Home >> Internet Games >> PlayStation 3

What Goes With the PS3 Slim?

The Sony PlayStation 3 Slim is 36 percent lighter and 33 percent smaller than the original PS3, which is also known as the "fat" version. However both devices will play the same games, connect to the Internet and feature many of the same qualities. The Slim has a sleeker design but can no longer have an alternate operating system, such as Linux, installed onto it. The more you know about the Slim, the easier it will be to decide if you want one.

The Storage
- The 160GB PlayStation 3 Slim replaced the 120GB PlayStation 3. The more gigabytes of storage you have, the more games, movies and videos you can save onto the hard drive of the device. The 160GB PlayStation 3 Slim has an MSRP starting price of $249 at the time of this publication. For about $300 you can purchase the 160GB Slim bundle package, which comes with a video game. A 250GB version of the PlayStation 3 Slim is also available, though it is harder to find, according to Cnet.com. You can also purchase a 320GB Slim for $300 or $349. The higher-priced model comes with a Move motion controller, which is similar to the controller used for the Nintendo Wii.
The Internet
- The PlayStation 3 Slim comes standard with built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to browse the Internet and connect to the PlayStation Network. You can navigate through Web pages and the PlayStation Network using the DualShock 3 controller, which also comes standard with the PlayStation 3 Slim. The PlayStation Network allows you to purchase online games and add-ons to games you already own. You can also download video game demos, allowing you to test them out prior to purchasing them.
The Blu-ray Player
- The PlayStation 3 Slim comes with a built-in Blu-ray player. All video games for the PlayStation 3 Slim are in Blu-ray format, resulting in crisper images and better sound depending on the type of entertainment system you own. You can also watch Blu-ray discs, as well as standard DVDs, on the PS3 Slim. However, the Slim is not backward compatible, meaning you cannot play PlayStation 2 games on it.
The Design
- The "fat" version of the PlayStation 3 has touch-sensitive controls on the front of the device that allows you to turn it on when it is in sleep mode, eject a game/movie or reset it. The power switch is located on the back of the device. The Slim model no longer has the touch-sensitive controls, replacing them with standard buttons that control power and ejecting. Inside the device is a 45nm Cell processor, which is more energy efficient than the older 60nm processor found on "fat" versions. The Slim also features two USB ports for charging your controllers. The Slim can be positioned vertically if you purchase a $24 Slim stand.

PlayStation 3