40GB PS3 Ships With Improved DVD Playback

[Tesseract]

I think Snipr's got it. This is like the 'Core' 360, except for the fact that it isn't crippled in regards to games made specifically for the console ;P

If they discontinue the BC PS3's in the US, I'm gonna scrounge up every bit I can to get one before they run out. I too would rather have BC over 'improved DVD playback' anyday.

Funny thing is that it sounds like they're pitching this as a consolation to the 40GB buyers... If it's a firmware upgrade, then it would benefit ALL PS3 users.

[mavsman4457]

So that means it will be in the firmware and not in the hardware of the 40gb. The title is a bit misleading but this is still good news and I can't wait for that new firmware along with PES2008 which comes out around the same time. That is going to be outstanding.

[quzar]

The thing with the backwards compatability is that all models of PS3s without the EE are the same hardware, so there is no excuse for them to not load the BC software onto all of them. ATM there are what, 4 PS3 models? 20,40,60, and 80gb? It's just silly.

[DPyro]

You got it wrong quzar, the 80GB still had some PS2 hardware in them whereas with the 40GB they've completely removed the PS2 chips.

[quzar]

You got it wrong quzar, the 80GB still had some PS2 hardware in them whereas with the 40GB they've completely removed the PS2 chips.

Yup, you're right. Sorry bout that. I forgot it's only in this one that they cut even more chips out (and rumour has it the PS main proc in it will be cut next).

So, for the record, 5 different versions:
60gb US
20gb US (no card reader, no wifi, no chrome)
60gb EUR (no EE, thus only software BC)
80gb US/KOR (same as 60gb EUR)
and now 40gb US which has no EE, a bunch of other chips out, absolutely no PS2 BC, no card reader, and no SACD playback.

Sony has always had an affinity for hardware revisions (at least 20 different models of the original PS, and 30+ on the PS2, compared to 3-4 on the Dreamcast and Gamecube) but until now they have never cause much of a functional difference between revisions. Sillyness all around.