I've heard rumors of many downs and ups to the ps3, mostly from 360 and ps3 owning friends, and I wanted to clarify everything with a bias.

1. Games are only playable by the first consul they are played in. Meaning if I bought a game, played it, then gave it to a friend to barrow, he couldn't play it.

2. Free online gamine?! I knew it was true when ps3 first came out, but is it still avalible?

3. Blu Ray quality is relitively terrible. I really would like this to be top priority, because we're buying the system as a br alternitive.

Anything else you find as an important pro/con along the lines of the above ones would be apreciated.

When answering, please put what type of recent consul you have, if any of the 3 (ps3, 360, wii)

Thanks for your time.

1. that's a bunch of crap. who put out that rumor? Microsoft?
2. sony's online gaming presence isn't as mature as Xbox Live, but it's getting there. IIRC, the online games are free, all you need is a Sony online account.
3. Blu-Ray is the superior format. you can pack more data on a BR disc than HD-DVD.

the PS3 is a true next-gen console, with the cell processor & BR disc. the xbox is a collection of old pc parts & has apparantly hit it's pinnacle graphics wise. the ps3 is still ramping up.

if I sound biased, that's cause I'm a PS3 owner. :-)

1). Sony was planning this in the beginning, but they didn't do it, since it's way too restricting. So don't worry, you can rent and buy second hand games.
2). It is free and it'll be free. Free Home project is going to be released soon (virtual world, like Second Life)
3). Blu-ray is much better, than regular DVD or even HD. It's winning the battle with HD (sales 5:1)

I own PS3.

1. This would be technically impossible to do unless the PS3 disk drive was also a burner so it could mark the disk to avoid other ones using it, also you would then never be able to return games if you either didn't like them or have just become tired of them...THIS IS A RUMOUR.
2. Yes the online gaming is free, although i recently read that Sony have given compaies permission to charge to play online but it's not sony that would charge, so some games may actually charge you but they will most likley be MMORPG style games (things like warcraft). The PS online community may not be as popular but it is just as good, the PS3 connection is much more stable than the 360 (as Xbox live is still used on original xboxes and hasn't been updated)
3. Blu-Ray quality is utterly fantastic, anyone who has told you its rubbish is either lying, got a poor quality tv/connection, or is an Xbox fan and just likes saying bad things about the PS3 that just arn't true.

Playstation has more backward compatibility not only because it has an extra generation on the 360 but the Xbox is only backward compatible for roughly 45% if that of original xbox games, whereas ALL PS1 and PS2 titles work on the PS3 although not all fully (some skip and jump) but with each update the list of fully working games improves.
http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/CompatibleStatus
The web browser is pretty poor but it does what it needs to and at least it has one unlike the 360
And to squash the roumor than the PS3 is the most expensive console and is not worth the money (when infact the 360 is more expensive and the PS3 is a bargain) Almost everything for the 360 costs MORE money;
HD DVD player
WiFi connector
Online Gaming Subscription
Changing your gamer name (woking it out from how much the points or sold for in stores roughly $9.99 or £6.85, a full game on the PS store to download costs £3.50)

1. Not true - you can play the game on your friends system just fine

2. You can download demo games and videos for free. Add ons and downloadable ps1 games cost about 10 bucks

3. Bluray (and HDDVD) are awesome - the quality is great.

Whoever told you these things is completely wrong. I have a PS3, and I'm planning to get a 360. I'll probably get the next Nintendo console when it eventually comes out - the wii doesn't have good enough graphics for me.

Blu ray player is awesome.
The Playstation network is, was, and will be free of charge.

The downside to the PS3 would be the internet browser...it is way beneath the Wii's internet browser.

Oh, and I have a PS3 and a Wii.

Also, the first detail of your question is not true.