[kupoartist]

Originally Posted by Spank-A-Thon

The cheapo PS3 doesn't have Wi-Fi or HDMI (hi-def) AV outputs with it... so for me it's a no-brainer which one I'm gonna choose...

You still get some form of High Definition though. And to be honest, speaking as UK users, only the minority of users have HD capable TV sets. Perhaps you're one of them, but I know I'm certainly not and am unlikely to be one until well into the next, next generation (or is that, next, next, next?)

Originally Posted by Spank-A-Thon

Though to be fair, a Blu-Ray player will set you back £1,000 when they hit the stores so £600 don't sound to bad to me really considering you get a top-spec (according to SONY) Blu-Ray player, hi-def output and a PS3 thrown into the mix...

It's $600 or 600 euros. No Price in Pounds Stirling has been announced yet. Those currencies translate closer to £400

Originally Posted by Spank-A-Thon

To rationalise it a bit further, I could easily spend £600 in two months just on beer and going out (£50 a night, Fri and Sat for 2 months) and have nothing to show for it at the end other than numerous hangovers...

This is the dangerous rationalisation that nearly resulted in me buying a 1/60 Perfect Grade Zeta Gundam ("It's only two months or so of cider induced embarrassment!"). I stepped back from this brink of geek-insanity when I realised the dual social hit I would be taking by 1) Not going out for two months and 2) Owning a Perfect Grade Zeta Gundam. This tale has a happy ending of course.

I got a Master Grade instead, and used the 15,000 yen I didn't spend on buying fermented apple drinks. Well not all of it. Cider is cheap stuff