[H] game console as multimedia box

[Winterlight]

I am not much of a game player so I never considered a game box. 
However, last weeks discussion about using a PS3 as a multimedia box 
and my PC as a content provider got me thinking. I don't require a 
fancy network because it is just for me.

 I know people bought the PS3 for it's blue ray player... is that 
player as good as any out there.... and how does the PS3 work to play 
media... over the LAN? Does it have a multimedia interface... pick 
your movie or audio from the hard drive? You can't put a TV card in 
it to record right? Is it you take it as it comes...How does it work /  look?

thanks