(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Can anyone tell me what firmware version a off the shelf PS3 has? Or, if it's still possible to install cfw on a new ps3?

There is no way to tell. But if you get combo pack which has a game that came out before 3.55 then chances are you will be able to jailbreak it

Depends when the console was manufactured and boxed all that, if before 3.56 then clearly going to get a 3.55 or below console. Their is no way to tell what firmware may be on a console until you load it.

Go to gamestop and ask them to check the firmware for you, that's what I did when I went shopping for an exploitable console :y:
The first one they checked was a 250gb slim running 3.41 OFW

yeah you dont know gamestop you can tell them to check it or you get a like 7 day money back get one if its on >3.55 take it back

buy a 160 gb slim from target, i got a 3.50 console. but it was to be my legit console. my brain fried just updating past 3.55 but i still have a fat on 3.55 kmeau