Recent Comments:
Mitsubishi (and the world) sue Vizio over MPEG-2 patents {Engadget HD}
Jun 5th 2008 3:09PM Isn't Zenith owned by LG?
Ask Engadget HD: Which gaming console suits HD junkies best? {Engadget HD}
May 28th 2008 1:41PM I own both a PS3 and an Xbox 360. They are both wonderful machines, each has that one quirk that makes them special. The 360, for the time being, really excels through online gaming (the PS3 needs to work on that, it's good, just not that good yet). It's major flaw, is what many have said on here is in the non-gaming part. I've always wondered how the format war would have turned out had ol' Softy included an HD-DVD drive in their machines. Anyways, the Playstation 3 has managed to fill in that portion that the 360 is lacking in the media department, minus the video on demand (VOD) portion, though I suspect this will be met soon as well.
As for gaming, I think the question at hand should be framed in the context of the future, that is 1-4 years down. Both companies claim that the shelf life of both consoles is about 10 years, though I think we can all safely say that an Xbox 3 and a PS4 is probably already on the drawing boards. So with that in mind, what system will deliver in the next couple years in gaming, really is a wash. The PS3 is slowly gaining market share from the 360, eventually both systems will reach some form of parity. Developers will continue the trend of releasing games on both platforms, and if technically viable on the Wii as well. Sure there will be some exclusives, but the economics of such a distribution decision will be mostly based on subsidization by a console maker (think Microsoft's cash payment to Rockstar for download content). The economics of gaming are such, that it is almost suicidal to release a game on just one platform.
The only exception to the rule has been those "casual games" on the Wii, but as we have read on other gaming new sites, the costs of developing say a Cooking Mama versus a Metal Gear or GTA IV are night and day. The Wii will gain market share because it will be, baring any price reductions by Sony or Softy, the "poor man's next gen console." I truly think that Nintendo made a mistake to not make this console HD capable on release. Not Blu-ray or HD DVD ready, but just simply able to run at HD resolutions. For developers, Nintendo will be easier and cheaper to produce simply because the demand for high end graphics isn't there on the Wii to the same degree it is on the 360 or PS3.
At the end of the day, simply ask yourself this, if down the road High Definition will be the new standard (good luck buying a new SD tv at a US retailer in a year or so), then what console will take advantage of that. The games will really be coming out for both HD-ready consoles, so you have to look beyond that. If VOD is your thing, then the 360 is the way to go. If it isn't, then perhaps you should look at the PS3. I personally do not care for VOD, so my preference has been Sony's machine.
Psystar's Open Computer gets new case, video card {Engadget}
May 27th 2008 12:45PM You know, the only reason this ever came about is because Apple continues to neglect that segment of the market that wants a mid-level tower entry. Some of us don't want the Mac Mini, at least in its current configuration, and we don't want that high-end tower currently offered. Had they done this, Psystar wouldn't have that much of a pot to piss in (then again, they may have still com out with simply a relatively cheaper version).
Amazon's Kindle now 10% less {Engadget}
May 27th 2008 12:35PM Like many here have said, I wish the product was at least $200 cheaper and did provide PDF support. But something tells me, that this is a first step in getting rid of the units they have because a 2.0 version may be coming down the line. They obviously aren't going to announce anything, they still have the ones they got, but this can't be the final version of Kindle. Hopefully the next one will allow color for comic book reading (assuming once again PDF support is there or they have a super cheap comic book service...I see no reason to pay the current retail price for comics if it's in electronic format!).
Sans Digital's CS1T and CR2T turn CF cards into 2.5-inch enclosures {Engadget}
May 25th 2008 4:22AM Now that's what I'm talking about! Not all of us have SATA equipped machines yet.
DISH Network finishes off VOOM, removes last 5 channels {Engadget HD}
May 14th 2008 12:02PM Though they only played the same three movies over and over again, I liked Kung Fu. Their movies were really old, but I have yet to find a channel that will give me those samurai movies in high definition! Equator wasn't bad, I like watching nature and travel shows. I wish they updated their programming, reading on this whole issue, it does seem to be Voom's fault. Dish said they needed to upgrade their programming or else. As for the remaining upgrades, I'm not a sports buff outside of hockey and soccer, so the RSNs don't do much. And many of the new channels are stretch-o-vision stuff.
DISH Network drops 10 of 15 VOOM HD channels {Engadget HD}
May 14th 2008 4:04AM Well, it looks like the rest of Voom is off the Dish system. Kung Fu and Monsters and Equator are not on my system here in Chicago. Anyone else?
DISH Network drops 10 of 15 VOOM HD channels {Engadget HD}
May 13th 2008 11:43AM I agree, it did make them unique.
vmcNetFlix add-in enables Xbox 360 viewing of Netflix 'Watch Now' content {Engadget HD}
May 13th 2008 10:55AM We PS3 users get screwed once again! Dammit, it would be nice to have this on my system! C'mon Sony make with the deals already!
DISH Network drops 10 of 15 VOOM HD channels {Engadget HD}
May 13th 2008 10:49AM Actually, looking at my DVR recordings, I seem to watch Equator as well. Perhaps this will change now that I have a travel channel in HD.
