This weekend, a friend emailed me with questions on purchasing a PS2 for a relative. I did my best with the answers, short and sweet (with his numbered questions in italics):
1. I assume there are different models. Which one should I get?
A “new” PS2 – one that is slimmer than the “old” one. And then there's the separate memory card.
2. I assume the Playstation comes loaded with at least a few games. In addition, would you suggest some games that I should get also.
Nope. Few game systems actually come with games anymore (to save on cost). It's difficult to say what kind of gamer the kid is, but they do have relatively boy-generic starter packs available.
3. While it will be used here in the US, it will also be used in Portugal. Portugal is PAL. Will the Playstation play both in NTSC & Pal?
You might need this signal converter. It won't play DVDs unless you buy the separate DVD controller (don't ask me, I'm not Sony). Even then, the worst that you might have to contend with is region coding.
4. Portugal power is 220V. Do you know if it will work on both 110V & 220V?
I looked at the PS2 manuals (online), and did a few Google searches for more information on this – to no avail. The only results I found were unofficial “hacks” that weren't guaranteed to work. It might (MIGHT) have an auto-voltage detection feature.