Contemplating my PS3 / PS4 future...best options?

Once I typed all this out I realized how long winded I got...sorry.   I need to work on brevity.
 
 
So, my 80gb launch era BC PS3 (CECHE01) is still running. And I have not done any preventive thermal upgrades to it...yet. (Though I did replace the hard drive a couple years back.) But I am also not as heavy a gamer as many of you here. I may finish one game and then the PS3 may sit for a couple weeks without being touched. Other times, it's primary use was either Netflix streaming or blu-ray play (ie...gorging on LOST). But still...cycles of a couple hours a day followed by days if not weeks of not being turned on at all.  All that said, I only recall it locking up on me 2, maybe 3 times and a power down / reboot brought it back.
 
My thoughts about the PS4 are:
-I'm disappointed in lack of backward compatibility even though I mostly understand why
-I have plenty of PS3 games I still haven't played
-At the moment I feel I probably won't buy a PS4 until at least Christmas 2014 if not early 2015
-I want to see how it shakes out...problems, etc.
-I want to see what Gaikai really is but even though I hope they will find a way for owners of physical disks to be accomodated I actually expect for physical disk owners to be screwed
 
 
Which leads me to this:
I want to keep PS3 access for at least 2 more years; maybe more.
 
 
So I'm trying to decide what path gives me the best chance of a working PS3 for the next 2-4 yrs with the least amount of pain to my wallet. Hey, this *is* CAG.
 
Option 1: Buy a 2nd PS3
-I have another room I could use the original in as a BR player and then if needed, have it for games if the 2nd dies
Pro: Hey, it's a spare PS3
Con: Cost, particularly new...might drop some but probably not much.
 
Best way to buy without dropping a ton?
-Gamestop (current system deal...any preowned PS3 for $150 plus a free $20 used game; 7 day money back; 30 day exchange)
-Cowboom (decent not spectacular prices; grade 6 slim 320's avail)
-Craigslist (no "warranty" but some decent deals pop up around me ... example, a slim 250 with 3 games, including the Last of Us, for $150)
-Which model to target? Is the 320gb Slim the one to go after? Or should I go for the GameStop Black Friday 250gb Super Slim w/Last of Us and Batman Origins?
 
 
Option 2: Keep only the 80gb "phat"
-pre-emptive thermal maintenance? Gone this long without. Do I need to do this? How easy to do? I have built my own PC's and dis-assembled laptops before.
-repair if it fails. I even have a local shop with good reviews that does PS3 repairs.
 
 
Option 3: Trade 80gb "phat" towards a newer model
-What is the trade-in value on the 80gb? Do I have to try to find the original 80gb hard drive and swap it back in before I do this?
Pro: A newer PS3 will have 3-5 less years of wear on it
Con: A newer one can break just as easily as an older one
 
Any input on which way to go here? Part of me says...oh, buy a backup!  The other part of me says *if* the phat breaks then worry about it.

Get the black friday bundle at gamestop, sell the games and after ebay fees you get a system for under $150.  Or you could just wait till it die and then get a replacement.  Don't bother trading it in under you get an amazing deal.

62t said:

Or you could just wait till it die and then get a replacement. Don't bother trading it in under you get an amazing deal.

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Has Sony indicated how long they plan to continue selling the PS3 once the PS4 is out? I mean, I know there will be many used PS3's out there for several years, but how long will there be "new" ones out there for?

I don't love the look of the Super Slim but if it came down to it, I could live with it.

I figured the deals on PS3 trade-ins were probably drying up.

I don't think the PS3 will be supported any longer than 2 years from now. I could of swore I read an article that they said they only have plans to support it for another 2 years. 

If you really must get a new PS3, I say wait until black Friday as well. That's the best time to get one, and since I doubt many people will bother to buy out all of the PS3's, there should be a ton left in a lot of stores. 

ludus said:

I don't think the PS3 will be supported any longer than 2 years from now. I could of swore I read an article that they said they only have plans to support it for another 2 years.

If you really must get a new PS3, I say wait until black Friday as well. That's the best time to get one, and since I doubt many people will bother to buy out all of the PS3's, there should be a ton left in a lot of stores.

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I think you are thinking of the 360, since MS has come out and said "2 years" of support. I don't think Sony has said.

To the OP:

i'd wait till BF as long as your current one is working before picking up a 2nd PS3. In the meantime, I'd make sure you use the cloud (assuming you have PS+) to back-up any save games you want in case the phat does die.

I bought my 2nd PS3, a superslim, from Cowboom for $130 a few month ago and so far so good, although I mostly have been using it for blu rays. I didn't care for the superslim when I saw it, but it's not too bad IMO. The blu ray drive seems a little louder than my Slim, but it doesn't have the eject issues my slim has either.

ludus said:

If you really must get a new PS3, I say wait until black Friday as well. That's the best time to get one, and since I doubt many people will bother to buy out all of the PS3's, there should be a ton left in a lot of stores.

Click to expand...

waldo21212 said:

i'd wait till BF as long as your current one is working before picking up a 2nd PS3. In the meantime, I'd make sure you use the cloud (assuming you have PS+) to back-up any save games you want in case the phat does die.

I bought my 2nd PS3, a superslim, from Cowboom for $130 a few month ago and so far so good, although I mostly have been using it for blu rays. I didn't care for the superslim when I saw it, but it's not too bad IMO. The blu ray drive seems a little louder than my Slim, but it doesn't have the eject issues my slim has either.

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Thanks for the replies. I will wait for BF or at least wait for more BF ads to be released.

I actually don't have PS+ ... yet ... but I'll definitely be trying to hit up GameStop for the $29.99 annual subscription on BF. I normally avoid BF shopping in B&M but may make an exception. (Though I will be avoiding the store that is right next to Wal Mart!)

I know I've read that some people pro-actively replace the thermal paste and pads...just to clarify...that doesn't eliminate the YLOD chances...just reduces them by reducing heat? Is that right?

Probably no one cares too much, but since there were over 250 views I thought I'd update with my decision.

I'm keeping my 80gb phat.

I was really tempted by this week's Best Buy offer that would have given me a minimum $100 gift card for trade in. But then I'd still have to turn around and buy another PS3. And I still don't like the looks of the Super Slim.  And my phat PS3 has always seemed to run cooler than many...only maybe 3 times in 5+ years have I heard the fan ramped all the way up. Anyway, I'm just going to keep what I've got and have it repaired if/when it does fail/YLOD.  There are at least 3 shops near me with decent reviews (google/yelp) for PS3 repair. 

I'll still keep an eye on cowboom and craigslist for slims at a great grade but it would have to be a really smokin' deal.

You could join the PS4 conga line that just started tonight on CAG and get one free. That's what I'm doing because I can't really afford to buy a PS4 right now. I also need a PS3 but that'll only get cheaper from here on out as more people move to the next gen.