But the PS2 still had its share of issues...

Well the fat version did. I've never had a problem with my slim one though and I still play it quite a bit.

Yeah that's what I meant.

I remember my friend sent his PS2 back to Sony at least five times in order to fix the disc read error. Even mine had trouble sometimes.

Ive always prefered the classical versions of systems. I have the PS3 from a week after it came out, for example.

All you need to do is wipe the laser lens. No point sending it back when it takes 5 minutes to fix.

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/guides/2003/11/ps2-repair-guide.ars

I'm just saying what worked for me, and my launch PS2 still works fine. Anyone with half a brain can use a screwdriver.

Right, but it's not always a five minute job. It also voids your warranty, so if you have one might as well send it into Sony to get it fixed professionally.

Only when people make it more complicated than it needs to be. If your PS2 is broken, it's most likely past its warranty anyways. :shrug:

Disc read errors aren't always a dirty lens. It's not making it more complicated than it needs to be.

Sending it back for a disc read error that only requires a lens wipe (or a simple gear adjustment if you will) is definitely making it more complicated than it needs to be.

I dunno if they make the slim from cheaper parts to require repairs, but my fat PS2 has been dropped on concrete, left on for days at a time, played with no air ventilation, etc. and it never needed repairs.

That "simple gear adjustment" is a tedious and time consuming affair. I don't think you understand what it entails. Disassembling your PS2 down to the point where you can access the disc drive's internal components, then testing each different type of disc and making adjustments until they all work isn't some 5 minute easy solution, and it's not a permanent fix either.


As far as I know, these disc read errors only occur with the PS2 fat. I'm glad you've never had problems with your PS2, but that doesn't mean that they never have issues.

Your right, it takes about 20 minutes, I've done it plenty of times.

Yes I understand, I read the whole explanation. 1/8 gear turn and test the disc, that's 8 turns per disc maximum, less if you're lucky. Takes about 30 seconds to boot up a PS2, times four discs, so 16 minutes total if you know what you're doing.

Maybe it's just my do-it-yourself attitude, but it sounds a lot simpler than sending the whole system to Sony.

I agree, it's easier just to do it yourself. But if you recall, you originally said...


...which is incorrect.

And you've already corrected me, which I acknowledged.

Slim. You can play PS1 games on it, as well as on the old phat model. The hardware has http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playstation_2#Hardware_revisions over the PS2 phat. The only reason I can think of to own a phat is if you wanted an external harddrive, as I don't think the slim models have the appropriate sockets/ports/whatever to attach an external PS2 HD.

No matter what model you get, if you intend to play PS1 games, you will need to purchase PS1 memory cards, as the games will not/cannot save on Sony brand PS2 Memory cards. I have read that this may be due to the MagicGate technology on the brand cards, and that some 3rd party cards can have PS1 games saved to them. I don't know if this is true, you'd have to do some research on the subject to find the truth of the matter.

EDIT: I've had my PS2 slim (the SCPH-79000) for about 4 years, haven't had a single problem with it, even when I had put it on a vertical stand for about a year. I've played for hours and hours and never had a problem. Just make sure to keep it well ventilated and in a place where it won't get over-heated.

I would pick the Original because the Slim doesn't have a cooling fan.

I would probably go with a slim. Both play ps1 games, so it really doesn't matter. Though after awhile my slim stopped wanting to play dvd's, but that shouldn't be much of a problem. I'm probably just unlucky with systems . . . though I have only been through one 360 since launch, but I'm rambling.

my launch PS2 worked fine with no disk reading errors, i had it for about....7 or 8 years really...Fantastic System..

you may want to ge tthe new slim one though, more portable, and has the ethernet connection in the back...if anyone still plays online games....

Unless an old model is cheaper, I see no reason not to go with the slim.

Slim and sleek is the improvement in technology and looks.

My old, large, PS2 is still going fine after years of use, multiple times being dropped, and being knocked of it's perch while playing games, only to pause the game, but it back, and keep playing without even a scratch on the disc. After all that the only thing wrong with it is that the disc tray makes a little noise when you open it.

But as for which one to get, I don't think that it really matters.

Didn't they discontinue the Original model like 6 years ago? So I definitly say go for the Slim, well that, and I have had no problems with it. The Big one just eventually dies. (I know, I lost two of em.)

EDIT: I changed my mind. Go with the Slim. There's a smaller chance of it breaking on you, plus it's smaller and prettier.

What..
Fat model has two ports for Controllers and Memory cards, same as the slim(Which has Memory Card support). Both have their own respective Multitap, expanding the amount of controllers usable.