PS2: Are Slimlines really more reliable?

Feral

I'm looking at buying my third PS2 this week. In the past, I'd just bought used knowing that I could baby it along for a while and replace it eventually.

However, I'm considering buying a new slimline PS2. I've read conflicting reports of their reliability and I wanted to get some opinions. More reliable? Less reliable? Will it last me longer than a year?

Some notes:
My old PS2 is DREing on everything but blue discs. I've cleaned the laser, adjusted the laser angle, and adjusted the pots. No luck.
I'm not buying a PS3.
I don't care about the integrated Ethernet.

Dr_Keenbean

Same thing happened to me (the only reading blue discs part) a long time ago and I had to buy another one.

Granted, this was before the slim ps2 even existed. I was under the impression that the slims were all you could buy new anymore?

If you want reliability I wouldn't even considered a used anything personally.

naporeon

Dr_Keenbean wrote:

If you want reliability I wouldn't even considered a used anything personally.

I'm not liming this, since I've already limed one thing today, and I have a constitutional aversion to liming more than one thing a week.

But really, what he said.

Feral

Dr_Keenbean wrote:

If you want reliability I wouldn't even considered a used anything personally.

Here are basically my options:

Pay $60 for a used old fat PS2 I know how to fix and can (usually) fix successfully.
Pay $120 for a new slimline PS2 that may or may not break in a year anyway and I don't know anything about fixing.

Dr_Keenbean

Feral wrote:

Dr_Keenbean wrote:

If you want reliability I wouldn't even considered a used anything personally.

Here are basically my options:

Pay $60 for a used old fat PS2 I know how to fix and can (usually) fix successfully.
Pay $120 for a new slimline PS2 that may or may not break in a year anyway and I don't know anything about fixing.

If you're certain you can fix the used one then go for it. Still, you've not had much luck fixing the current one it seems.

I guess I'm just a consumer whore and like my virgin systems.

Vincent Grayson

I've had my slimline for at least a year, and had zero problems with it (although I think a need a new A/V cord, it's acting funky)

PirateJon

Get the fat one.

I've used my bought-at-launch ps2 everyday for games and DVDs and never had an issue with it. Those MF'ers are bulletproof.

drhazard

I haven't had a problem with my slimline, and I bought one of the 'launch' ones (launch for the slimline, at least). And I haven't heard any widespread problems.

RiemannLives

There is a big difference in quality between different models of the fat ps2s. I think it is the 5001+ models (can't recall exactly) where they finally fixed the lasers and so forth.

Septus

For one thing, I'd trust a pop-top over a drive tray for the discs, but also the newer it is, the more likely I think it is to last you longer.

I have a first-run PS2, and though it's still working, I've had to send it in twice for DREs.

Sam

PirateJon wrote:

Get the fat one.

I've used my bought-at-launch ps2 everyday for games and DVDs and never had an issue with it. Those MF'ers are bulletproof.

Ritchmeister

PirateJon wrote:

Get the fat one.

I've used my bought-at-launch ps2 everyday for games and DVDs and never had an issue with it. Those MF'ers are bulletproof.

This is the funniest thing I've read all day.

Ever infact.

durandal4532

I bought a slimline one a year ago because I couldn't find a used fat that would actually be cheaper. So far I have no complaints. I'm constantly afraid of accidentally snapping the thing in half, but it's run perfectly for about... 2 years or so. I do think if you can find a used fat one for super cheap, it might be worth it. But no, my slimline hasn't been finicky.

Blake T

My friend had a slimline and needed it to be replaced.

He got it under warrenty though.

Keep in mind I appear to be the only one that has heard of a pstwo failure so you know, grain of salt.

SkyGheNe

I've had my slim-line since release and have had 0 problems.

Definitely more reliable than my old ps2...and I would NOT recommend buying one of these used...it's most likely why you managed to go through so many.

Feral

Thanks for the opinions, guys.

CrossBuster

PirateJon wrote:

Get the fat one.

I've used my bought-at-launch ps2 everyday for games and DVDs and never had an issue with it. Those MF'ers are bulletproof.

No, you're just extremely lucky.

TroubledTom

I've had my slimline since it came out. I've watched more movies on it than I've played games, but lately the DVD playback has been getting kind of wonky. It's getting difficult to make it through a movie without losing the picture to a digital scramble. When I have played games on it, there hasn't been a problem. I probably should buy a real DVD player soon while the PS2 still has some life left in it. If you do get a slimline, make sure you have the AC Adapter that wasn't recalled. I don't have a link for you, but I'm sure a search would turn up something.

DouglasDanger

I will reiterate the don't buy used electronics advice. As a person who sold his screwy old ps2 to Gamestop, I would never buy a used console. There was no inspection when I sold it back to them, they did not even see if the no tamper security tape/seal was present or intact. (The little black tape that holds the halves of the console together.) Opening it yourself voids the Sony warranty, and the tape will not fall off unless you open it. Those drones did not evne look for it. My old ps2 was having a lot of DREs and whatnot, and it was mostly a matter of luck that itworked when they put a game in it and turned it on.

I am sure I am not the only person to do this. That does not make me less of a jerk for doing it, but I was mad at those guys for some reason and justified it that way at the time.

Basically, buying a used console is like playing the lottery. I thought about it, but realized it would be cheaper and simpler and less stressful to just buy a new one for a little more money.

I have a slimline pstwo, and is going on two years old with no problems whatsoever.

Hensler

Never had any problems with my slimline and Ive had it for quite a while, and it's just so much nicer to have. I can toss it in a bag and take it anywhere I go.

Feral

DouglasDanger wrote:

I will reiterate the don't buy used electronics advice. As a person who sold his screwy old ps2 to Gamestop, I would never buy a used console. There was no inspection when I sold it back to them, they did not even see if the no tamper security tape/seal was present or intact. (The little black tape that holds the halves of the console together.) Opening it yourself voids the Sony warranty, and the tape will not fall off unless you open it. Those drones did not evne look for it. My old ps2 was having a lot of DREs and whatnot, and it was mostly a matter of luck that itworked when they put a game in it and turned it on.

I am sure I am not the only person to do this. That does not make me less of a jerk for doing it, but I was mad at those guys for some reason and justified it that way at the time.

Basically, buying a used console is like playing the lottery. I thought about it, but realized it would be cheaper and simpler and less stressful to just buy a new one for a little more money.

I have a slimline pstwo, and is going on two years old with no problems whatsoever.

Yeah, this all assumes that I'd be going down to Gamestop and buying a used console sight unseen rather than buying one from a friend who I know and trust and making sure it can play all the discs I throw at it before putting down the money.

Thanks for looking out, though.

Thanks for all the feedback everybody, I'm going to buy myself a slimline for Christmas.