realized or perceived improvements in PQ that upscaled PS1/PS2 games and/or DVDs may or may not provide is up to the consumer...but nevertheless the fact is that the 60/80GB PS3 models are capable of upscaling PS/PS2 games to 1080p, while the PS2 can't do the same.

Thanks guys! I did get the 40GB and we are enjoying it very much. I was told that we could even play VMK on it through the web brouser.

I tried but it says I need shockplayer, and i can't get the PS3 to download it. What am I doing wrong??
Did you download/install the latest PS3 firmware version (2.17) first? Not that doing so will guarantee that you can get Shockwave Player to work on VMK...but at a minimum you should definitely update the PS3 firmware first.