Sony's new console, the "PlayStation 3" (PS3) has gone on sale on the web despite not being launched until November this year.
The next generation consoles are on offer as "pre-orders" to Europeans for £550 ($1,020) at online shop, play.com.
The website says that because of an expected European shortage, it cannot guarantee delivery before Christmas.
The PS3 is the successor to the best-selling PlayStation 2 and will compete with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii.
The Xbox 360 is already available, while the Wii is due out later this year.
All three consoles promise cutting edge processing and graphical power.
Higher price
Sony currently dominates the console market with more than 100 million PlayStation 2s in homes around the world.
The electronics giant had originally planned to launch the new console in the spring, but was forced to delay because of technical problems with its high-definition Blu-ray DVD drive.
The PS3 comes in two different models. The basic model has a 20GB hard drive, while the more expensive model comes with a 60GB one.
The lower end model also lacks wi-fi, a slot for memory cards and a HDMI port for high-definition programmes.
The model for sale on play.com is the 60Gb model.
When Sony announced prices earlier this year it said that gamers would pay about £425 ($785) in the UK for the top end version of the machine.
play.com is also offering three games in its package. Driving simulator Formula One 06, flying game Warhawk and the karaoke-themed Singstar.
The website says the games shipped with the console may change due to availability.
Gamers will have to wait until later in the year to buy a console in the shops.
Japanese gamers will be the first to get their hands on the PS3 on 11 November while the console will arrive in the US and Europe on 17 November.
Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/5088154.stm
Site for Pre-order:
http://www.play.com
Direct Page for Pre-Order:
http://www.play.com/Games/PlayStatio...s/Product.html
Here is the Play.com Review and details:
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Play.com Special Features
* Due to an expected European shortage of the PS3, we are unable to guarantee delivery of your PS3 before Christmas. All pre-orders will be fulfilled on a first come, first served basis and game titles in this package may be changed, subject to availability.
* CPU: Cell Processor
* GPU: RSX
* Sound: Dolby 5.1ch, DTS, LPCM, etc. (Cell-based processing)
* Memory: 256MB XDR Main RAM, 256MB GDDR3 VRAM
* HDD: 2.5" Serial ATA (60GB)
* I/O: USB 2.0 (x4) - MemoryStick/SD/CompactFlash
* Communication: Ethernet (x1 / 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T) - IEEE 802.11 b/g - Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR)
* Wireless controller (Bluetooth)
* AV Output: Screen size 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
* HDMI OUT - (x1 / HDMI NextGen)
* AV MULTI OUT (x1)
* DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL) (x1)
* BD/DVD/CD Drive (Read Only): Maximum Read Speed BD 2x (BD-ROM), DVD 8x (DVD-ROM), CD 24x (CD-ROM)
* Super Audio CD 2x
* Dimensions: Approximately 325mm (W) x 98mm (H) x 274mm (D)
* Weight: Approximately 5 kg
Review
PS3 is the most advanced computer system that serves as a platform to enjoy next generation computer entertainment contents in the home, realized through the combination of Cell and RSX processors, in addition to the playability of a vast catalog of PlayStation and PlayStation 2 software titles.
Having Giga-bit Ethernet and a pre-installed hard disk drive (HDD) as standard in PS3, users will be able to download a variety of contents as well as access on-line games and services over the network.
Equipped with basic input/output ports, PS3 supports a broad range of displays from conventional NTSC/PAL standard TVs to the latest full HD (1080i/1080p) flat panel displays, offering the joy of the most advanced computer entertainment contents to homes around the world. For use in living rooms, maximum heat and noise reduction has been achieved with a noise level equivalent to that of the current slim-line PlayStation 2.
With the overwhelming computational power of the Cell processor, PS3 is capable of playing back content from Blu-ray (BD) disc at a bit rate of multiplex 48Mbps with ease, the maximum bit rate defined in BD standards.
The new controller for PS3 has been created by refining and improving the world's most popular PlayStation controller which has shipped more than several hundred million units worldwide. The controller for PS3 employs a high-precision, highly sensitive six-axis sensing system that is capable of processing all parameters within the controller itself, thereby eliminating the need for any additional settings on the display system. By applying this technology, it will become possible to freely control the PS3 system over the network. |
Again, incase you missed them:
Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/5088154.stm
Site for Pre-order:
http://www.play.com
Direct Page for Pre-Order:
http://www.play.com/Games/PlayStatio...s/Product.html
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