Poll: Do you actually want to watch TV via your game console?

by Richard Lawler posted May 30th 2009 at 12:00PM

We've just about gotten our head around game consoles being HD video delivery boxes, whether its downloads from the Xbox Live Video (or should we call it Zune) Marketplace or PSN, or Blu-ray discs slipping into our IR receiver-less PlayStation 3, but is anyone really ready to make the jump to watching live HDTV through a console? That's not necessarily possible yet even through the current PlayTV implementation in the UK or the yet to launch BSkyB / Xbox 360 tie-up, but one has to wonder if the desire for such products is out there, so we're putting the question to you.

Filed under: Polls, Other hardware, Set-top boxes

Tags: play tv, playstation 3, Playstation3, PlayTv, ps3, xblm, xbox 360, Xbox360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Jim @ May 30th 2009 12:50PM

I use my 360 as an extender for my media center for all of my TV viewing... I really like it, though I do worry a little about the reliability of the 360 hardware since it's getting so much more use now. Other than that, I love it.

Neutral

Ben @ May 30th 2009 1:42PM

I'm a full time 360 as an extender user too. I've had one 360 go RRoD, but I was sure to pick up a Jasper as a replacement and so far it's been running strong.

Neutral

Tommy Hunsaker @ May 30th 2009 1:54PM

We cancelled our cable a few months ago in favor or Netflix and Hulu/CBS (via PlayOn) through the 360. Its been working very well, I'm wanting to get a second xbox for another room.

Neutral

dyt1983 @ May 30th 2009 2:16PM

I'm trying to do it now with my PS3 but there's no good solution (full-screen Flash video has bad performance right now on PS3) but if Sony would make it easy... I would be all over it.

Neutral

kcmurphy88 @ May 30th 2009 2:29PM

If you have kids, you will want to keep gaming VERY separate.

Neutral

AndyS @ May 30th 2009 2:57PM

Already do via Windows Media Center.

Neutral

AndyS @ May 30th 2009 2:59PM

And if IP TV became a reality and I could live with a combo of OTA and IPTV via Xbox, that would be perfect. I'd rather just pay for the bits via my broadband connection than "cable".

After all, MS has the IPTV funtionality already built and in wide deployment via AT&T UVerse.

Gimme.

Neutral

L3 @ May 30th 2009 4:00PM

do you mean my iPhone? yes i do.

Neutral

DrXym @ May 30th 2009 4:34PM

Yes of course I want to watch TV through a console. Both the 360 and PS3 are powerful devices capable of decoding and outputting HD images and have storage too for PVR functionality. Both have USB ports so they can be augmented with tuners if need be. I don't think I would be bothered about using either for internet TV except light usage such as YouTube.

My biggest concern about using a console is not their capability but the power consumption. A console eats up probably 3-4x as much power as an equivalent dedicated set top box. That might not sound like much but it adds up, especially if the console lacks the ability to wake from standby or similar.

Neutral

lanod35 @ May 30th 2009 6:29PM

A PS3 + PS3 Media Server and absolutely all video format can be played on PS3 ( iso, Blu Ray rip, HD DVD rip, mkv , AC3 , DTS max rate).

PS3 is the perfect full HD player. Just perfect. Thank you Sony and PS3 community.

Neutral

Terry @ May 30th 2009 7:57PM

The PS3 can't play mkv files...

Neutral

Terry @ May 30th 2009 8:01PM

... and neither iso's nor AC3 ...

Highest Ranked

m3nphls @ May 31st 2009 11:44AM

you should learn to read Terry, he said "PS3 + PS3 Media Server"

Neutral

Jeremy @ May 30th 2009 8:24PM

one console to rule them all. cheesy i know but had to said

PS3

Neutral

IseWise @ May 30th 2009 11:29PM

I think for a college student living in a dorm, a game console that can also access OTA TV or maybe cable/satellite would be awesome.

Neutral

James @ Jun 4th 2009 7:50PM

yep, it really is

Neutral

glenn s @ May 31st 2009 12:00AM

Yes

Neutral

Covnam @ May 31st 2009 1:07AM

With my current console, not a chance. Why would I want the PS3 or 360 roaring while I'm trying to casually watch TV. My cable box is silent, as it should be. Same reason I don't use either console to watch movies.

Neutral

coreysmith @ May 31st 2009 12:12PM

my ps3's louder than my cable box too, but it doesnt cost me 70 bucks a month.

Neutral

Taz @ May 31st 2009 4:55AM

See i would definitely like to have the PLAY-Tv as im using a Acer Monitor to play my games, and would be perfect to use my Playstation as a HD receiver and recorder as well.

Also i would think a lot of people use their spare old SD TV's to play games on and that they would want to have receive Digital TV on as well specially to watch sports away from the family room.

Neutral

Sean T. @ May 31st 2009 11:16AM

As a "media streamer" for You Tube, Hulu, etc. using Twonky or Play-On the game console is excellent at that, but at the moment it cannot match LIVE HDTV transmitted by a broadcaster.

So, until it can, when I'm not playing the occasional game on them I will use my PS3 and XBMC (softmodded XBOX) to stream web content, video netcasts and ISOs of DVDs.

I'd love to replace my cable or DirecTV set-top box with a game console that could do it all or that could do it all with some add-on peripherals (e.g. USB HDTV tuner), but because of DRM issues and the state of patents and IP law today I don't see that happening any time soon.

Neutral

Travis Taylor @ May 31st 2009 1:25PM

Absolutely not. As I get older, I see that I play fewer and fewer games. I bought a Sony BD Player instead of a PS3 just because I used my 360 as my DVD player for a long time and absolutely hated it. A gaming console (with or without a normal remote) is still a gaming console. They are loud, bulky (for the most part), and most of the time lack the features of a stand alone unit.

I'm not a fan of gaming consoles being the only option for certain facets of an entertainment center (unless it's gaming, of course). However, they can stuff as much crap in there as they want... I just won't use it. It'd be nice of they would strip all of the extra junk off of them and sell them for a reasonable price so people that just want to play video games can do so at an understandable price point.

Neutral

CompanyPresence @ May 31st 2009 2:00PM

My take on this is that if I can have Pay TV (see major sporting events, ocassional movie) without any of the limitations of monthly charges for something that is usually filled with many adverts, then I am in.

And for the people in the US, please check Sky TV programming and be aware that most of the interesting stuff is in higher tier subscriptions.
http://tv.sky.com/tvlistings

Neutral

NorthCranky @ May 31st 2009 6:20PM

That's the thing. Its there if you want it.

Neutral

Loban @ Jun 1st 2009 1:48PM

If a game console could do everything that my PCH does, I would have no problem using the console. But for now you simply can't beat the PCH for the price.

Neutral

YouFaceTheTick @ Jun 1st 2009 11:49PM

We use our 2009 Mac mini as a HTPC. We do not want or need anything else as it does it all (save for the receiver - sadly).

Neutral

Will @ Jun 3rd 2009 4:38AM

I use my 360 as my main set top box, I have a SD DVR Cable box, but ever since I got an HD TV I stopped using it completely, I still pay for it but I just get my content from the internet now. When I move into my new place next month I will probably get an HD DVR (Maybe a TIVO with Cablecard) but the xbox is just so easy to use to get HD content to the screen.

Neutral

thezero4 @ Jun 3rd 2009 7:09PM

I'm also using my 360 as an extender, along with playOn for Hulu and Netflix through the extender session. It's a commercial skipping, HD delivering, ripped movie watching beast. All in all the only otehr thing I could possibly do would be replace it with a computer. I think the 360 is as good as it gets.

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