Sony PlayStation 3

Author: Riyad Emeran
Published: 30th March 2007
Comments (63) Stumble

Storage:

Storage comes courtesy of a 2.5" internal hard disk, and unlike in Japan and the US, there won't be two drive capacities offered in Europe. Over here we get a 60GB drive, whereas in other territories consumers have the option of going for a cheaper PS3 with a 20GB drive and a few other features stripped out. To be honest, I'm not really too bothered about the lack of a 20GB option in the UK, since I would have advised anyone to go for the premium configuration, just like with the Xbox 360.

The best thing about the hard disk in the PlayStation 3 is that it's user upgradable, and I don't mean that you can crack the machine open, dig around inside it and replace the drive like with a Sky+ box. No, Sony actually markets the PS3 as having an upgradable hard drive that's very easy to replace.

You see, the hard drive sits in a caddy that slides into the left side of the case -- there's even a removable plastic cover that's helpfully labelled HDD. If you find that 60GB just isn't enough storage for you, you can simply replace the drive with any 2.5" SATA hard disk, although I wouldn't recommend going for a 7200 RPM unit as the PS3 runs pretty hot as it is.

Sony PlayStation 3 Storage and Networking
Once you've replaced the old drive with a shiny new, say, 160GB unit, you simply slide it back into place, close the flap and power the system on. The PS3 will recognise that there is a new disk inside and will offer to format it, ready for use in your console. You don't need to worry about the operating system and firmware, since they sit in non volatile storage, so you won't lose them if you change the drive. If you've got enough hard disk space you can even take up Sony's offer to load another OS -- several versions of Linux have already been installed successfully on the PS3, so if you're the adventurous type, why not give it a try?

Networking:

When it comes to connectivity the PlayStation 3 is very well endowed. For a start, the integrated Bluetooth that's used to connect the controllers can also be used for other peripherals. That means you can use a standard Bluetooth headset for VoIP functionality and talking to team mates in games, while the latest 1.60 firmware (at the time of testing) also allows for the use of Bluetooth keyboards and mice. The latter will be particularly useful, since the web browser in the PS3 isn't bad at all, and since you are more than likely going to have it hooked up to a large, high definition TV, sitting on your sofa and surfing the web is finally a reality.

Sony PlayStation 3 Storage and Networking
Of course a web browser is only any good if you've got an Internet connection and thankfully the PS3 has this well and truly covered. If you have a router or switch handy, you can make use of the Ethernet port at the rear of the console -- I have my PS3, Xbox 360 and Media Center all plugged into a router, which then connects to a HomePlug Ethernet over power adapter, which works a treat.

If you don't have a switch or a HomePlug setup in your house, then you can make use of the PlayStation 3's built-in Wi-Fi instead. Assuming you've got a wireless network at home, connecting up the PS3 is as simple as pie, and since it supports both WEP and WPA, you shouldn't have any problems with a secure wireless setup either.

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