Leveling Down

Now that the PS3 Slim is retailing for $300, more and more promotions and deals seem to bring the PS3 closer and closer to $200. So while I passed at $300, now that it may be possible to get it in the near future for $200, would I jump in then?

Here I have friends that wouldn’t be surprised at all if I got a PS3, as many of them know how much of a gamer I am. But then there’s my wife who would probably kill me if I got a PS3 since she’s expecting me to wind down on my gaming in general as I get older. At this age in life, money isn’t the problem – it’s time. I simply don’t have time to play all the games on both the 360 and PS3 and that was the conclusion I reached when the PS3 slim debuted.

But with it dropping closer to $200,  now I’m looking at it from a different angle: no longer a gaming system, but simply a media player. With practically all my media digital these days, the most attractive thing about the PS3 for me right now is that it’s a media streamer and it has wi-fi. Granted, I am using my current 360s for media streaming, but I feel that buying a 3rd 360 is a little too much (even if it could be the Modern Warfare 2 model!). Perhaps a PS3 fits the bill to give me a little more variety – especially if the cost is comparabile to a 360 Arcade. Ideally, I’d want a 360 or PS3 hooked up to every TV in the house, just for media streaming purposes off my server (yes, I’m a geek). In fact, I may not even buy a PS3 game at all once I own a PS3 and simply use it for media streaming and the occasional Blu-ray.

Considering a DVD player with Divx and USB 2.0 support already runs close to $100, for a little more than double that I can get network media streaming, wi-fi, Blu-ray, and the option to play PS3 games. At $200 it seems like it’s a no-brainer. So yes, as hardcore a 360 gamer I am, for $200, I may just buy the PS3 – but interestingly enough, not to play games. Anyone else thinking about jumping in if you can pick one up for $200?

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