So my early model PS3 has had numerous problems with its network connection and now the latest firmware update (3.30) has screwed me yet again. Sony just don't care about us "fat PS3" owners, since I hear the slims don't seem to have this issue. If anyone else is having this problem, I can sympathize. It connects using an ethernet cable just fine, but the wireless fails to locate the router, which is located in another room. Last time the solution was to set the router to a different channel, but after downloading the latest PS3 update (which seems to be mandatory for online use) I can't get anything to work.

Normally I wouldn't care so much, but I'm considering taking the plunge into FFXIV later on, and that wouldn't bode well. I'd have to move my gaming zone, or snake a fifty-foot cable down the hall. Or not bother with FFXIV at all, which may be the smartest move.

I have a fat PS3, and I have yet to have any kind of trouble with it whatsoever (apart from the stupid Leap Year incident).

*knocks wood*

Same here, though mine is a later model of the Fat, a 40GB.  As for Sony and their firmware updates, I still hold true to my rant from this 2008 thread:

"A system update is required.  Again." - The most aggravating thing about the PS3, to me, has been its constant need for firmware updates.  I can't recall how many updates I've had to go through since getting the console earlier this year, but it felt like an inordinate number of times for what almost always appeared to surmount to very trivial changes.  The worst part is that these updates can take SO DAMNED LONG to download -- which ups the inherent danger of the update bricking your system should the download get cut off in the process.  Not only that, there's also the potential risk that the firmware itself could be hazardous to your console.  Remember 2.50?  Granted that was a pretty significant update, and Sony did react fast at taking it down -- but there was still damage done to quite a number of systems.  Who's to say it won't happen again?  It's gotten to the point where it's a necessary precaution to not download an update right away, and look out for any negative reports before deciding to install.

Kind of makes you appreciate older consoles, doesn't it?

I don't consider consoles becoming more computer-like a virtue.

Haven't had any problems with my phat PS3 either, the original 60gb badboy with all the card readers, etc.  I do think the constant firmware updates are a little excessive, seeing as how some of these "mandatory" updates have such minor changes.  Requiring you to do the update in order to get on PSN is very very lame, too.  I can see why they'd require this for MAJOR updates, but not for the minor crap.  Up until a few weeks ago, there actually was a little hack you could do to get around their PSN update check.

I've been a Sony fan since PS1, but removing the OtherOS feature recently was very very lame of them.  I never really used it, but come on, REMOVING a feature and calling it an "update" is very misleading.  They only removed it to block hackers from exploiting a bug in it anyway, which will probably eventually lead to custom firmware and the dreaded "ISO loader" stuff.  Some of you have me on your PSN list and have probably noticed I've been offline for quite a while.  I'm holding on to the OtherOS feature for a little longer, just to see if anything does come out of the hacker community which would enable me to have some fun with the exploit.

It's funny that this only happens to certain models or units. One person on another board said the latest update actually screwed up her Dragon Age gameplay now--problems with the game crashing or something. I agree with you guys though about the trivial nature of nearly all the updates. I always look over the list to see what's being added, and nothing is make or break. Can't they offer that stuff on PSN as an optional download? I don't plan to use the console for media storage, only gaming. I'd much rather have backwards compatibility with PS2 games. Oh look, my PS3 can search for media servers and organize mp3s and pictures a little better, and link with Facebook. Yippee-doo!

Also, with all the media support they've updated it with, you'd think they could make the DVD and Blu-ray player region free.

All these arguments continue to re-affirm my 360 purchase about 2 years ago. I just do not like how PS3 came out of the gate limping and has so many models out now, moving central parts and features in and out. It's kind of a continuation from their launch nightmare (remember the gimped, cheaper unit?) and with firmware upgrades for all the various units, it's like they're continuing to patch holes in the system. The 360 has been far from perfect (and I dont think killing Live support for original Xbox titles is a great decision), but the launch was much smoother and the main difference seems to be the various hard drive sizes.

I honestly don't plan on buying a PS3 until I can get a newer unit that is backwards compatible with PS2 games. I want a slim PS3, but I also want a wireless Dual Shock to play PS2 games (nearly all PS3 games I want to play are on 360 anyway) games and to go the HDMI route with upscaling when I get a new big TV (very soon, hopefully). I can wait. My trusty PS2 ain't dead yet.

Well I think if it comes to comparisons, RRoD beats all. The 360 launch may well have been smooth. The fallout was not.

But, yeah, constant updates really bug the bejesus out of me. I just want to play games. The one that really sent me into a frenzy was actually a PSP game. Buying a handheld game on the go, wanting to play it on a journey and it wouldn't let me because I had to do a system update, which it wouldn't let me do because it wasn't plugged in. That's just infuriating.

Even the God of War collection I bought the other day on PS3 wanted me to update.

Update, update, update. Given how rarely I play big console games, I probably spend more time updating than actually playing. Though that applies to the 360 too - more so since the RRoD fear gripped me and I stopped buying all but the biggest 360 games (last one was Gears Of War 2).

As far as your problem goes, Tim, I don't know what could be causing that. Could it be some sort of port forwarding thing? Like the update caused it to change ports or something? I probably shouldn't even offer that as I have no idea what I'm talking about. It's just pretty much any time I've had a serious connection problem with one of these things, I've been able to fix it with port forwarding. Or hitting it with a spanner. One or the other.