Finally!

[Aikouka]

Well, I finally got my PS3 today (had to drive through shit-ville just to get it, damn I feel sorry for my car taking it over that poor excuse for a paved road (Main St. at that), but anyway) and I got it all hooked up and stuff. Good? Ehh, I am a man that makes George Washington look like a lawyer.

I will admit, I've gotten a bit annoyed with the console on many accounts. It could be worse that I was a bit tired, not feeling too well, etc, but I think what I do (for a living) makes me a bit keen on things in this area. I thought I'd throw out some thoughts... some you may've heard before, some you may not have (I donno what you PS3 people talk about in your special meetings ).

1) No HD cables.
- Now I know, we've beat this one to death, but I opened it up today and saw the ol' composite cables then I looked at the shiny ol' behemoth next to me and wondered... why? Why couldn't they at least throw component in? What about a mix like Microsoft does where you can select one or the other? I mean, I can see the $400 model not including them, they're trying to skimp to bring the price down on that one, but this is the 80GB $600 model I'm talking about here.

2) PS Network is slow as hell.
- I haven't had any time to run any real tests on this, but I started up the download for Ratchet and Clank, went away for about 5 minutes... came back and found it at 3mb downloaded. Now, I ain't runnin' ISDN here, my friends... I can download a 1.6GB file in around... 50 minutes or so maybe? The 360 using the same network connections (gigabit d-link switch to gigabit d-link gaming router) has no problem downloading demos fast. After I started playing Motorstorm, the download speed seemed to shoot up for some strange reason. I estimated it was going at maybe 30k/s before and now it's going at around 300k/s. Is this normal? If I pause the downloads and turn off the console, can I restart them?

3) PS Network games have no trial/demo.
- I'm quite used to the 360 and I love that all Arcade games must have a free trial version. I was interested in Super Stardust HD and Everyday Shooter, but I want to try before I buy... but I can't find anything that would let me download a trial. Is there one that I just missed?

4) Sony can't validate shit.
- I've never had trouble validating my cards on consoles... well a console, but the PS3 refuses to validate my credit card, so even if I wanted to buy the aforementioned games... I can't! I have a feeling something is wrong with the online settings, because when I start Motorstorm, the Online option is unselectable... but sometimes if I return to the menu, it is selectable.

5) Menus are poor.
- This is more nitpicky than anything. I know I've read that some people like the PS Store better than the XBOX Marketplace, but frankly... I like the latter better. I found the PS Store too awkward with a controller... it feels like it's developed for the Wii or the PC (i.e. using a pointing device). Seeing the top downloads and stuff is nifty though. I also do not like some of the menus on the console itself. Compared to what I consider standard nomenclature used in menus, I found some of the options confusing at times. Mainly the fact that I consider cancel a method to cancel the current sub-action rather than the entire action. That sucked when I canceled my entire PSN account creation rather than just the credit card part .

6) We have furniture.
- The USB charger cable is waaaaaaaay too short. I can't even sit in my chair (which means no couch either) with my controller plugged in. Thankfully it doesn't take that long to charge.

The last thing isn't against the PS3 but I guess it's against my entire media setup. My TV doesn't seem to pass HDMI audio through to its digital output. This creates quite a conundrum as I can't actually hear anything unless I set it to 2 channel only . I'm out of digital inputs on my receiver, so I might just have to replace my receiver with a totally different setup. Kind of a bummer... I might be able to find a digital switch or something like that for right now... I donno.

Or I could pick this up?
http://www.amazon.com/CABLES-G...17/105-0266200-5199650

Seems like a band-aid solution though... maybe I should just get a "real" setup for once... I can just put the PS3 output on Movie Mode and it will sound 5.1-ish for now .

EDIT:

And you thought I was done

7) Let's make it more like a PC!
- Installing demos makes me a sad panda . I heard that you had to, but I had no idea that it took this long to install one! I'm actually typing all this up while the Ratchet and Clank demo installs so I can try it out. It's a bit of an annoyance, but I guess I can find things to do around the time. Do all downloaded games have to do this?

Oh and if any of my stuff I've written is incorrect, let me know!

 

[mugs]

Got me some quality time with the PS3... if you know what I'm sayin.

You watched porn on your PS3? That's... interesting.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: mugs
You watched porn on your PS3? That's... interesting.

You wouldn't believe what crazy effects Cell can do :Q!

 

[mlm]

Originally posted by: Aikouka
2) PS Network is slow as hell.
- I haven't had any time to run any real tests on this, but I started up the download for Ratchet and Clank, went away for about 5 minutes... came back and found it at 3mb downloaded. Now, I ain't runnin' ISDN here, my friends... I can download a 1.6GB file in around... 50 minutes or so maybe? The 360 using the same network connections (gigabit d-link switch to gigabit d-link gaming router) has no problem downloading demos fast. After I started playing Motorstorm, the download speed seemed to shoot up for some strange reason. I estimated it was going at maybe 30k/s before and now it's going at around 300k/s. Is this normal? If I pause the downloads and turn off the console, can I restart them?

Sounds like it was just a slow start-up... You'll need to try other files to be certain.

I'm pretty sure I've turned off the console in the middle of a download before, but you should test a small file just to be safe (like one of the "starter packs").

3) PS Network games have no trial/demo.
- I'm quite used to the 360 and I love that all Arcade games must have a free trial version. I was interested in Super Stardust HD and Everyday Shooter, but I want to try before I buy... but I can't find anything that would let me download a trial. Is there one that I just missed?

Nope, so far only games with "starter packs" have demos :

6) We have furniture.
- The USB charger cable is waaaaaaaay too short. I can't even sit in my chair (which means no couch either) with my controller plugged in. Thankfully it doesn't take that long to charge.

You may already know this, but you can charge the controller through any USB source. I usually plug it into my laptop when I need to charge it.

7) Let's make it more like a PC!
- Installing demos makes me a sad panda . I heard that you had to, but I had no idea that it took this long to install one! I'm actually typing all this up while the Ratchet and Clank demo installs so I can try it out. It's a bit of an annoyance, but I guess I can find things to do around the time. Do all downloaded games have to do this?

Oh and if any of my stuff I've written is incorrect, let me know!

Yeah, they all do it. If you don't use background downloading, it will automatically install for you. It does take a while, but R&C is BY FAR the worst I've seen. My guess is because it's unpacking all the FMV's.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: mlm
Sounds like it was just a slow start-up... You'll need to try other files to be certain.

I'm pretty sure I've turned off the console in the middle of a download before, but you should test a small file just to be safe (like one of the "starter packs").

The issues with Motorstorm not displaying the Online option (or rather having it grayed out) make me believe it's some sort of net connection issue. I don't know the differences between how the 360 connects and how the PS3 connects, but my 360 has never had an issue where it is. I wanted to try the net connection test, but I was downloading the demos.

I'll have to give that a try then.

Originally posted by: mlm
Nope, so far only games with "starter packs" have demos :

Such a bummer really . I want to try them out to make sure that I'll enjoy them. Hell, if Sony wanted to avoid having to have everyone make demos, what about a small Satisfaction Guaranteed window after you download+install the game. Say within 2-4 hours, you can delete/return the game and get your money back. I'd be willing to throw down the money if I had a chance to say, "wow, this sucks" and just "return" it.

Originally posted by: mlm
You may already know this, but you can charge the controller through any USB source. I usually plug it into my laptop when I need to charge it.

Yeah, I probably should've hooked it up to my laptop instead, but I just left it in after the initial plug-in that you need to start the setup.

Originally posted by: mlm
Yeah, they all do it. If you don't use background downloading, it will automatically install for you. It does take a while, but R&C is BY FAR the worst I've seen. My guess is because it's unpacking all the FMV's.

Yeah, Ratchet and Clank took forever and a half . I left to write that edit at around 12% and when I came back, it was only at 31%. But based on your response, the rest of them shouldn't be so bad, so it may not be too much of an issue. I do like how the 360 just lets you download and play though.

Overall the experience isn't too bad. I might buy that Toslink->Coax converter that I linked as I do have a spare coax connection on my receiver (and a nice coax cable that I'm not using!). Maybe I'll have to throw Yoyo a PM about them or something. Right now the Dolby PL Movie Mode is working fairly well though. Might also be worth it to talk to Samsung about pass-through capability in their TVs. I mean seriously, one would expect... if a TV receives a digital audio signal, has the internal speakers set to mute and has a toslink connected in the digital out... that it should reroute the audio!

 

[randay]

1-sounds like a personal problem
2-sounds like a personal problem
3-you're on to something here
4-sounds like a personal problem
5-sounds like a personal problem
6-sounds like a personal problem
7-yeah thats lame, its probably like that to reduce download size

You can always return it, there must be like a 14 day buyers remorse policy or something.

 

[Aikouka]

I have no problem keeping it. Just need to figure out what games to get first!

Also the fact that the downloads magically decided to start going faster is not an issue with my Internet connection itself. Once I realized how pitifully slow they were going, I just started up other downloads on my PC and those reached near max speed ( max speed - PS3 use ). The only "personal problem" I can think of would be my router, which has been flawless for everything else.

Also, I don't think the lack of real HD cables is a "personal problem," but is rather a poor oversight on Sony's part. I don't know how you can even defend such a cheap action. Like I said, if I had purchased the $400 model, I wouldn't have felt so slighted, but this is the top of the line model. Microsoft released their console first and included a composite/component cable in it... Sony really couldn't do the same? I mean really, what's $15 when you're already losing $200 .

About validation, I've never had my card not validate anywhere. It's not like the card doesn't work as I used it maybe 40 minutes before.

The poor menu structure may be my personal opinion, but building user efficient menus is paradigm to having a good experience. Why don't the trigger buttons scroll through pages in the PS Store? Why do I really have to move to the left and right arrows every time? Nice, left button will let me go "back", that only helps a little bit. I'm nit picky about how things are set up. Especially when people say the PS Store is better than XBL Marketplace, but I don't really see either being better. One thing I don't like about the PS Store when downloading a demo is you can't see how big it is until you select it. I'd prefer it being shown on the screen after you select the demo and it gives you the option to download it.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: randay
1-sounds like a personal problem
2-sounds like a personal problem
3-you're on to something here
4-sounds like a personal problem
5-sounds like a personal problem
6-sounds like a personal problem
7-yeah thats lame, its probably like that to reduce download size

You can always return it, there must be like a 14 day buyers remorse policy or something.

lol do you really think the USB cable is long enough? he has a valid point with that there.

i somewhat agree w/the whole menu system, but not in the PSStore, but in the PS3 "dash" in general. I actually like the store better than the marketplace on XBL as far as it's setup, but I definitely see what you mean that it seems like it seems like it needs some kind of pointing device.

the demo thing i agree with, and I haven't had any slowdown issues w/the PSN.

 

[bucwylde23]

I can say that I've had the same problems with slow network download speeds. It takes FOREVER to download demos on the PS3. Meanwhile, I can switch the tv over to my 360 and download a 1GB+ demo fast as hell.

So on top of long download times, I then have to sit and wait for what seems like forever as the demo installs.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: chrisg22
I can say that I've had the same problems with slow network download speeds. It takes FOREVER to download demos on the PS3. Meanwhile, I can switch the tv over to my 360 and download a 1GB+ demo fast as hell.

So on top of long download times, I then have to sit and wait for what seems like forever as the demo installs.

it's weird for me. updates download slow as hell, but demo's download at my full speed.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
lol do you really think the USB cable is long enough? he has a valid point with that there.

Well, I think we're also a bit different because we also have 360s and the Plug-n-Charge kit has a longer cable than the USB cable that comes with the PS3. Although one is an aftermarket accessory, we tend to compare these things without really knowing it. I'd bet that I wouldn't be so critical of the console if I didn't already own a 360 as that set some sort of benchmark that I'm seeing if this one aims to without really even trying to "test" it.

Originally posted by: purbeast0
i somewhat agree w/the whole menu system, but not in the PSStore, but in the PS3 "dash" in general. I actually like the store better than the marketplace on XBL as far as it's setup, but I definitely see what you mean that it seems like it seems like it needs some kind of pointing device.

I don't mind the XMB. I'm actually pretty used to it from the PSP, but there tends to be sooooo many options in certain categories. The PSP wasn't too bad because there were only a handful of options. Personally, I'm glad the 360 does not use this though, because based on how demos and such are shown under the Games category, that column would be incredibly long... I mean on my 360 I have over 80 arcade games and 5-6 demos. I couldn't imagine trying to scroll through that .

I think the store originally bothered me more because I wasn't using a controller as my keyboard had a longer cable. It was a bit better when using a controller as it added joystick movement. But I still think the button config is a bit off. Pressing O asks if you want to exit the store, but it just feels so awkward that instead of doing that, it doesn't just go back up one layer. Also as I mentioned, the lack of scrolling through pages without having to hit the arrows is a bit less user-friendly.

I think the worst problem is on normal menus. Sometimes you can use the joystick to move the option over, sometimes you cannot. Also, I've had menus not even load correctly sometimes...! Like when I went to register my PSN account for the second time (after thinking cancel would just cancel the credit thing), the TOS agreement never came up all the way. It only showed maybe one option. I believe I was able to cancel using O and go back. Once I went back into it, the menu finally loaded correctly. One time though... I canceled out of Motorstorm and my PS3 went batshit crazy! My TV started outputting all these weird signals (white and gray that took up half the screen each). I lost all control of the TV for a minute as it attempted to decipher whatever the PS3 was trying to output. I still have no idea what exactly happened, but it wasn't pretty .

 

[Thraxen]

Originally posted by: Aikouka
The poor menu structure may be my personal opinion, but building user efficient menus is paradigm to having a good experience. Why don't the trigger buttons scroll through pages in the PS Store? Why do I really have to move to the left and right arrows every time? Nice, left button will let me go "back", that only helps a little bit. I'm nit picky about how things are set up. Especially when people say the PS Store is better than XBL Marketplace, but I don't really see either being better. One thing I don't like about the PS Store when downloading a demo is you can't see how big it is until you select it. I'd prefer it being shown on the screen after you select the demo and it gives you the option to download it.

Actually, the L1 and R1 buttons will go backward and forward 1 page, but they won't function exactly like you are saying... automatically acting like you clicked on the arrows... they work just like the Forward and Back buttons on a web browser. Between those and the ability to use the d-pad to jump between clickable items I can navigate around pretty fast.

 

[mlm]

Originally posted by: Aikouka
One time though... I canceled out of Motorstorm and my PS3 went batshit crazy! My TV started outputting all these weird signals (white and gray that took up half the screen each). I lost all control of the TV for a minute as it attempted to decipher whatever the PS3 was trying to output. I still have no idea what exactly happened, but it wasn't pretty .

Sounds like it might be an HDMI handshaking issue?

 

[gi0rgi0]

way too long to read, bored me with the first paragraph.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: Thraxen
Actually, the L1 and R1 buttons will go backward and forward 1 page, but they won't function exactly like you are saying... automatically acting like you clicked on the arrows... they work just like the Forward and Back buttons on a web browser. Between those and the ability to use the d-pad to jump between clickable items I can navigate around pretty fast.

Yeah, I was using those as I wanted to go back a page... I just thought it'd be more efficient if I could just move with one button press. The 360 isn't perfect in this regard either, but the trigger buttons serve as a Page Down and Page Up, which can help in large menus... or you just hold down the analog stick until you find the right letter (like the 80+ arcade games I mentioned... they're alphabetized so it's not too bad).

Originally posted by: mlm
Sounds like it might be an HDMI handshaking issue?

I was curious if it were an HDMI issue or not. As much as I've toyed with HDMI and stuff, I have to say I prefer the analog signals so much more. I've never had an issue with component, but even when using DVI->HDMI for my PC, I had issues getting exactly what I wanted outputted... the VGA connector worked fine.

I'm not giving up on the console at all, even though this thread might spell doom and gloom for the thing. Me feeling like crap, being late in the day, driving through hell to get to the place to pick it up certain did not put me in a great mood after hooking everything up and having to reorganize my entertainment center . I still have to download the Folklore demo, but I got the Ninja Gaiden Sigma demo downloaded, so I can try that! I think I might get Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Folklore and something else....

EDIT:

Originally posted by: gi0rgi0
way too long to read, bored me with the first paragraph.

Glad you weren't bored enough for post_count++!

Not to mention you can just read the paragraph headers and get an idea~

 

[foghorn67]

why can't the PS3 only guys accept criticism without lashing out insults? Seems like the guys that own both can take it.

 

[bucwylde23]

Originally posted by: foghorn67
why can't the PS3 only guys accept criticism without lashing out insults? Seems like the guys that own both can take it.

Yeah it's pretty ridiculous. I love both consoles, because I love playing games. I just love the 360 a lot more right now

I dont' own a PS3 but one of my friend brings his over once or twice a week. I will probably own one by Christmas since we have $400 models coming out.

 

[digiram]

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: mugs
You watched porn on your PS3? That's... interesting.

You wouldn't believe what crazy effects Cell can do :Q!

Is it the same as the effects that Chappelle used in the trial clip?

 

[randay]

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: randay
1-sounds like a personal problem
2-sounds like a personal problem
3-you're on to something here
4-sounds like a personal problem
5-sounds like a personal problem
6-sounds like a personal problem
7-yeah thats lame, its probably like that to reduce download size

You can always return it, there must be like a 14 day buyers remorse policy or something.

lol do you really think the USB cable is long enough? he has a valid point with that there.

i somewhat agree w/the whole menu system, but not in the PSStore, but in the PS3 "dash" in general. I actually like the store better than the marketplace on XBL as far as it's setup, but I definitely see what you mean that it seems like it seems like it needs some kind of pointing device.

the demo thing i agree with, and I haven't had any slowdown issues w/the PSN.

its probably because I have a desktop setup. but in actuality, I've only had my controller die on me once, batteries last me quite a while. but then again at this point in my life, I dont lay down any 24 hour gaming sessions anymore. but its the same as the hdmi cables and what not, just buy what cables you require and you are all set. sony doesn't know how big your living room is or how far away your chair is from the tv.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: foghorn67
why can't the PS3 only guys accept criticism without lashing out insults? Seems like the guys that own both can take it.

People with only one console tend to be touchy regardless of which console they own.

wii owners don't like to admit the graphics are last-generation, 360 owners tried to deny the (guesstimated) 30+% failure rate, PS3 owners are sensitive about the size of their exclusives.

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

Originally posted by: foghorn67
why can't the PS3 only guys accept criticism without lashing out insults? Seems like the guys that own both can take it.

People with only one console tend to be touchy regardless of which console they own.

wii owners don't like to admit the graphics are last-generation, 360 owners tried to deny the (guesstimated) 30+% failure rate, PS3 owners are sensitive about the size of their exclusives.

ya, I know, but one of the replies took me back a little. I expected more out of him.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
People with only one console tend to be touchy regardless of which console they own.

wii owners don't like to admit the graphics are last-generation, 360 owners tried to deny the (guesstimated) 30+% failure rate, PS3 owners are sensitive about the size of their exclusives.

I have tried to make it clear in here that just because I'm only portraying my negative thoughts on the console does not mean that I hate it. It's not that bad, but I think the comments I've made are valid and range in severity to some being an operator annoyance to some being a valid worthwhile yet missing feature. Although, I admit I knew about #1 a long time ago, but I still just can't believe Sony markets it as some ultimate media machine yet it can't produce more than 480p out of the box because of cabling.

I don't think of the 360 as perfect, although I do think it has a richer feature set than the PS3 (it has also been out longer and had more time to be fine tuned). I'll admit I also kind of miss rumble . I'm pretty used to rumbling in racing games (I've been playing PGR4 lately on the 360) and when I started playing Motorstorm and I tried searching for the accelerator. I kept pressing things and wondered, "why don't I feel the controller vibrating?" Then I realized that I forgot... no rumble! I never thought of it as a big deal, but I've actually grown a bit accustom to it.

However, I think the most annoying thing about the 360 is that the console is so unreliable in multiple ways. I turned my Intercooler off earlier on Saturday because sometimes the fans start up very loud (high RPM) and they just get worse and worse for a minute until they finally slow down. Later on, I was playing PGR4 without the fans on and suddenly my disc gets a read error and I noticed my 360 running sluggishly. I turned the fans on and a bit later, everything was fine. The GPU being directly over the DVD drive just makes everything so much worse.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

Originally posted by: foghorn67
why can't the PS3 only guys accept criticism without lashing out insults? Seems like the guys that own both can take it.

People with only one console tend to be touchy regardless of which console they own.

wii owners don't like to admit the graphics are last-generation, 360 owners tried to deny the (guesstimated) 30+% failure rate, PS3 owners are sensitive about the size of their exclusives.

What Wii owners are delusional enough to think the Wii graphics are on par with the other current generation systems? I've never seen anyone claim that. But it does annoy me when people call the Wii a last-gen system BECAUSE of the graphics. Graphics do not a console make, and graphics do not define a console generation. Saying the Wii is last-gen technology based on the graphics is as arbitrary and stupid as saying the Xbox 360 is last-gen because it lacks any motion sensing, and the PS3 is last-gen because of its tacked-on attempt of motion sensing that missed the whole point. Thus the Wii is the only true next/current gen system.

360 owners who try to deny that it is failure prone are delusional, but you're delusional if you think the 30+% number you've been repeating ad infinitum is anything more than a number you pulled out of your ass, just like the 49% number you used to claim.

 

[onlyCOpunk]

Well it sounds like your main problem is comparing it the 360. As far as included cables, I expected that only composite would be included, it also states on the box. Most people's R&C demo downloaded slow, mine took about 8 hours.

The thing you have to remember about PSN is that it's FREE, where as XBL you have to pay for it, thus when you pay for something you expect something whereas since it's free you pretty much have to take what they give you.

If Sony had made PSN work like XBL then you would be complaining that Sony had ripped off XBL.

Basically everything you are complaing about, is what every other PS3 owner has complained about in the past, nothing revolutionary. It's just the way the PS3 is. You must look at it as a completely different system then the 360, not a competitor. While they may share some of the same titles and features now, a year or two down the road hopefully Sony will have established it's own.

I'm happy with my PS3, and while I did have some minor irritations when I first got it, I cried a river, built a bridge, and got over it.

And for the note, there is a PS3 version of Linux, I forgot what it's called, but in the PS3 settings there is an option to install a different OS, that different OS is Linux, so if you feel the need you can go ahead and try that, it's free as all Linux is and apparently can turn your PS3 into a mini computer.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: gi0rgi0
way too long to read, bored me with the first paragraph.