The release of the Playstation 3 is one of the biggest events in the gaming industry. Sony is believed to produce some of the best gaming consoles in the industry, and is also one of the biggest players in the gaming industry, generating huge sales across so many countries throughout the globe.

However, even if the PS3 is a major success of Sony, it has encountered plenty of competition from other gaming consoles from both Nintendo and and Microsoft. And for good reason, too. If you compare the Playstation 3 to other consoles like the Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii, will see a lot of advantages and disadvantages that the PS3 has over the other two consoles. But do these advantages make the console worth buying? Let's find out.

One main advantage of the PS3 is that it allows web access. By this, people are able to share files with their friends. It can also be used to browse the Internet (goes without saying).

It can also function as a Blue-ray player, giving it an edge of versatility. People are able to watch movies and access files in a Blue-ray disk. In fact, the PS3 is one of the more cost-effective Blue-ray players available in the market today.

The use of a Blue-ray disk has proven to be a great innovation for the PS3. A Blue-ray disk is able to store more space for content, and can also provide better graphic and audio quality, improving the quality of gaming for gamers.

You can also install a Linux OS on the PS3, which only further increases its versatility. How is that? By being able to operate Linux, the PS3 can run a variety of programs that the user can use, aside from the console's native functions as a gaming and multimedia device.

Compared to the Xbox 360's 512mb memory, the memory of the PS3 packs in 256MB XRD for the cell, and 256MB DDR3 for the GPU. This means that you can store more things in both the PS3's memory banks than you can in an Xbox 360.

Since the PS3 is similar to a computer, it is more user-friendly than the Xbox 360, and offers more support when it comes to USB functionality.

A low failure rate is also associated with the PS3, which makes up for the fact that it is expensive. The controllers are also rechargeable which requires only a USB-to-USB cable for it to be recharged.

However, it also comes with its own disadvantages. Games played in the PS3 are designed to emulate life, which can, just like any other game, slowly take over the life of the individual.

Playing games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band (games also available in other consoles, admittedly) includes the use of plastic accessories that make it seem as if one is playing a real musical instrument. It has slowly influenced people who like playing these games to think that they can easily play musical instruments. The game does use some element of the real thing (for example, the use of drum pads for playing drum tracks), but the wall that separates real musical instruments and game controllers - or games and real life, in general - more blurred (see Grand Theft Auto controversies).

Another apparent disadvantage of the Sony PS3 is its price tag. The console is unusually expensive, to the point that the price may be considered as something somewhat exorbitant, especially in this global recession. To compare: the Xbox 360 costs only $299, while the PS3 is being sold at $499 each. Sony also has some inconsistency with making a single model for it as well, although the reason behind this may lie in the fact that they are constantly researching ways in which they can lower the price.

In terms of game library, the PS3 is inferior to the Xbox 360 since it has less titles. It has also been said that the games of the Xbox360 have better graphics than the PS3, despite people saying otherwise.

There are also issues to be found with the console's connection with the Playstation Network. Despite the console's network-capable system, the PS3 has been having problems in getting in touch with the PS Network. Some of the problems that have been reported often lies in the fact that the system is somewhat slow. It has also been reportedly difficult to file a complaint within the system.

Voice messaging between individuals is also not available in the PS3, although rumors say that this will be included in the next version of the console.

Before you think of purchasing a PS3, it is imperative that you research about the machine. The Sony Playstation 3 may have some advantages, but its disadvantages can make a pretty solid case against a purchase of the console.