80gb does it via software (much like an emulator on your computer)
60gb does it via hardware (uses the emotion chip)

 

The only real concern is the many PS2 games that we still play frequently. I guess we'll just keep the PS2 in the living room.

Both 40 and 80 have wireless, correct?

 

Ok I see.
I always hear it mentioned but never got an explanation on it.

 

The Emotion Chip was a pricey bit of hardware popped into the 1st gen PS3's. This drove costs though the roof, but offered superb PS2 playback.

The EC was removed to price drop the system, so Sony offered PS2 playback though software emulation. They were using code to power playback though PS3 hardware.

At the time, 2006, Sony was trying to bridge PS2 players over to the new console. That's why PS2 playback was such a big issue ... from a marketing standpoint.

Now in 2008, Sony said "screw it". The PS2 is 2 years dead and software emulation was buggy. Why spend resources maintaining a dead technology?

 

Keep an eye on the 40s they are being phased out so the prices dropped recently and may drop again to get them out to the consumers.

I am considering adding one now that the format wars are done and it is the best bang for buck option.

 

I was leaning towards the 80 for several reasons:
1. The game
2. Extra ports
3. Extra drive space.

Now, I'm kinda leaning towards the 40.

 

I have a 60gb.. Yay me.

 

#3 shouldn't be an issue.

The internal HDD is a 2.5in SATA. All you need to do is remove the old, pop in the new, and it auto formats.

I've seen 120GB 2.5in SATA HDD's at Frys.com for $76.

 

Are the 2 extra USB ports and the game worth $100 then?

 

Yep

Same with the 360..laptop drives, copy drive to new one and poof upgraded drives on the cheap