bit-tech Shopping: Sony Wireless Controller for PlayStation 3

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1 Days

Strengths: Almost same as PS2 controller. "Analog" L2 and R2 buttons. Wireless, turns PS3 on/off. Great battery life. Lightweight.

Weaknesses: No rumble. Sixaxis.

Summary: This controller has pretty much the same feel as the PS2 controller and so diving into the new games is extremely easy. The "analog" L2 and R2 buttons were a great change, especially for driving games. Even with a rechargeable battery inside, the controller remains extremely light. Wireless control is a delight, as well as being able to turn the PS3 on/off from it.Sixaxis is kind of difficult to use but I haven't really practiced it much. Leaving out the rumble was a huge step back. Glad they are bringing it back soon. As with the previous Dual Shocks, the comfort level is not as good as the Logitech cordless controllers.All-in-all a very stable, reliable controller to match the PS3.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 40

Strengths: Motion control is awesome, wireless, great battery

Weaknesses: No rumble, not sure I miss it though

Summary: In comparison to the PS2 controller, there seems little difference for the Sixaxis. There are a few button shape changes, but those changes fade quickly. The motion control is really cool, although some games don't really use it well or at all. The wireless function is great, especially compared to the RF or infrared controllers from the PS2. The controller can also turn on/off the PS3 remotely, which is cool too. The lack of rumble takes a little getting used to, but overall I haven't missed it on new games, just older PS2 games. The Sixaxis with rumble is coming soon to the US, but I don't know if it will be worth changing. Would recommend!

Rating: 10

Time with product: 2 Weeks

Strengths: Bluetooth (no wires!), good battery life, no lag

Weaknesses: No rumble?

Summary: The official Sony Play Station 3 Sixaxis controller just plain works. Third party controllers tend to use RF instead of bluetooth, which seems like a waste to me since the PS3 has the bluetooh built into the system. . .I prefer not to have an receiver dongle plugged in if I don't need to. That said, the bluetooth wireless works great, just press the PS button and you're paired; pretty painless. The reception is great, no lag, long battery life (at least 24 hours I've found), fits comfortably in my hand, the sixaxis functions work although there aren't many games that use it very much. The controller is quite light, due to the lack of rumble. Rumble is a neat feature which Sony is supposed to be bringing back for the PS3 sometime in 2008. It's not absolutely necessary, but it would be nice to have. As such, the lack of rumble is the only weakness I can give the current controller. I've had third party controllers for other games systems and they tend to just not 'feel' right when holding them due to the way the buttons feel when pressing them or the shape of the controller. Some will have analog sticks that have too much slop or dead-zone. I'm sure there are some good quality third party controllers, but I find this Sony controller to be well made and possibly have some peace of mind knowing that I have one from the original equipment manufacturer.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 4

Strengths: Feels good in your handHas consistent form factor with previous dual-shock controllers from SonyBluetooth wireless works well, and through walls!

Weaknesses: No Rumble!Battery recharging through USB cable to PS3 is a problem if your PS3 is tucked away in a closet.Battery life is short, requiring the unit to plug back in after every session.Too light?

Summary: The Sony Playstation 3 controller is everything that you have come to expect from a Sony controller except rumble. Sony wasn't willing to pay Immersion for a license or develop technology themselves. A new controller with rumble will be released some time in the spring.The battery life on the unit is fine for playing, but doesn't last through many sessions. Because my PS3 is tucked away in a closet, that creates some annoyance for me. The PS3 controller has to be plugged in after almost every gaming session.The controller itself feels lighter than previous versions, even with the battery. Some of that lightness is due to the lack of rumble. It feels almost too light in my opinion. The new rumble enabled controller should feel better.If you are in the market for this controller, you already have a PS3. This is your best option unless you are willing to wait for the new rumble version.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 7 Days

Strengths: This is truly a wonderful controller and well worth the $50. Sony has brought us a controller with a familiar feel but improved upon past design. Truly the lack of rumble doesn't effect my experience

Weaknesses: No rumble feature. Too light.

Summary: Heres some of the great things about this controller: 1. Lifetime warranty from Sony if controller dies. 2. Six-Axis Motion Sensing. 3. Light weight, feels more like an extension of my arm/hand. 4. Wireless 5. 30 hour charge 6. no batteries to replace or rechargeable batteries to buy 7. USB B port so i can charge the controllers with anything with a USB B