[Pokester]

You're missing the point....

Sony assumes all customers are thieves...

How stupid is it to make your consumers look for JPG, MPG and WMA
playback in other DVD, bluray and gaming devices? When these devices
ALL rely on this technology to do their job ANYWAY?

Sony didn't "forget" to include software to play these... Sony deliberately wrote code to block non hollywood content. It wasn't an oversight... it was blinded by greed and assumed they could continue raping consumers by bullying other manufacturers into doing the same.

By treating us like common thieves, Sony turned their best salesmen (happy, doting customers) into their biggest enemy. Whether seperate or not, the fact remains, they caved to internal pressure from the entertanment division... and the consumer electronics division will pay dearly for years to come.

Even all this aside,Sony still gouges you on the price of their devices... then want to gouge you again on proprietary media... then gouge you again for the software to interface their devices, then STILL try to block you from playing your own content. Like Apple, their biz model is "bleed 'em dry".

We've had 40 years to move beyond status quo with fair use... yet the recording industry spends all of it's time & effort disabling and suing instead of developing a FAIR DRM system.

In todays connected world, how hard would it be to register devices, then have an authorized device table stored with the content? Hello??? No effort at a real solution because they'd rather sell you your favorite album three times... then let you copy the original & play the copies on other devices.

[filipinowise]

lol me either.

[coastie65]

As far as Device pricing goes, look around. I was able to get a second Dual Shock 3 contoller for bot $40 at Amazon.com. I was also able to get some RGB Component cables (Sony) for $19.95 at Amazon.com. I wanted then for the PS2 as my PS3 is hooked up using HDMI. Yes, The PS3 Component cables will work for a PS2. I have yet to see any mention to the fact the the Dual Shock 3 Controller has Motion sensor capabilities which, to my knowledge, Xbox does not have. Personally, I'm not sure if I like it or not, but it is there. coastie65

[filipinowise]

Yeah u r right. have u played uncharted yet? U can use the ps3 controller like the wii, where you have to balance Drake. I love the ps dual shock,

[coastie65]

Hey filipinowise, Yeah, I'm just about at the end of that thing, I think. I am trying to catch that Helicopter lifting out the statue in the "Timed" thing and have been a little slow. Guess I'll get just try to run through that stuff and see how that works. :D I was playing Heavenly Sword and got frustrated trying to guide the arrows after I shot them. coastie

[rsuppes]

crevans, I agree with you on just about everything. I am glad for freedom of speech. I agree with your opinions. Maybe that is why we have multiple consoles out there and not one. So, lets keep the wii, ps3 and xbox 360. How about everyone finds what they like and how much they want to spend. If they dont get what they want, its there fault for not studying on what they are getting, not the makers.

[coastie65]

rsuppes said:

crevans, I agree with you on just about everything. I am glad for freedom of speech. I agree with your opinions. Maybe that is why we have multiple consoles out there and not one. So, lets keep the wii, ps3 and xbox 360. How about everyone finds what they like and how much they want to spend. If they dont get what they want, its there fault for not studying on what they are getting, not the makers.

You're absolutely right. Everybody has their own preference. They are finding good uses for the Wii in Rehab settings and it seems to appeal to a fairly broad range of people as well. With a price cut, maybe Sony will see a rise in sales volume, but I think the over all state of the economy will play a big part in that. Having more than one console available is good and as it should be. I have played stuff ( Zelda ) on both the N64 & Game Cube and have enjoyed those platforms as well. Actually, I think it was more the games I was playing than the platform itself. coastie

[prfm1943]

I do not own any of the latest systems, but believe that the PS3 was released too early and that it will become the choice gaming/media console for a few years to come. The PS3 seems to fit a 30plus year old kid like myself that enjoys playing a game here and there. But wants to have a blu-ray to use on his big LCD monitor. So when the fellas come over you can get in a game of madden or halo or whatever, but when the lady comes over you can throw on a bluray and chill. Kind like the lastest PS3 commerical.

[rsuppes]

Hmmm, doesnt sound like you do much gaming. Halo is not for ps3. You know what would be a lot cheaper if your not really into gaming, A 175.00 blu ray player from walmart. A lot cheaper. In 3 years, there will be a ps4 and a new xbox 720. Not to mention there will probably be an even newer way of watching high def movies.

[prfm1943]

That was my point. I was suggesting maybe older people will pay a little more to have the PS3 to have the gaming option. I said I do not own one so why would I know the game lineup for it. PS3 does not seems to appeal to the "gamer" but it does to people looking for multiple uses at their fingertips. I am holding out like most for a price drop its too late to buy it now for the price that it is going for knowing its going to drop in the next six months or so.

[rsuppes]

Yeah, thats a smart thing to do. I agree. I just hope that its not too late in 4-6 months. Imagine all the units they wont sell until it drops now.

[crevans]

prfm: I saw that jalopy tried to call you out for not being a "gamer" even after you already stated you were not one. I thought it was pretty funny, egg in his face.

Anyway, if you wanted the price cut now, and have good credit, you can apply for a Playstation credit card and get $150 off the system. I hear all the 360 lovers talk about the PS3 price but I got mine brand new for $250.

Plus, as far as games, PS3 has awesome games! 360 owners try and try to justify their choice to go with the system which was betting on HDDVD to win the format war and they just sound silly. With blu ray winning, and with the PS3 being just superior in so many ways, the only reason to get a 360 is if you like Halo. (And I, for one, would not base such a large purchase on one game) Sure they have a few good exclusive games...who cares? There are so many good games out there for each system that in no way should be the deciding factor. Playstation has better graphics, wireless card, blu ray player, free online gaming, etc. Given the facts, why buy a 360? (oh, and PS3 has wireless controllers which do not rely on batteries)

[roborino]

I never get why people see the PS3 as the gaming system of the future (or XBOX 360 for that matter). Both systems are quickly becoming graphically outdated by the latest and greatest graphics cards (remember these were designed in 05 and 06...three years ago). In many editorials the graphics of most games have been shown to be much sharper in PC versions. Blue-ray? Who buys movies anymore? I rent a movie for little over a dollar...I have better things to spend my money on!

[filipinowise]

You have a point sort of i think. But i disagree. I tried to get into PC gaming, but i couldn't PC gaming sucked because for one there was to much lag. Graphic cards are way to expensive and tend to burn out. I want looking for a powerful pc for gaming that would have cost me $3,000. F that Bull. I bought a PS3. I have learned how to uitilize it 90%, I use it for my PC with linux, I use for VVIOP, HD Movies, basically everything a PC can except for burning. Oh must i add, I also play PC games on it with no lags. The processing power is far greater that any pc i've used thus far. This machine is super fast.

Hey they even call the PS3 a supercomputer. Follow the link www.engr.ncsu.edu/news/news_articles/ps3.html

I love my PS3 and it's priceless to me.

[roborino]

I am glad you like your Ps3. It really is a fine gaming platform with a lot of functionality. If you are a movie buff it really is the better choice of the two. It also has an impressive game library and fantastic graphics. I also like the upgradability of it. I have a 360 and have do a lot of media streaming from my media server...it is great. The one thing I miss is the neat factor of installing Linux (which I use on another machine at home). Although I doubt though that I would sit in front of my 42 inch tv and surf the web (which I can do with media center extenders).

As far as Linux being zippy I have read quite a bit that older hardware mops the floor against the PS3. Something about not being able to access a lot of that computing power the PS3 has. Sony kind of locks it up I guess.

My only real point was that technology moves so quickly that these graphics cards are already entering the territory of obsolete. The PS3's graphics processor, as I understand, only has 256 megs and this is paltry in today's PC environment. Framerates, resolution, and crispness in the PC realm has been shown by many tests to crush both our systems. I do think, however, we will both get a few more years out of machines before "the next gen" come along.

[anonymous48624862]

"What about all the people that have payed 399 over the past few months. Is sony going to give them some online money?"

You have got to be kidding me. A company has no obligation to give money back to the customer because of a price drop. Most all products go through price drops and do you see other companies giving customers money back because they bought one at a higher price on an earlier date? That is the most ridiculous suggestion I have heard. The only reason why Apple did it a few years back is because they screwed the customers over 2 MONTHS after the iPhone release. Please think before you make moronic suggestions.

As far as your comment on "most people buy a gaming console for gaming," I would agree with you somewhat. However, the current generation of end users, I believe, are more interested in everything bundled together. That's one of the reasons why I bought an iPhone because it's a phone, movie player, mp3 player, etc all in one. I think it is a great idea Sony decided to add the best Blu-ray player on the market with it's PS3 console. The reason why Sony is struggling with the PS3 is extremely simple: people are not ready to be shelling out hundreds of dollars on a gaming console/Blu-ray player when they don't have the system to reap the full benefits of the system. Most people will need to drop a couple thousand dollars just to start seeing the benefits.

Sony made a huge mistake with the PS3 in terms of thinking way too far ahead. But, they had many reasons why they had to put it out on the market. The major one would be the format war, which it eventually won. Another being the console war, which it is losing horribly at the time of this writing. You can't win all your battles so you have to pick and choose. I personally think they make great products overall. They are a high-end electronics maker and will never go to Nintendo's level. To me, that is like a BMW stooping to Ford's level with a crappy car. Sure, Ford may have the Sync feature, but it's still a crappy car.

Sony will eventually come back with a better console and I'm sure they are working feverishly on one for the future.

[coastie65]

I'm one who bought an 80Gb PS3 in the first week of September. I don'y for any thing back should they drop prices. I would say, good for them. Maybe doing so, it will give others a chance to enjoy what I am enjoying. coastie65

[Pokester]

Respectfully, Sony has already become a low-end manufacturer... (they just kept the high prices)

Sony customers know the high price tag is just the beginning. Then comes the sony-only batteries, cords, media, and connectivity...can play only Sony/hollywood-generated content... etc....

Where those things go on-sale and product lines get updated.... not true for Sony. Their MemStick media stayed regular price until everyone else was giving their's away. THEN, Sony dropped the price, but didn't improve speed... and it STILL cost more than anyone else's.

Then of-course, there's the quality that only third-world labor paid $10/day can give you... (check the label)

And I love getting gouged $40 for $5 batteries in proprietary plastic sleeves... and paying $40-70 for cables that cost $2 to make (and everyone else sells for $9).

Will I get a PS3? Not likely... we opted for the 360 so we could play our OWN content... over the network (or USB)... for FREE... along with youtube & all the other good stuff that you'd want in a connected living room... and we won't be gouged repeatedly each step of the way.

Sony is the new Bose... for people with too much money -- and not enough sense to spend it wisely.

[eripoll]

This is really a reply to a previous statements made about the ps3 appealing to the "not" hard core gamer and as well to the above post. someone mentioned about the 30 gamer doing more then just gaming, this is ABSOLUTELY RIGHT but ITs the 25 gamer, the type of gamer that has a job and a life with a family or girl etc. We cant just play games that require hours of dedication, but want more then just a entry (wii) gaming machine. I have played all the consoles and had a tough time deciding on which to get , but and i have to say the PS3 was the best investment i made in a long time. and oh the person that said watch a bluray movie with a girl instead of playing was dead on. especially matched up with a HD tv and surround, they eat it up( i digress) The claim that sony put too much in it is debatable, you see Wii is geared toward the kids and non gamers; Xbox is geared toward the hard core gamers (with some some extra functionaliy) and sony with their feature appeals to the Ex gamer and the gamer that want a powerful console,. I know its been done already but to have all the feature the sony has the XBox would cost the same

1 Wifi support (that connect to anything wifi printers, media players etc
2. bluetooth more than 30 feet by the way (yes it connect to more than bluetooth controlers
3 it does have motion sensing like wii (WipeHD you can steer and pitch just with the controller, Bowling (swing the controller just like wii)
4 of cours feel free to upgrade your HDD to what ever you can afford not to mention you can add USB external drives
5 Web browser the has amazing resolution and tabbing oh and yes it does support youtube it your first SONY option
6 OH and a little known fact you can connect to it from the internet like a sling box and wath you digital content remotely (come with bluray movies)
7 online experience?? has anyone seen PS HOME! its freakin amazing its like Second life with amazing graphics
8 this is kind of reaching but TIme crises with the IR motion sensors (like Wii) is amazing
9 the playstation Eye is even amazing it also has motion sensors so you can play games like Creature feature using your whole body and (in my case) 4 people at a time with out having to but extra controlloers
10 the online store is great to just like xbox live but FREEEE
11 And for buying Cables i just picked up a generice HDMI cable from target No special 40 proprietary cables (not neccesarry)
12 not to mention fully supports installing Linux and you can switch pretty easily between the two.
13 assesory support; any usbkeyboard or mouse logitech mic and cameras etc
14 l it does support hooking up to media servers OOTB (media center) picked up my PC immediately as well as play downloaded DIVX movies i just played american ganster came out nicewhich was my own contents but yes wma is MSFT so i didnt expect that
15 pandora radio!!!!!
16 not to forget BLU RAY which is amazing and the PS3 with all the updates has become ARs technica's reference bluray if any one wonders about its quality

the only thing Xbox hasthat ps3 doesnt is more great games and netflix

Oh one more thing the PS# is currently handicapped to only use 7 of its 8 cores (which is still way more the xbox, but if it need to (and got permission from IBM) it could unlock the 8th core making it truely the most pwerful gaming console, they even sell PS3 supercomputer clusters from yellowdog (sony offically supported) website.
Im just saying for what your buying. 300 dollars (if they dropped the price} is a steal and if your into more than gaming, like letting your girlfriend check her myspace and yahoo email with out having to get to go to a computer, gettin into a good movie and printing wifi etcs this definatley wont dissapoint.

[coastie65]

Whew!!! That was a lot. :D Good post. Being a 50+ Disabled Veteran, I have been gaming for quite awhile. I had a PS2 which went south on me, so it was back to the computer. I bought a 42" Toshiba HDTV when my TV went out and that was great. My PS2 was still working at the time, went went out shortly after, although it was a whole nother thing on that screen. I eventually decided to get an 80 Gb PS3 one day when I was at WalMart. I did and haven't regretted it for a minute. I think my first game was Uncharted : Drakes Fortune and have enjoyed every minute. Yeah, I did end up with another PS2 as well. Got a refurb of the original PS2 for $50 at GameStop so I could finish what was playing, as well as play other PS2 stuff. I have the PS2 hooked using Component cables and the PS3 using HDMI. I'm happy. :D coastie65