PS3 Bundle Deals

My PS3 finally insisted that it had to be updated or it would not play a Blu-Ray that I'd rented from Netflix. After setting it up on the wireless network, which it refused to do a couple of years ago, but went on with very little effort, this time (yes, I've used it mainly as a Blu-Ray player and for stand alone games and never needed to be online before), I also set it up to watch Netflix on-demand streaming. I was actually quite surprised at how good the movie looked. Nowhere near HD quality, of course, but not much worse than watching a regular DVD and with very little stuttering in the video (the audio never did mess up). All in all, something of a miracle given our slow internet connection. It took 3 hours to download our rental video from Amazon, in comparison; of course, once I figured out that we had to watch it in Microsoft's Media Center and not using the Amazon software, which was cutting off the lower half of the picture, the quality of it was the same as having rented the physical disc. In any case, I foresee us using the PS3 more and more, as Netflix pushes downloaded rentals instead of physical discs. It is already a pretty good game box and still perhaps the best blu-ray player on the market, but now it has taken the role of a Roku box, as well (although I haven't figured out if I can also use it for Amazon VOD, yet).

For Black Friday, Amazon has put together a couple of good bundles, for those looking to upgrade, add a system to a second room. Priced the same as the controller alone, both bundles also throw in two games. The first is the best of the two bargains and the one that appears as if the price will change the earliest (or just go away forever, once they sell out), throwing in a Blu-Ray movie and a $25 credit to use in the store later on. Both come with a single controller and you can play the games and watch movies using it.

If you want to play any of the multi-player games, you'll want a second DualShock 3 Wireless Controller (which now comes in wide range of colors) and I'd greatly recommend the Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc Remote, which I've had for a couple of years and use every time we watch a movie. I'm now looking at adding a PlayStation 3 Wireless keypad, which I never really needed, but after having to type in login information on netflix, I think some type of keyboard may become a necessity (you can use the controller, but it's a bit slow and tedious and anyone watching can see you hunt out the letters for the password). Any USB or bluetooth keyboard will probably work, but this one would be attached to the controller (and rechargeable), so I wouldn't have to keep track of it or find more space to store it.

PlayStation 3 160 GB Black Friday Bundle w/ Uncharted 2, Pixel Junk Shooter, Karate Kid Blu-Ray, and $25 Video Game Credit ($299.99)

Bundle Description

• DualShock 3 wireless controller with detachable USB charge cable and AC power cord for console and a free PlayStation Network membership
• Slim, light PS3 system with a 160 GB HDD, Internet-ready built-in Wi-Fi, 2 USB ports and HDMI + Bravia Synch output for 1080p resolution and connectivity between other Sony HDMI products
• A copy of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves - Game of The Year, with included game of the year extra items
• A PlayStation Network download voucher for a game copy of Pixeljunk Shooter
• A Blu-ray copy of the 2010 version of The Karate Kid staring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith

PlayStation 3 160GB Amazon Family Bundle w/ Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time and SingStar Dance Party Pack ($299.99)

Bundle Description

• A copy of the PlayStation exclusive Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
• Slim, light PS3 system with a 160 GB HDD, Internet-ready built-in Wi-Fi, 2 USB ports and HDMI + Bravia Synch output for 1080p resolution and connectivity between other Sony HDMI products
• DualShock 3 wireless controller with detachable USB charge cable and AC power cord for console
• Free PlayStation Network membership and access to Netflix with Unlimited membership (sold separately)
• A copy of the PlayStation 3 exclusive SingStar Dance with 2 included wired SingStar microphones