Even with a $100 price cut in July, Sony's deluxe console hasn't gained much traction with gamers. Its list of titles brings the phrase weak sauce to mind. But the PS3 is a technical powerhouse with loads of untapped potential, packing a 4.6-GHz multicore cell processor, a 550-MHz graphics chip, and 256 MB of RAM — better specs than some desktops.
Does everything...: A built-in Blu-ray player, tons of media card readers, an easily upgradable hard drive, and PC connectivity give PS3 users plenty of entertainment options. HDMI 1.3 support and 1080p output mean the PS3 is an HDTV's BFF. Updated PSP firmware now allows handheld owners to access content on their PS3 hard drives from virtually anywhere.
...Except games: The PS3's Achilles' heel is its lack of quality titles. Though several games out this holiday season look promising, there's certainly no Halo 3 equivalent on Sony's platform. Hotly anticipated titles like Metal Gear Solid 4 won't hit shelves until sometime next year.
Peewee Playhouse: Sony's answer to Xbox Live and Nintendo's Mii avatars, PlayStation Home is essentially a lackluster mix of The Sims and Second Life. Users can decorate virtual dwellings, interact with others, play games, and buy and sell stuff.
$599 (80 GB), playstation.com
Photo: Gene Lee
