Quote Originally Posted by kupomogli View Post
@Gameguy

My favorite console, but PS1 for sure. Have you known anyone to have a PS1 that didn't eventually have disc reading issues? I haven't. Everyone I know who put a lot of use into the PS1(I do know one person whose PS1 didn't because they almost never played it) but otherwise, all the others had disc reading issues within 10 years. My OG PS2 was a purchased within a year of launch had no issues. I later gave it to a friend of mine but even then which was at the end of the PS3 life still had no issues(I had a BC PS3 so I felt I really didn't need it.)

My BC PS3 still working.
I've come across PS1s with bad lasers or struggling lasers, but I've never had one develop problems after I've owned it. I guess it mostly comes down to use, the less used consoles are often in much better condition, besides the launch console which is known to have a poor quality laser assembly and will die with any regular use. The later lasers might depend on use of burned discs, or using the swap trick for both burned discs and imports as it prevents the laser from refocusing between discs. Certain games really cause a lot of stress on the lasers as well, I've heard Crash Bandicoot is hard on lasers. Really, every disc drive will eventually fail with enough use from wearing out the laser. At least it's easy to service a PS1 console. I've come across a few PS2s with similar laser issues as well, but I mostly avoided beat up looking ones and I never had one actually die on me. I just assume that modern consoles won't be as easily repairable compared to the PS1 or PS2, more difficult to solder components without specialized equipment and more difficult to replace lasers as with the Xbox 360 the drives are paired to the specific console they come with. Overheating issues will become more common with modern consoles as components age.

A friend of mine bought a backwards compatible PS3, and it died within a month of use. She ended up replacing it with a later slim model instead.