Regarding blowing dust out of the PS3, if you turn the PS3 off at the back (little rocker switch) and then hold down the eject button as you flick the rocker switch back on. The PS3 will double beep, then the fans will go full bore in reverse for 10 seconds, then beep again and go back to standby. Press the power button again and it'll start up normal. I do this roughly every year and my 40GB phat PS3 still runs like clockwork.

Yes, some people and their football.  You should never try to come between.

I had mine for 5 years until it started messing up. I could'nt get a clear image and the sound was messing up,that's when I replaced it with a slim. This was last year. It was the 60gb model.

I still have my 60GB Fat. Still works. Haven't turned it on since the YLOD scare. Just went out and bought a slim and use that. Don't want the collectors value of my Fat w/BC to depreciate

Wow, that's a great feature.  I have never heard anything like that.  I think all things with fans in them should have a feature like that.

The majority of my friends whom have PS3's still have their fat PS3's. Few of them have the slim or have ever had a PS3 break down on them. I've witness the noise though, but not from most of them.

It is a pretty neat feature, I'm not sure where I read about it first as its not in the manual for some reason, but like I said I've done it every year and my PS3 still runs cool and quiet.

My 80Gb PS3 2008 model is still running. Recently the sound and image occasionally messed up . Maybe it's time to move on to the PS4 :(

Yep. Bought mine 3 months before semi-slim came out.

My 60gb model died the Summer of 2009. My brother's 20gb was going strong until it started getting loud and eventually died in 2011, and he had to sell half his game collection to get a new one. Your friend's system might not have too long to go.