Thought I'd give a heads up to anyone that has the new + PS2 systems, the new DVD remotes are out. The look pretty similar to the old remotes except they now have a green ON/OFF button (or maybe eject?) and no IR connector.

Other than the IR and the ability to play DVDs in Progressive Scan, is there any other benefit that this PS2 has over the previous one? I ask because I already a have a Progressive Scan DVD player and wonder if this would have any gameplay benefits (like faster loading times and less slowdown on certain titles) that would be of interest to someone that does not need the DVD player upgrade.

uhh, you mean downgrade

heh Well to me (and I assume you) it would be a downgrade but there are plenty of people who only have super cheapo non-progressive scan DVD players and/or their only DVD player is their PS2. For them I assume this is an upgrade.

That's why I want to know if there are any benefits to this model in the gameplay area over the previous model. If not, it's not for me.

I don't know if there are any more benefits or not but when I was in a gamestop last week, buying some used games for the kids, one of the employees was telling a customer how "awsome it is to be able to hit eject and not have to walk over to the ps2." I fail to see how this would keep the customer from having to get up and go swap out the game but to each his own.

Only a videogame store employee would think that was a huge benefit...

I fail to see how anyone could consider that a benefit unless Sony is going to release a mini hovercraft that you control via the remote control to fetch your discs and place (even put them back in their respective cases and find the corresponding memory cards) them in the PS2 so you never have to get off the couch again.

The eject button is of no benefit, but the on/off button is nice for those of us who play only one game for weeks on end.

Nevermind, I just realized how lazy I am.

I think the on/off button would only benefit those who will purchase the PS2 to use exclusively as a DVD player (highly unlikely), those who use it as much as a DVD player as a gaming system (probable), or those who have cordless game controllers and are not going to be taking out a particular game from the PS2 for a long time (very likely). So I fail to see how your finding good in the on/off switch makes you lazy, jw2299.

Gah! Don't you people understand!?! You press the eject button, get off the couch, and the game is waiting there for you... waiting! It takes out the worst part of console gaming (IMO) which is having to stand there, hunched over, and pushing eject to swap out your games... with the eject button pushed before I get off the couch, there is one less thing for my chubby, Dorito stained fingers to do while burning precious energy standing up...

Actually... the on/off button on the remote would be super-cool... as would the addition of a 5 disc changer for games... sweet!

But then when would you ever get to see your toes?

Now you're just dreaming! No way any company would do that until they were really desperate for cash. It's just too good an idea. First we have to wait 'til Sony gets to the PS9, Nintendo releases the GameSphere, and Microsoft the Y Pyramid before something as reasonable as 5 disc changer for games is ever implemented in a game system.

Oh and lets not forget the return of Sega (it could happen ) and the revamped Atari Jaguar.

I would hardly doubt that any difference in this player would make it worth buying if you already owned one. Also, you could buy a progressive scan dvd player for much less than a ps2.

the new remote doesn't have an on-off switch, it's actually to set the system into "standby" mode. I actually find myself needing that feature from time to time...

This new DVD remote...does it work only on the newer PS2s, or does it work on old ones as well? I bought a PS2 at launch, that's why I ask. Thanks.

It only works with the new PS2s.

/Benjamin

It's not worth buying a new one for me, but I have all the components in my home theater set up to turn on/off with a macro button on one remote. It would be nice to control game systems that way as well.