May 22^nd, 2006 (3:48pm) - Recently the video game world has been abuzz with debate on the Playstation 3. The follow up to the top video game console of this generation has been in the spotlight as of late due to it’s announced high prices, rather disappointing E3 press conference, and of course impressive games.

At the aformentioned E3 press conference Sony informed the world that the PS3 would launch at two prices, similar to the launch of the Xbox 360.

The most expensive console debuting at a sum of 599 US Dollars is justified due to the massive amount of technology contained within. The more expensive PS3 is going to be the least expensive Blue-Ray player on the market and also plays high quality video games. Up until now we were told by Sony that the $100 difference was due to a larger Hard Drive contained within (60 gigs as in comparison to 20). Recently an article published by IGN’s "Gear" site has illuminated exactly what the differences are and what it means to you.

The less expensive Playstation 3 comes in at 499 US Dollars of course, being the more wallet friendly sum for gaming nirvana. Of course you know the main difference is the smaller 20 gig hard drive. SCEA employee Phil Harrison has gone on record of course to GI.biz to point out that "You can upgrade to whatever size of drive you like. You can put in any drive that you like—it is a computer, after all." Alright thats fair enough.

Also unbeknownst to the general public is the lack of built-in support for Wi-Fi broadband and SD and Compact Flash memory cards. The great wireless technology enjoyed by will-be users of the upcoming Nintendo Wii system or certain Xbox 360 owners is not supported out of the box in Sony’s upcoming console. Nor is the ability to use SD Compact Flash memory cards; portable memory used to transfer everything from songs to homebrew tech in the Sony PSP. To be fair, this too is a minor inconvience as Sony has also gone on record to declare adapters will be sold to take advantage of both of these technologies as well.

Alright, so save for some extra money down the road for some options that some don’t even consider necessary the system seems alright so far but there is one more part lacking that might prove more than a minor inconvience.

In talk about newer television tech you’ve probably heard of HDMI. HDMI simply enough is a high end alternative to component cables, s-video, etc. that combines the highest quality audio and video connection available into one expensive cord which connects HDTV’s to HD sources. Doesen’t seem like too much of a problem at first considering that component cables will allow 499 PS3 owners to use their systems with 1080p HD capabilities but the big problem comes down the road in about a year or so from launch.

One of the things the Hollywood studios hate most is pirates. Partially responsible for the decline in movie attendence, piracy is a hot topic when it comes to movies. The companies that provide home media however have taken this into account as they have developed their new Higher Definition media.

Now we enter into the era of High Definition Copy Protection or HDCP for short. Basically, this means that to take full advantage of the new quality of video you need to connect your HDTV and PS3 via HDMI cables. If not the HDCP activates and causes high quality 1080p video to fall to 540p, just higher of what is produced from current high-end DVD players. There is a bit of good news however as 1) This only applies to movies and 2) Most Hollywood studios have graciously decided to hold off for a period of 1-2 years before including HDCP into Blue-Ray movies.

So in conclusion it comes down to this. If you dont mind paying extra for adapters down the road, or not having the highest quality movies available, the $499 PS3 is for you. If not you better save that extra $100 dollars, for that much, it’s worth it anyway.

Sony’s Playstation 3 goes on sale in late November at 499/599 USD respectively.