PlayStation 3 - PS3 (Detail)

Manufacturer : Sony, Foxconn and ASUSTeK for SCEI[1]
Product family : PlayStation
Type : Video game console
Generation : Seventh generation era
First available : November 11, 2006 (details)
CPU : 3.2 GHz Cell Broadband Engine with 1 PPE & 7 SPEs
GPU : 550 MHz NVIDIA/SCEI RSX 'Reality Synthesizer'
Media : Blu-ray Disc, DVD, CD (all models), Super Audio CD (20 GB, 60 GB, 80 GB models)
System storage : 2.5" SATA hard drive (20 GB, 40 GB, 60 GB, or 80 GB included)
Controller input : Up to 7 Sixaxis/DualShock 3 controllers
Connectivity :
- Flash memory input
* MemoryStick/PRO/Duo*
* SD/MMC*
* CompactFlash/Microdrive*

- Audio/video output
* HDMI 1.3a out
* S/PDIF out
* AV Multi out
o composite video/stereo audio cable**
o S-Video cable
o SCART cable
o Component video cable
o D-Terminal cable

- Other
* IEEE 802.11b/g Wi-Fi***
* Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR)
* 4 × USB 2.0 (2 x in 40 GB model)
* Wired Gigabit Ethernet
*60 and 80 GB models
**included in box
***40, 60, and 80 GB models

Online service : PlayStation Network
Units sold : 14.41 million (as of June 30, 2008)
Best-selling game : MotorStorm, 3.31 million (as of December 30, 2007)
Backward compatibility : PlayStation (all models), PlayStation 2 (20 GB, 60 GB, 80 GB models)
Predecessor : PlayStation 2

PlayStation 2 - PS2 (Detail)

Manufacturer : Sony Computer Entertainment
Product family : PlayStation
Type : Video game console
Generation : Sixth generation era (128-bit era)
First available : JP March 4, 2000
NA October 26, 2000
EU November 24, 2000
AUS November 30, 2000
CPU : 128-bit "Emotion Engine" clocked at 294 MHz
GPU : "Graphics Synthesizer" clocked at 147 MHz
Media : DVD, DVD-DL, CD
System storage : Memory card
Controller input : DualShock 2
Connectivity : Ethernet/modem adapter
Online service : DNAS (Dynamic Network Authentication System)
Units sold : 140 million (as of July 20, 2008)
Best-selling game : Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec, 14.89 million shipped (as of April 30, 2008)
Backward compatibility : PlayStation
Predecessor : PlayStation
Successor : PlayStation 3

PlayStation - PS (Detail)

Manufacturer : Sony Computer Entertainment
Product family : PlayStation
Type : Video game console
Generation : Fifth generation era
First available : JP December 3, 1994
NA September 9, 1995
EU September 29, 1995
AUS November 1995
CPU : MIPS R3000A at 33 MHz.
Media : CD-ROM
System storage : Memory card
Units sold : 102 million (as of July 20, 2008)
Units shipped : 102.49 million, including 28.15 million PS one units (as of March 31, 2005)
Best-selling game : Gran Turismo, 10.85 million shipped (as of April 30, 2008)
Successor : PlayStation 2

PlayStation 3 - PS3 (Launch)

Sony officially unveiled the PlayStation 3 to the public on May 16, 2005, during the E3 2005 conference. A functional version of the system was not present there,nor at the Tokyo Game Show in September 2005, although demonstrations were held at both events on devkits and comparable PC hardware. Video footage based on the predicted PlayStation 3 specifications was also shown (e.g. Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire).

The system was initially planned to have two HDMI ports, three Ethernet ports and six USB ports, though, as shown at E3 2006, this was later reduced to one HDMI port, one ethernet port and four USB ports, presumably to cut costs.Two hardware configurations were also announced for the console; a 20 GB and a 60 GB, priced at $499/€499 and $599/€599 respectively.The 60 GB would be the only configuration to feature a HDMI port, Wi-Fi internet, flash card readers and a chrome trim with the logo in silver. It was announced for a simultaneous worldwide release; November 11 for Japan and November 17 for North America and Europe.

On September 6, 2006, Sony announced that the PAL region (Europe and Oceania) PlayStation 3 launch would be delayed until March 2007 due to a shortage of diodes used in the Blu-ray Disc drive.

At the Tokyo Game Show on September 22, 2006, Sony announced that it would be including HDMI on the 20 GB system with a silver logo, but not the chrome trim, flash card readers or Wi-Fi. Also, the launch price of the Japanese 20 GB model was reduced by over 20%, and the 60 GB model was announced for an open pricing scheme in Japan. During the event, Sony showed 27 playable PS3 titles running on final hardware.

Play Station 3 - PS3 (Overview)

PlayStation 3 overview (courtesy of Wikipedia):

The PlayStation 3 is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game systems.

A major feature that distinguishes the PlayStation 3 from its predecessors is its unified online gaming service, the PlayStation Network, which contrasts with Sony's former policy of relying on games' developers for online play. Other major features of the console include its robust multimedia capabilities, connectivity with the PlayStation Portable, and its use of a next-gen optical media, Blu-ray Disc, as its primary storage medium.

The PlayStation 3 was first released on November 11, 2006, in Japan, November 17, 2006 in North America, and March 23, 2007 in Europe and Oceania, with two stock keeping units (SKUs): a basic version with a 20 GB hard disk drive (HDD), and a premium version with a 60 GB HDD and several additional features. (The 20 GB version was not released in Europe or Oceania.) Since then, the console has had several revisions made to its available SKUs and has faced stiff competition from the other seventh generation consoles.