1. The on off button
Seriously, that is not a reason to buy or like a console. I'm glad turning the PS3 on and off is so much fun, but really, who gives a crap? I, personally, was pleased you could turn the Wii on and off from the Wii-remote, and even THAT isn't a reason to get excited.
2. The UI
Yawn. Ok, its not a horror show. Really, do we expect anything less? All of this gen's consoles did alright here.
3. DVD upscaling
Don't get me started. Yeah, its great that the PS3 has a DVD upscaler. The fact that you noticed such a huge difference though is a direct result of the fact that you're previous setup was CRAP. If you'd purchased a TV with a good upscaler or a DVD player with a good upscaler this would be a non-event.I'm glad so many people finally got their hands on a good upscaler via their PS3, but that's a lousy reason to buy a PS3.
4. Its quick.
Let me get this straight, your PC is quick, but 'not as quick as you might think', while your PS3 'takes some time to load' but its ok 'considering the sheer size and processing power'. Looks like you are both biased and rationalizing. Additionally, the entire Rainbow Six series of games have never been shining example of efficiency or performance. Comparing apples to oranges, you are.
5 Size/Weight
Its not as heavy as you might think? How do you know how heavy I think it is? And how is that useful information? Is it light enough to be easily portable? Would you think twice about popping it in a back pack and riding a bike to your friends house or taking it on a bus? If its not portable and its not meant to be, then really, what difference does it make how much it weighs? I don't judge my amplifier on its weight.
6 Wireless networking
You compare it to the xbox360's 'pricey peripheral' yet neglect that the Wii also has it built in. Moreover, you again neglect to mention that the xbox360 even after you add the pricey peripheral is still much cheaper than a PS3. So whats the benefit exactly? Its not new or innovative - the Wii does it too. And its not great pack-in value given that the system costs so much more.
7 Wireless controller
So the most expensive system on the market ALSO has wireless controllers. If I were to say that it would sound sarcastic. Especially as again, even the Wii has these, and the Wii controllers frankly, ARE innovative, with built in memory, speaker, rumble, and IR camera-sensor, along with motion sensors. Really the whole SIXAXIS thing was an obvious attempt at cashing into the wii hype with a little 'me-too-ism'. Don't get me wrong, the new PS3 controllers are the best PS controllers out there, but really, if they'd been anything less I'd have been disappointed with them.
8 Graphics
Yep. they do look good. Do they look better than the xbox 360 or Wii though? In the case of the Wii, the answer is yes, a resounding yes even. The Wii doesn't even do HD resolution, nevermind many of the advanced graphics/texture/lighting/bump-mapping effects possible on the PS3. Compared to the 360 though...(or the PC) they're just meh. No better, no worse.
As for pushing a 46" TV hard? Are you serious....lots of people have 50's, 56's, 60's and beyond. If your seeing issues on a 46, which is just one size up above the baseline 42".
As graphics getting better down the road. I'm sure they will. Same goes for every other system/platform out there too though.
9 Blu-Ray
Um... yeah. you said it yourself, HD movies don't look THAT much better than good upscaled DVD, especially on smaller HD sets like yours. Long term, is Blu-Ray the future? Sure, or HDDVD is, or perhaps it will die out like LaserDisc. Given that the price of BluRay players is falling like a stone, and bluray might not even be a relevant standard a few years from now calling an expensive blu-ray player a worthy investment is absurd.
2 years from now a lot of things could happen... if bluray becomes standard expect players to be sub $100. Making your 'investment' now hard to justify. And that's the best case... what if the war doesn't subside and all the players go hybrid? What if HDDVD takes the day? What if both formats flop a la laserdisc?
Sure if you got a big tv and/or can really see or care about the difference, and/or want the latest and greatest and/or can afford it, by all means get a BD player. But don't call it an investment. Call it 'being price raped for being an early adopter of an unproven technology that might not be relevant in two years but its ok because I can afford it and I want to live on the bleeding edge!'
10 Its Quiet
Yes, compared to the 360 it is much quieter. But I'm sorry, are you saying that is a reason to buy one? The xbox 360 is loud enough that its a legitimate gripe about the product, but really, is that a reason to buy a PS3 instead? Your going to let the cooling fans be a deciding factor? vs... say ... the games you want to play.
And of course... lets be honest... the Wii, and any decent HTPC is equally quiet, so its not eerily quiet.
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At the end of the day, all you've done is confirmed that the PS3 is essentially a well made product. That's enough to win you over? Seriously?
Give me a freaking break. Nobody has ever claimed that the PS3 wasn't well made. The problem with the PS3 is, and always has been: limited compelling games library for an exorbant cost of entry.
You know what? A review of the on-off switch just doesn't change that equation, no matter how sexy it is.
Now I'm not a fan of the PS3, that much should be obvious. But its not because its not well made. Its because its overpriced, and much of that price is justified with features I don't assign much value to. Like upscaler (already got one), or blu-ray (not better enough than upscaled DVD to justify the extra cost per movie never mind the cost of the player -- I'll switch when the movies and the players are priced like DVDs and the format war is decided or at least hybrid players dominate.)
Until the PS3 comes out with enough compelling games to sway the market they've lost. And every hour they lose is just widens the gap between the 360 / Wii and PS3. And lets face it, once people settle on a console they aren't that likely to buy another one. And if they have one console already, and its a 360, the odds of them buying a PS3 over a Wii are pretty slim. The Wii is less than half the price and has a completey different game library while the PS3 costs more than the 360 you already have, and only gives you access to a few games that are essentially just more of what you already have.
For most people the Wii is the far more sensible 2nd console.
