Buying a PS2: Have newbie questions.

I'm buying a PS2 now. I have a lot of questions about it, mainly
because I'm new to the next gen console scene. And before anyone asks,
I'm an old-school gamer, so I'm never in a hurry to pick up a system. I
wait to see if enough 'classics' are released for a system before
making my decision to purchase it or not. Some do (ps1), and some don't
(see Sega: post Genesis).

I'm starting with the PS2 because I like my mini PS1 a lot. Then, I
will get a GameCube. I will not buy an X-BOX; it is too big. They need
to make a smaller one to get me to buy it.

Is there any reason not to buy the slim ps2?

What is the last version/revision of the PS2? Does it say on the box
what revision you are getting?

The hard drive is built into it correct? How big is it and how
difficult is it to transfer files back and forth to my PC? How long is
the life expectancy of the hard drive? If the hard drive dies, will the
system still function? Does it make a lot of grinding noise like a PC
hard drive?

Does this have a web browser in it?

What kind of devices plug into the USB ports? I assume there are mice
and keyboards, but what about flash drives? Can I plug any USB mouse
into it, or only Sony brand mice.

Does the remote control come with the system? I assume it is purchased
separate. Can I watch DVDs without it?

Thanks
dos-man

"dos-man" <ChairShot.DeleteThis@mail.com> wrote in message
news:1155055695.919928.13870@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> I'm buying a PS2 now. I have a lot of questions about it, mainly
> because I'm new to the next gen console scene. And before anyone asks,
> I'm an old-school gamer, so I'm never in a hurry to pick up a system. I
> wait to see if enough 'classics' are released for a system before
> making my decision to purchase it or not. Some do (ps1), and some don't
> (see Sega: post Genesis).
>
> I'm starting with the PS2 because I like my mini PS1 a lot. Then, I
> will get a GameCube. I will not buy an X-BOX; it is too big. They need
> to make a smaller one to get me to buy it.
>
> Is there any reason not to buy the slim ps2?
>
Only if you have games or accessories in that are not compatible with the
slim PS2?

The Sony website is supposed to have a list of games that are known to have
issues with the slim Playstation 2. The URL on the slim PS2 box is indicated
as www.us.playstation.com.

One example of this is Arcade Party Pak (PS1)--the game works almost
perfectly... except that when playing Smash TV, firing in the up direction
keeps firing up even when the button is released until another firing
direction is pressed. In terms of severity, though, I would rate this as a
low severity issue.

The manual (page 47) also indicates the following accessories are not
compatible with the slim PS2:

SCPH-20401 U: Internal Hard Disc Drive (40GB) (for Playstation 2)
SCPH-10281: Network Adaptor (Ethernet/modem) (for Playstation 2)
SCPH-1070 U: Multitap
SCPH-10090 U: Multitap (for Playstation 2)
SCPH-10040 U: Vertical stand (for Playstation 2)
SCPH-10110 U: Horizontal stand (for Playstation 2)

This is because there are different accessories for the slim PS2.

For example, the vertical stand for the slim PS2 is part number SCPH-70110 U
(and is essentially a small metal disc that screws into the left side of the
PS2, using a coin to tighten the screw).

> What is the last version/revision of the PS2? Does it say on the box
> what revision you are getting?
>

There's a few numbers on the box, but nothing that obviously says rev. # or
revision #.

When the PS2 is powered up without a disc in the drive, pressing the
Triangle button shows version information such as:

Console SCPH-75001
Browser 1.40
CD Player 2.00
PlayStation Driver 2.00
DVD Player 3.11U
MAC Address ##-##-##-##-##-##

> The hard drive is built into it correct? How big is it and how
> difficult is it to transfer files back and forth to my PC? How long is
> the life expectancy of the hard drive? If the hard drive dies, will the
> system still function? Does it make a lot of grinding noise like a PC
> hard drive?
>
The manual (page 43) indicates that Games the require use of an internal
hard disc drive (for PlayStation 2) are not compatible with this console.
This would seem to indicate that a hard drive in not built into the slim
PS2. There's also no hard drive listed in the manual for Specifications
(page 49). I don't know of any way to get hard drive games to work, although
someone else might be able to help with that if a workaround exists.

The Network connector, though, is built into the slim PS2. Note that it says
right on the box that Dial-up connection is not supported.

Also, be aware that any PS1 games will need PS1 memory cards to save data.
Furthermore, some PS1 games may require that the PS1 memory card is inserted
in slot 1 only.

There doesn't seem to be any way to get the PS1 games to save data with a
PS2 memory card in the slots, at least that I'm aware of. At the same time,
there is a way to copy data from a PS1 memory card to a PS2 memory as a way
of backing up the PS1 memory card save data (and the saved PS1 data can be
copied from the PS2 memory card back to the PS1 memory card as needed).

[snip...]

> Does the remote control come with the system? I assume it is purchased
> separate. Can I watch DVDs without it?
>
The remote control is an optional accessory.

The remote control is not essential for watching DVD's. After inserting a
DVD disc, the controller itself can be used for many of the DVD navigation
functions. Pressing the Start button also displays a graphical control panel
(pressing Start two more times makes the graphical control panel disappear).