I know with a 360 you can install games to the HD... can you do the same with a ps3?

Some games come with an option to install parts of it to the hard drive, but I'm not sure if you can install whole games there. Someone else will have to chime in .

Unfortunately, not many PS3 games allow to be fully installed. I would be very pleased if the PS3 had such a function, the less the optical drive is used, the better. Less loading times, less noise, less energy (and heat) and the optical drive is far less reliable than a hard drive.