[coastie65]

Hey rtfire, I knew about the 80 Gb PS3 as my nephew has one. I had to get an adapter so he could transfer his files from the memory card for FFXII that we were playing at the end of the Summer, Those things are still $499. I am still trying to fill up the hole in my bank account left after purchasing a Toshiba 42" HDTV (1080p) so am a little reluctant to add to the hole right now. coastie

[rtfire1]

i know the feeling my new tv, new laptop and the cost of gas are keeping me from getting a ps3. as it is I am looking at maybe getting something with 2 or 3 wheels thats good on gas.

[guitarbandit7498]

As I said before, the 60GB machine boasts full backward compatability. But they don't make it anymore. Someone pointed out on here that the 80GB uses software to play PS2 games and it may incurr some problems with a few PS2 games. But I currently own 70 some odd PS2 titles and 30 or so PS1 titles and I've never had any problems playing any of them. Every now and then I see a small glitch in the top right corner of the screen when I play Gran Torismo 4 on my PS3, but not enough to detract from the gameplay experience. I think the 80GB is the best one right now., since the 60GB is no longer available. It has 4 USB ports, three card readers, and the great thing is for about $100 when you have it to spare you can upgrade the hard drive to like 150GB. You can pretty much add as many gigs as your pocketbook can stand. But so far I've still got plenty of free space. I've been adding my CD collection to my PS3 and I love it. I have it hooked into my surround system with HDMI and an optical cable for sound and I don't think I could be happier with it. I have several albums on there already, several hundred songs. I have estimated that my entire CD collection will take up about 20gigs or more. But even at that I still have plenty of room to spare, along with all the games, demos, and trailers I've downloaded. I'll need another hard drive eventually, but no time in the near future. I'm sure there's people out there that need a lot more space than me but 80 is perfect for the time being. Definitely get the 80GB...

[razenyc]

1 - His energy bill isn't nearly high enough.
2 - His marriage will fail after spending 8 hours per day playing MGS4, half of it during cutscenes. All the cool kids' parents are divorced
3 - Because a PS3 is just a LITTLE more than that tired old tie.
4 - Blu Ray will be around forever, or 3 years - when digital distribution takes over
5 - It's a great way to help him further ignore how disappointed in how you turned out to be.

[guitarbandit7498]

Uh Oh. Sounds like we've got a 360 fanboy here. You're the only one I've seen that has had anything negative to say about MGS4 yet. Everyone else says it's incredible. I personally haven't tried it yet, but I'm gonna go with what everyone else is saying since the other games were awesome AND you are the minority in your thinking.

So you think movies will be distributed digitally within the next 5 years huh? I've got news for you. The technology isn't even close to being where it needs to be to accomplish that yet. I read a tech article on this same subject not too long ago and one of the points it made was the broadband for people's home just isn't big enough yet to download full HD movies in a reasonable amount of time and it would take several years to make it happen. Blu Ray will be fine as it is outpacing DVD sales when DVDs were only out for a couple years. Don't take my word for it. Look it up yourself.

BTW, I'm not going to waste blog space insulting the 360 (obviously your choice of console) I think both are good machines. I just think the PS3 is quite a bit better.

[razenyc]

Seems like I hit a nerve, Guitarbandit. So, you'd defend a game you haven't even played yet? Let me guess - voted for Bush in 04? Well done, then.


Some of the cutscenes in MGS4 go on for up to 80-85 minutes, you can only save when you reach checkpoints, which are too few in between, and during actual game time you spend sneaking around (as per the genre), so the pace is slow. You can easily kill half a day getting through maybe 2% of the game. That would be a testament to its gameplay, but as said, there are several cutscenes that are over an hour long.


I think movies will be distributed digitally before 5 years actually.. Have you not heard of Roku by Netflix? Its a set top box that allows you to watch movies on demand. As the system grows, it will pretty much have an entire database of movies, whatever you want to watch, on demand. This is THIS year, keep in mind how fast technology moves year by year. I'd be happily quoted in 5 years time that optical media will have limited to no functionality for movie viewing by then.


Oh, and by the way - I'm a PC gamer with specs that make the PS3 look like Atari 2600


PS - Here's a reference for you to read up on that Roku box - Roku by Netflix

[moiza67]

Oh, and by the way - I'm a PC gamer with specs that make the PS3 look like Atari 2600

I am going to assume you have the most expensive computer on earth containing 8 IBM cell processors. Yes computers have better video cards then game consoles BUT, game consoles do not need a high end GPU as it relies more on its CPU then GPU, because games consoles do not have to worry about maintaing an operating system and other programs in the back ground.

[guitarbandit7498]

Oh yeah, I'm plenty old enough kid. Don't worry about that. And if you read closely, which obviously you didn't, you would see that I personally did not give an opinion on MGS4. I only stated that you were the only one I knew of that had something bad to say about it, so I would assume it's a pretty good game, one that I look forward to trying. You have a PC. Great for you! You must be so proud. But I believe this thread was about the PS3, so my guess is nobody on here gives a shit that you have a computer. Most people do nowadays anyway.


And yes, i've heard of Netflix and the video on demand crap. I've seen it in action and the picture and sound quality is no better than what I recieve from my local cable distributor. If you have a TV, great. You won't be able to tell a difference in picture quality anyway. If you have good like I do then blu ray is the best. I'm sure over the years with mistakes Sony has made they learned in video distribution they probably already thought of what's going to be the next big thing in watching movies. But they, like most people with half a brain. realize that most people rather have that shiny disc than have to worry about waiting two days to download a movie in 1080P. Downloadable movies is coming, no doubt. But not before blu ray makes a dent in the video industry.


And no, you didn't hit a nerve. I just like to lash out at people who get online to insult others on their choice of what game console they buy. I think it's stupid to bash someone based on what hardware they prefer. But that seems to be the trend. Since I have a PS3 people like you sound as if you're insulting my and everyone elses intelligence that invested in the console. If the people who boght the machine are happy with it why does anyone else care? Same for Xbox or PC owners. I'm not going to bash anyone's choice, even though I see obvious advantages and disadvantages in all hardware. People make their decisions based on how much they like the system as opposed to it's disadvantages and rather or not those disadvantages are acceptable to them. Right now PS3 is the best concole for me. It serves my purposes and I'd rather have a disc than downloaded movies any day of the week.

[JimH443]

guitarbandit7498 said:

So you think movies will be distributed digitally within the next 5 years huh? I've got news for you. The technology isn't even close to being where it needs to be to accomplish that yet. I read a tech article on this same subject not too long ago and one of the points it made was the broadband for people's home just isn't big enough yet to download full HD movies in a reasonable amount of time and it would take several years to make it happen.

On top of that, they're talking about capping the monthly data transfer! I mean, how many movies can you get for less than the 5GB that TW will allow? Even Comcast's cap of 250GB put a serious limit on it if you want to do anything other than download movies.

[coastie65]

That's why when Fiber gets a foothold, you will see cable take a nose dive. Fiber Optics internet is total freedom, down load what you want, when you want, as often as you want, with no restrictions. coastie

[JimH443]

I have no doubt that fiber will eventually catch on, but I'm not holding my breath until then. Certainly not in the next 5 years anywhere near me.

[razenyc]

Now now guitarbandit, no need to go around and curse on public forums, it doesn't really say much for the intelligence you're claiming that I'm insulting. Does 50 cent sound like Shakespeare? I'd say no, wouldn't you?

Let's take a few things into consideration - the overall census of HD disc players (Blu Ray and HDDVD combined) in April was equivalent to 2% of the home video market. So even if everyone bought a HD disc copy of a movie, only 2 percent of regular DVD owners would have to buy the movie to match the HD maximum sales. The truth is, HD tv has not penetrated the overall populace yet. Nielsen stated in March that less than 20% of tv viewers in the US were using HDTVs. Old CRT tvs last, and many people aren't going to drop money for a new tv when their old one works fine - especially with the way that the current economy is. HD movies and even to a lesser degree, HD gaming, has arrived too early to truly "make a dent" in the industry.

Funny how you lash out on people who try to insult other people, but I've insulted no one, yet you go ahead and attempt to insult me. Should you then be lashing out on yourself? If you took the time to read the original post, it was merely a list to counter the fanboy flag waving author of the article. If you read it as insult, then apparently I did hit a nerve, no? You get bent out of shape because I posted some of the negatives (and mild ones at that) about your beloved console of choice. A psychologist would say that's a sign of insecurities with your decision. I guess it's good that I'm not a psychologist.

So let's see if you are able to to maintain an intelligent conversation, or if you will cover the lack of such ability with profanities again.

[guitarbandit7498]

Wow. I use one little cuss word and you turn into Dr. Freekin' Phil. So you didn't insult anyone huh? Seems to me like you were insulting pretty much anyone who bought a PS3. I didn't take the article as been written by a "flag waiving fanboy'" That sounds rediculous to say the least. They guy simply stated that it was a good father's day gift and why. You remarks come off as enflamatory and insulting to anyone who's got a PS3. But whatever, you do what you want. And as for your comment about the percentage of blu ray sales, you're correct on the percentages. I follow them almost daily, as I take interest in blu ray's success. If you follow it at all to you'll have read that it's been goin up every month also and like I stated earlier, it has greatly outpaced that of DVD sales when DVD first came out at the same point of it's life. But as I have said it about 3 times now I assume you obviously still don't get it.

On top of that you kinda kill your own theory on downloadable movies killing of blu ray. Even though HDTVs have been flying off the shelves over the past few years due to better and cheaper technology, you claim that the numbers are at an almost insignifigant amount. That being the case (as it is with most consumer electronics on the market) and people do not want to buy new TVs, then how and why will people all of the sudden adopt downloadable movies as the new standard in watching movies within a 5 year period?

There's a few other posts on here with people more educated than myself on the tech side of downloadable movies. Maybe you should read some of what they say and how far fetched it will be that downloaded movies will take over so fast. Your points are noted and I know someday that may take over as the main sorce. But not for a long time coming. I'm done with this conversation because there's no real point to it. You contradicted yourself so it sounds you me like you're the one with security issues. I'm more than pleased with my choice, as I have a life outside of gaming and TV and do not feel the need to drop $2500 to $3000 on a high end computer to use mostly for gaming.

[smax013]

Okay, before this gets way out of hand, please keep all responses in line with the article and the Discussion title. Personal attacks will not be tolerated and any personal attack posts will be edited or removed. If you have any questions, please feel free to review the [d-1000].

[smax013]

guitarbandit7498 said:

There's a few other posts on here with people more educated than myself on the tech side of downloadable movies.

As to the issue of downloaded/digitally accessible movies...



To some degree, there are here now. An AppleTV can download and play rented HD movies now. It does not take all that long to fully download them (I currently have about a half dozen downloaded, sitting there waiting for me to have time to watch)...although it does depend on the speed of your connection (a fast cable modem connection that does not get bogged down too often certainly helps me). And you can actually start watching them before the download is complete (personally, I have not yet done that, but from what I understand, it works just find...unless you have a major interruption of your Internet connection. Now, admittedly, they are only 720p and not 1080p like a BluRay disk would be. And their selection leaves a lot to be desired...but then the selection of BluRay disks is not that great yet either as I understand things.



I would say the downloaded movies have a LONG way to go...but OTOH, technology moves at such a pace these days that that long way to go might happen in a relatively short time frame. There are certainly issues that might happer that. At least one is the push by many ISPs to limit or cap monthly downloads. That has the potential to slow the adoption of downloaded movies. To some degree, the movie industry itself will likely try to slow it down. Frankly, they like their current business model of selling DVDs...and would likely like to keep that model going with BluRay DVDs. This is kind of reinforced by their somewhat unfriendly rental terms for downloaded movies (i.e. have to finish watching the movie within 24 hours...although the 30 day to start watching it is darn good).



In the end, I would not be suprised if downloaded movies have strong, if not dominate, presence within 5 years. Will physical DVDs be gone by then? I doubt it. An noted by someone, there are those that like to have the comfort of a physical disk in their hands.

[darendt]

If you want to be sending your console back to get repaired on a constant basis get the 360. If you want a console with the best exlusive games like Metel Gear Solid IV, Little Big Planet, Final Fantasy, Killzone II, Resistence, Motorstorm, Gran tourismo, Ratchet and Clank, Uncharted and a ton more, then get the PS3. It not only has the better hardware i.e HDMI 1.3a, Blu-ray player, Wi-fi, Bluetooth, HDD in every console, it has the best online service as well. The Playstation network is FREE. This means that downloading Demos and playing games online will never cost you a penny. With the launch of HOME at the end of the year, the PS3 will also have much more online content than the 360. Then there is the free media server funtionality. If you have a computer and a wireless router ( or wired if both your PC and PS3 can be plugged into it. )you can stream all of your content directly to the PS3 and watch it on your HDTV......for free. So any home movies that may be on your computer, pictures, music all can be watched on your TV with the press of a button. Then there is the Blu-ray funtionality. Since Sony incorporated HDMI 1.3a it allows for Dolby MAster Audio and DTS HD playback and full 1080P BD watching. It also now allows for BD LIVE and PIP. The best thing about it is that it is fully upgradable for all future BD features via firmware. A standalone player will cost over 1000$ for that functionality.

Sony has also tied in there PSP handheld unit to the system. Not only can you access your PS3 from anywhere in the world via there PSP handheld, you can access your home PC as well. So any files that you have stored on your PS3 that you may want to watch or listen to on the road you can. If they are on your PC you can get to them as well. There are games that also support Remote play. What this means is you can play them at home in there full HD glory or you can play them on the road via remote play on your PSP.



I have listed a lot of great features above, but there are a lot more as well. Bottom line, The 360 connot ever do what the PS3 does. It costs money to play online and the exclusives that the 360 has dont hold a candle to what is on the PS3. Most of there AAA games have all come over to the PS3 platform and have been better with more content all on one disc. The 360 wi-fi adapter is extra, the HDD is propretary so whatever Microsoft wants to charge you are stuck paying it. The PS3 uses a standard Laptop HDD that is replacable by the user with instructions in the manuel. So getting more space is very easy if needed.

I wioll stop there though. I can go on for much longer with all that is packed into the PS3.....but I wont.

[coastie65]

:D WHEW!!!! I think you covered that pretty darn well. Sold Me. :^0 coastie65

[smax013]

coastie65 said:

:D WHEW!!!! I think you covered that pretty darn well. Sold Me. :^0 coastie65

Kind made me want one too...until I looked in the wallet and only found lint. ;)

[coastie65]

Hmmm, lint is more than I got i mine. :D coastie

[mjd420nova]

Well, I'm going to toss in my three cents here. I don't consider myself a serious gamer but my system is pretty much the top of the scale to be consicered an ultimate unit. The kids(I use that term loosely) like the PS3 and think it is the best on the market. They have tried all the consoles and they all sit on the shelf with the PS3 being the one they use now. But when it comes to the newest and most elaborate game, they get it and load it on my PC. They think the PC runs any of the games the fastest with the best frame rates and quickest response to the controllers. Almost monthly I am requested to build a custom controller for the newest game they want to play. Often this results in my having to play the game too, to be sure I got the configuration right and the buttons and custom mouse works right and without affecting the game play. The PS3 is religated to those games they want to play on line or against each other. The garage is set up as a gaming room with three 40 inch TV's and hookups for three units. Their friends bring over their units and hookup with a WIFI router and go to town against each other or online as a group. They will challenge anyone to battle and when they all join the same game, they cheat when they sit together. The PS3 has a very nice BR player that has no problems playing the best movies, unlike the stand alone players on the market that have serious drawbacks and poor quality. I see the movie playing as an added bonus for a dedicated game machine but find the cost of the movies a bit steep for just a stupid movie.