Just so there aren't any misunderstandings, I'd like to clarify a few of the things Earth said:
#1
The only curveball is you need a HDMI cord to get 1080p on a 1080p TV.
If you have a 1080p TV that accepts 1080p over component, then that is possible as well. The PS3 can output 1080p over component, and unless a video has the ICT tag
(as far as I know, not one of the several hundred Blu-ray discs have it), then it won't downscale it to 540p over component.
It is my opinion that even with a 480i televesion blu-ray movies look better then DVD movies on the same TV even one with lower resolution.
Quite true. This is often because of the much higher bit rates that transfers on Blu-ray have. In addition, many Blu-ray titles are from newer, and often superior masters. Thus, even when displayed at the same resolution as DVD, the Blu-ray version will often look better... and sound MUCH better thanks to lossless audio
(PCM, TrueHD, DTS-HD).
#2
It depends. 40GB will be enough if you delete old videos and game demos when they get outdated. The average size of a game demo now is 1 GB. Even with my 60GB I have had to delete old demos and videos to make room.
True, but it is also good to know that with only a few rare occasions, you can always redownload most content again off the PSN. Movie trailers from other studios are usually the first to get removed from the store, but only the really old game trailers get removed, and very rarely do any of the demos get removed.
Games are coming out now with large mandatory installs that range up to several gigabytes.
True, but these to can be erased, and reinstalled if need be without losing your game saves.
I don't even think 80GB is enough to last you for the next few years of games.
Considering that there has been more than 500GB of content already released on the PSN stores, and as someone who has upgraded his HDD twice now, first to a 160GB drive, and most recently to a 320GB drive, you would think I would tend to agree with you, and for the added conveniece, I do agree with you.
However, as explained above, it is also perfectly reasonable to occasionaly delete and re-instal games and content in the event you have an HDD smaller than all the content you have downloaded or installed from a game disc.
In other words, even a 20GB HDD is enough to last... as long as you are willing to take the time to regularly delete and reinstal content. I don't have the patience for that, but others might not mind so much.
#3
You can output audio from the PS3 three ways:
- HDMI (max lossless digital 7.1 channel)
- Optical (max Doby Digital/DTS or lossless digital PCM 2 channel)
- AV Multi Cable (max analog 2 channel)
The best is multi channel lossless via HDMI, but to do that you need a receiver or audio processor with HDMI input. In addition, if you also plan on using the HDMI for video to the display you will need either an HDMI output on that receiver, or purchase an external HDMI spliter.
If you can manage it, I highly recommend multi-channel PCM via HDMI... truly stunning audio quality can be achieved. 👍
#4
The 40 GB PS3 does not play PS2 or PS1 games. It is not backward compatible.
While I don't own a 40GB PS3 or any PS1 games, I am fairly certain all PS3 models play PS1 games.
#6
No, whatever the username is on your master account is automaticly your name for every game you play.
Just to clarify things. The name you give when creating a "
New User", is not the name that is used for it's
PSN Online ID.
The "User Name" is stored and viewed only on your PS3, and can be changed or edited any time you feel like it. The same is not the case with a PSN Online ID. Once it is created, it can't be changed. You can delete it from your PS3 or move it to a different user, and then create a new ID. This is a good thing though, as it means you can always get your ID back should you switch to a new PS3.
The PS3 allows you to create up to 15 master accounts, or 15 different users and user names if you wish.
The max is actually 16, and it can be for both master and sub accounts.
This is also a nice feature in the event you belong to several racing leagues and or play a lot of games and want a specific friends list to only have current info on the people you play with for that/those game(s).
As it is very easy and fast to switch between users, you can quickly check other friends list to see who is available, even having as much as
800 1,600 friends listed, but without the problem of having all
800 1,600 on the same list which would not only wipeout your online bandwidth keeping track of their activities, but image all the pop-up message alerts you would have, and if you turn them off you may miss an important message, or game invite.
Each user has his own saves, wallpapers etc. But don't sweat it. It's very easy to transfer your game saves from one account to another. Takes just a few clicks.
Quite true. It is also very easy to copy your game saves and other content to an external hard drive or memory card. This is what makes being able to make backups and share game saves with others so easy and convenient. 👍
#7
Yes, you can have up to 50 friends on each master account.
Sub accounts as well.
EDIT: The max is now 100 friends per account.
