PlayStation 2 Buying Guide

Considered by some to be the greatest console ever made, the PS2  dominated the market once it shot out of the gates in 2000. Its superb controller , dazzling graphics and sleek design made it a stylish addition to any home entertainment system. The PS2 was redesigned in late 2004 with a slimmer, lighter version. The Playstation 3 is backward compatible with the legendary catalog of PS2 games.

What's Hot

• Plays DVDs, CDs and PS2 games, as well as original Playstation titles.
• The controller is a wonder of design. You can play for hours without feeling any fatigue in your wrists or hands.
• The slimmer iteration of the PS2 is tiny and still plays the same great titles as the original PS2.
• The price is right: a brand new slim PS2 runs about $100.

What's Not

• Notoriously slow load times. Lagging processing power makes for frustrating start-up and mid-game waits.
• Weak in graphics, sound and speed as compared to competitors GameCube  and Xbox , and miles behind the next-gen Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.

Things to Be Wary Of

• Some versions are plagued with disc read errors.
• Dust can collect in the grill, and it's tough to clean it out.
• Unlike the hard-drive bundled Xbox, requires memory cards for saves.

Specifications

• Slim version -- these days the only one easy to find in stores -- is less than a quarter of the size of the original console, with dimensions of 1.1 inches tall by 23 inches wide by 6 inches deep, and it weighs just a little more than a pound.
• Slim version includes built-in support for online games in the form of a 56 Kbps modem jack and an Ethernet port.
• Benefits from one of the largest selections of games of any system in history.
• Its PCMCIA type III slot and two USB ports make it expandible and compatible. You can hook it up to your computer and play against people on the Web, or even exchange information with your digital camera.

Primo Products

Get the music going with Sony's latest reminder that the PlayStation 2 is alive and kicking. The PS2 SingStar Pop Bundle  includes the popular singing game, two microphones, and the Limited Edition White Slim PS2.	One of the biggest flaws in the PlayStation 2 is that it has only two controller inputs. Make it a party with the Multi-Tap , a clever device that turns those two controller inputs into four. Perfect for hosting a larger crowd.	Before playing PS2 games on the internet, definitely equip yourself with a Playstation 2 headset . They come in all different shapes and sizes, so find a comfy headset, head online, and get ready for some serious trash-talking.	Don't forget: the PlayStation 2 is also a powerful media-playing device that helped to popularize the DVD format all over the world. Get the most out of your movie-viewing and music-listening with a specially designed PS2 remote .

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PlayStation 2 Games	Video Games	PlayStation Portable	PlayStation 3	PSP Games