The 20GB version (now discontinued) was all black, but the larger capacity (and all current models) are highlighted with chrome trim-and there's no way to customize its look as you can with the Xbox 360's interchangeable, if overpriced, faceplates.
Early prototypes were shown in white and silver, but currently the PS3 is only available in black. Like the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii, the PlayStation 3 can stand vertically or lie horizontally in an AV rack, though because of its curved top, it's not meant to have any other components resting on top of it. Plus, now that Blu-ray Discs have become the de facto standard for high-def media, the PS3 is still the only console available to play back that format, and consequently is the best performing and affordable Blu-ray player on the market-a great option if you want to introduce yourself to high-def content. Yes, the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii also have their own handful of exclusive titles ( Halo and Gears of War on the former, and all of the Mario, Metroid, and Zelda games on the latter), but the PS3's HD graphics go far beyond those of the low-resolution Wii, and its stable hardware doesn't suffer from the Xbox 360's notorious red ring of death. While these titles are also available on the Xbox 360, the PS3 has exclusive dibs on Metal Gear, Uncharted, and MLB 08: The Show, as well as the hotly anticipated Resistance 2 and Killzone 2 due to hit in upcoming months.
The PS3's game drought has largely evaporated, with popular titles such as Grand Theft Auto IV, Rock Band, Call of Duty 4, and BioShock all making their way to the console. Still, for those on a budget, the $400 PS3 ups the hard-drive capacity from the older "budget" model and delivers nearly all the same gaming and home theater features as its more expensive sibling.
Now that you can fill up that hard drive more easily with TV shows and movies from the PlayStation Store, it's much easier to do so. If you don't want to opt for the new 160GB (that will also ship with Uncharted: Drakes Fortune), the 80GB version reviewed here might short you on space. If those features are a must, it might be best to pick up the 80GB Metal Gear Bundle version on eBay while they're still out there. Both, however, lack backward compatibility with PS2 games and do not come with flash card readers. As of August 2008, a new "bargain" PS3 is available with a larger, 80GB hard drive, and a "deluxe" model is due in November, doubling the capacity to 160GB. Since then, the company's been modifying the PlayStation product line to better fit the competitive market landscape.