Now that the format war is in full swing, we can step back and look at some predictions that are starting to seem pretty silly. All we heard about from the pundits of both sides was how consoles weren't going to be a factor. They said that history shows that game consoles made poor DVD players and that console add-ons were always a failure. It appears now that both sides were wrong as the the majority of HD DVD and Blu-ray players sold are game consoles. But are they
consoles in the previous sense of the word? Is it really fair to compare the Xbox360 HD DVD add-on to the Sega CD ROM or to compare the PS3's Blu-ray playback ability to the PS2's DVD playback? These two devices were designed to be in the home theater, not as an after thought. Also unlike previous game consoles these are much more expensive, but still far less expensive than either a standalone HD DVD or Blu-ray player and as a result some people are buying them as a cheaper way to get into the HD home movie game. This is obviously the strategy of both sides, but with different approaches; the PS3 forces you to buy a Blu-ray player the Xbox360 requires an add-on and based on
the latest sales figures it appears that the BDA may have the better of the two.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Daniel @ Feb 3rd 2007 8:57PM
I am glad to have the PS3 in my home theater. The Blu-ray playback is awesome, and, if I ever decide too, I can play games on it. Never would I purchase a HD-DVD add on, especially for the 360. I hate to sound like a Blu-ray 'fanboy', but it is simply the better, stronger format that is the future of home theaters.
Eric V @ Feb 3rd 2007 10:35PM
The Xbox 360 console is by far the best between that and the PS3 as of now, no comparison. That currently can't be argued with. 10+ million in home. I'm sure in about two years when developers have finally build GOOD games for the PS3 I'll end up buying one but right now as far as the console HD players go HD DVD has won. People are not buying a PS3 because it has a Blu-Ray player, they are buying it because they are Sony fanboys; there is no other reason... The games suck pure and simple... Come on Sony step it up.
Sy @ Feb 4th 2007 12:46AM
Eric ...
How the hell can you compare the WHITE WIND TUNNEL INDUCING xbox360 console + add-on HD DVD drive to that of an sleek SILENT ALL-IN-ONE BLACK PS3 for a home theater? You got to be joking right ..."by FAR the best between that and the PS3 as of now, NO COMPARISON?" Maybe its a no comparison in the PS3 favor.
TJ @ Feb 4th 2007 12:48AM
I've got to say, I'm loving my PS3- and not primarily for gaming. I'm mostly using it for BD playback. Sure, as better titles come out, It'll definitely get more use for gaming, but for now, it's a great Blu-ray player for the money. And hey, I just downloaded a 1080p Harry Potter trailer to the hard drive, so it's looking like eventually downloadable TV and movies may be in its future.
I'm actually regretting buying my Toshiba HD DVD player now. First of all, I just think Blu-ray will be around more with better titles, and secondly, for a little more I should have waited and gotten a 360 with the add-on.
Think of it this way: Premium 360 and 60gb PS3 + the HD add on is the same price as LG's Combo player, and has more functionality (not even mentioning games!). And if you go with the core 360 and 20gb PS3, its $200 cheaper! Unless you're Mark Cuban, I think the gaming consoles are the way to go right now.
jsn @ Feb 4th 2007 12:59PM
If you really want to compare what they can each do, as a home theater component, the 360 wins handily. It's not even close and anyone who has the sense to compare them on those merits will see that the 360 is a far more robust, full featured home theater component than the PS3 is. The HDDVD/BD functions are really insignificant at this point. Where the 360 wins is its ability to interact with media center systems and play A/V of any format from your network. The ps3 simply can't compare with these features right now:
1. Downloadable movies and TV shows
2. Media center connectivity and full functionality (including plugins)
3. streaming any video format (t360)
4. music
5. pictures
6. Excellent DVD player
7. Optional HD-DVD player
8. IPTV
When you compare them on those merits, it's not even close.
oh, SY, the 360 is only loud when the internal DVD player is going, it has nothing to do with fans. It helps having first hand knowledge of something when you comment.
joe @ Feb 12th 2007 5:01PM
Jsn
- you have never used a PS3 for media and it shows.
The PS3 is very strong as a home mdeia center.
While the web browser needs some work but is a boon when I want to check out tv schedules or movie show times.
The cd play back is good. It is a bit noisy for the quite movements on classical music CD'd.
The MP3 playback and encoding is every bit as good as my PC with iTunes.
The video playback doesn't stream that is true. It does handle playing my whole video library quite well through.
DVD and Blueray play back is flawless. I'd need to upgrade my whole system to get better playback.
I like the picture handling cabilities. It's nice to just plug in a camera and show off mt pictures. Copying to the hard drive is easy also.
I don't know how the 360 works since I don't own one but I have no problems with my PS3 and recommend it. For people with nice A/V systems $600 is an acceptable price for such a component.