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Why did Sony PS3 remove 2 USB inputs: I hate Add-ons?

By: Peter Chubb | March 7, 2008 | 23 Comments

Why did Sony PS3 remove 2 USB inputs: I hate Add-ons?

I was about to purchase my first Sony PS3, ok I know what you are saying “why has it taken me so long.” I agree I wish that I purchased one about 6 months ago, that way I would have been able have a more USB ports and backwards compatibility for Sony PS2 games.

The thin is on the first model of Sony PlayStation 3 there was 4 USB ports, now there are only two. Ok I know why they did this; it was to get the cost down. However I would like to say how much of a pain it is, the thing is the PS3 is meant to be a complete media center. But with only having 2 USB ports it is a bit of a nightmare, as if you want to connect something else to it, like an external hard drive amongst other things, you have run out of spare USB ports, and that means that you will have to get a USB hub.

And that is where the problem is, with connecting a USB hub, your nice sleek games console is looking a bit of a mess, I just hate add-ons.

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  • nacho

    then get the 80g ps3

    it has ps3 BC and 4 usb ports

    and if you wait till june you will egt mgs4 whit it for free along whit a dual shock 3 lol for just 499$ :)

  • Scott M. B.

    Well then why not wait even longer now for the new 80gig to come out it has B/C and maybe more ports? Not sure about the ports but your the journalist you find out.

  • Ivan_PSP

    I have a 60GB PLAYSTATION 3 and i only use 1 USB port and sometimes two. So is still fine to have only 2 USB ports.

  • nfdfm

    This is one of the most pathetic articles I have ever read. You can buy a 4 way USB extender for about $10 and if you stick it around the back of the console it actually looks a damn sight better because you only ever have 1 cable plugged into the front. You can also add more USB extenders to the first one to have as many as you want.

    BTW Sony didnt ‘remove’ 2 USB ports, they just released a version of the console with 2 fewer than other versions. If you wanted the one with 4 ports you should have bought it you tightwad.

  • http://www.xboxlive.com Jonathan

    huh . . . serves you right for buying a crappy system. Why didn’t you pick up a dreamcast when you got your PS3 . . games are just about as good for it.

    Xbox 360 has 4 USB hookup. oh yeah . . it also has all the good games and highest rankings of games that are on both consoles . . . Orange Box was great on the PS3 huh? Lost Planet looks like crap compared to the Xbox version . . oh yeah, and how could we forget how good Lair was . . . wow! Shake that controller, yeah! Fun, you guys are morons.

  • Akbar

    Jonathan, what was wrong with the orange box? it had a few frames less, not enough to break the game. I don’t like lost planet much but I believe the PS3 version has extra characters. And how come your picking on all the crap games, remember the 360 version of pro evo 6 was worse than the PS2 one, 8 stadiums on the 360, 33 on the PS2. Graphics were about the same, there were no shop options and no replay saves on the 360.

  • bd

    Jonathan sounds like your the fool. PS3 at least has a good foundation with its hardware unlike the 360.
    Good foundations/ Hardware are where you need to start software and other accompanying accesorys come next. besides that if your so happy with your 360 then why are you looking up Playstation 3 articals just to bash them. That sounds more like fear talking not pride. I think your afraid like a coward that you may have made the wrong purchase and are trying to derail the playstation 3 so you will not have to face that reality. It is people like you who are starting to ruin good gaming.

    You let me know where I am wrong.

  • Scott M. B.

    Really why would you even waste your own time with that pathetic drivel?

    After my second xbox died I chose to not replace it (Loved the games) now am looking forward to picking up a ps3 as the games are looking better and better. I would assume you are questioning your purchase, why else would you be spouting bitter crap like your post?

    Oh just a reminder when I first bought my 360 I had some games that where horrible like Tony hawks american waste land and Gun for starters so launch games are no indicator of system performance.

    But I would imagine you are not interested about facts like that as I see more and more people with there blind love of a system when we need all systems to flourish because as a gamer I like the competition or why else would they release new games or systems?

  • Scott M. B.

    Ha good to see there are still real gamers around…

  • OMEN

    wooww tis article is pointless.

  • AIDZ

    uno , if ur lookin for a game with amazin visuls and mad ass gameplay, get unreal tournament 3.
    its a random comment i know, so dont critisise me for my spellin or comment lol

  • stevie

    Hey there Jonathan, you want to tell me why your name links to a xbox site>?

    Are you employed by them to troll forums or something?

    Your comment is null in void because of your obvious bias.

    @OP, one usb add on is pissing you off? lol, how about the 3 to 4 add ons for the 360?

  • Art
  • Peter

    All of the x-brick 360 fanboys continue to mock a system that has been more reliable and includes a bluray player. While I’m watching my blurays and playing MGS4 they can enjoy watching their red ring of death. It’ll give them lots of time for these forums.

  • dave

    they removed two usb ports because it doesnt need them….ive only ever used 1 at a time. if i got an external hardrive then mayb i would use two.. two usb ports are fine. and why is it when people want to slag off the ps3 they drag up lair and couple other crap titles…for every shit ps3 title theres 10 shit titles on the xbox360. yes lair sucks balls but its not the only title available on the ps3. they seem to conveniently forget about ninja gaiden sigma, or uncharted or heavenly sword or resistance or one of the many other excellant titles available. an the orange box wasnt much better on the xbox360 either. ive got a ps3, xbox360 and a pc. and the console versions arent anywhere near as good as the original halflife 2 on the pc.

  • Heinrich

    all right, so i’ve been reading all your posts, and i noticed the deviation from the original subject of the article (which i appreciate, for it was nearly a pointless one), the format subject discussed a few articles above was interesting though, but leaving movies aside, Blu-ray for games is really becoming into something needed, since games tend to get heavier and, therefore better, DVD9 or whatever 360 format is, won’t be able to hold the data future games will probably have, so… I don’t know, hard times for Microsoft in the future perhaps?

  • Pete

    I only use the USB port to charge controllers.

    You complain that because they took away 2 usb ports it is so much less of a media center?

    Did you forget that you can stream media directly from your computer with ethernet or wireless.
    Thats what i do, and it works fine.. Much more convienent, than transferring files from pc to ext hdd., then connecting it to ps3.

  • http://google king v

    what’s the big deal about having 2 usb ports just like ivan_psp said i only use 1

  • Logic

    I have a 60gb with 4 ports and think it should have more.

    1. sixaxis charger
    2. usb headset
    3. external HDD
    4. Guitar Hero 3 wireless dongle

    some get moved to plug in other devices like
    5. second GuitarHero3 controller
    6. keyboard
    7. mouse
    8. charge GPS
    9. playstation Eye (usb camera)
    10. logitech steering wheel

    not all necessary at the same time so could be worse, still, usb hubs need to be externally powered so another power point is required.
    And could have been added internally for similar price.

    It will do i guess…

  • E

    yo king v, your right what is the big deal? ivan psp is such a bastard

  • E

    yo king v what is big deal anyway? ivan psp said he has 2 USB ports,then why is there 4 USB ports up above on the picture?

  • DK

    i have the 40GB PS3 and i only have 2 ports…i usually use both but i also plugged in a keyboard that has 2 usb ports at the top and that made me have 4 so u could think about that…

  • kb

    If it was up to me, I would have two more usb ports in the back of my 60gb ps3. But 4 is enough, and 2 covers the essentials.